We are past halfway and are approaching the end of the Virtual Open Days because tomorrow is already the last day. Yup, time flies when you’re having fun! But first, we have the Cadenhead Virtual Open Day today with this evening again a great tasting and of course the accompanying festival bottling, which is A Speyside Distillery 18 year old.
Normally, during the Campbeltown Malts Festival, Cadenhead shares the open day with Kilkerran and one of the most legendary tastings there are the Cadenhead warehouse tastings, which you, by the way, also can book throughout the year.
You never know what you will get, but there are often very nice gems among them, which they will prove again tonight with their online tasting. I mean, what about a cask sample of a 29 year old Littlemill or a 29 year old Caol Ila and then I haven’t even mentioned that 30 year old Glendronach cask sample …. Not bad, right, for a weeknight? 😉
Unfortunately, I missed out on this tasting (can’t do them all!), but I do have a review of the festival bottling.
This 18 year old is a vatting of a bourbon and sherry cask and is bottled at 52.3% ABV.
A Speyside Distillery 18 year old tasting notes:
Nose: it doesn’t give much in the beginning as it’s quite restrained. And oddly enough I get fish oil at first. Some honey in the background. Milk chocolate. But after some time it starts to open up a bit. Then I get a floral note, which reminds me of potpourri. Oranges, followed by some spices, such as nutmeg and a hint of cinnamon. Toffee and red apples. It is getting fruitier the longer you let is stand, the oranges really are getting more to the surface. An oak note and tobacco leaves.
Taste: honey and raisins. Oranges, followed by vanilla. Milk chocolate and caramel toffee. It’s slightly oaky. Then some spices, such as crushed black peppercorns, nutmeg and cinnamon.
Finish: the finish is long, with some dried fruits. Honey and that same potpourri note as I got in the nose. Earl Grey tea. Black pepper and nutmeg.
A strange one in the beginning, as it is quite restrained and especially the fish oil note makes it a bit weird. But over time, this will improve a lot. It really needs to get going and it will give you a very nice development. I would have liked to see a bit more of the bourbon cask, but it seems the sherry cask is predominant here. Still good though and the most complex so far, but for me slightly less than the other festival bottlings I’ve tasted.
