Tasting notes by Craig Daniels at maltmaniacs.net
Nose: Slightly restrained early but with emerging furniture polish, (shellac/french polish), toffee apple, sherry and black tea notes and a faint sultana/raisin fruitiness, some subtle resin and ginger, a hint of thymol or mint, some nutmeg and cloves, some more dried black tea, tobacco leaf and walnuts. Left longer, the winey notes (dry oloroso sherry) emerge more fully. Starts to develop the classic nuttiness of great sherry. With time the tannins and spices and the background of cream build along with autumn leaves.
Palate: Syrupy, slightly oily, well rounded with medium dry sherry and tea tannins in the back palate. It’s mouthcoating but it’s also crisp. There’s something savoury and earthy that evolves into nut-skins from hazelnuts or walnuts.
Finish: The alcohol finally announces its presence. Warm and fruity/nutty. More tea and wood tannins, very forest floor with autumn leaves and medium dry sherry, a lingering bitter astringency from the wood that freshens up the tail.