Origin: Isle of Mull (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 55.8%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: J & A Mitchell & Co Ltd.
Average price: € 150.00
Official website: www.cadenhead.scot
Vote: 90/100
Another dip into the past, to a 2016 bottling made by those great benefactors at Cadenhead’s who have been able to give us so many good whiskies (of course paying for them, but not even that much after all).
Single butt ex sherry with 1995 distillate that twenty-one years later produced 486 cask strength bottles, unfortunately not so easy to find today but of which a friend managed to get me a copious sample.
Tasting notes
The nose is initially pungent and scurvy, but soon settles into a distinctly sherried imprint, with dried fruit (apricot, plum, sultanas, figs) combined with sour cherries, carob, nuts (almonds, pecans) and candied orange. There is a dusty, musty hint of damp cellar that envelops the aromas, along with a hint of blue cheese like Roquefort, with pungent notes of spices (black pepper, cloves) and a background of worn leather. The feeling of ‘old’ (in a good way) is all there.
On the palate it feels like a Caribbean cigar in liquid form, with earthy hints of tobacco, cedar wood, nuts and again that idea of mould and a long-closed wooden chest. Brown sugar, prune, candied orange, leather and spices complete the picture, with a soft, oily texture. Along the length, traces of cocoa and cinnamon.
Fairly long finish of humidor, tobacco leaves, spices, nuts, blood orange, coffee.
Not exactly the most complex of whiskies, but with all the character of Tobermory with the elegance offered by time: it either pleases or leaves you indifferent. I like it very much, its distinct personality convinces and involves, the distillery profile is distinct and well integrated. Promoted with full marks.