The Malt Cask

Vintage Bottlers ltd A look at a new indepedent bottler today, and we’re not looking at young cheap whisky here with Vintage Bottlers but only “the very best whisky Scotland has produced, past and present.” The first release -part of their Secret Series- is proof of it. It is a 30 year-old Highland single malt, aged in an ex-Sherry cask, bottled of course uncoloured, unchillfiltered and at the natural cask strength of 47.5% I know it’s supposed to be secret, but they still give us a clue with a set of coordinates, which take us straight to the Clynelish distillery…! As they’ve been kind enough to send me a sample, here are my notes: My tasting notes Nose:  Oaky, sweet, creamy, with straw, hazelnut chocolate cookies, marzipan, red apples, a little peach, almonds, desiccated coconut, slight sultanas, vanilla, hints of sandalwood and Madeira cake. What a start! Palate:  Citrus first on the palate before some oak spice, sultanas, salted caramel chocolate, stewed dark fruits, blackberry jam