Cask No. 18.54

For us it was not love at first sight, or should we say sniff? – but it's worth getting to know better. Briny, smoky aromas arrived next to rubber on hot asphalt, as well as a strong Assam tea – this was spicy and malty. On the palate some found it slightly dirty, dry and yeasty, but with impressions of dark chocolate shavings, a coffee cake and a chilli spice. With water one Panellist cleaned the vinyl seat of a Trabant (a classic East German car) before we drove around the island of Madeira. We then visited the farmers' market in Funchal and had a glass of dry sercial madeira wine. Following 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky into a first fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead.