An impressively mature expression from an elusive Speyside distillery: very famous of its meaty, rich and chewy style, made even richer here thanks to a finish for 16 months in a first fill Pedro Ximenez barrel. The integration of the wood, wine and whisky is perfect, and that an already be seen by the rich mahogany colour! At the nose it’s deep, dark and broody: there is raisiny sweetness, dried plums, but also a marked note of freshly sawn wood. Dark chocolate, and a hint of freshly roasted coffee. The same contrast between chewy sweetness and tannic firmness is present at the palate: toffee, chocolate, creme brulee… but also a very aromatic touch of deeply infused black tea, bitters, cola and quinine. The finale is smooth, but increasingly toasted and tannic.