Tasting Notes:

On the nose: cranberry sauce, jam on wholemeal toast. Figs, raisins. Once that initial dried fruit burst fades – which takes a while – it recedes to some huge cereal notes. Weetabix, even slightly jammy porridge. Two waves of boldness there, but beyond that follows the lighter fruits. Dried oranges. Ginger. Yet it always comes back to that lovely jam on toast note, even at the end.

In the mouth: extremely approachable for the strength; and, indeed, a phenomenal expression of barley shining through the STR wood. Hugely viscous – it’s a joy to swirl around the mouth, something way underrated in a spirit. The barley is more dominant than the wood, curiously; or rather the maltiness merges with the toastiness very well. Chocolatey. Warming with cloves and ginger. Figs again. The cranberry note – perhaps more cherry-like here, less tartness – endures. But the integration of flavours, that boldness of barley versus the rich fruits, is marvellous.

70cl │62%

Country: England