AS NATURE INTENDED

SWEET, FRUITY & MELLOW

CASK No. 73.132

$180

REGION Speyside

CASK TYPE 1st fill bourbon barrel

AGE 10 years

DATE DISTILLED 25 March 2011

OUTTURN 228 bottles

ABV 62.9%

AUS ALLOCATION 42 bottles

The initial nose suggested freshly laundered linens, citrus sherbets, pollen heavy white flowers and crisp green apples. A scattering of pear drops too. All fresh, green, bright and easy. Water enhanced the floral aspects with dried flowers in vase water, then freshly malted barley, sweetheart stout and Turkish delight. The palate when neat opened with lemon curds, biscuity cheesecake thickness and barley sugars. We also got vanilla syrup, dandelions and lemon shortbread. Reduction brought notes of limeade, mint choc chip ice cream and vanilla custard slice.

Spring Is In The Air

SWEET, FRUITY & MELLOW

CASK No. 9.217

$235

REGION Speyside

CASK TYPE 1st fill bourbon barrel

AGE 17 years

DATE DISTILLED 11 September 2003

OUTTURN 210 bottles

ABV 56.2%

AUS ALLOCATION 42 bottles

The nose is a welcome waft of fragrant spring air–golden syrup, mashed banana, barley sugars, honey, fresh linen, flowers and lemon furniture polish on varnished oak. The palate’s main message is sweet lemon – lemon drizzle cake, sherbet lemons and lemon curd, with additional rainbow drops and meringues; the lingering finish has tobacco strands, ginger biscuits, chilli chocolate and liquorice sweets. Leafy notes hit the reduced nose – dandelions, nettles, basil, lemongrass and black tea. The palate now combines iced gem, foamy banana and almond croissant sweetness with hints of apricot, orange, juniper and quinine – memories of Thai curry to finish.

Millions Of Peaches

SWEET, FRUITY & MELLOW

CASK No. 128.17

$255

Silky Smooth And Sensually Sweet

SWEET, FRUITY & MELLOW

CASK No. 9.240

$295

REGION Wales

CASK TYPE 2nd fill bourbon barrel

AGE 11 years

DATE DISTILLED 8 September 2010

OUTTURN 167 bottles

ABV 58.2%

AUS ALLOCATION 48 bottles

Aromas of white chocolate buttons, caramel toffee and apricot Danish, before one panellist piped up “I have that song ‘Peaches’ in my head, by The Presidents of the United States of America.” No surprise on the palate then, ‘Millions of peaches, peaches for me’, or indeed us, a Bellini cocktail par excellence. After adding a drop of water other fruits made a guest appearance, strawberries, pineapple and mango but on the taste we all agreed peaches, in the form of a tart, cobbler, jam or from a can as we went back to the song with part of the lyrics ‘‘peaches come from a can, they were put there by man.’’

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 wellbalanced – fruit salad chews, fresh juicy melon and plums in syrup; finishing with a hint of muddled mint.