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Been saving this one. A collection of rarities, I suppose. The full bottle went for 350 on Master of Malt. Not surprising, given the bottles from the closed distilleries that went into this blend, malt and grain: Port Ellen, Caperdonich, Mosstowie...
Is it any good as a whisky?
Pale gold with a touch of green (envy?). Bottled at 49.5% ABV, there's a spirity touch to it, but a creamy, grainy , cereal influence. Sponge cake and pear drop esters.
Neat, it's immediately mouth-filling. Creamy, rather than oily. Sweet at first, then a fiery outburst - a backdraft of alcohol heat, which soon dies down. Vanilla and grain remain, un-scorched, and a warming, bonfire night afterglow.
Add water or not? I've got to try. but I'll split the dram.
A few drops. Lovely (satisfying) oily separation (immiscible liquids). Softens the nose. More floral, perfumed, unripe fruit (in syrup?). Makes me notice the darker aromas of the neat. Vestigial smoke. Burnt-out fire? Still a bit of fire on the palate, though.
A few drops more. Not as fiery, but still very warming. More balance. Sweet vanilla cream and drying wood.
There are nutty, almost roasted grains. Barley. The whiff of smoke on the finish. The long finish. The water thickens it into fruit syrup. Barely-melted jelly. Light aromas and flavours, by which I mean high, toppy, not bland.
It's a NAS, but who knows what a transparent age label would say*. I think I can sense the honey of old, single grain whisky, with malts whose peat is tempered by age, but whose fruit and fire are still vibrant.
Then it is gone. Along with the distilleries that produced it.
There's a poignancy with drinking such whiskies. A finality that makes me concentrate on what I'm sipping. Would I have experienced it if the bottle had another billing? Even if not, I'm happily hoodwinked, this time.
Tasted: 28 October 2016.
This was a few years ago but I kept all the bottles. Now out for recycling, I thought a final photo reminder was called for. No, I'm not going mad, just wanting to remember what I drank!
Finally getting to around to Day 1. At this rate it will only take me until next Christmas to get to Day 25!⠀ ⠀ #scotchyscotchscotch #caskstrength #whiskyadventcalendar #whiskyadvent via Instagram ocas.nl/2ojr2Yr
Day 3 #scotchyscotchscotch #caskstrength #whiskyadventcalendar #whiskyadvent via Instagram ocas.nl/2kNRDsI
Day 2. Delicious. #scotchyscotchscotch #caskstrength #whiskyadventcalendar #whiskyadvent via Instagram ocas.nl/2Bcmt4h
Finally getting to around to Day 1. At this rate it will only take me until next Christmas to get to Day 25!⠀ ⠀ #scotchyscotchscotch #caskstrength #whiskyadventcalendar #whiskyadvent via Instagram ocas.nl/2BfL1tY