PERSONALISE YOUR BOTTLE (personalised label)
£52.50
43% ABV
PERSONALISE YOUR BOTTLE (engraved decanter)
£72.00
43% ABV
Glenmorangie
A Tale Of Winter
Marsala Wine Cask Finish
13 Year Old | 70cl | 46% ABV
Snowed in at home, Glenmorangie Director of Whisky Creation, Dr. Bill, began dreaming of this whisky. His goal was to capture the snug and magical feeling of sitting in front of the fireplace as snow blankets the world outside. In pursuit of rich, radiant taste and wintery aroma, he finished the 13 year-old single malt in Marsala wine casks from Sicily.
The experience begins with light flurries of fruit and honey, building to torrents of cocoa dust, flakes of red pepper and chunks of brazil nut toffee. It culminates in a feels-like-forever finish that swirls with cinnamon, ginger and clove.
Like the cosy comfort of a colourful winter jumper, this whisky’s bursts of bright, vivid flavour will delight your senses.
£72.95
Welcome to another episode of the show dedicated to grain whisky. This week I’ll be taking a look at a selection of independent bottlings of Cambus.
IRISH DISTILLERS REINFORCES SUSTAINABILITY CREDENTIALS WITH NEW CHAPTER IN THE MIDLETON VERY RARE DAIR GHAELACH STORY
Kylebeg Wood Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Irish Distillers, makers of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, is proud to introduce the fourth release in the Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach collection, a remarkable addition that can arguably boast the series’ most significant support of the conservation of oak woodlands yet, as well as adding another important chapter for the pinnacle of Irish whiskey.
For the fourth instalment of the Dair Ghaelach series, which translates simply as ‘Irish oak’, Midleton’s Masters worked with the guardians of Kylebeg Wood on the Ballykilcavan Estate near Stradbally, Co. Laois, to carefully select the seven trees that would be used to create the finest virgin Irish oak hogsheads in which to mature some of their most exquisite whiskeys.
Further reinforcing Midleton’s provenance and standing as a true taste of Ireland, the result is a liquid imbued with the unique fingerprint of Kylebeg Wood and a spellbinding new take on the Dair Ghaelach series.
“With each bottling traceable to a single tree, Midleton Very Rare Kylebeg Wood offers a range of seven whiskeys bottled at cask strengths ranging from 55.4%-56.1% ABV, all with the hallmark inspiration of fragrant woodland spices and a heightened intensity of rich wood tannins that allow the influence of the Irish oak to linger on the palate until the very end,” explains Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman.
“Irish Distillers’ partnership with Kylebeg Wood is the ultimate example of how we are collaborating with Ireland’s forestry custodians to marry sustainable Irish oak with the highest standards in forestry practice and conservation, with some of the finest craftsmanship to be found anywhere in the world of whiskey,” explains O’Gorman, who has been at the forefront of the Dair Ghaelach programme since its inception more than a decade ago.
“Once harvested from Kylebeg Wood, the resulting oak logs were separately packed and shipped to the Spanish region of Galicia and the Maderbar Sawmills in Barralla where, for more than fifty years, the same family has been working with wood. Here the oak was cut, using the time-honoured craft of quarter sawing before the resulting stave wood made the ten-hour journey from the sawmills to the Antonio Paez Lobato cooperage in Jerez, where they were laid out to dry naturally in the warmth of the Spanish sun.
“It took fifteen more months before these oak staves were ready to create 42 of the most special casks to be found anywhere in the world, each was then given a light toast to my own specifications before returning from Spain to be filled with a specially selected range of our finest Single Pot Still whiskeys, previously matured in American oak barrels for between thirteen to twenty-five years.”
Nosed and tasted every month for a further fifteen months, O’Gorman, Master Blender Billy Leighton, and Blender David McCabe kept a vigilant watch on the barrels before the resulting liquid was deemed to have struck a perfect balance with Midleton’s hallmark Single Pot Still character.
“The first Single Pot Still Irish whiskey to be matured in Irish oak from County Laois, Midleton Very Rare Kylebeg Wood is as individual as it is irresistible,” adds O’Gorman, “and a whiskey that is as satisfyingly Irish as it is undeniably elegant.”
Part of a carefully curated felling programme, the space created through the felling of the trees used to create Midleton Very Rare Kylebeg Wood hogsheads has allowed light to once again meet the forest floor. Now a new generation of saplings, planted following the felling, rise to take their place in the canopy above. This method of forest management, that is practiced in Kylebeg Wood has contributed to the reappearance of the pine marten to the Laois countryside. This in turn has impacted the alien grey squirrel and helped the native red squirrel, which had practically vanished from the local area.
“Situated amidst rolling fields of barley, the native Irish woodland on the Ballykilcavan Estate has been managed carefully and in tune with nature by the Walsh-Kemmis family for thirteen generations since 1639,” explains Paddy Purser, forest manager and consultant, who worked closely with the Midleton team on the project.
“Kylebeg Wood – or ‘An Choill Bheag’ in the Irish language – translates as ‘the little wood’, and it was in this little wood that native Irish oak was planted in 1820 to replace trees that were felled for shipbuilding during the Napoleonic Wars.
“Today, through an Irish Distillers sponsored monitoring system we use a ‘close to nature’ forest management system in line with international best practice (as assessed using the AFI Protocol*) ensuring sustainable management of our majestic Irish oak.”
Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Kylebeg Wood is available globally at 12pm Irish time from 19th November 2021, RRP: €310 per 70cl.
To purchase a bottle please visit https://www.midletonveryrare.com/en?page_id=2203
Please click HERE to viewDair Ghaelach Kylebeg Wood video .
NOTES
Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Kylebeg Wood Tasting Notes
Nose: Fragrant woodland spices with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg to the fore accompanied by aromatic oils and dried, earthy undertones. The classic pot still spices build over time working in tandem with delicate hints of nectarine to create a zesty fruit note with light dustings of white pepper. Additional aromas of dairy fudge and vanilla with a rich nutty character further accentuate the sweet and savoury nature of this wonderfully complex whiskey.
Taste: Fortified by the Irish Oak, the pot still spices lead with a heightened intensity thanks to the rich wood tannins before subsiding to reveal velvety tones of caramel with sweet stewed apple and touches of orange peel. Dark chocolate with subtle notes of honeycomb and vanilla weave amongst the spices, fruits and oak adding further complexity and intrigue.
Finish: Delightfully long finish with the fruits and spices slowly fading, allowing the Irish Oak to linger until the very end.
About Irish Distillers and AFI*
Committed to giving back to nature and nurturing a sustainable environment for Kylebeg Wood, Irish Distillers has supported an internationally recognised protocol for monitoring forest growth and management called the AFI* protocol. Kylebeg Wood is one of over 100 forests across western Europe that are similarly monitored. Under this protocol, the forest is assessed every five years in terms of its sustainability, productivity and ecology. The objective is to learn about how the forest develops over time and responds to different management interventions. It is intended that this will be used as a demonstration and measurement of best oak forest management practice in Ireland and is also an investment in the long-term development and production of coopering grade oak in Ireland.
*AFI stands for Association Futaie Irrégulière which means Association of Irregular Forestry
About Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines, and producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s bestselling Irish whiskey, experiencing 30 years of consecutive growth up to 2019 and hitting sales of 8.6m cases in 2021. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets.
Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. Since 2012, we have invested over €400 million to double our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.
We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin.
About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the No.2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales of €8,824 million in FY21. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has developed through organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard’s brands are distributed across 160+ markets and by its own salesforce in 73 markets. The Group’s decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of “Créateurs de Convivialité.” As reaffirmed by the Group’s strategic plan, “Transform and Accelerate,” deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard’s strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics, as illustrated by the 2030 Sustainability and Responsibility roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “Good times from a good place.” In recognition of Pernod Ricard’s strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nation’s Global Compact LEAD company.
Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.
BENROMACH LAUNCHES ‘FIRSTHAND’ WITH LIMITED-EDITION HIP FLASK COLLABORATION
“Firsthand” is the new campaign from Benromach which celebrates the benefits and craft of hand-made products. To mark this, a new series of curated partnerships with artisan producers will be created to explore the quality and artistry of the handmade.
As a whisky that’s made by hand for genuine character, Benromach is celebrating the skills of makers worldwide who share the same ethos and commitment to making high quality products using time honoured methods.
After working together for many months on the detail and design, today Benromach releases its first collaboration in the Firsthand series by partnering with Yorkshire-based leather workers, specialising in custom hip flasks, HÔRD.
Benromach x HÔRD launches today with 80 hipflasks (£50) available to purchase from benromach.com/flask. Handmade by Gemma Gilleard and Jason Booth, founders of HÔRD, each hip flask uses old leather that would otherwise head to landfill, with all cladding, dyeing and detail added by hand.
Jason Booth, founder of HÔRD, said: “We produce by hand to create beautiful products that can be passed down through generations. Making our hip flasks by hand allows us to guarantee the quality, care and attention that goes into everything we produce and we’re incredibly proud of what we do here. The limited edition hip flask we’ve created for Benromach is a perfect example of our work and we’re thrilled with the end result.”
Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager at Benromach, said: “Our small team of distillers rely entirely on their expertise and senses to make the finest handmade whisky, matured exclusively in first-fill casks – it’s what we do and who we are. Made by hand for genuine character is how we started, and this is how we will continue the Benromach story. There may be a more efficient way of doing it, but here at Benromach we celebrate the rewards of all things handmade. The collaboration with HÔRD has produced something we are all incredibly proud of and the perfect complement to any single malt from Benromach Distillery.”
The HÔRD collaboration is the start of a series of partnerships in the Firsthand campaign. In the coming months Benromach will continue to introduce new brand collaborations that bring to life the art of handmade.
To find out more about Firsthand or to buy a limited edition Benromach x HÔRD hip flask, visit Benromach.com/Firsthand.
About Benromach Distillery
Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life when the Urquhart family realised a lifelong dream to own a distillery and purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five-year period before it was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Rothesay in 1998.
In reopening Benromach Distillery, the Urquhart family wanted to create a single malt whisky that has a classic Speyside character: beautifully balanced with a light touch of smoke.
Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. Its five-star visitor centre is currently closed but is planned to reopen in the spring of 2022 for tours and tastings. Benromach Distillery is a member of the world-famous Malt Whisky Trail.
For more information, visit: www.benromach.com
ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST IN DEMAND BOTTLES OF JAPANESE WHISKY TO GO UNDER THE ‘WHISKY HAMMER’
— Yamazaki 55 Year Old expected to attract global attention at online whisky auction —
A Scottish whisky auction firm will showcase the super-rare Yamazaki 55 Year Old in its auction, starting Friday 19 November 2021 – an iconic release which has proven incredibly sought after and notoriously difficult for enthusiasts to find for purchase.
The single-malt blockbuster is the world’s oldest and rarest Japanese whisky and has been described as a ‘unicorn amongst whisky collectors’.
First unveiled to the world in 2020, the Yamazaki 55 Year Old was limited to just 100 bottles which were sold exclusively in Japan via lottery. Over a year later, a second and final release of 100 bottles were made available to other markets around the world.
Online whisky auction business Whisky Hammer was started in 2016 by brothers Daniel and Craig Milne who are originally from Macduff, near Speyside, an area renowned for the production of Scotch whisky.
Daniel believes this is an incredibly unique opportunity for a whisky collector to bid on one of the most sought after whiskies in the world. He said: “We couldn’t be more excited to offer such an exceptionally coveted bottle of whisky. The Yamazaki 55 Year Old is arguably the most in-demand collectable bottle of Japanese whisky in the world today – anyone who collects rare whiskies knows about Yamazaki and wants it. It is a unicorn amongst whisky collectors worldwide, particularly those with an interest in Japanese whisky.
“Only a few have appeared in world auctions in recent times, however the lot available through Whisky Hammer is even more desirable for serious collectors as it’s the first of its kind to appear at auction free from having the original owner’s name engraved on the glass and box, which featured in the first 100 bottles sold exclusively in Japan.”
This whisky is a blend of single malts, with components distilled in 1960 and aged in Mizunara casks and some distilled in 1964 and aged in White Oak casks. One of the rarest and most expensive oak species in the world, whiskies aged in Mizunara are highly prized. Mizunara wood is native to Japan and deeply-rooted in the country’s history. Scarcer than European and American oak, Mizunara is very expensive and hard to cooper due to its porous nature.
Aged at a stunning 55 years old, the 46% ABV whisky is presented in a crystal bottle with the word ‘Yamazaki’ engraved in sandblasted calligraphy featuring real gold dust and lacquer on the age marking. The bottle’s opening is wrapped in handmade Echizen washi paper and bound with a Kyo-kumihimo-plaited cord, a traditional craft from Kyoto. Each bottle comes in a bespoke box made from native Mizunara wood and coated with Suruga lacquer.
Whisky Hammer hosts monthly auctions, dedicated to whisky and other fine spirits, allowing buyers and sellers from every corner of the globe to participate. It has auctioned a wide range of whiskies, both bottles and casks, with auctions selling in excess of £1 million under the hammer each month.
Whisky Hammer re-located in 2019 to a new, purpose-built facility in Aberdeenshire, which is also home to Still Spirit – a whisky shop, e-commerce site and dram bar offering over 100 rare whiskies to taste while overlooking the beautiful Scottish countryside.
Yamazaki 55 Year Old will go live and open for bids on Whisky Hammer from 7pm (GMT) on Friday 19 November to Sunday 21 November. To register visit HERE
Notes:
Background information on Yamazaki Distillery
Yamazaki, in southwestern Kyoto at the foot of Mt. Tennozan. With his unwavering preference for the high-quality water and natural environment vital in whisky-making, founder Shinjiro Torii selected the land of Yamazaki from among several candidate sites.
The area around Yamazaki Distillery has long been famous for its exquisite natural water, which is even mentioned in the Man’yoshu, the ancient anthology of Japanese poetry. The “Rikyu no Mizu” (water of the imperial villa) selected by the Ministry of the Environment as one of Japan’s one hundred best natural mineral waters, continues to bubble forth today.
For the process water used at Yamazaki Distillery, this pure and high-quality groundwater, nurtured slowly over eons, is used.
Surrounded by abundant nature, the unique terrain, where the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu Rivers meet, is the ideal moist and humid environment for the aging of whisky: Yamazaki is indeed a whisky-making utopia.
Yamazaki began production in 1924 and in early years produced both malt and grain for Suntory’s blends. In 1984 Yamazaki released its first 12 year old single malt – the beginning of an admirable market for today’s highly reputable Japanese single malt whiskies.
In 2003, the Yamazaki 12 Years Old single malt whisky produced at Yamazaki Distillery became the first Japanese whisky to win the gold medal at the ISC (International Spirits Challenge)-a highly authoritative spirits competition in the world. Suntory has continued to win awards for its whiskies, earning global recognition for Japanese whisky.
Follow Whisky Hammer on @whiskyhammer on Facebook and Instagram.
Limhamn, Sweden November 16, 2021
Dear Whisky enthusiast
My third whisky book is soon to be published (January 2022).
It is a tale of the supreme collectible, enjoyable and valuable iconic whisky series ever made. A near complete (54 of 58 versions) series was sold at Bonham’s auction house in Hong Kong November 20, 2020 for USD 1.5 million.
The book unfold the story about the magnificent Playing Card Series from Hanyu and Chichibu Whisky Distilleries in Japan, distilled by the Akuto family and bottled by Ichiro Akuto-san.
The book is a 170-page book of coffee table size (29x29cm) and quality is near art book style. Its content encompass the story of the Chichibu-Kikusui, Hanyu, Chichibu distilleries and the Akuto family.
A chapter is dedicated to the complete Playing card series and how it started. Here, each bottle is the ‘objets d’art’, occupying a full page. Opposite page contains my 58 tasting notes, technical descriptions and the flip side of the bottles.
All 58 bottle pictures are from my own Playing Card Series collection. Other sections comprise the series aftermath, auctions, rules and data, fakes and frauds. A special chapter called Passing time, deals with experimental mixology on account of the Playing card series and summarizing tasting notes.
Exact publishing date will be announced on https://www.buxrud.se/webb/
Price per single copy is Euro 30 or GBP 30 or USD 35 or SEK 300.
Excluding shipment fees.
Discounted bulk option is available for groups like whisky retailers, whisky circles, sushi restauranteurs and book stores.
Price per bulk shipment (box of ten copies) is Euro 250 or GBP 250 or USD 300 or SEK 2500.
Excluding shipment fees.
Also, if you would like to make a non-binding reservation before the publishing date then let me know the numbers.
Kind regards
Ulf Buxrud
A Keeper of the Quaich
Other books by Ulf
-Rare Malts’, ISBN 1 84689 007 1, published by Quiller’s/UK 2006
-Japanese whisky’ ISBN 978-91-633-2093-4 published by DataAnalys/Sweden 2008.
-Contributed to the Asian segment of ‘Eyewitness Companion: Whisky’,
ISBN 9781 40532 8142 published by Dorling Kindersley/UK 2008.
Cragganmore 25 Year Old 1995 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Single sherry butt bottled April 2021 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old & Rare series. 298 bottles. This burnished gold coloured whisky has a deep, rich, sweet nose of treacle, dried fruits and butterscotch. On the palate it is full bodied with a slight tongue prickle alongside stewed prunes and sultanas, all leading to a long, satisfying finish with a fruity aftertaste.
Cragganmore Distillery in 1869 in the heart of Scotland’s Speyside whisky region. This is a malt whisky distillery equipped with four very short stills and is one of the few Scottish malt whisky distilleries that continues to cool its new spirit in traditional worm tubs. The few distillery bottlings including Cragganmore 12 Year Old and Distillers Edition are well enhanced by those of independent bottlers.
Introducing the newest
member of the team!
Introducing the newest & cutest member of our team. And you have a chance to name him and win a bottle here >> Competition. But of course, the main draw is the new Glenfarclas Tyndrum Gold. 1 of 500 Bottles, available to PRE ORDER now
The latest batch of Tyndrum Gold is finally here! Expected to arrive at the end of the month with shipping and sipping in time for Christmas.
The standard 10 sits at 40%, this sits at an absolutely punchy 48%. Bottled at Natural Colour. This release is a 10 year old from Glenfarclas Distillery. You will have noticed that we have changed up our label a little from previous releases and we now feature a gold miner, enjoying some fine liquid gold. However, we haven’t got a name for our new character and have decided our fellow TynDRAMMer’s should get to name him. We have set up a competition to win a bottle of this new Tyndrum Gold. All you have to do is visit the link below and submit a name for the character. You can enter as many times as you like and the competition will end on the 31st of December. We will then go through all the names submitted and one winner will be selected. We will notify the winner in early January.
Click here to enter a name for the gold miner
Tasting Notes
Nose: very dunnage’y’, with cream, caramel, dried fruits
Tastes & Finish: Typically Glenfarclas drive, sweet, with a long finish that gets you wanting more and more
This Tyndrum Gold release will come with a carton.One of only 500 bottles available, bottled by Glenfarclas Distillery, exclusive to TyndrumWhisky.com
A One-of-a-Kind Speysider from the Incomparable Signatory
2007 Glen Elgin 14 Year Old “Signatory K&L Exclusive” Hogshead Cask Strength Collection Speyside
Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($89.99)
“If you love malt for malt’s sake, this cask is too good to skip.”
— Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer
Oh, Signatory. Will the hits ever stop coming? Hopefully not, as this latest installment from our incredible independent bottler shows yet again what kind of singular, absolutely stirring whiskies they seem to unearth in their warehouses on a regular basis. The Glen Elgin distillery has long played a significant role in many well-known blends, but it’s only recently started to gain traction under its own name as collectors have discovered what distinctive and characterful malts come off the old worm tub stills at this under-the-radar Speyside gem. This 14 Year Old is a monument to malt itself and a testament to what long, patient fermentations and distillations can achieve. While the pale color may suggest an ethereal, high-toned dram, it’s anything but that. Spirits buyer David Othenin-Girard explains, “Oily and chewy with tons of honeyed sweetness up front … it’s almost shocking how fun this is right out of the bottle … Utterly perfect for those who appreciate the malt-driven character that this relatively naked Speysider can offer.” There are few, if any, like it in the market, and at a stellar, sub-$100 price, it will provide an unmatched drinking experience to single malt aficionados everywhere.
K&L Notes: While many distillery owners prefer shell and tube condensers because they are cheaper and easier to maintain, it is no secret that, for many great malts, a worm tub is critical to the final character. Glen Elgin is a classic worm tub distillery. Juicy fruit and palate weight are the major hallmarks of Glen Elgin, situated in Speyside’s small hamlet of Fogwatt. The distillery has very long fermentation times (ranging from 80-120 hours) and an unusually clear wort. Combine that with very slow distillations and you have a vibrant, fruity malt. Condense that fruity malt in a slow, meandering worm tub, and you’ve got robust body. This somewhat paradoxical profile has lead Glen Elgin to be prized by blenders and have a cult following among single malt enthusiasts. Fortunately for K&L customers, Signatory has secured a choice cask for us. Aged 14 years, matured in hogshead. Distilled on 5/1/2007. Bottled 5/21/2021 53.2%ABV. Cask No 800253. It’s big and rich with bushels of stone fruit and chewy malt.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 03, 2021
Don’t let the pale straw color of this malt fool you. It’s a rich tapestry of fruit and grain with just a light veil of wood. The nose is full of fleshy ripe fruits ranging from nectarine to pear to golden apple. If grain ripened like a fruit, this would be ripe malt as well. A delicate savor feels almost like the crunch of hot, freshly fried tempura. It’s chewy and satisfying, yet somehow light. The palate is thick with malted barley and a fresh snowy blanket of citrus zest. If you love malt for malt’s sake, this cask is too good to skip.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: October 29, 2021
Slowly but surely the fabulous Glen Elgin distillery is gaining fans. We likely have our friends at Compass Box to thank for producing several excellent blends that highlight the gorgeous and nuanced character of this semi-rare distillery. We bought a few barrels from an excellent lot of ’95s nearly a decade ago, and over that period have yet to come across one that suited our tastes. This one, however, offers the perfect snap shot of a malt-driven Elgin at an altogether reasonable price. Similar whiskies sell at competitors’ shops for $30-$40 more, and none will deliver the purity and zest of this supple offering. The color is pale straw. Slightly shy at first, but with just a few minutes in the glass the nose opens up exceptionally. A pure, linear maltiness encompassed by golden raisins, flecks of cacao, salted caramel, and Barlett pear skins. On the palate, utterly pristine pear and pointed white pepper. The texture is much richer than the color would imply. Oily and chewy with tons of honeyed sweetness up front moving toward roasted almonds and pithy citrus on the back. It’s almost shocking how fun this is right out of the bottle, but with a splash of water it explodes with tropical fruit aromas. Kiwi, papaya, yuzu! On the palate, it’s still got plenty of weight and adds a toasted vanilla character. Utterly perfect for those who appreciate the malt-driven character that this relatively naked Speysider can offer.
