Islay Single Malt, 67,1%, 70cl — Single Cask #900086, Sherry Butt Limited edition of 589 bottles — LMDW Exclusive

COLOUR
Bright orangey copper

NOSE
Rich and elegant. Immediately on the first nose, notes of dark chocolate, malted barley and other more medicinal notes (camphor, ointment) clearly take hold of the olfactory senses. After this extremely dynamic and powerful opening, apricot, musk, lime blossom honey and aromas of sage and absinthe bring the aromatic palette lots of complexity and originality. Next, thick smoke rings escape from a Havana cigar with a particularly earthy flavour.

PALATE
Frank, invigorating. Wavering between chocolate and spices (clove, cardamom), the attack is also herbaceous (malted barley) and medicinal (sleet, iodine tincture). On the mid-palate, heady florals (broom, mimosa), iris butter and bitter orange appear alongside exotic fruit (mango, guava) and pine resin. The deliciously rich (gianduja, cagé crème) end of the palate restores the flavours of pipe tobacco.

FINISH
Long, very energetic. At the start of the finish, the malted barley and sherry have found perfect balance, bringing out all of the complexity of an oily yet floral distillate (lavender, lilac). Later, magnificent oxidation with flavours of rancio (brandy cherries, raspberry brandy) and camphor draw the tasting out infinitely. On the retro-nasal olfaction, roasted pineapple returns to the exotic character of the mid-palate. The fermentary and earthy empty glass is a veritable ode to malted barley. Outstanding.