Orkney 18 - Black Friday 2018 (Whisky Exchange) - 54,6%
Photo taken somewhere in Stuttgart
Normally we try to avoid following hypes and stuff. We seriously do. Especially, when the whole world is going mad about a silly american marketing trick. But who can resist, when the Whisky Exchange personally is tempting with an independent, limited special release? The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak...
Nose
A whiff of smoke is the first impression. Like from a distant chimney. Not medicinal, more barbecue.
Afterwards the smoke subsides and a morning freshness of a meadow in the mountains appears.
Then intense (Highland Park generic) heather and honey, followed by a heavy vanilla sweetness. It's like a gentleman perfume, slightly spicy, but also fresh. Excellent!
Palate
Neat: Strong, very concentrated arrival. It stings the front of your mouth, then spreads up to the pallate with a dense and strong sweetness and warmth. This yacht is calling for water to set it free.
Meanwhile it lingers on coating the mouth with the most inviting sweetness.
With water: Heather and honey again. Fresh cut grass. With closed eyes we can see the mountain top.
And overall this devine, mouth coating sweetness, paired with a very gentle bitter touch of lemons and wood.
Finish
Medium long and heavenly. Oily and coating, but still perfectly balanced between sweetness and astringency. The (for nowadays) long maturation really added character and depth to this baby.
Rating
What a blast! The guys from London seriously do anything but disappoint us (remember the brillant Ledaig Present Future release)! How do they manage to get their hands on such astonishing casks? This ship really requires water on the palate, but then directly turns into a speed boat, a Porsche 911 on water si tu veux. We need more of this!
