This limited-edition bottling is an outstanding example of the art of independent whisky bottling. The Orkney (HP) 2010/2025 was matured for 14 years in carefully selected casks previously used for sherry and bourbon. The combination of delicate peat smoke, heather, and sweet vanilla promises a complex taste experience that will delight both connoisseurs and novices.
This 17-year-old single malt is truly unusual. For the first time, it has been aged exclusively in American oak Hogshead casks. This gives it a spring-like, fruity, honeyed and sweet character.
Nose: Punchy sweet oak and fresh vanilla pods, mingled with toasted coconut and flaked almonds. Notes of lemon zest and poached, spiced pears emerge with time.
Palate: A wonderful balance of Speyside fruit and oak spice. Sweet cinnamon sugar, vanilla custard, and melting banana toffee, layered with earthy nuts and a distinct caramelised warmth from the toasting.
Finish: Long, warm, and slightly dry, featuring lingering oak spice, fennel, and subtle hints of menthol and tobacco.
Nose: Very distinctively oily, with touches of extra virgin olive oil, sweet briar wood, aromatic herbs (coriander & sage) and a suggestion of smoked lemon peel. A splash of water releases more oiliness, like linseed oil, a gentle waxiness, and a burst of perfumed, aromatic carbolic soap, and finally, a whiff of crème brulee. Mouth: A soft, oily, mouthcoating texture leads into a rich, sweet, smoky palate, with hints of oak moss, treacle, aniseed lozenges and a lovely, sweet, woody/balsamic flavour. This is then followed by smoked apricots and eucalyptus oil. Finish: Finally comes a lingering, sweet/smoky aftertaste, with a touch of cumin, cardamon and the merest hint of coconut.