DARK ’N’ STORMY CRÈME BRÛLÉE

SPICY & DRY

CASK NO. RRG16

$195

REDUCED FROM $220

REGION Lowland

CASK TYPE 1st fill #4 char barrels

AGE 6 years

DATE DISTILLED 29 April 2016

OUTTURN 1,300 bottles

ABV 50.0%

AUS ALLOCATION 84 bottles

A rich aroma of rum-soaked raisins, Turkish delight, cinnamon bagels and glacé cherries welcomed the Panel, bolstered by charred peaches, caramel popcorn and honeyroasted nuts. After the inviting nose, the taste neat came as quite a surprise – a spicy hit of chilli flakes followed by dry/bitter cask char. There was sweetness behind that attack, but it was difficult to get to the vanilla concentrate, fudge and toffee bonbons. Following reduction, we felt that someone had burned an exotic antique tea chest before rum-infused desserts took centre stage on the palate, including warm banana split in a rum sauce, a classic French rum baba ... and how about a dark ’n’ stormy crème brûlée?

BAKE-OFF

DEEP, RICH & DRIED FRUITS

CASK NO. RR68

$295

Silky Smooth And Sensually Sweet

SWEET, FRUITY & MELLOW

CASK NO. 9.240

$295

REGION Highland

CASK TYPE 1st fill & refill Spanish oak Oloroso and bourbon hogsheads

AGE 14 years

DATE DISTILLED 22 February 2008

OUTTURN 1,174 bottles

ABV 53.5%

AUS ALLOCATION 60 bottles

A heady aroma came brimming with confectionery and baked pastry vibes. Some clear impressions of pomegranate molasses drizzled on lemon sponge cake were joined by coffee crème caramel and hints of aromatic VORS oloroso. This evolved nicely to cherries, marzipan and orange liqueurs. Water brought out notes of rum fudge, ginger cake, peppermint tea and a wonderfully deep leather and tobacco combo. The neat palate opened up with hot cross buns, a deep and satisfying spiciness, booze-soaked trifle and a smörgåsbord of fig jam, cinnamon pastries and a lovely, syrupy texture evoking runny honey and fruit compotes. With water it moved more towards dark chocolate, Turkish delight and candied walnuts, with a long, warming and citrus-tinged afterglow.

REGION Speyside

CASK TYPE 1st fill bourbon barrel

AGE 18 years

DATE DISTILLED 11 September 2003

OUTTURN 208 bottles

ABV 57.1%

AUS ALLOCATION 30 bottles

The initial nose was slightly autumnal, with lots of nutty innuendos – flaked almonds, baklava and toasted pistachios; also some pine sap and brioche aromas. The palate was silky smooth and sensually sweet – condensed milk and honey, with herbal suggestions coming after –bouquet garni, tarragon, marjoram and lemon thyme. With water the nose continued its autumnal journey, with nut skins and apple cores, but also now picked up the sweetness of cola cubes in a paper bag. The palate was sweet, fruity and well-balanced – fruit salad chews, fresh juicy melon and plums in syrup; finishing with a hint of muddled mint.

REGION

LOOK AT MY MUSCLES!

JUICY, OAK & VANILLA

CASK NO. 1.260

$190

Flambeed In Rum

JUICY, OAK & VANILLA

CASK NO. 70.45

$195

Speyside

CASK TYPE 1st fill bourbon barrel

AGE 9 years

DATE DISTILLED 25 January 2012

OUTTURN 211 bottles

ABV 59.5%

AUS ALLOCATION 42 bottles

The neat nose suggested to us sandalwood shaving foam, bakelite and moist malt loaf. Beyond that we also found hessian, apple brandy and wet autumn leaves. Aromatic and highly elegant in style. With reduction we found tea cake, freshly baked brown bread with honey, toasted seed mix and sweetened olive oil. The palate opened with an emphatic, malty richness, then many satisfying flavours of robust cereals, putty, ointments, herbal teas, dried apricot, white pepper and calvados. Reduction brought marzipan, lime cordial, orange travel sweets, camphor, pine needs and soft, pulpy waxes.

REGION Highland

CASK TYPE Refill bourbon barrel

AGE 13 years

DATE DISTILLED 31 January 2008

OUTTURN 134 bottles

ABV 56.2%

AUS ALLOCATION 30 bottles

A nose full of ripe bananas and pears carried us towards salted caramel and treacle with a little side hustle of heavy cask char and almond oil. A moderate inferno on the tongue softened to cinnamon and ginger with sweet syrup and a curious amalgamation of tobacco leaves, cocoa nibs and bitter orange oil. More fragrant with water we now found rose petals and vanilla rubbing shoulders with buttered fruit loaf, hazelnuts and bananas flambeed in navy rum. A much more gentle palate now embraced creamy textures that coated toffee apples and green herbal flavours. Heavy cask char remained alongside crushed walnuts, singed pineapple and dry oloroso sherry on the finish.