The range includes an 8yo Korval Rye Quarter Cask Finish, a 10yo Port Wood Finish and a 12yo Pedro Ximenez Wood Finish. For the tasting they'd also included a special 2006 Single cask sample from a Port Pipe.
First up on the night was the 8yo Korval Rye Quarter Cask Finish
My thoughts: Pale gold in the glass, Thin lines when swirled falling as thick slow legs. Initial nose: Stewed pears and honey.
Nose: only 8yo so quite young and spicy, the finish in ex-Rye casks just adds to this. The nose offers orchard fruit, a sweetness and the promised spice. The spice wains after a while in the glass, tropical fruit notes - bbq pineapple, apricots and mango in a fruit salad drizzled with honey.
Palate: Very smooth, sweet and fruity arrival, almost syrupy. More of the pears from the nose, a little green apple and some vanilla. The spice doesn't arrive until later, I was expecting way more spice - but it wasn't there.
Finish: Short, gentle finish, sweet honey and tropical fruit notes. Gone to early 😪
Other tweeter's thoughts:
Next was the 10yo Port Wood Finish
Distillery Notes: This gorgeous ruby red malt has been matured for over eight years in American Oak Barrels. It was then re-racked into vintage, premium Ruby Port Wood Pipes which developed the flavour depth and complexity, adding vibrant fruit flavours. Regular monitoring ensures we achieve the perfect balance between wood and spirit influence whilst preserving the whisky characteristics. Bottled at 48%, unchillfiltered and natural colour. Nose: Waves of heather honey and sweet spice, laced with rose hip and dark chocolate. Taste: A flood of heather honey, butterscotch and treacle, with damson, rose hip and dark chocolate.My thoughts: Lovely pink hue to the gold in the glass, Swirls fallas thick slow legs. Initial nose: Spicy orange
Nose: Port influence is quite strong, thick strawberry jam, orange oil, some milk chocolate and a little oak. Fruit & Nut chocolate!
Palate: Immediately drying, strawberry from the nose is joined by other berries to make a mixed fruit jam, some caramel notes and a big kick of spice. This is the spice the 8yo should have had - maybe it needed longer in the cask?
Finish: Long, drying and spicy. Some honey and orange notes again - yummy!
Other tweeter's thoughts:
Third was the 12yo Pedro Ximenez Wood Finish
My thoughts: A lovely dark gold colour, swirls fall as slow thick legs. Initial nose: musty book shop.
Nose: Dunnage warehouse notes - musty wood/paper, fruit cake, almonds, strawberry jam, more of that fruit and nut chocolate.
Palate: Thick syrupy arrival, very sweet slightly drying. The milk chocolate on the nose has turned into dark chocolate. Lots of dark fruit, figs, plums, black cherries. Nice!
Finish: Long and drying, spice dominates but there is that syrupy sweetness and a hint of smoke.
Other tweeter's thoughts:
Final dram on the night was the 2006 Single cask sample from a Port Pipe.
Distillery Notes: Bottled at 59.9%
My thoughts: a beautiful red gold in the glass, gravity defying swirls cling to the glass as an inverted crown of beads before falling as slow thin legs. Initial nose: spiced plums.
Nose: this is very different from the 10yo Port, a much redder colour in the glass and, being cask strength, a huge spicy nose. The dark fruits - plums, figs and black cherries from the PX finish are all present here along with orchard fruit & vanilla latte notes.
Palate: a thick spicy arrival, loads of red fruit and oak spice. The nearly 60% ABV makes it presence felt. It's a dram which deserves time & respect, neat and with water, but there just isn't enough in the glass to try adding water.
Finish: a lovely burn as it goes down leaving a spicy fruity finish.
Other tweeter's thoughts:
Overall I think the 10yo Port Wood Finish came out top, followed by the 12yo PX, the Ralfy Port Pipe and then the Rye.
Many thanks to @TheWhiskyWire for organising, @GlenAllachie for sharing their new range and my fellow tweeters for making it a great evening!
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