Bushmills Black Bush

★★★★★☆

♝- Great complex whisky for seasoned tasters 
♛- Distinctive, silky smooth with tones of sherry 
♚- Among my personal favourites
♟- Great for beginners, light and soft

Score: 89/100

The Bushmills Black Bush glides on the palate with silky smoothness as it releases a distinct sweetness that is in my view owed to maturation in superb quality sherry casks and triple distillation. This whiskey is a fantastic example of an Irish whiskey that has gone terrifically right! Together with the Johnnie Walker Black Label, I think the Bushmills Black Bush is the best value whisk(e)y on the market (these whiskies are both very different, but brilliant in their own way!). The Black Bush is a fine Irish whiskey, and listed in my "top whisky" list.

The Bushmills Black Bush has a lovely sherry influence, but it is not overdone and the sweetness balances beautifully against the sharp bitter and dry wood undertones in this whiskey. This whiskey shines with a youthful warm spark and sweet glow that adds a playful demeanor to an otherwise silky smooth and seriously complex whiskey.

What is that buzz? 

The striking feature of the Black Bush is its distinctive sweet buzz; a buzz in part resulting from the whiskey having matured up to 7 years in Spanish oloroso sherry casks and sweet bourbon barrels. The character of Bushmills Black Bush is influenced by the use of old sherry barrels of jerez de la frontera in particular. This, I think, is a masterstroke by Bushmills because the Black Bush has a spring in its step and the buzz of variety.

Oh so smooth! 

The use of the sherry casks and bourbon barrels in maturing the Black Bush works extremely well with the delightfully crisp triple distilled whisky, a common feature of Irish whiskey. This means that Irish whiskey tends to be lighter and smoother than other whiskies, and the Black Bush is just that! The characteristic smoothness of Irish whiskey made it the nobleman's choice before prohibition in the United States decimated the Irish whiskey industry, allowing Scottish whisky to take over as the world's leading producer of whisk(e)y. 

Prohibition and Irish whiskey

Law-makers in the United States had the bright idea to ban alcohol from 1920 to 1933, which essentially drove the industry underground. The nice bottle shop owner on the corner was replaced by gangsters, and by 1926 many people died and "hundreds of thousands more suffered irreversible injuries including blindness and paralysis" as noted on the Time website. Much of the lovely Irish whiskey Americans once enjoyed was replaced by illegally produced moonshine, and much of that contained poisons  The problem for the Irish whisky distillers was that the United States was an extremely important market, so suddenly Irish distillers had no buyers for a lot of their whiskey. Many Irish distillers closed their doors, but Bushmills survived.

Oldest distillery in the world

Bushmills claims to be the oldest distillery in the world, saying that the distillery gained its licence in 1608. This is such a nice thing, and it adds to the whole Bushmills experience.

Tasting notes - Bushmills Black Bush

Nose 

A dense cloud of dark chocolate and spicy oak wafts up, as sweet sherry glows energetically with notes of rum and prune. I know this is a great whisky, because the character of the whiskey continues to develop in the glass. Herbaceous and floral tones develop with some earthiness, almost like a spring day in a lush green rose garden that has recently been watered. That sherry sweetness works so well with this whiskey. 

Taste 

With a luscious texture the flavours glide against the palate with heavenly smoothness, with the sweet sherry playing its part but certainly not dominating. This is my kind of sherry cask whisky! It is not overly sweet, and it has a solid foundation supporting the sherry that presents oak, dark chocolate, cocoa and a lovely wood influenced dryness towards the end. It is incredibly silky and light, possibly the smoothest whisky I have tasted in a long time. The herbaceous flavours are little more pronounced on the palate, with some splashes of rosewater.   

Finish 

The finish on this whiskey is very long with an enjoyable dryness evaporating from the base of the tongue, whetting the appetite for another sip of this sensational whiskey. The Bushmills Black Bush is a fantastic example of Irish whiskey. I highly recommend this whiskey, especially at its price. 

Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask 58.7% ★

★★★★★★

Score: 96/100
ABV: 58.7%
Region: Taiwan
Body: Heavy
Intensity: High
Texture: Medium-oily
Balance: Heavenly
Best served: Neat, with water
Likes: Dense sherry bomb with dryness
Dislikes: Over the top at times, has its place
Price: £106 (UK)

The Kavalan Sherry Cask is exceptional and epitomizes the brilliant work of this Taiwanese distillery. I have tasted and rated hundreds of whiskies and spirits, and this whisky is the second to receive full marks (six stars). As you can see from my blog, only a handful of whiskies are given five stars or more (and I usually only review in detail whiskies I thoroughly enjoy). What I particularly love about this whisky is its richness that permeates high quality sherry and a maturity that only the Taiwanese climate can produce!

The Kavalan whisky distillery clearly adopts the orchestra theme for its products. In line with this theme, this whisky is like Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumble Bee. It offers piercing sweetness that is balanced with the deep bellow of bitterness, as its diverse flavours zig zag harmoniously and in almost perfect synchronization to deliver a beautifully balanced symphony of flavours. Delightful! Much like the world class solist reaching heavenly heights and solid lows, the Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask offers a powerful performance with diversity and versatility. While sipping it I was tempted to give the bottle a standing ovation!

The Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask is bottled at cask strength (58.7% alcohol volume) after being distilled and matured in Taiwan. Built in 2005 the Kavalan distillery is quite young, but despite its youth it has made a grand splash in the whisky world and is now (according to many) a world leader in whisky making.

Blind tasting: Kavalan Sherry Cask & OveReem Sherry Cask

Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask whisky was awarded a "double gold" medal at the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, so it is good to know that my appreciation for this whisky is shared! I blind tasted the Kavalan Sherry Cask alongside the OveReem Sherry Cask as a benchmark. This was indeed a blind tasting, done with blindfold and each whisky delivered! Such a lucky bloke I am! There was a big difference between the two, but I was at pains deciding which I preferred. In the end, after almost 30 minutes, I decided on the Kavalan because it was denser with more silky smoothness and it carried itself with a lot of "age".

The success of the Kavalan distillery can be attributed to many things, but a few very important factors that shine through in its products are exceptionally skilled distilling, the use of superb quality casks and the maturity of the whisky which is owed to the warm and humid climate in Taiwan that accelerates the maturation of whisky. Although warm climates make whisky evaporate at a high rate meaning more of it is lost than in cooler climates like Scotland, the warmth also dilates the pores in the oak casks which results in increased interaction with the spirit in the cask. This in turn lets the spirit suck out more flavour and character from the oak.

Tasting Notes - Kavalan Sherry Cask

 Nose 

As I open the bottle the waft of exceptionally high quality sherry perfumes the air with the fragrance of sweet moscato grapes and ripe red plum weaving around bitter cherries and a rich chocolate fudge. The sweetness is encased in a dense fog of bitter oak and dark chocolate as the whiff of prune and licorice add further depth with green banana and dry red wine adding dryness. This is like a dense dark chocolate cake layered with vanilla, shavings of coconut and soaked with a lovely old rum. Sparks of tang also delight, with cherry tomatoes and a fizz that presents all this character with a certain charm. 

The texture on this whisky is luscious and oily.

Taste 

This whisky is highly distinctive, with an impeccable balance that allows an abundance of different flavours to harmoniously delight the palate without any particular flavour dominating. The bitterness of the oak moderates the sherry that follows it, only to return in the form of dark chocolate and cocoa while a dense sharpness such as old balsamic tingles. All the while the whisky explodes on the palate as its flavours burst like fireworks. This whisky has such a delightful abundance of flavours, but like an world leading orchestra all its components can be heard as they all contribute to a brilliant performance.

Finish 

The finish on this whisky is long and very enjoyable. It lingers on the tongue for a very long time, and I am glad it does!

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old ★

Score:	96/100   Best bourbon tasted on Malt Mileage for 2013
ABV:	45%
Region:	Kentucky, United States
Body:	Medium-full
Intensity:	Medium-high
Texture:	Medium-Oily
Balance:	Superb, with big dense layers of oak and sparks of spicy rye
Best served: Summary:	Neat  This is the best bourbon tasted on Malt Mileage for 2013. The Eagle rare (Fall, 2011) is a big bold bourbon offering surges of oak with flecks of spicy rye that are suddenly calmed by sweet corn and sugary notes (honey, raisins etc) and as the spice morphs to ginger bread the palate suddenly dries into an oak driven finish of herbs, honey, cocoa and brown sugar. This is an oak driven bourbon, which, even after 17 years of maturation, has retained the character of the corn and rye used in the Eagle Rare mash.
Price:	$300 (Aus), $70 (US)

Tasting Notes - Eagle Rare 17 Year old

Bowmore 12 Year Old

★★★★

Score: 83/100
ABV: 40%

Region: Islay, Scotland Body: Medium-light  
Intensity: Light-medium 
Texture: Medium-watery 
Balance: Good
Best served: Neat

Theme(s): Peat, sherry, peppermint, sea 
Likes: Soft peat and sweetness
Dislikes: Dull and watery after further tastings
Price: $77

Bowmore is a whisky distillery located on the Isle of Islay (pronounced "eye-lah"), Scotland. The distilleries on Islay have legendary status for producing “peated” whiskies. Bowmore is one of the most famous producers of peated whisky, alongside Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaig on the Isle of Islay. If you are keen to try peated whisky, look no further than Islay!

A "peated" whisky is produced by using "peat" to smoke the malt, which was the traditional method before the industrial revolution saw this replaced with coal in many distilleries. The distilleries on Islay did not change with the times, and thank goodness for that!

The Bowmore single malt whisky has been distilled on Islay since 1779! The production of the Bowmore single malt whisky is claimed to remain unchanged, including the use of floor malted barley. The water is taken from the Laggan river which is rich in peat, and if that was not enough to impress the malt is said to be smoked in a peat fired kiln just as Bowmore’s ancestors did over two centuries ago. The Bowmore 12 Year Old is matured in the oldest maturation warehouse in Scotland which is, the box reads, ‘the only one below sea level’.

The Bowmore 12 Year Old is a descent Islay whisky. It has a good balance that carries diverse character that can be unpacked carefully. The picture I took above I think captures the character of this whisky - the earthiness of the sand and rock, the freshness of the water, the saltiness of the sea nearby, the peated smokiness of the vegetation, the mellow bitter wood floating in the water and the brightness of the sweet notes (sugary peppermint, stewed apple) shining brightly like a warm summer day. 

Bowmore 12 Year Old - Tasting Notes 

Nose

The character in this whisky impatiently escapes from the bottle as the cork pops! Almost immediately I can smell a fizzy sweetness similar to sherbet on the nose with hints of sharp peppermint and lemon.  Like smashing waves against the pier, the smell of sea salt and seaweed fill the air as sea shells and the scent of the beach add a district coastal earthiness. The whiff of oak gently develops, but the fog of peat rolls in unabated and with it sweet peach and mild citrus such as lemon and mandarin. That peat is gentle and calm like waves splashing softly. A shimmer of sweetness also develops, almost like a sweet sherry dashed over stewed apple. The peat is lush and wet, almost mossy and not overpowering.

Taste

There is something wonderful about a peated whisky that allows the character of the whisky to shine through. Oftentimes the peat can overpower and mute the other character in the whisky, but this Bowmore lets some flavours of the sea and sweet fruit glimmer. The balance is good as a sudden gust of peat brings with it the saltiness of the sea and the earthiness of the beach but all this is moderated by sweetness in the form of peach and stewed apple. All the while a slight bitterness in the form of oak balances against that sweetness, as bursts of sugary peppermint crack like popping candy igniting sparks of light in the smokiness. 

After five tastings I began to dislike the watery texture that I feel develops in this whisky, and result with a dull experience. In my personal view I would much prefer a peated whisky from the other Islay distilleries; Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich, Caol Ila or even a vatted malt like Big Peat! I found the Bowmore lost its spark and that watery texture I felt had developed was disappointing.

Finish

The finish is long and extremely enjoyable, as the flavours linger on the tongue strongly.

Blind tasted alongside Lagavulin 16 Year Old, Bunnhabhain 12 Year Old, Ardbeg Galileo and Connemara Peated. I was least impressed with the Bowmore 12 Year Old.

Glen Grant 1991 19 Year Old (D/T)

★★☆

This Glen Grant is a Duncan & Taylor bottling, and it is 51.5% alcohol volume. That explains the power in this whisky during my blind tasting (you can find my blind tasting notes below). This whisky has a good strong kick, but unfortunately is it unbalanced to the bitter side and the oak appears to have dominated too much as it aged in its cask. This whisky has some nice character, but all the diversity is drowned out by the massive oak dominance which cuts the tongue sharply.

Nose 

The nose is delightful, with bursts of sweet apple and a dense cloud of oak laden bitterness which wafts up without much energy. There is a mustiness about this whisky, like old socks dipped in some in brandy and sambuca; the cotton weaves around the alcohol and chokes it a little as whiffs of sweet licorice add some spark. Have I ever smelt old socks dipped in brandy or sambuca? Well, of course I have. Any Italian grandma thinks alcohol drenched socks are the cure to any cold or flu! The smell of old books and cardboard also develop, almost like a long forgotten box of blueberries and mushrooms. Then a subtle earthiness develops.

Taste 

This whisky hits the palate powerfully, as sharp citrus and bursts of bitter oak strike the tongue. This is surprising given the musty and almost moldy nose which seems to strangle any spark. However, the news is not all good! Our good friend oak has had a lot to do with this whisky, and in fact the oak in this whisky is overpowering. The experience is therefore unbalanced towards the bitter side as oak drowns out much of the other character in this whisky. With it comes spice and some hints of vanilla, though this is all consistent with a whisky that has become victim to the wood! I think this whisky is lovely and powerful, so it is in my view a real shame about the overpowering oak. It seems to cut the tongue and in a jealous rage chase away the other flavours before they have a chance to shine.

Finish 

The finish on this whisky is long and vibrant, though that bitterness and oak dominated flavour is yet again something that detracts from the finish.

Arran 14 Year Old

★★★★

The Arran distillery is located on the Isle of Arran, which lies off the west coast of Scotland. It is a fairly young whisky distillery by Scottish standards and the Arran website explains that production commenced on 29 June 1995. This whisky is bottled at 46% alcohol volume.

This whisky has a very light colour, almost like a rich white wine.

Nose

The nose on this whisky is light and pungent, giving off a dry peat and smokiness that grapples with sweet apple, pear, and the dry waft of chardonnay. Some dry twigs also present with a lush green grass and some dew, while a brine and saltiness is a constant theme. 

Taste

On the palate this whiskey is strong and it does not muck about. An explosion of peat and smoke is met with a dense dry grass and earth. There are some shimmers off sweet fruits like apple and pear but these are lost in the dense fog of smoke and chocolate layered nuts. Some sparks of spice, especially cinnamon, shine in that fog. 

Finish

The finish on this whiskey is thoroughly enjoyable. It has a long finish, though the only negative would be that it is a little unbalanced towards the dry side. For a whisky of 14 years it has a youthful spark to it, and although some very minor creases still need to be ironed out this is an excellent whisky with lots of character and depth. 

I did not particularly enjoy the texture of this whisky, which seems a little too watery and this in my view results in quite sharp and grainy flavours on the palate. 

Holey Dollar Gold Coin Rum 57.2%

★★★★☆

♞ - Strong, enjoy it carefully 
♜ - High alcohol content, 57.2% 
♝ - Great for seasoned tasters
♚ - Among my personal favourites
♟- With ice this is great for beginners

Holey Dollar Gold Coin is an "overproof" rum at 57.2% alcohol volume. A product of Fiji, this rum is ideal for sipping either with ice on a bright sunny day or neat on a cold night.

This rum smacks the tongue with a burst of fire, like a canon ball. It then unleashes a lovely array of flavours loudly like swashbuckling buccaneers on a rowdy adventure! This rum offers the foundation of sweet raw sugar moderated with sharp spice, bitter oak and a deep earthiness. It is not overly sweet and instead boasts impeccable balance. This balance is something I have come to really appreciate in Holey Dollar products, because some rum can be dominated by sweetness and sugar.

It is clear that great quality hand cut Fijian sugar cane is used to produce this "overproof" rum. What is "overproof" rum?

The Holey Dollar website explains that:

"Testing for poof involved pouring a little of the rum over some grains of gunpowder and setting it alight. If the mixture remains alight, then the liquid was said to be at proof. If the liquid was stronger than proof, then the gunpowder would explode, thus overproof. We now know that the alcohol content at proof is 57.2%."

Why was this gunpowder test used? Well, the simple answer is that people want PROOF before trusting strangers that a rum is not watered down.... especially pirates and burly Naval sailors from the 18th century ARRRR! Therefore, British sailors from the 18th century and beyond would test rum to make sure it was not diluted too much with water by pouring the rum on gunpowder and trying to set it on fire. If the gunpowder exploded - BOOM! - the sailor would know the rum was "overproof" (and good value!). If the gunpowder in the liquid did not ignite, the sailor would know that was rum was watered down too much and thus "underproof" because gunpowder does not burn in liquid below 57.15% alcohol. The parrots would screech and the swords would clash!... are ye tryin to fool me matey? So, rum over 57.15% alcohol volume is the most diluted a rum can be while allowing the combustion of gunpowder. I can only imagine the crafty sailors (and you know there were plenty!) who would painstakingly water down rum incrementally while testing it often until it reached proof... rum, fire and gunpowder on a wooden ship, what a safe combination!

Rum was important for the British sailors, who from 1740 received half a pint of rum per day and double rations before and after battle! This must mean that Jack Sparrow's slurred speech may actually be an accurate portrayal. Rum is no longer rationed to British sailors, just in case you were thinking of enlisting.

Nose 

The nose on this rum presents raw sugar, prune and raisins with the piercing sharpness of spicy wood. There is a bitterness that is quite uniquely Holey Dollar as the whiff of alcohol delivers a fiery burn, and all while the sweet banana and dried coconut add some more character.

With ice the bitterness of oak and earth mellow while sugar cane and brown sugar strongly develop. Ripe figs and honeyed lemon cake also develop.

Taste 

An immediate wave of sweetness and bitterness wash up against the tongue, bringing that ferocious alcohol and helpings of prune and brown sugar. What I particularly enjoy about this rum is its impeccable balance and its vibrant spark of youthfulness. It is not overly sweet, as most rums are. It has a surge of bitterness and sourness that moderates the sweet theme of sugar, as oak and a strong earthiness (mahogany, maple, sap, earth) add substance and character. The flavours flood into the palate with the force of a Fijian national team rugby scrum, and then tickle the tongue gently. It is aged for three years so it has a lovely rawness and youthfulness that explode on the tongue like fireworks, and it is smooth and silky with lots of character.  

With ice the rum is obviously colder on the tongue, and the sharp rawness is a little dulled though the presence of bitter oak and sweet dried fruit like prune remains quite strong. This rum is superb with ice, but for that lovely kick I recommend drinking this rum neat. Though, the ice mellows the sharp flavours and this is ideal for a leisurely drink on a nice warm day!

Finish 

Long and strong, with force it floods the palate but then gently tingles on the tongue releasing ts beautiful flavours.

This is another wining rum from Holey Dollar.

Mount Gay Extra Old Rum

Score:	86/100
ABV:	43%
Region:	Barbados
Body:	Medium-full
Intensity:	Medium-high
Texture:	Medium-oily
Balance:	Heavenly
Best served:	Neat
Theme(s):	Rich dense oak, shortbread, tropical fruit, mulled spice wine
In a nutshell:	An aged rum with great balance and not overly sweet
Likes:	Density, complexity and elegance that unleashes luscious complexity
Dislikes:	A little too "heavy" at times
Price:	$50-$60

Mount Gay Extra Old Rum is from Barbados, and matured in Kentucky oak barrels for 12 to 17 years. Mount Gay has been producing rum since 1703, making it oldest brand of rum in the world. The box reads that it has been “expertly fashioned from rich sugar cane and with the pristine, coral filtered water native to the island”. Nice, eh? 

Barbados

Flag of Barbados

Old rum is rare and hard to find. You are probably thinking: “12 to 17 years is not extra old! How can it be rare if lots of 30, 40 and even 50 year old whisky and cognac flood the market?”. Well, most of the world’s rum is produced in the very warm Caribbean and this means that a lot of rum evaporates from within the barrel over 12 to 17 years. One website says that the “evaporation rate can be as high as 10% a year in the tropical Caribbean, while it can be as little as 2% for Cognac or whisky producers in colder climates”.  This means that, after 12 to 17 years, not much Caribbean rum would be left in a barrel! Imagine 10% of a liquid in a barrel being lost to evaporation each year, it would deplete very quickly. This is why old rum from warmer climates is so very special (I do note the Appleton Estate 50 Year Old). 

The warm climate also might have a benefit to the ageing process. From what I understand, heat makes the pores in oak expand thereby letting liquid in and allowing a high level of interaction. This means that rum may have more interaction with the oak than whisky or Cognac in cooler climates, and so it takes on the benefits of ageing a lot more. This is probably why very old rums are hard to find, they simply don’t need to be aged as much! 

As you may know, rum is produced from fermenting sugar can or its byproducts such as molasses. It is then distilled and the distillate is aged in oak barrels. Here is a great video about how rum is distilled at Mount Gay:

Now, let's smell, taste and review this rum! 

Nose

Peach crumble gently lifts into the air together with raw sugar and vanilla. Sharp tropical fruit like ripe mango and guava cut through the fog of oak and leather bringing youthful spark to a backdrop of age and sophistication. Caramel also lingers in the backdrop, jumping up and down wanting attention!

Taste

Like buttery shortbread smothered with vanilla and sugary syrup, this rum provides a sweetness that has a spicy punch with a subtle fire. Like velvet it coats the tongue with almond praline and banana sharply weaving within bitter oak and dry red wine; mulled spice wine to be exact! Then comes the charcoal, like toasted coconut with bittersweet green mango. The sugar shines in the bouquet of flavours, but its sweetness does not dominate. This rum has a beautiful balance.

Finish

This rum has an exceptional finish, that is long and extremely enjoyable.

Overall

Much like the music of Barbados, this rum beats loudly with the luscious sophistication of age but is brought to life by the youthful spark of diverse fruits and spice which energetically delight the palate.

Crown Royal

Rating:	★★★
Score:	67/100
ABV:	40%
Region:	Canada
Body:	Light-medium
Intensity:	Medium
Texture:	Watery-medium
Balance:	OK
Best served:	Mixed
Theme(s):	New spirit, dough, grain (rye, corn), mixed fruit
In a nutshell:	The stench of new spirit dominates as mild shimmers of grain and sweet fruit struggle to outshine the dark cloud of alcohol that sits in the glass. On the palate the whisky releases some sweet notes of mixed fruit salad, but these are torn down by the strike of alcohol and musty new spirit. The finish is mild and lingering, impressive but not very enjoyable given the flavour profile. Very disappointed.
Likes:	-
Dislikes:	Stench of new spirit that overpowers and leaves an unpleasant note on the palate and in the nostrils
Price:	$55

Sullivan's Cove Double Cask

★★★★

♝ - Great complex whisky, like a orchestra quietly playing on the tongue though a little dull

The Sullivan's Cove Double Cask is like a beautiful and delicate flower, be patient and nurture it to let its beauty unfurl. It has many components but it requires careful attention to hear it. While the Sullivan’s Cove Double Cask plays hard to get it is well worth the chase, trust me.

Congratulations to Sullivan’s Cove, a Tasmanian distillery, for producing a sensational whisky. It takes a long while to unpack and get to know, but once you break the ice expect quite an experience. The only problem is while there is a lot happening, I found it was hard to detect a lot of what was happening and it needed careful concentration. This made it a little dull, unfortunately.

Double Cask 

This is a single cask whisky, from cask DC 58. Its youngest barrel date is 28/07/2000 and its bottle date is 13/04/2012 (according to the sample bottle). There were 943 bottles in this batch. Two American Oak barrels and one French Oak barrel was used to produce this particular cask, and well done to Sullivan's Cove for doing this! It has a spectacular character after getting acquainted with it. 

Speaking of single casks, I am waiting for another Sullivan's Cove French Oak that is taken from a different cask to the HH436. Because every cask is different, you can expect a different review of a different whisky. 

Nose

The light waft of watermelon fills the glass with sweetness, as honeyed oats add substance to sprinkings of cocoa.  A mild bitterness is present in the form of oak.  Among the oak are sweet lemon drops and a fresh country breeze; carrying with it floral notes. I am taken back to my visit to a lavender farm in Melbourne on a sunny Spring day.  Fresh and light, this nose still has a splashing of rainfall and lush green with some fresh peach and apricot. Beautiful whisky! Creamy – though not oily - with different flavours grappling with one another; and that flickering light in the room has suddenly started to shine! Great balance, and because its character is coming out its puts on a pretty interesting show! Initially, it was slightly uninteresting but now my tongue seems to have caught up and the layers are peeling away beautifully. I better stop or else I will be here all night! 

Taste

There are some characters that remain locked away behind a door, cloaking their personality. This whisky was very shy at first, but now it softly drapes the drapes the tongue like velvet and releases bursts of oak and honey, with a sensational bitterness that is like a dense poppy seed orange cake smothered in brandy and the finest of dark chocolates. It has a youthful spark that I absolutely adore now, as a dense cloud of that sumptuous orange cake tantalizes the tongue. It is fresh and light, with a lot happening. Please, Sir, can I have some more?   

Finish

Long and enjoyable, though it loses some puff towards the end.