Lark Distilling Rum & PX Sherry Finish Single Malt Whisky

Nose: Huge and enveloping aromas of butterscotch, honey, toffee and malted milk are the initial impression, and with time I noticed emerging tropical fruits (mango, papaya) and sweet orange. Reduction brought the tropical notes further to the front. Palate: Stunning arrival with rich fruit cake (dried apple, cherries, plums, raisins) that gave way to softer, lighter fruits in the development. Just like the nose, these flavours focused on orange and mango but with fresh apricot and peach as well. The later palate showed a return of the fruitcake character together with a little dark toffee and demerara sugar which persisted into the long finish. The texture was silky, creamy and lightly syrupy, all at once. Reduction softened the palate and increased the creamy quality. Finish: Very Long. There was no discernible end to the palate – it just slowly faded into the distance over an extraordinary length of time. I could still clearly taste this half an hour after finishing the dram. Although matured in a range of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and ex-rum casks this is not a cask-dominated whisky, the barrels instead contributing a juicy fresh fruit character balanced by a slight toffee note from the rum. It’s a vatting of whiskies from 5 -7 years old and I’d guess that the majority was ex-bourbon with the PX and rum casks used to add “spice” to the blend. I always enjoyed the old Lark expressions but I was not particularly impressed by some of the range that was brought to market by the new owners. However after I tasted the Classic Cask Strength (previous review here) and then this Rum & PX expression after our visit to the distillery at Pontville I had to reconsider. This is the best Lark whisky I have tasted. It is reminiscent of big sherried Speyside whiskies (think Aberlour, Glenfarclas and Benrinnes) but with a softness more akin to Strathisla and a fresh fruitiness that is all its own. It is, quite simply, a huge rum and raisin soaked sweet Australian single malt, and I loved it. If it was not so ruinously expensive I would have bought a bottle (I did come close and still might acquire one). Recommended. “Excellent” : 88/100 (4.5 stars)