Satisfying and comforting

The whiff of warming spices combined with the scent from a freshly baked malt loaf, figs in armagnac syrup and thick-cut Seville orange marmalade made this a welcoming proposition. The palate was like a three-course meal: a platter of jamon with green olives, followed by duck à l’orange and, in the finish, a slice of plum and marzipan tarte tatin. Water released the unexpected scent of wood shaving, burnt logs and toasted chestnuts while the taste was like a satisfying, comforting mug of hot mulled wine on a freezing day. Following 10 years in an ex-bourbon barrel, we transferred this whisky into a first fill heavy toast medium char barrel.