Maltbarn Strathmill 27YO Sherry cask 55.7%

Maltbarn Strathmill 27YO Sherry cask 55.7%

Distilled 1996

Bottled 2023

(1 of 141 bottles)

'Stunning new label designs, whether you experienced the late '60s and early '70s or not. Somewhere between an Emerson Lake & Palmer album cover and a Soviet Olympic Games poster. Very classy, without being cheaply retro. Off to a good start... Colour: deep gold. Nose: some cask! Extraordinary lighter pipe tobacco, old walnuts, indeed pure dry sherry (fino-esque), miso soup, hints of black (fermented) garlic… Well, this is shaping up to be quite the distinguished affair so far. With water: softer, on apples and pears, walnut cake, those slightly more intense honeys we so love (fir, chestnut). Mouth (neat): here it becomes quite rowdy without water. Loads of pepper, very bitter oranges, bitter almonds, capsicum, new leather... Water should be a great help. With water: it continues to flirt with bitterness, with notes of amaro, Cynar, pepper... Finish: the same, lasting a good while. Bitter orange in the aftertaste, and of course walnuts. Comments: the nose is absolutely sublime and ensures a high score; the palate is somewhat more confrontational.'

88 points, Whiskyfun - Serge