Cù Bòcan – The Sherry Edition

Highland single malt scotch whisky

46% ABV, £45 for 70cl

Score: 83/100

What they say:

Cù Bòcan is matured in a combination of Sherry, Virgin Oak and Bourbon casks. This exclusive limited edition, launched in September 2014, showcases the influence that Sherry has on our lightly peated single malt. Rich and fruity with hints of smoke and sweet paprika, this fully matured Sherry limited edition will not disappoint!

Non chill filtered
46% Alc./Vol., 15PPM
Only 6000 bottles available

Nose: Hints of smoke, sweet paprika, dried fruits and treacle toffee alongside dominant wood, custard and malty notes.

Mouth: Rich and fruity, butter toffee and almonds. Dark chocolate, coffee, biscuit, roasted chestnuts.

Finish: Slowly warming with an incredible sweetness and the light smoke becoming drier in time.

What I say:

During the WOLS Highland trip 2014 we stopped off at the Tomatin distillery for a tasting. Amongst the whisky for sale at the Tomatin distillery store I spotted the few remaining bottles of Cù Bòcan – The Sherry Edition. Sadly none were left to sample, until the staff kindly offered to crack open one of their meagre supply to allow us a sample. So many thanks to the Tomatin distillery staff for allowing us this precious taste.

Colour:

Amber rose gold (13/20), thick, heavy tears

Nose:

Cookie dough, white chocolate, toffee, sugary, vanilla frosting, malty and lactic peat, sweet shortcrust pastry, apricot, plum sauce and toffee fudge

Taste:

Honey sweet, plum sauce, allspice (savoury), prickly chilli heat, creamy milk chocolate, tropical pineapple and banana fritters in syrup, malted milk biscuits

Finish:

Long, spicy and a little drying, medium-sweet with a little prickly peaty reflux

Overall:

Another great Cù Bòcan expression. This time the peated malt has been matured exclusively in ex-sherry casks, giving this a little more spice and chocolate.

Don’t take my word for it:

http://www.somersetwhisky.com/review-cu-bocan-sherry-edition/

http://maltandoak.com/peat-sherry-and-the-cu-bocan-limited-edition/

http://whiskyisrael.co.il/2014/10/02/c-bcan-sherry-cask/

http://whiskygospel.com/2014/09/19/whisky-review-tasting-notes-tomatin-cu-bocan-sherry-cask-46/