Over to Blair Athol for a bottle name which immediately pricks up my ears. 11 years in a recharred hogshead before being bottled at 57.5% ABV.
Nose: Just odd. Burnt pastry cases, overdone tarts and stale croissants with sweaty sweetness – sugar coated stale socks and sour orange juice glugged in a murky stadium changing room. Peanut butter comes through strongly in the form of a PBJ sandwich, whilst golden syrup and lemon gel add additional sweetness. Erm. Water reveals fruit strudel with orchard and berries with a touch of sharp balsamic imbued chocolate.
Taste: Reductive. Dark woods, dark honey and Black Jack chews sit with fence post varnish, crushed peanuts and aromatic tinned tobacco. Earthy follows – not quite as sweaty and musty as the nose – but still heading toward leather-clad gimp suits. Reduction produces an experience that is ultra-dry and entirely moisture sucking with steeped black tea, liquorice and wallpaper.
Finish: Medium with more tannins than you can shake a stick at. Heavily reduced fruits with aromatic woods and sustained tobacco notes.
Whilst I’m a fan of what’s possible with re-charred casks, this is way overcooked for my tastes. Whilst it’s certainly “oddball, funky and eccentric” – that doesn’t automatically equate to it being a pleasant drinking experience. Perhaps some of you will get on with it better? But for me – sadly this is a notable wide berth.