Matured in a first fill PX sherry hogshead (900352) until it was bottled in 2022, at cask strength & without chill filtration or additional colour.
Appearance: Copper/dark honey (35-40). A thin beaded tidemark quickly forms and starts to immediately morph into many many thick trails. A really nice viscous sticky film clings to the glass and oozes slowly down.
Nose: The dram carries the ABV well, I’d never guess as high as 56%, more 48-52%. Chocolate, hazelnuts and caramel hit first, then there’s Bazooka bubble gum, foam sweets and general sweet shop aromas. More oak furniture-type aromas appear shortly after providing a nice balance to the predominantly sweet profile that came first. A rubbery putty element appears as the dram matures, not unpleasant but unexpected for sure.
Palate: Reassuring hit of the ABV. Big tropical fruit syrup hit: melon, pineapple and lemon. Some white pepper from the ABV provides a nice heat and slight tingle. A slight drying at the back of the tongue. The third sip onward reveals a more mellow creamy side, vanilla custard, nutmeg and creamy ‘frothy’ coffee maybe? Darker fruit notes increase with time such as blackberry and plum.
Finish: Medium to long. The spices and now more subtle tropical fruits last for some time. A nice chest warming ensues.
Overall: A lovely dram. Plenty to explore, a nice mix of fruit, mellow and subtle spices. I would happily sip this after a large meal for some time!
