A new long-awaited release of our sherried single malt from the lovely coastal town of Fort William! A long finish of 55 months in a first fill Oloroso cask let it mature to perfection, to a full, juicy, almost overripe profile. It actually isn’t particularly fruity at the nose: it steers more towards a tannic style, rich with old leather-bound books and wood furniture, liquorice, and dark bitter chocolate. At the palate, it’s extremely muscular: fruity and winey, yes, but on the dry side. We find lots of pepper and cinnamon, huge chewy tannins, orange peel, a marked note of black and red tea, a touch of clay and camphor: it’s smooth but full bodied, with an oxidative note that obviously comes from the Oloroso. The intensity of taste is almost overwhelming at times, with the tight and appetizing bitterness of wood and dark chocolate becoming particularly evident towards the end.