Cask No. 113.73

This whisky's nicely mentholated sherry profile opened with subtle pickled fruit notes, aged balsamic vinegar and rich aromas of fruit chutney, menthol tobacco and aromatic wood spices. Reduction evolved the nose nicely towards spiced marmalades, resinous fir wood, olive oil, salty game-meat notes and hints of liquorice, eucalyptus and deep herbal tones. The neat palate was surprisingly playful up front, with initial notes of fruit pastilles, and pears poached in cream sherry, plus camphor and menthol balm, and yellow fruits. We also noted some mead, flower honey and lemon oil. Water brought a lovely salty and sweet tension to proceedings, adding into the mix pineapple cubes, cough mixtures, butter mints, pickled ginger, soy sauce and lanolin. This was matured in a bourbon hogshead for 13 years before being transferred to a first fill oloroso-seasoned STR barrique.