The Winter Queen (Adelphi)

After tasting the official samples for round 6, let's check out the extras, and wow, this is a rare one. A friend provided this bottle, picked up during his work trips in the EU. I doubt any of this reached the USA, as the main ingredient is a Dutch whisky. The Winter Queen is from the Adelphi blending house. It's a mix of two scotch single malts and the Dutch whisky mentioned. Fewer than 900 bottles were made, bottled at 52.7% ABV. I think the youngest whisky was 9 years old, but it's a NAS bottling. It looks beautiful in the glass, a deep amber and mahogany. It's NCF'd and produced long, silky legs in the Glencairn. The aroma instantly brought to mind a sherry-finished rye whiskey. Sweet, with hints of dill and pepper near the glass before fading into fresh bread and syrupy, melted toffee. Intense espresso notes were hidden unless you swirled it vigorously, then they appeared. The taste echoed many of the aromas, with maple syrup and spicy rye vying for dominance. It immediately reminded me of earlier High West Midwinter Nights Dram bottlings—except this one is sweeter, though less balanced. The most recent MWND batches can't compare to the old ones, and this one is similar. It feels like the flavors are reluctant to combine and integrate. It’s like a square dance where each component steps up, dances a bit, then retreats to the side, waiting for its turn. It’s not bad at all, I just wish the flavors mingled more smoothly. Perhaps it's the spirit's youth; I'm uncertain. The finish is lengthy, marked by sweet sherry and a thickness like tree sap. That was also quite intriguing. It significantly enhances mouthfeel and coating. Very enjoyable. Overall, it's a stunning spirit. Packed with flavor from beginning to end. I just can't emphasize enough how much I wanted better integration on the palate. It's a minor point, I know, but that's what I do when I find something so close to perfect. A big thank you to the friend who shared this with the group. At $130, it's right on the edge of being worth the price, but if a bottle were in front of me on the shelf, I'd regret not buying it. A score of 4.25 stars, possibly 4.5. Cheers.

A substantial hit of alcohol is noticeable upfront, but it quickly mellows. My initial impression is that it resembles a sherry-finished rye or a high-rye bourbon. Expect oak, musty cardboard, and mint. Abundant sherry, toffee, caramel, mocha, and maple notes are present. Cherries, marzipan, and almonds also appear. The familiar bubblegum note found in many bourbons is here, along with pine resin, herbal elements, and pencil shavings. Black pepper, clove, and perhaps some licorice, with a faint hint of sulphur. After allowing it to rest for a considerable time, an aromatic, mineral quality emerges, which I suspect is from one of the components. Adding water enhances the mineral notes and introduces a sourdough bread characteristic. Once it has rested sufficiently, these mineral notes become dominant, and the initial sherry intensity subsides. A surprising transformation. The palate presents rich sherry, maple, oak, a syrupy quality, and toffee. It's very bourbon/rye-like with an unusual development that I can only attribute to a specific component, as I've never encountered it in any scotch. It's quite grainy and malty. Some light fruit notes are present beneath the peppery heat, in the form of apple skins and plums. Oak and more black pepper are also detected. Again, with ample time and a little water, the scotch component truly emerges and takes over the experience. With water, it becomes chalky, mineral, and slightly metallic. The mouthfeel is full-bodied, oily, mouthwatering, and coating. The finish is long, featuring sherry oak, spices, and additional mineral notes. This is quite unusual for a blended malt, especially considering its origin from different countries. Before water is added and it has time to breathe, it truly drinks more like a sherried bourbon. Afterward, the scotch characteristics become quite apparent. It's very good irrespective of its composition. At its price point, it's worth the cost, and its rarity adds to the enjoyment. A solid score, and thanks for the sample. Cheers

With a heat wave gripping the Northeast, the Winter Queen seems like a fitting pour for this hot summer night. A gift from a friend. The pour displays an amber-copper hue. Its aroma is full and opulent, offering a warm embrace. Hints of baking spices, sugar, and fruit are present, evoking thoughts of a Thanksgiving dessert spread. Notes include cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, apples, chocolate-covered cherries, candied pecans, maple syrup, walnuts, vanilla, honey, sherry, raisins, apricots, rye, and the scent of old books. The taste mirrors the scent profile, possessing a rich and substantial body. The interplay between spice and sweetness is evident, with rye, pepper, nutmeg, and cinnamon mingling with toffee, vanilla, dates, and dark chocolate. As this combination subsides, a dry, oaky character emerges. The mouthfeel becomes somewhat woody, finishing with notes of black licorice, maple syrup, Concord grapes, and cinnamon. A robust and intricate spirit. As a friend noted, it shares similarities with another dram, but with less pronounced rye. The spice is balanced, and the sweetness is not cloying. I appreciate the chance to have tried this, thanks to a friend. It's a shame this bottling isn't readily available to everyone. [90/100] [Tasted: 7/19/19]

This was my complimentary offering for our little tasting event. What truly fascinated me in this blend was the combination of Dutch and Scottish malts. It's not a common pairing. It's also not widely available, with only a few hundred bottles in northern European and UK markets. Right after pouring, I loved the color: mahogany. The aroma is more like rye...baking spices, cinnamon, bread. The taste has layers of complexity—you get a rye-like sharpness from a young Dutch spirit, but it's balanced by the more robust and refined two Scottish components. If tasted without knowing what it was, I would have guessed it was a well-aged rye tempered with a finishing process, or a unique blend from a specific producer. I think I got this for just over $100...I regret not buying two. Hopefully, some friends will enjoy this one.

I'm one of those peculiar people whose favorite season is winter...I didn't relocate from Texas to the Upper Midwest by chance, you know. This pour, generously shared with me by a friend, is a fitting tribute to the beauty of the cold season. Spicy, with notes of creme brûlée and cocoa, this winter wonder is complex, yet as inviting as a warm fire on a chilly day...and like those embers, the finish is long and comforting. There's little to criticize, except that I wish it were easily found in small-town Wisconsin.

This immediately brings to mind a good batch of Aberlour A’bunadh, right from the first sniff. Thanks for the opportunity to sample this. Nutmeg, cinnamon, gingerbread, and dark red fruits are prominent. The taste is like a fantastic Christmas fruitcake. Honestly, the only minor criticism I'd offer is a slight bitterness from the walnut finish at the end, but that's a trivial issue. Additional nutty notes and cloves provide balance, making it worthy of a high score. The alcohol content is very good, and it's a shame it's so hard to find.