Nose: a very waxy profile – a lot of lemon balk and candle wax. Also hints of clay and chalk at first. It takes a while but eventually there’s also a typical pineapple and vanilla notes. A couple of drops of water help to open it up. Tangerines and honey. Later it returns to wet wool and wet chalk.
Mouth: oily but way more fruity now, with beautiful pineapple, ripe mango and papaya, as well as plenty of waxy notes and a growing kind of ‘old herb’ note (almost medicinal) and mint leaves. Polished wood, with a gentle bitterness and chalk as well. Quite salty too. A unique combination of funkiness and sheer attraction.
Finish: long, on sweet herbs and liquorice, with drops of honey and traces of fruits.
On the nose this focuses on the waxy side, leaving us a little disappointed perhaps. However once you’re sipping it, the tropical fruits and herbal side lift this to unexpected heights. Maybe not as pure and bright as some of the other casks, but really complex and intruiging. This will probably arrive in Asia soon – check thewhiskyjury.com for a list of retailers. Score: 90/100
