Breath of the Highlands 1985

20 year old Highland 54.8 % vol

1 of only 176 bottles from cask no. 1065

Casks from this unnamable distillery are uncommon: the make is much used in de-luxe blends. This bottling comes from an ex-Bourbon cask and has the lovely, full gold colour, with orange lights, that a good quality American oak cask can bestow. The nose is typical of the make: hedgerows and rose-hips and succulent wild flowers – late summer scents. In a moment beeswax emerges, and traces of lemon-peel: natural, Highland scents. Water increases the wax and moves the scene to a forest – beech-mast and moss – then clean cotton, even cotton-wool. An unusual nose; complex and rewarding. The flavour follows through: waxy, mouth-coating, teeth-coating; a heavy sweetness, then drying and cooling in a medium to long finish.

Winner of a Bronze Medal, Malt Maniacs' Awards 2006

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