Cask No. 72.53

Cask No. 72.53          

Light-winged Dryad of the trees

Speyside, Lossie

The Dryads (from the Greek drys = oak) were wood nymphs –gentle, shy and light of touch (like Keats’ haunting, elusive nightingale). This whisky noses like that – light, floral and sweet (honeycomb crunch, apples, pears, pot-pourri), but with herbal, woody, almost earthy breath (nettles, liquorice, hessian). With water, it retains the sweet innocence of Dolly Mixtures* and marshmallow tea-cakes, but some nymphs have retired to the spice cupboard or the Steamie. The palate is not quite so innocent – apple and vanilla sweetness matched by sweet blackcurrant and liquorice, leather, menthol and bitter orange; sweetness and light (pear-drop, lychee) return with water. (*British confectionery including small fondant sweets and sugared jellies with subtle flavours)