Released in 2022, it’s NCF, NC & aged in Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso sherry puncheons, Rioja barriques & virgin oak casks.
Appearance: As with Batch 6, it’s basically brown. A hugely rich dark oaky whisky, so inviting! A viscous film forms on the glass with lots of quick forming medium legs. Nice beading around the swirl mark too
Nose: Either I’ve completely blazed my sense of smell on Batch 6 or this one is more ‘delicate’ on the nose?? Far more earthy and less jammy. There are fruit notes there, but more of a stewed fruit pie than the raw jam lip smacking qualities of the 6.
Where Batch 6 was jam and syrupy fruit, this is more the natural smell of a fruit bowl, with the skin, stalk etc. I can sense the PX & Oloroso elements, not sure I can identify the Rioja notes yet though (or they may just be very well-married)
Palate: Oh wow, amazingly buttery mouthfeel and big smack of jammy fruits and a touch of spearmint. There’s also a warming cinnamon spice on the chest. A slight oaky (tannic) drying with some sweet pipe tobacco and faint spent matchstick. More victoria sponge flavours emerge as the glass matures.
Finish: Medium in length. Fruit in a shoe (jammy fruits and leather). Some black pepper tingling and a touch of the cake too.
Overall: Another banger. It’s dangerous as it’s so good and worthy of exploring that you get sucked into pouring another, then another.
