Aberlour Casg Annamh (Batch 5)

Nose: Abundant orchard and stone fruit notes like peach, pear, and apple, with a whisper of dry earth and pine, plus mint and dried herbal tea leaves. Palate: Sweet honey, vanilla, a hint of caramel, floral notes, a herbal bitterness, white tea, more pine and earth, developing spice, the fruit reappears with aeration, and a subtle red wine sweetness. Finish: Oak bitterness, honey, cinnamon, dried herbs, dried flowers, bitter green tea, noticeable residual oaky heat, and a long-lasting tannic finish. This feels somewhat unusual for an unpeated Scotch, making a bold statement. It retains elements often smoothed out in other Scotches, presenting in various forms of bitterness, a hint of earthiness, and numerous dried plant notes. I don't dislike it, nor do I plan to seek it out again. Although I used the word 'bitter' frequently, it was never intense, so it didn't feel overwhelmingly bitter. Perhaps leaning more into a West Coast IPA profile would be interesting.

Aroma had some beer notes mixed with the sherry for me, like it was put in some sort of beer cask. Flavor is strong and sweet. Rich creaminess that matches the flavor wonderfully. Some spice and wood above the sweetness, good tail.

Sherry is prominent, with a spicy kick on the palate. The aroma is dominated by alcohol. A delightful dram for savoring.