A single malt from the independent bottler Adelphi that chooses not to divulge the Highland distillery however this is a single cask bottling and at cask strength and unchill-filtered. The nose is strong and toffeed with a tinge of smoke, pine, damp Hessian and dried cherries. There are also some delicate notes of marmalade and bees wax. Sherried. With water there is a dramatic change with the aromas of damp ash, wet cement (think of pavement after a rain storm on a summer day) followed by honey and some hints of the former glory in the form of the pine notes. The taste is very pleasant and almost sherried with strong dry wood notes followed by more fruit; cherries and pear. Orange and more of the dry wood notes. With water it is much more sedate with no hint of the damp ash/cement of the diluted aromas however there are strong sweet wine notes along with the pine resin. The finish is very dry, long and mouth coating, cedar, tobacco and leather followed by the oaky dryness. Towards the end the sherry pops its head up followed by the bitter dry wood notes.

Better without water.

Score 83 Points

C$195

Please visit the Adelphi Distillery at http://www.adelphidistillery.com/