Another great experiment in marrying the contrasting flavours from the dry and winey Oloroso casks with a very smoky Islay malt. We chose to blend two slightly different casks: one sweeter, and one with drier and more intensely oaky notes, and they balance each other. At the nose the note of old wood, of antique library, is evident. Think of pinewood shelves, leather-bound books, old yellowed pages… But there’s a spicy touch of camphor and eucalyptus too, and also a whiff of orange-like freshness. The influence of the more oaky cask is noticeable in the first attack at the palate, with plenty of sandalwood and liquorice, but it then turns toward a fine balance of sweetness (red apples and raisins) with a huge farmy quality of damp earth and leather. Again, spicy and balsamic, with a generous touch of bitter orange rinds.