Secret Highland 2010 Hand-in-Hand 10 years 52.4% (refill exbourbon hogshead)
Bottled by a triumvirate of Australian whisky institutions: Whisky and Alement, the Oak Barrel, and Casa de Vinos. Titled “Bees & Fruit Trees” with a cheeky wax-on-wax-off reference label by Blake Wilson. Thoughts jump (like a cat) to mind of a distillery associated with wax…
Colour White wine.
Nose Honey! Wax and perfume, walnuts, whipped cream and fresh orchard fruits. Stone fruits. Honeycomb and beeswax (really…). Buttery and a little woody. Burnt macadamias. Marzipan. Molasses.
Palate Orchard fruits, covered in honey. Some spices: cinnamon, cloves, cayenne pepper. Oily, waxy body. Malty. Fruity and creamy, and the nuts return: walnut pie. Some vanilla, oak, coconut, and dried fruits at the end. With water, more brightness – fresh apple juice and pepper.
Finish Spicy, waxy, and perfumed. Fruity, a little floral. Loads of malt, custard, dates. Spectacular finish, quite long too.
Comments Stellar stuff. Full bodied, very fruity, nutty, and yes, waxy – although that could be my mind playing tricks on me. Brash and in-your-face with these primary flavours. 88/100.
