Cask No. 44.173

About My big fat Speyside wedding:This black label strikes all the right chords for us. Starting with a robust spirit from worm tub condensing (less copper contact = fuller-bodied distillate) and maturing in both ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry wood, the finished single malt here is complex and breathtaking.

Tasting Panel Note: The nose on this one simmered with warm brown bread spread with treacle, flower honey, notes of fig jam, sultana and sweet dark fruits soaked in old cognac. Underneath that we found a lovely, gentle earthiness holding everything together. With water we enjoyed brandy snaps, fragrant exotic wood oils, dried flower petals and then some wonderful notes of dark chocolate with sea salt and walnut wine. The palate opened with tiramisu, fresh black coffee, more treacle, ginger cake and eucalyptus-scented pipe tobacco. Some underlying meaty tones of beef stock were also noted. Water brought flavours of dry-roasted peanuts, star anise, poached damsons and lovely touches of aged balsamic and rancio. This was matured in a bourbon hogshead for 17 years before being transferred to a first fill Spanish oak oloroso sherry hogshead.

USA allocation: 96 bottles