Bottled at a time when everything wasn’t yet about single casks. Colour: deep amber.Nose: wow, it’s superb! A very elegant sherry, starting on peaty and minty notes (spearmint), lots of crystallised fruits, fireplace smoke, oriental pastries… It gets then very ‘leguminous’ (cooked cabbage, turnips – for Baldrick – very strong notes of raw celeriac). Just stunning! Goes on with carrots and gets then rather earthy, rooty… Also some cough syrup, camphor, and lots of lovage. Superb indeed. Mouth: oh yes, it’s almost as stunning on the palate, very coherent, perhaps just a bit dry. We have the usual notes of chocolate, cocoa and bitter orange, all that being more playful than usual. Earl grey tea, coffee toffee, hints of clove, thyme, and of course all sorts of dried fruits. The finish is long, perhaps a tad too drying now, with loads of coffee. Yes, superb, too bad it’s a little too drying to make it over 90 points.
BOW (91.50)
Nose:
Sublime and masterfully poised, with an exquisite varnished wood profile that remains captivatingly solvent-free. It’s as if each microscopic fiber of oak is independently unfurling, releasing waves of complex, almost hypnotic aromas. A whisper of metallic chocolate rises, delicate and unassertive, trailing into an ethereal bouquet of unidentified flower petals. The freshness is astonishing, invigorated by a hint of mint. The dried fruit ensemble is made lively again by glimmers of peach and cherry, intertwined with a shadow of blackberry. Fresh clove and a whisper of anise add dimension, while walnut honey enriches the depth.
Taste:
An exceptional mouthfeel, markedly drier than suggested by the nose, yet no less engaging. Cocoa wood cream forms the core, imbued with a metallic crispness that evolves into a controlled, harmonious bitterness. A note of currant liqueur brings a sudden burst of dark, syrupy vibrance. The flavors twist and turn as oranges, simmered in a luscious honey and vanilla reduction, make their presence felt, conjuring images of a copper pot bubbling gently. A nod to festive traditions arrives with the spiced essence of Christmas cake—all warmth and depth without the interruption of candied fruit.
Finish:
A dry and lingering finish that sees the caramelized bitterness of coffee cream take center stage, ensuring an elegant and memorable farewell.
