Highland Queen Majesty Burgundy Cask Finish

A complex Single Malt Scotch Whisky from MacDonald & Muir Distillery in the Highlands of Scotland, aged in former Bourbon barrels and finished in former Burgundy wine casks. It begins aromatically with notes of red fruits, malted barley, hints of white chocolate, and butter; its complex development adds notes of marzipan, almonds, salted butter, and more red fruits; leading to a balanced, medium-length finish. October 2020 / September 2022

I acquired this at the nearest Total Wine about two weeks ago. This is my third time tasting it. The previous two experiences were quite disappointing, with the wine influence overpowering everything. Now that it has had time to rest and breathe, the nose is still dominated by the burgundy wine, but there are also hints of malt and some sweet nuttiness. It's hot on the palate with sweet red wine and nuts; the finish is lengthy, spicy, and oaky.

The aroma is extremely sweet with a hint of sourness. Almost good. Quite a bit of bite and warmth. Not terrible but rather plain. More mouth tingle than flavor. Overall not bad, not great or complex. Would buy again for the price though.

The flavor is certainly agreeable for a price under $20. However, in this instance, the quality reflects the cost. It tastes fruity and somewhat stale, reminiscent of those peculiar candied fruits often found atop fruitcake.