An independent single cask bottling from Murray McDavid Mission and bottled at Bruichladdich on Islay without coloring, chill filtration and at cask strength; a good start. The color is a very dark mahogany with red highlights, much like an American whiskey. The nose if of sweet fruit and Christmas cake, rich dried glace fruits, furniture polish, light coal smoke, oak, wood shavings and a very slight trace of the sea; it’s very nice and extremely inviting. After a few minutes in the glass there are some slight hints of citrus and increased woodiness. After some further moments it changes again to become herbaceous intermingled with brown sugar. The taste is strong and warming with some characteristic & distinctive Springbank notes that is reminiscent of wet cotton or Hessian and smoke along with dry woody notes followed by more sweetness (dried fruit, apricot, fruit cake & winey).  The finish is quite dry with cold unsweetened black tea, cedar and some mild smoke and medium in length that trails off to become focused on the dry woody notes. Not the complicated finish but still nice. After 10 minutes the finish is exceedingly dry and slightly bitter.

What of the Chateau Lafite influence; perhaps the fruit is the influence? A good solid whisky without any off notes.

C$115

Score 83

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