Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 47.5%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Sherry oloroso
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Morrison Distillers
Average price: € 80.00
Official website: www.carnmorwhisky.co.uk
Vote: 86/100
The roads to Highland Park are endless, we think, in the sense that, albeit under different names (Orkney, Whitlaw), we find whisky from the Orkney Islands’ most important distillery in our glass on a regular basis. And often bottled by independents, which, considering that the latest official releases, with the exception of cask strenghts, have not exactly blown us away, is not a bad thing at all.
Today we taste a proposal from Càrn Mòr, the popular label of Morrison Distillers: a 2013 10yo from former oloroso sherry casks presented in 1789 bottles in its natural colour at the standard alcohol content, for the Strictly Limited line, of 47.5%.
Tasting notes
The colour closely resembles that of caramel.
The nose is immediately citrusy, in the guise of bergamot (bergamot juice, to be precise) and pink grapefruit, followed by sweet notes of caramel and crème brûlée and a non-bellied spicy army of nutmeg, cloves and pepper. Slight campfire smoke in the background on which impressions of prunes and wet earth settle like caresses. Subsequent hints of fruit gummies (strawberries and berries), coffee beans and Guarana-flavoured carbonated drink.
On the nose, the attack is still citrusy, with a strong reminder of yellow orange peel. The aromatic smoke here is thicker, a blanket violated only by notes of caramel, crème brûlée and a dusting of pepper, before a lunge of nuts, walnut in particular.
The finish is not very long, but it’s warm and peppery, with caramel, a touch of smoke and a hint of peach tea that leaves a very pleasant taste in the mouth.
The nose is super, the palate unfortunately much less so and the finish, though pleasant, is shorter than we would have expected. Overall, however, it remains a very satisfying dram that we would repeat many times, with a much more interesting, and successful, use of ex-sherry casks than is often the case with official releases.