Reviews

There’s a lot of good happening here. A bit of a hot wet leather armchair on the nose, with the expect peat and smoke swirling around a malty cereal scent. Quite oily on the tongue, with paradoxically jagged smoothness, though the sheer alcohol level is part of the roughness. Water opens up the flavour, exposing caramelled salt, warm ocean water, licorice, anise, and a bit of fennel. Fennel remains on the throat and is accompanied by smoke and salt, as well as a smidge of bitter chocolate and char. I wish this weren’t a limited release, because I think more than 3 mL/oz will probably reveal even more than I expected.

This borderline reeks of sherry, in a grazing pasture kind of way. Some hot cross buns on the nose as well, but that is about as sweet as it gets there. (Engine?) Oily yet sweet in the mouth, tasting a little like how latex paint ought to smell, coupled with raisins and some grapefruit. A bit of water pushes the alcohol out of the way to make room for the fruit, but the body is lacking compared to the single cask version. Some citrus lingers in the finish but not for long enough, but this is still a good ride all the way through.

Smells like barbecue. Smoke remains in the nose, which is nice as the sherry gently dominates on the palate. Fruit leathers and ice wine come to mind, as well as maple bacon. Peat and earthy undertones linger a bit, but the sweetness lasts through a medium length finish.

Amazing bottling from 2014. Lactic, strawberries, rubber tires in the mud, black currants (ribena?). Lemon and grapefruit come to mind, and I would find more flavours if I was tasting a second ounce. One day I’ll get a bottle of this, but I don’t blame the other people for snapping it up before me.

Good stuff. Peppery but not overly strong that way. Smoky and buttery.

Barbecue sauce and tobacco on the nose, sweet and smoky. Leather and apple chips on the first sip, followed by the sweet sherry from the other cask, blanketed in lapsang tea with bacon. The finish compels me to enjoy chewing mud and the spicy barbecue smoke lingers after.

I like it. A nice full fruity body. Spices linger the right amound and the lack of oiliness is not to its detriment.

Vaguely like the secret lovechild of Oban 14 and The Macallan Double Oak 12, down to it being a smidge peppery due to its youth. Otherwise, it’s plummy and tart, but less oily than expected. Bit of orange peel in there too, which I like.

Sweet and fruity. Various types of cooked sugar come to mind. A nice caramel finish which becomes citrusy when water is dripped in.