Cask Orkney 18 Years Old

By Barry Bradford on September 17, 2018 • ( 1 Comment )

Cask Orkney 18 Years Old (46%, A. D. Rattray, 2018)

Category: Island single malt scotch whisky
Origin: ?
Bottling: A. D. Rattray
ABV: 46%
Cost: £70

What they say

Poised between the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the Orkney Islands are steeped in mystery. Legends are as tangible as the gales of winter and sea-haars of summer. Indeed, just as the distinction between air and water is so often lost, myth and reality blur together.

Emerging through time are The Dancing Giants of Brodgar… 27 standing stones between two lochs, overshadowed by surrounding hills. It is said that, one night, fearsome giants crossed the causeway and danced all night, forgetting about the coming dawn… the first rays of light turned them instantly to stone.

Our limited edition Cask Orkney celebrates this Neolithic folklore with an exceptional single malt full of mystery. Capturing the island spirit, it is deeply engaging and perfectly balanced.

Limited Edition 18 year old single malt from Orkney matured in ex-bourbon casks. Non-chill filtered. Natural colour.

Official tasting notes:

Colour: Olive gold
Nose: Subtle and soft, with green apple and nutmeg, wood spice, sea salt and a hazy smoke.
Palate: Toffee, peach and apricot, with a rich velvety texture, sweet background smoke and a dry nutty finish.
Finish: A fine spirit, complex and balanced.

What I say

Sampled during the A.D. Rattray tweet tasting #ADRattray hosted by Steve at The Whisky Wire on 10th September 2018.

Distilled at an undisclosed distillery on Orkney (either Scapa or Highland Park – with most people’s money on the latter), and matured for a minimum of 18 years before bottling by A. D. Rattray.

My tasting notes:

Appearance: Chardonnay (6/20), medium-fine tears leave long fine legs.
Nose: Fruity, a big brown paper bag full of pear drop sweeties, a little tinny or brass pennies and massive floral blooms and sweetness leads to malted cereal barley and a sprinkle of sea salt, violets and gentian.
Taste: Toffee, fudge, butterscotch, pear, peaches, banana, creamed coconut, vanilla, floral heather, wisp of smoke and huge wave of sea spray, parma violets
Finish: Long, salted caramel, floral and prickly heathery peat smoke

Overall

I have to agree that this fits the profile of for example Highland Park’s Freya expression (also Bourbon cask matured). Full of heathery and lightly floral peat influence and that slightly salty and very malty distillate the Kirkwall distillery is rather famous for.