A particularly long finish for 48 months in a first fill Oloroso cask was the perfect touch for this crisp Speyside malt from a very old-fashioned distillery: in spite of the exuberance of young age, it’s already extremely complex and multifaceted. At the nose, as expected, the first impact is very winey, spicy, with that typical dry, astringent and nutty note of Oloroso. It’s peppery, hot, with plenty of red cherries: sherry monster galore! But it’s at the palate that it really shows its maturity and nuance (maybe with the help of a drop of water): yes, it’s winey and spicy, but also extremely biscuity. Toasted cereals, freshly baked bread, a hint of strongly brewed tea, always with a robust mineral backbone. It grows again toward a peppery, nutty and oaky side towards the end, but it remains dry, firm and crisp.