Pretty much what I would expect from a refill sherry maturation, this one is quite muted. Fruity and sweet with some mineral notes.
Benrinnes 15 Years Old 1999 Old Malt Cask
Lagavulin 13 Years Old Feis Ile 2021
Soft and subtle, this drinks like a classic Lagavulin (e.g. 16yo) with just a hint of some extra cask char and vinous nature. Perhaps the natural sweetness/Sherry influence in standard Lagavulin makes it hard to see what the Port-seasoned cask has introduced that is different?
Coal Ila 12 Years Old Feis Ile 2021
Delicious sweet and char notes plus some extra fruits from the Moscatel wine cask boost classic Coal Ila sweet smoke flavours. Rich with plenty of depth and stewed and dried fruits.
Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2021: Moine Bordeaux Finish 2013
Deliciously decadent, a smoke and red wine marriage, borders at times on a little inkiness which could be enhanced by the youth of the spirit here which brings so much power to that smoke. Later it is sweet dry and nutty and still delicious.
Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2021: Marsala Cask Finish 2001
At cask strength this is rich but a touch on the spicy side for me, with water this mellows into more buttery caramel. A great example of Bunnahabhain’s fruity distillate pairing well with Marsala wine finishing
Bunnahabhain 12 Years Old
Something about the caramel, nut and chocolate combination enhanced by a sprinkle of smoked sea salt adding that depth and richness means Bunnahbhain is so moreish for me. I still rate this as one of the best 12 year old whiskies.
Bruichladdich Origins
A rather complex and full expression encompassing all of Bruichladdich from rich cereal barley, through a veritable cocktail of fruit with a small wine-tour intermission including warehouses full of oak casks and ending with that characteristic sea spray. A great summary of the last 20 years at Bruichladdich!
Bruichladdich Feis Ile 2021 Masterclass 6
Having been filled into the cask at 84%+ ABV this has had much more of a cask/cask char extract effect rather than mellowing/maturation. That said this whisky is still remarkably smooth at 69.3% ABV!
Bruichladdich Feis Ile 2021 Masterclass 5
Noticeably younger and much more buttery, more woody/caramel notes come through on the nose and the cereal and slightly grassy/stalky/herbal quality is left until the finish here.
Bruichladdich Feis Ile 2021 Masterclass 4
Another interesting spin on the Bruichladdich core flavour, perhaps not so cereal-forward here and evolves into some much greener fruit flavours too.
