Littlemill 24yo 1990/2015 (54.2%, Alambic Classique Rare & Old Selection, Oloroso Sherry Cask, C#15305, 295b, b#247): nose: juicy fruit and chocolate milk for the true breakfast whisky. There is a lot of caramel here too, and suntan lotion, then granola in custard, augmented with chunks of peach and Chinese gooseberry. Behind all that is a pinch of coffee grounds, though it is concealed behind the aforementioned chocolate milk. Later on, the nose develops a rougher, gravel-y touch, which offers an interesting contrast; it is only fleeting, mind. Even later, a bubble-gum nuance appears, as amusing as it is strange; cinnamon-and-strawberry bubble gum, and it it becomes pretty prominent. The second nosing brings forth lukewarm white coffee... until the bubble gum comes back with a vengeance. Mouth: the attack is mellow, caramel-y or chocolate-y, as well as a little wine-y, in a Sherry or Madeira way, which is to say simultaneously sweet and earthy. Once settled on the tongue, there is zero doubt that this is a chocolate-y number, what with the thick chocolate milk and chocolate custard, so thick it has a skin forming on top. There may be peaches, yet they are coated in chocolate, even if it is of the milky kind (also known as: not real chocolate). Repeated sipping underlines the fruit, yet never makes it the main feature. Earthy chocolate, verging on caffè macchiato, always stays on top. The texture is also that of chocolate-laced dairy -- custard or thick cream at first, then thinning down into milk. Finish: after a kicking arrival, this turns chocolate-y again, with more Madeira, peaches in chocolate and baked earth. Soon, fruitier notes appear too, with (very shy) slices of mango. It is rather spicy a finish, where grated ginger and cinnamon bark introducing turmeric powder. Repeated sipping solidifies the impression of milk chocolate or chocolate custard, pudding -- a chocolate custard to which the baker would have added peach chunks, and on which turmeric powder has been sprinkled. Very original indeed. It is less fruity than I remembered it (I tried this a couple of weeks ago), but no less excellent. 9/10 (Thanks for the dram, JS)
Happy birthday, AM.
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