Cask No. 4.303

Immediately this one betrayed its Orcadian origins. Huge notes of black pepper, heather smoke and hints of orange caramel, toasted hazelnuts and old, leathery bodega sherry funk. Beyond that we also noted dried nori, Iberico ham and natural tar. Water emphasised these very old nutty, rancio sherry notes and brought more cured meats, dried herbs and some bitter chocolate. The neat palate was surprisingly soft on arrival, lots of of sticky malt loaf, marmalade and preserved lemons. Also fragrant heather and peat smoke with salted liquorice. With reduction we got Bovril, salted pretzels, mutton stew, BBQ charred seafood and many dried dark fruits and pickled walnuts. Matured for 14 years in a bourbon hogshead before transfer to a 1st fill STR oloroso barrique.