Holy cow is this nose awesome. Oloroso with a shellacky, varnishy character not uncommon to older sherried whiskies. Pumpernickel.
Palate completely delivers. An intense and satisfying old sherry monster, full of all the deep, dark, dried fruits and raisiny stuff you'd hope for. And I get a whole lot of almond extract -- like almond cookies or amaretto. Finish is quite tannic as expected, but a good grip rather than an overly bitter one. A little cocoa too.
An exceptional single malt that I can't wait to drink again. Um, when is that gonna be?
RETASTE: Hey, I only had to wait six months! In addition to the above, I notice coffee and marzipan in the nose. The amaretto notes are still there on the palate, but just suggestions, we're not talking like di Saronno. Mild sweetness without the overgripping tannins you might worry about. Actually it's very, very drinkable despite the massive onslaught of flavors with every sip.
Big resinous sherry notes (but not cloying). Tangy black berry, licorice and loads of chocolate. Chewy consistency with more of the same describe above with raisins and stewed fruits. Long finish that really brings out the wood.
Blind Retaste 12-2014
Deep tangy sweet sherry. Long red fruit jam finish. Tasted blind against 5 other malts. The tartness was very pronounced and took away from the overall experience of the malt. At least that night. B+/ A-
The nose has deep, sweet sherry with fig and prune. the palate has dry sherry with some of the nose's fruit notes and an ashy mouthfeel. The finish is dry and meaty.
n: dried cherries, musty wood in an earthy basement. Thick varnish, tobacco leaf drying in the sun, and dry chocolate. Great deep nose that would be suitable for cologne (or perfume for that matter).
t: black cherry syrup, balsamic figs, cinnamon stick, dense and dry and very tannic. This gives a sense of time past long ago but a great middle that brings in some blackberry sweetness just before it gets too dry. Elegant heavy wood finish that leaves something special. That dry musty wood and ash is massive, but delicious, but almost pulls this down to a B+.
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