35.59 39yo d.1971 Arabian nights (40.9%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 74b): we are losing a close friend, today (this bottle). Nose: dusty wood and dusty fruit, with peach and ground peach stone, crystallised kumquat, then furniture polish, plum skins, encaustic and wood wax. There might be a touch of very faint straw too, paraffin wax, waxy flower petals (roses, I would wager). Some breathing allows it to release juicy apricots and the softest Virginia tobacco. The waxy tone becomes stronger and stronger, the further down the glass. Mouth: very mellow, yet not tired whatsoever, it has similar waxy fruit (peach, apricot) and furniture polish, as well a rose-petal jam. It feels gently bitter, with apricot stones and encaustic again, apricot compote, softly caramelised. The texture is thin, milky and, well, mellow. It is bizarrely waxy too, yet not coating. Behind the wax, the palate reveals tame, but clear spent wick. Finish: marvelous chocolate shavings sprinkled on top of rose-petal jam, augmented with a pinch of mild tobacco on the polished dashboard of a Jaguar MkV. Fruity jams and sweets (kumquat, quince drops, pineapple cubes), tobacco, cedar wood and wax. This is really stunning. A bottle I will greatly miss. 9/10
Bladnoch 26yo 1990/2017 (49%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection 175th Anniversary, Bourbon Hogshead, 246b, 17/120): nose: ganache, says adc. Noticeably more floral than the Glen Moray, it has mirabelle plum, tulips, buttercup, and then, suddenly, marzipan appears. Cork, satsuma, mandarin peel, green wood (hazel?), unripe quince. Pomelo skins show up after the first sip, with maybe some herbs?... Lemon thyme is my guess, lemon mint, curry leaves and kombava leaves. Mouth: this one is punchy and citrus-y, though not aggressive. The mouth has pomelo, lemonade, bitter kombava leaves, olive oil, lime zest. The label advertises melon -- perhaps there is unripe, green melon skin indeed, but I reckon that is merely suggestions. In any case, the texture is that of of thick-ish lemonade. Finish: a weird combination of chocolate shavings and citrus-y lemonade... that works a treat! Lime leaves, a squeeze of pomelo juice, lime zest, lime-filled, dark-chocolate pralines, lime drops, lemon marmalade on toast. This is exquisite. Immediate pleasure for lemon aficionados. 9/10
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