Color: Deep yellow gold, oaked Chardonnay color with an initial thick ring of teardrops turning immediately into oily and slow moving legs.
Nose: Candied orange rings, light caramel sauce and fresh spearmint leaves. Puff pastry, pastry cream and orange peel jam. A few drops of water and I start to nose all kind of mini fruit tarts candied fruits on top: Cherries, kiwis, blackberries and raspberries... Think of entering through the doors of an old and crowded pub on a rainy and cold day: Smell of the damp carpet, steam fogging up your glasses and wet overcoats.
Palate: Yes..! Winter in a glass: Woolen scarves, wooly hats and blankets. Bitter orange peel, peppermint oil and fresh ginger tea. Salted caramel eclairs, sea breeze and imagine what it would taste like if créme de cassis was not sweetened. Have to try with water as well before I end up finishing the whole thing: Mirabelle eau de vie, wet sand and red licorice swirls. Speechless... This is pure old school goodness. Cannot imagine a more appropriate time for saying out loud: "They don't make them like this anymore..." I guarantee no one would roll their eyes.
Finish: Long with ground ginger, candied coriander seeds and white pepper.
Overall: Absolutely stunning whisky... Cannot come up with enough superlatives. This is a bottle worth for your time and money to hunt for. God knows how much it would cost on an auction but like I said it might be worth it... Thanks to Julius Saita Smith for the sample. It was an absolute treat.
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