Lindores Abbey The Casks Of Lindores Sherry Butts

The third and final ‘Casks of Lindores’ bottling and the conclusion of my Lindores series. This spirit emphasizes the Sherry cask process, with the Lindores spirit exclusively matured in Oloroso Sherry butts sourced from Jerez, Spain. Nose: Deep and incredibly rich. Dates, figs, dark toffee, buttery mocha, berries. The richness seems to come from a darker, leathery or tobacco character rather than just toffee and fruits. Palate: A gentle, warming fullness. Baking spices, cake batter, dark bitter cocoa, and some stewed red fruits. A touch of orchard fruit and musty to nutty tannins are also present. Surprisingly simple and, dare I say it, a bit bland for a sherry cask. However, like the other Lindores expressions, it is clean and precise. Finish: Medium. Dark chocolate-covered ginger, potpourri florals, wood spice, and a hint of berry sweetness. Certainly not an overpowering sherry bomb, but the classic sherry notes are present: cocoa, stewed red fruits, and some coffee. I expected something more substantial, bolder, and more defined. This is lighter, allowing room for florals on the finish and a richer opulence on the nose. I believe the finish is the highlight of this one; the florals are exceptional. I detect less of the new make spirit here but can see how the sherry cask clearly integrates into the superior multicasking of MCDXCIV. This is the last of the six-part series. I'm sad; this has been a fantastic exploration that I wish had gone into more depth. Exciting developments are anticipated from this historic distillery. [Displayed with a skarn from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, featuring red garnet, green epidote, and grey-white wollastonite. Skarns are metamorphic rocks formed by hot fluids at the boundary of intrusive igneous rocks and surrounding country rocks. I have no idea what the original rock was, but it was likely a calcium-silicate sediment.] New make: 3.25/5 Aqua Vitae Small Batch: 3.5/5 MCDXCIV: 4/5 Bourbon cask: 3.5/5 STR wine barrique cask: 3.5/5 Sherry butt: 3.75

Like Christmas in a drink: a medium-light body, a pleasing dark amber color, and a medium finish with pepper and cherry. Wonderful notes of caramel, cherry, and vanilla. Truly a fantastic winter beverage.

The nose is very fruity, the rest is okay.

Smells very fruity, otherwise okay.