Navazos-Palazzi Palo Cortado Cask Malt Whisky (July 2014)

I thought the intense mix of wine cask with young malt whiskey didn’t work well together. Almost only barrel notes little to no malt or yeast expressions. I think a higher age statement or better job blending could do wonders.

The nose of the whisky presents with a dark, salted caramel scent. Just beneath this are hints of charcoal, smoke, and the dry sweetness of the sherry cask. The final notes of the finish present the barest whisp of cacao. On the tongue, the whisky maintains the dryness of the sherry with delightful notes of caramel and smoke. As you taste, the charcoal notes off the nose add complexity to the flavor and deepen the experience into a rich, dark, salted experience. There is the faintest breath of floral notes (presumably from the sherry cask) and smoke in the finish. An absolutely delightful experience, strong, complex, and utterly delicious. This whisky is best enjoyed neat or with a splash and otherwise unadulterated.

Finally a whisky for Tequila lovers! If you have ever had any good Anejo tequila, you will feel right at home. And at cask strength this might be an overall better bargain ;-). One dram down and I didn't even realise it. If there is a category for smooth summer whiskies, this will win that bout for sure. Very thin mouthfeel, doesn't overwhelm the palate. The only negative is the finish which is pretty short and that comes along with some bitterness. With a tsp of water you get some floral notes, doesn't do much to the finish (very short again) or the bitterness..Overall a very enjoyable dram..