41.160 Toronto pronto (Malt of the Month)

Description

Let me just start by saying, whilst we have seen casks from Canada, this is not one of them, this is a Scotch! “…salted caramel, roasted peanuts and umami-like miso soup…” are the opening palate notes for this 12-year-old Speysider typically known for its sticky, sherried, salted caramel-like malt notes. Nine years in an ex-bourbon hogshead and three years of further maturation in a 1st fill ex-Muscat Rivesaltes barrique. There are a couple of words there we’ll just break down: for those who don’t know, barrique is quite literally just the French word for barrel; a Muscat Rivesaltes barrique is a cask that previously matured Muscat from the Roussillon region of France, a sweet and viscous variety with flavours of baked stone fruit and honey. A healthy allocation of this 41 to go around this January, so grab yours on Outturn day, try it neat, try it mixed, try it with friends, try it solo — your drink, your way!

A bright, deep red henna colour greeted the Panel, and the nose was dark, rich, sweet and most unusual. One Panellist described it as salt sprinkled over the top of a hot, soft pretzel. Others mentioned cinder toffee, candied walnuts and peanut brittle bars. On the palate, we found salted caramel, roasted peanuts and umami-like miso soup with a touch of Spanish oxtail soup. The taste was simply sensational – sweet and dry but at the same time with the subtle herbal bitterness found in a cocktail called Toronto. Following nine years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky into a first fill muscat rivesaltes barrique.