The 18 year old single malt scotch whisky is matured in a high proportion of American oak casks with a small portion of European oak casks to balance the liquid. The result is an easy to enjoy single malt with dried fruit aromas, a rich complex palate and a soft nutty finish. Complex and well balanced. Smooth and unctuous at first, yet hinting at an intriguing dryness to come on the palate. Aromas of walnuts and polished antique oak lead into a whole bowl of dried fruits (apricots, blackcurrants, apples), followed by ginger biscuits. Later, a smoothly honeyed sweetness is cut by the cleansing freshness of crisp, newly peeled pears. Full, long, and finely detailed, with clear cedar notes against a smooth backdrop of fine, silky chocolate. Becomes leaner, with a memory of gingery malt; that dryness is now offset by a lingering sweetness in a polished conclusion.
Nose: Soft, inviting, dry and autumnal nose. Sweet, stewed fruits, ripe autumn apples and rich berry fruits. Roasted nuts; hazelnut, walnut. Fragrant wood. Then a rich vanilla and toffee smoothness. A little water restores the appetising fruit.
Body: Light to medium body, softly coating the tongue.
Palate: Firm to full palate. Dry and sweet; nuts, dark toffee and gentle mint, rhubarb and apple juice. Deeper hint of almond biscuit. Dries, with a rich, silky cocoa bitterness, growing spicy. Water brings up sweet fruit, blackberries.
Finish: Long, smooth and warming finish. Sweetness softly introduces a longer, drying oakiness. Stewed-fruit freshness. Wood-smoke spiced with faint black pepper.