Orkney 2005 Chorlton 15 years 57.1% (refill bourbon hogshead, apparently)
A lot of secret Orkney casks lately. No surprises: Highland Park! Are they having a sale or something? And what’s with this cask? Tasted virtually with David Bennett (Chorlton) and the Whisky and Alement team.
More Chorlton trivia: apparently a lot of his casks are now held at Dalswinton Bond, a dunnage warehouse. Smells good, I imagine.
Colour Dark gold, ruby.
Nose Wow. Exbourbon? No way. Sautéed mushrooms and soy sauce. Really quite thick, brothy, fatty. Stinky cheese. Balsamic vinegar – woody sweetness and acidity together. Salt and vinegar chips. Tart apples.
Palate Malty. A big whack of red fruits, berries. Syrupy dried fruits and apricot delight. It’s a bit like a sherry cask. Slightly medicinal peat. Very herbal. We’ve added a bit too much cinnamon to our milk. Thick.
Finish Medicinal peaty finish. Heavy. Off-profile for a Highland Park. Probably why it was independently bottled. Smoke. Coastal saltiness. Tamari almonds. Mushrooms and soy sauce again.
Comments Completely mental. Big, heavy, coastal malt. Clarity of the umami notes are a highlight. If you told me this was an Islay, maybe refill sherry, I’d believe you. Completely off-profile for both the (ostensible) cask and the distillery. 90/100.
