The Malt Cask

  Together with Bushmills UK, I bring you something incredibly special for Father’s Day: the GB exclusive 1991 Madeira Cask release, part of the Causeway Collection.   Bushmills is the oldest licensed distillery with over 400 years of whiskey-making experience, and this 1991 Madeira Cask epitomises the brand’s heritage and craftsmanship. After over 13 years in a mix of Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels, the whiskey spent its remaining 15 years in first-fill Madeira casks before being bottled with no chillfiltration, colouring and at the natural cask strength of 50.2%. This single malt has a story to tell, just like the Giant’s Causeway which gave its name to this Bushmills series.   I think it’s time to try it… My tasting notes: Nose: Rich and fruity with plump sultanas, mandarins, vanilla, honey, and rich caramel. Old oak and old cognac with chocolate, some sweet resin and tobacco leaves. The honey turns into Manuka after a little while, with brown sugar, toasted cereal, toast

Distillery : Speyside Bottler : Ferg & Harris Age : 12 years old Distilled : n/a Bottled : 2022 Cask : Pedro Ximénez Sherry Hogshead Finish (6 months) Abv : 55.7% Unchillfiltered : Yes Natural Colour : Yes Nb of bottles : 1192 Extra : n/a My tasting notes: Nose:  Rich and dark, you definitely get the PX influence straight away with dates and raisins. There’s an old Cognac vibe to it too. Wood spice, old oak, dark fruits, blackberry jam, stewed dark cherries, muscovado sugar, nuts, chocolate and orange. A big start! Palate:  Dark, rich and thick on the palate. Sticky toffee pudding, old oak, dark chocolate with some bitterness from it, prunes. The higher abv is there and the dram is quite dense and closed without water. This is definitely one I want to add more than a couple of drops to…! Finish:  Very nutty, walnuts, oak, leather, dried tobacco leaves, old bookcase, very warming. With water:  More manageable to access flavours I feel. The nose gets more milk chocolate, dried fruits