Tasting Panel Notes

Cask No. 29.299 Spirit of hallowe'en: A heady mix of burnt wood and allspice introduced a nose that opened into glazed brisket with burnt ends, and tangy brown sauce wrapped in mossy earth. The palate was like chewing on coal dust soaked in antiseptic wash, followed by roasted barley porter, and the burnt shell of molasses-glazed beef. Water brought unexpected sweetness, as strawberries in barbecue sauce balanced the savoury tones of clamato juice and soy-glazed beef on corn tortillas. The palate deepened into petrol-soaked pork pie, smoky molasses and a lingering medicinal finish, leaving a bold and unrelenting impression of fire, fuel and flavour. After spending eight years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, this was transferred to a second fill American oak oloroso hogshead for the remainder of its maturation.

Cask No. 1.297 Merriment and whisky: Brandy in disguise, the nose was rich in sweet sawdust, blackberry pie, toasted ciabatta and orange oil-infused sugar. The palate opened with muddled orange segments and almond paste, with blueberries and apple mint to follow. Water presented dalgona coffee on the nose, plus cherry pie filling and wafer biscuits. The finish was a river of blackcurrant jam sailed on by melon yachts chasing pockets of evaporated milk and shoals of candied orange. After nine years in an ex-bourbon barrel, we transferred this to a first fill American oak oloroso hogshead for the remainder of its maturation.

Cask No. 59.84 We'll take a cup of kindness yet: As we marinated the morning newspaper in pear juice and cherry syrup, we watched the gardener mowing the lawn, the green grass mingling with pollen in the air. The palate took us to the writing desk, where we licked and sealed manila envelopes as we grazed on chunks of mango, melon, pear and a caramel sauce marbled with raspberry jam. Water transformed the nose into cherry cola, with a splash of homemade lemonade, all stirred with a stick of fennel. The palate was now much like the nose, with a touch of mace, candied ginger, coriander and the taste of a good aftershave as you breathe in the vapour.

Cask No. 39.314 Sing thy name!: Fresh juicy green apples and perfectly ripe pears were followed by pineapple chunks, hay bales, honey, marzipan and an empty wooden cigar box. A zingy sweetness at first on the palate – like a sip of cinnamon, clove and lemon tea – before a smooth, sweet creaminess with notes of banana, toffee and, again, cloves reminded some of us of a German wheat beer. Following reduction, vanilla notes in the form of ice cream and a sponge cake appeared before deeper expressions of clover honey, wood polish and pine trees developed. To taste, we sampled fizzy pineapple gummy candies and, in the finish, we were back to the crisp green apple with that balance between acidity and sweetness.