Scotland
Surface:Depth
Sherry
A 12-year-old sherry-finished Speyside single malt, Surface:Depth celebrates the interaction between whisky and wood during maturation. As such, there is NO caramel and NO chill-filtration with this natural beauty.
The surface area plays a big factor in how a cask can influence its contents, and this single malt was finished in teeny little octave casks, ensuring greater contact between whisky and wood.
As it matures, whisky soaks into the depths and crevices of the cask, and meanwhile, remnants of the sherry that the cask previously held are able to escape into the whisky. There are hefty helpings of festive spice to be had here, joined by satisfying trickles of toffee and chocolatey malt.
Cooked apples, a touch of hay, dark chocolate, and fiery cinnamon spice open the way for honeycomb, vanilla fudge, robust, spicy barley, and a touch of fennel.
Chocolatey malt, vanilla, toasted, oaky spice, and toffee, with trickles of butterscotch, hints of clove, and nutmeg.
Sweet notes of maple and blueberry wrap things up, with dense oak and barky cinnamon, honeyed barley, and a dusting of pepper.
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Enjoyed this. Probably more than I was expecting. If this was the only whisky that I was allowed to drink for the next 20 years, then I wouldn't be disappointed. There are undoubtedly other bottles that I'd prefer, but there are others that would be (much) more of a disappointment. Slainté ?
Colour good, definite Sherry nose and front end then….well, watery and bland. Will stick to the double casks!
Was intrigued to see this so bought one which arrived today. Nose Sherry spice, rich oak, toffee, caramel, marshmallows, caramac chocolate, sea salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, damson syrup, HB pencils, ginger, star fruit. Palate ABV hit, tingly tongue, caramel, deep oak and old varnish, umami and musty, Sherry, cucumber, star fruit, orange zest, red currant, long ginger notes and spicy. That’s a strong cask forward whisky. Different but very enjoyable. Very recommended.
So, as a fan of A'bundah from Aberlour, I was intrigued by this offering of a 12yr old Cask-Strength Speyside dram... and I'm not disappointed... but then not overawed by it either... Comparing it to A'bundah is wrong as it's a different process/barrel but the comparison between the notes is there... Strong dried fruit and a blast of sherry gives you an initial explosion of sweetness but the length of the flavour falls away to deep oak and almost bourbon-finished flavours... deep, but complex!
