An Orkney Distillery 2006 The Single Malts of Scotland Reserve Casks 12 yo

 

 

 

48°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islands

5 Bourbon Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

In The Single Malts of Scotland range, Reserve Casks serves more or less as an introduction. It is produced in a reduced version at 48°, and it is never a Single Cask, but it is supposed to represent the rest of the range in cask strength and Single Cask. Parcel No. 1 Reserve Casks was launched in 2019, it's like a first batch of just 3 bottlings, of which this is one. Amusingly, even the angels' share is specified on the label, in this case 6.80%. We don't know the number of bottles produced, but with 5 Hogsheads, it must be around 1,700.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very well-balanced nose of mountain honey, pungent bush, lemon pulp and vanilla milk. A very sweet and enticing smoke rises after a while. Iodised freshness. The Highland Park distillery is immediately and totally recognisable. It's mellow, subtle, delicate and at the same time very costal. Sea breeze, a few wisps of foam, but the sea is calm today. Sea salt. The palate echoes the fragrances perceived. Sea water, waves, sea spray, on a fine layer of lemon and vanilla, with a hint of malted barley, quite cereal-like. Warm and woody, it's like sitting by the fire under a blanket. Very little spices, just the right amount. Ginger, cumin, nutmeg, cloves. Nice, long finish, heather, chicory, chocolate mousse, rich, damp earth, quite violent but without overdoing it, cosy towards the end. Genoise, cola. Candied citrus fruit.

 

In Short, 

I have to admit that it's a marvel. I found it very iodised, as I like it, but at the same time subtle, not aggressive like Talisker or Caol Ila, two distilleries I adore by the way. Here, it's perfectly chiselled and very nuanced. For a whisky less than 15 years old, in a reduced version, the quality is incredible. Frankly, I can't remember ever having drunk such a good whisky in the same conditions. There are still some available on certain online sites, go and get them.

Score : 89 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Joep Beving - Paris s'enflamme