Tasting Notes
This one displayed an immediate and very attractive richness. The Panel initially mused on big, hearty notes of honey, ginger biscuits, pumpernickel bread and wee things such as putty, wood resins, bike chain oils and fir wood. Then a wee fizzy kiss of strawberry sherbet came out of nowhere. With water we found bouillon stock and game meats, as things took a decidedly umami turn, with wee sooty and sunflower oil touches too. The palate opened with sweetened black tea, loads of soft cupboard spices, cocoa powder, putty and dried herbs. There were also some impressions of waxed canvas and shoe leather as well. Reduction brought cinnamon-dusted breakfast cereal, soda bread spread with butter and honey and then notes of young calvados, lime curd and malt loaf. Matured for 10 years in a bourbon hogshead, this was then transferred to a first fill French oak ex-Jamaican rum barrique.