From Chris Hoban...
Nose:
At first, the impact is blood oranges, tangerines and a waxy nature. Then what follows is vanilla pastries, Jaffa cake jelly, bananas and a biscuity malty note. Really fresh. It jumps out of the glass and has such life for something with such age.
Palate:Slight hint of ash, slight hint of peat, again an orange jelly and zestiness Creamy and slight hints of a Ruby Port.
Finish:Beautiful. Liqueur chocolates, stewed apples and high cocoa dark chocolate. A nice citrusy note followed by the first taste of dry oak. This tiniest bit of dryness entices you to taste again. Sadly my sample is all gone.
Comment:The only whisky this can really be compared to is Mortlach 70. I prefer the Glenlivet 70. It suits my sweet tooth, it's fresher and has more vitality while still exhibiting the moreish nature of the Mortlach.
From Charlie MacLean...
Appearance:Deep amber, with tawny lights.
Aroma:A mild nose-feel. The first aroma is of an old cocktail cabinet, with Sherry notes predominating: polished wood, soft leather and a trace of candlewax. Behind this are fruity notes, lightly baked apples (even Tarte Tatin), but also fresh orange juice, and just a thread of smoke or ash in the distance. Adding a drop of water suppresses the fruity notes and slightly enhances the sweetness (now tablet) and smokiness.
Taste:A waxy, teeth-coating, mouthfeel; smooth and voluptuous. The taste is sweetish to start, then savoury, with a trace of salt – might this be a rare example of ‘umami’ in whisky, the elusive fifth primary taste? The finish is long, with a faint smokiness in the aftertaste. Drinks well at natural strength. With a drop of water the flavours remain intact.
Development:Fades gracefully towards vanilla fudge and sanded wood.
Cask Type:First Fill Sherry Butt.
Comment:A stupendous whisky! Although it resonates with aged character – and, indeed, characteristics from another era - it retains vitality, both on the nose and in the mouth.