Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Balmenach distillery. Bottled by independent house Hunter Laing in Glasgow, Scotland, for their Hepburn's Choice series. Natural color, not chill-filtered.
Nose:Deliciously malty, butterscotch candy followed by citrus and woody vanilla aromas, layered with spicy woody notes of ginger and cinnamon. Mouth:Candied orange and lemon zest, vanilla and butterscotch, flower honey, melted brown sugar and woody spices. Finish:Rich and malty, with sweet aromas of woody vanilla and subtle spices.
Nose: Hazelnut and smoke, accompanied by malty sweetness and ripe fruit. Then come apricots in syrup, ripe pear, malted vanilla reminiscent of cracked barley, crème brûlée and sweet honey. The smoky peat note is discreet but nevertheless quite present. This evokes shoe polish and leather and earth.
Mouth: Soft and mellow, comes the heavily roasted malt reminiscent of smoked muesli with fruit and honey. Then come smoked apricot jam, crushed barley, peat, burnt heather, citrus and redcurrant. With a drop of water, its smoke and elegant minerality become stronger, offering a magnificent counterbalance to its sweetness.
Finish: Sweet with earthy flavors, followed by a smoky, spicy and herbal note.