Official tasting notes:
Nose: Sticky, dried figs and black forest gateau jump straight out the glass to begin with, followed by a warm welcome of Morello cherries, dark chocolate and walnuts. Red apples and burnt salted toffee sauce linger in the base notes, alongside deep aromas of dates, Jamaican ginger cake, spicy cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. This whisky is a delight to the nose, pulling you in from the first whiff.
Palate: A whisky explosion hits the palate with rich notes of toasted almonds, burnt apricot, Madeira cake and dark Seville orange marmalade. Everything promised on the nose comes to fruition on the tongue, and more! Sweet dates, sea salt and charred pineapple rings in the front palate roll into flavours of freshly roasted Arabica coffee beans, cacao, cherry kirsch, liquorice and coconut ice at the back. Texture is waxy and coating, beneficially gluing all of the nuances to the palate (no complaints here).
Finish: Rich and chewy, this finish is here to stay for the long haul. Flavours of dark cherry compote and Brazil nuts grip onto the sides of the tongue. Baking spices dance around at the back: cinnamon, star anise, ginger, black pepper… and then at last: a puff of sweet vanilla dust that leads into the feeling that you have just had a sip of the greatest affogato, coffee and vanilla bean ice-cream. This is one long finish!
Sullivans Cove 9 Year Old French Oak Ex-Tawny Cask TD0408 700ml 47.1%
