Fully matured in a hogshead that been shaved, toasted and recharred (the first experiment of this kind for us), this Highlands single malt showcases the purity and cleanness of style of the spirit, with only a medium touch of oak from the cask. At the nose it’s rich with cereals, fresh and flowery, with a nice malty intensity and a touch of honey. The style remains true to the classic Highlands approach at the taste, too: firm, honeyed and mineral at the same time, with a touch of beeswax but also a dry tannic backbone to compensate the sweetness. The interplay between heather, chamomile, white pepper and herbal notes is particularly appetizing. The pepper, the mineral note and the tight tannins build in intensity towards the finale.