Cask No. 89.23

This spent 11 years in ex-bourbon wood before being transferred into a first-fill, American oak, Oloroso hogshead. Our overall impression was of a rich and indulgent nose, combining top-notes of butterscotch and vanilla custard with more savoury base notes of pata negra and Virginia tobacco. The palate, which had beautiful velvety textures, followed a similar journey from sweet forenoon (fruit tarts, warm honey) to a savoury, mouth-drying dusk, hinting at balsamic reduction and leather. However, water sweetened the entire experience, developing crème brûlée and molasses on the nose and dark chocolate, black grapes and rum and raisin ice-cream on the palate.