105.44 Honey jam (Vaults Collection)

Description

From the team

It’s not every day that the Tasting Panel is unanimous about anything. But when reviewing the notes and the first thing that catches your eye is a panellist’s big, bold “BEAUTIFUL!” as the first descriptor for the nose, you know you have something very precious. Distilled in 1988 from stills powered by the naked flame — which some say helps produce a fruitier distillate — this is one of those relics of another era that should not be ignored. While it lands in the Society’s Sweet, Fruity & Mellow flavour profile, it displays the hallmarks of age and great maturity. Honey, caramel, ripe melon and pineapple saturate the nose, while on the palate there is a balance of darker notes, with exotic cedar wood, nutty almond aromas and refreshing mentholic notes leading to more intense fruity flavours. Whether you’re looking for a superb sipper or a dram with gravitas and groove in equal measure, this is it. Sometimes the better stories are the simpler ones, and this one is a reminder that the humble old bourbon hogshead can reveal some mouthwatering flavours. 35 years in a single cask for just $1,299…maybe 2026 is your year?

Tasting Panel notes

Hungarian csíramálé (caramel) was served atop walnut paste and accompanied by a glass of peach and white grape juice. The nose was full of sweetness. With a luxurious runny honey on the palate, we paused for the appearance of refreshing melon and pineapple, followed by cherry jam. Water offered a warm cedar on the nose, joined by lemon juice and sugared almonds. Sparkling orange blossom water now cleansed the palate, opening up to coconut, bubblegum and apple.