Vanilla Burst is a blend of two unspecified Speyside single malts that have matured in fifteen 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels. It’s bottled non-chill filtered, naturally coloured and at an ABV of 46%. 4,800 bottles were produced and it’s available for a shy over £43 from Master of Malt.
Nose: A burst of vanilla as promised! But, there’s more to be said than just that. The vanilla is well-rounded and is supported by notes of fudge, whipped cream, crystalline ginger and some earthy and grassy nuances. There’s a good basket of fruits here, certainly pears, but also some lemon peels too.
Taste: A good mouthfeel that’s got some pleasant body with some viscosity. Vanilla (of course), but less one-sided and in your face than on the nose, with much more cask spice coming to the fore – ginger again, joined by pepper, slight cinnamon and a hint of salinity that licks on the tip of the tongue. The grassiness and some delicate hays come through much more dominantly now, and take over some of the fruitier notes we identified before – they’re still there, but on the down low compared to herbals and spices.
Finish: Short to medium in length and emphasising the peppery notes. Slightly astringent and drying.
As good as its word – this is indeed a burst of Vanilla, but more so on the nose than on the palate where both the youthful grassy notes and overriding cask spice both take over. Simplistic, but pleasant enough, especially if you like shades of youngish 1st fill ex-bourbon.
With thanks to Wemyss Malts for the sample.