This single cask was distilled in Oct 2006 & matured for 14 years in a first-fill Côtes du Roussillon vin rouge barrique, & bottled in March 2021. Only 225 bottles were released.
Appearance: Dark amber/mahogany (45-50). A viscous film coats the inside of the glass. A decent swirl mark forms and gently beads up. Some medium trails seep towards the surface.
Nose: The ABV is immediately noticeable but not overwhelming. Some oak, gentle sulphur, strawberries with cream and granulated sugar. Sugary pie crust (maybe crumble), vanilla and blackberries now. Strawberries drizzled with balsamic glaze spring to mind. Poached pear and custard.
Palate: Fairly viscous mouthfeel. Gentle black pepper, liquorice and creamy custard. The spice grows steadily into an almost chilli-tingle. Those fruity notes appear after a couple of sips and start to intensify. The fruit goes a bit the other way than the nose, almost lemon sherbets fizz. The faintest note of sulphur after a time plays against more cinnamon and ginger.
Finish: The pepper, sulphur and fruit notes last a medium to long amount of time. The lemon sherbet trails off pretty quickly. There’s also an oaky drying on the finish.
Overall: It’s ‘OK’ but not one I’d rush to purchase.
