04/02/2021 Rhosdhu

G15.1 9yo 2008/2017 Lead us to temptation (58.6%, SMWS Society Cask, 2nd Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 268b): that's right: according to the SWA, Rhosdhu is now a grain whisky. Nose: warm woolly jumpers, corn syrup, boiled sweets (red or purple), jam on toast and barley water. Another shy nose, in any case! Wooden cutting boards, warmed by the summer sun, leeks in the frying pan, a fleeting scent of strawberry bubble gum and preserved ginger slices... That is an odd combination indeed! For a supposed grain, it certainly does not smell much like one. After thirty minutes, there seems to be a whisper of unripe apricot to supplement the above. Again: very quiet. Mouth: more talkative on the tongue, this has blackcurrant jam and blackberry muffins fighting it out. A few shavings of tree bark (cedar?) and other pine-related artefacts, woody, acidic and a little spicy. Mint (lemon mint, actually), cinnamon and ginger, cedar-wood sheets, a drop of resin to give it texture, then cranberry compote, also pretty acidic. The acidity is turned up a notch with the second sip, almost drilling through the tip of the tongue, yet the whole now seems wider in the back, invading the dark recesses of the throat with wood dust and ginger shavings, as well as dried lemon-mint leaves -- unless it is peppermint. Finish: warming, a tad stripping the finish has a similar spiciness and, if it is not plank-y, it is definitely strongly influenced by the wood. Once again, there is a dry-lemon-mint-leaf sort of acidity, alongside wood shavings, galangal peel, ground tree bark, peppermint and cinnamon powder. Of the berries, not much survives this far. If anything, it is vine stems, devoid of fruit. Simple, intense, yet still pleasant. 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, SD)