More fun salmon times with a 10 year old Speyburn from the a refill ex-bourbon hogshead.
Nose: Commencing with farminess – hay, threshed fields and barnyards (though not in an autolytic manner) this then morphs forwards fruit and sugared treats – banana bread, gingerbread men and chocolate soil with a steady influx of hedgerow berries creeping in. Wild honey provides additional sweetness, whilst in the background, pink water biscuits are joined by newly fried French fries. Dilution ups the sweetness with a trip to the confectionery to pick up lemon drops and an assortment of jelly beans.
Taste: Tea cakes packed full of gooey marshmallow are joined by chocolate digestive biscuits and oven-baked buns. Red berries – raspberry and strawberry are drizzled in milk chocolate sauce before being sprinkled in nutmeg and ginger spices. Water heads back to where it all began – farminess – grasses, reeds, flax and sunflowers.
Finish: Medium in length and favouring chocolate flavours – cocoa powder, crumbled chocolate and a hint of spiced mocha.
This Speyburn manages to cut across a variety of aroma and flavour styles throughout its development. Whilst chocolate always seems at the centre of the palate, there are plenty of other interesting sojourns to be had here – as such, it’s both a tasty and an exploratory dram that’s well worth checking out.