Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 48.5%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Claxton’s
Average price: € 400.00
Official website: claxtonsspirits.com
Vote: 90/100
After a while, the indie Claxton’s (a label behind which we find Jack Hoose and Graham Claxton, active since 2016) is back on the blog with its oh-so-original bottles. And it’s an important return: a whisky from Aberlour, a distillery not too common among independents, a good 28 years old, from a single ex-bourbon barrel, No 2093-3037. Released from the stills on 18 June 1992 and offered in only 186 bottles at 48.5% ABV, in its natural colour and without chill filtration.
Tasting notes
The colour is a brilliant gold.
The nose is immediately multifaceted and complex. Motivated by a pronounced spiciness (white pepper) and a touch of ginger, we find notes of pastry, anise, milk chocolate and walnut, as well as floral nuances reminiscent of orange blossom and oleander. Polished light wood and lemon panna cotta. An impression of hay peeps out. As the olfactory analysis proceeds, we even detect a hint of Vov (the popular egg liqueur).
On the palate, the creamy dimension is more evident, with orange cream, toffee, some vanilla and apricot yoghurt. The white pepper spice is light but not absent. Short pastry and surprising incursions of freshly baked bread and nocino. More polished light wood.
The finish is very long and barely spicy, with orange cream, custard and butter biscuits. An almost endless pampering.
Expectations – rather high, we must admit – were repaid by a very high profile dram, smooth and inviting but also so rich in nuances as to require extra concentration. A very precious whisky, more unique than rare, which, by the looks of it, will not fail to surprise even long-standing admirers of this distillery.