Description
Madeira, almond butter, hot cross buns…did we mention Madeira? This lesser-seen Speyside malt is super buttery and decadent on both the nose and the palate, with the latter presenting a wave of fresh stone fruits on the palate. What would be described as an ‘unsexy’ distillery code, this is an easy one to grab for when perusing your whisky shelf when you want to pair something with a brioche loaf you’ve picked up from your local market, or just want to impress your friends who may not be accustomed to cask-strength, single-cask whisky. Definitely not one to overlook this month!
Tasting Panel notes
Unmistakable age elevated the nose – old riesling, calvados, and peaches and cream in a cricket pavilion; amarena cherry ice cream, green apple shisha tobacco, vanilla fudge and caramel-flavoured chocolate. The palate was delicate but stimulating – candied lemon peel and spiced oranges in syrup, tinned pears, rhubarb rock and apricot flan – before a warm, dry finish of liquorice, nasturtium flowers, leather and wood. The reduced nose combined blueberry muffins and clover honey with flower meadows and oiled oak. A slightly astringent lift arrived on the reduced palate, delivering cranberry cereal bars, balsamic, fennel and grapefruit, but remaining summery, sweet, gently spiced and deserving respect.
