Nose: Cranberry juice, four fruit jam and hibiscus tea. Cherry soda, dried strawberries and rose wine. After letting it sit in the glass for a couple minutes: Unlit matches, stewed fruits and very distant sweet peat. Adding water elevates the peat more... Charcoal, graphite and rose jam. Dry lumber and dried flowers.
Palate: Hot and bone dry at this abv but still delivers: Subtle peat, hint of sulphur and cranberry juice. Yes, water improves the palate immensely: Red plums, dried cherries and dried cranberries. It's also doughy now. Crispy cookies, red currants and Campari.
Finish: Medium to long with red jams, cranberry sauce and hibiscus.
Overall: Leaving my continuing unimpressed-ness by this particular distillery aside I have to admit that this is a very playful cask. All the red fruit notes added by the ruby port cask in such a short period of time work great on top of the subtle peaty and floral character of the distillery's spirit. In spite of starting the tasting with all the prejudices I carry with me I ended up liking this whisky quite a lot. Definitely recommended to the fans of the distillery and for all the port cask lovers out there.
Price: £75
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