Cask No. 3.296

Cask No. 3.296

Elegance and power

Islay

The nose evoked the smouldering remains of a bonfire of sherry-butt staves – ash, wood and wine – it also put us in the mood for a coffee break – flavoured coffee, After Eights, gingerbread and maple pecan Danish. The palate etched our tongues with substantial sweet peat smoke, aniseed, butterscotch and sugary espresso dregs – elegant yet powerful – a tiny troop of ballet dancers pirouetting on our taste-buds, leaving spiral traces of smoky cicatrisation. The reduced nose suggested scorched coconut, caraway crackers, liquorice and metal snuff boxes. The palate had become a sweet, smoky, herbal, honey spice box – first-rate fun and exceptional balance.

Drinking tip: A dram to enhance a coffee break by a log fire.

Colour: Antique oak
Cask: Refill butt
Age: 18 years
Date distilled: September 1997 
Alcohol: 57.6%
USA allocation: 150 bottles