Following on from Talisker's 43 year old Xpedition Oak, this exceptional expression is a 44 year old single malt dubbed Forests of the Deep! Not only is it impressively old indeed (44 years!), this whisky has been made as a collaboration with Parley to "Rewild Our Seas", and has been finished in casks charred by fire fuelled with worn oak from oceanic adventures and sustainably harvested kelp.
Mellow overall, with a light peppery prickle at first. Deep, dense and complex. The top notes speak of wood wreathed in fragrant smoke and rich maritime hints of ships and the sea, as enticing traces of seaweed, salt crystals and warm sand mingle with sweeter hints of rich toffee. Beneath these scents lie intriguing deeper layers of aroma; hints of canvas, iodine-rich sea air and a distant beach bonfire, the smokiness emphasised by a dash of water.
A big, wonderfully oil-smooth texture and a mouth-watering umami-rich taste, as waves of smoky-sweet rich intensity meet the full force of the sea mid-palate. The effect becomes savoury and lightly drying as a delicious peppery warmth surges forward to embrace these smooth, rich flavours of the deep. A drop of water softens the feel and brings a sweeter taste, with only a pinch of salt, but with the spice still, now as Szechuan pepper.
Really long, as a sweet chilli-pepper warmth suffuses the palate. Fragrant smoke and sweetness linger in the aftertaste.
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