Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 53.4%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Sherry Hogshead
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Valinch & Mallet Ltd.
Average price: € 179.00
Official website: www.valinchandmallet.com
Vote: 89/100
I take up the refined The Spirit of Art Limited Edition collection of the two Italian bottlers, with a bottle that will surely attract the attention of many enthusiasts, given the interest that the Islay distillery captures among them.
Single barrel ex-Sherry, which produced 312 bottles, made with a distillate of 2001 bottled in 2020.
The magnificent picture of a turbulent landscape, granted by the Craig Gallery of Turin, is the work of Oscar Isaias Contreras Rojas.
Tasting notes
Dark amber in the glass.
Elegantly dry and silky, the nose is presented with dried fruit (figs, plums) and tobacco, candied orange, raisins, nutmeg, licorice, wood chips, coffee, bitter cocoa powder. Rich and compact, over time it increases spicy tones, becoming even more enveloping and warm.
On the palate it’s an infusion of cigars, a triumph of bright tobacco and berries, licorice root, touch of anise, red orange, pine needles. It evokes a walk in a pine forest, savoring a good Italian cigar.
Long finish that continues the impression of cigar with wooded scents, licorice, spices, coffee.
For a non-smoker it may be difficult to fully appreciate its nuances, but there is such a richness and fullness of flavors that a peat lover can only delight in it for long. Three-dimensional and complete, very fulfilling.