Gold Medal at Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2021

When using fresh Pedro Ximenez casks, the rule not to overwhelm a gentle and flowery Speyside malt is to use a light hand: seven months of finishing in the sweet Spanish dessert wine were enough to give it a fruity overtone without overpowering the dry and crisp character of the spirit. The result is incredibly balanced, and true to the style of the distillery. Light bodied but firm, it evokes a wide range of fruity notes: blood oranges and orange rinds, a touch of red apples, red berries, and just the tiniest bit of sultana raisins and nuttiness. In spite of the finish, this is not a sweet and cloying malt: on the contrary, it remains agile, light footed and perfectly suited as an aperitif or to be paired with some medium-aged cheese.