Cask No. 108.72

This opened with a rich aroma of funky dark fruit chutney, alongside star anise, pickled damsons and balsamic glaze. The nose also incorporated heady notes of dark honey, stem ginger and orange muscat. Water brought us candied citrus peels, cedarwood boxes full of unlit cigars, and hints of smoked paprika and serrano ham. The neat palate was initially dominated by herbal cocktail bitters, dark chocolate powder, sweet black liquorice and impressions of a German herbal digestif/energy drink 'bomb', aniseed, ginger wine and madeira cake. Some reduction made it heavier and thicker in texture; elevating the camphor, putty and waxy characteristics, plus a gamey and leathery vibe with wintergreen and bouillon. This was matured in a bourbon hogshead for 16 years before being transferred to a first fill ex-bodega PX sherry barrique.