Cadenhead Creations 44 Year Light Fruity Sherry

A few months ago, I received a pour of this exceptionally well-aged blend as a bonus from a friend from NJ. He recently sent me the last remaining 4-5 ounces from the bottle. Therefore, I feel it's time to review this remarkable whisky. This bottle contains whisky from Glenfarclas, Glenlivet, and Invergordon, all aged over 44 years. Truly astonishing. It presents a deep mahogany color in the Glencairn glass. It's remarkably oily and forms fast-moving legs and large, foamy water droplets after a vigorous swirl. The aroma initially seemed borderline with a strong dose of Ludens Cherry Cough drops, but with time, it evolved into a deeper, richer experience with red berries, gingerbread, and subtle oak. Strangely, I also detected a note of corn flakes cereal. It has a somewhat artificial scent, yet is deeply complex. The palate is characterized by heavy sherry, cherry cola, and raspberry purée. There's a slight hint of light citrus that provides a nice foundation, along with faint, freshly cut oak from the cask. I perceived a distinct shortbread cookie sensation throughout the entire sip. Due to the lower ABV and extensive aging, I don't experience any heat. The aroma and palate suggest a significantly higher proportion of Glenfarclas in this blend compared to the others. The finish is on the shorter side with a substantial sherry sweetness. While it doesn't make the finish feel long, the sweetness lingers until rinsed away. It's here that I finally detect some much-needed oak flavor. It's not abundant, but it's present. Overall, it aligns with my expectations for a Glenfarclas-dominant blend with significant age. When it starts to seem artificial, it releases oak or citrus notes that truly save the experience, in my opinion. My only regret is wishing I could experience this at 46% ABV or slightly higher. It would benefit from some heat to complete what could be a perfect whisky. My thanks again to Pranay. Nothing compares to tasting a whisky nearly my age. A score of 4.25-4.5 stars. Cheers, friends.

It's the new year, and I was nearly at 300 tastes before 2018 ended. A bad Christmas cold likely prevented me from reaching that goal. Such is life. I'm feeling better now, so I decided to have a drink that's older than I am. Fortunately, a friend provided this. This 44-year-old Cadenhead blended scotch is named Light Fruity Sherry. It's bottled at 43.4% ABV, has a dark copper color, and is not chill filtered. Only 346 bottles were made available. The aroma is light, with fruity sherry notes, so the name is quite accurate. It starts with melon, both cantaloupe and honeydew, then moves to berries like raspberry and blackberry. There are also notes of orange, mango, and apricot. The sherry is subtle but very pleasant. Vanilla, apples, even a hint of apple cider vinegar and grapes are present. Following the common advice to let whisky rest in the glass for a minute per year in the cask, I let this sit for an extended period. Upon returning, I detected chocolate, caramel, and chocolate licorice. Wood spices like cloves and nutmeg, chai spices, and a salty note emerged. It's not a sweet drink, but rather quite savory. The palate initially presents a lot of wood spice, balanced by abundant fruit. Tropical fruits like mango, orange, pineapple juice, and even a faint banana note are noticeable. Spice cake, nutmeg, and mild oak notes are there, along with caramel and creme brûlée. Considering its considerable age, the palate isn't exceptionally deep or complex, but it's still enjoyable. The mouthfeel is medium to full-bodied and quite oily, coating the mouth well. The finish is medium-short, which is again surprising given its age. It features mango, orange, banana, and caramel. While this is clearly a mature whisky, it doesn't stand out significantly from spirits less than half its age. It lacks any grain harshness, which is a positive. It's a decent drink, but it didn't particularly impress me. 3.75 Cheers

This was an intriguing discovery. It's a combination of Glenlivet, Glenfarclas, and Inverogrodan, all aged at least 44 years, matured in bourbon casks with a final year finishing in first-fill sherry. It has aromas of Indian mango pickle, complemented by a pleasant palate of cream, gingerbread, and a hint of that Indian mango pickle once more. A substantial yet smooth dram. Excellently crafted.