06/05/2022 Cragganmore

37.64 30yo 1985/2015 A real charmer (51.3%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 188b): nose: flowery and a half from the off, this is full of honeysuckle, irises, daffodils and yellow tulips. Sappy flowers, then. Almost immediately, that is met by juicy yellow fruits (peaches, mirabelle plums) and beeswax. Yes, this smells waxy alright. In fact, soon enough, that is the dominant aroma, with encaustic, waxed rustic chairs and oiled shelves. A bit further on, flowers come back, more pink, this time (peach flowers, oleander, hydrangea), then a leafy canopy appears, before it starts all over again. The second nose is overtly waxy, maybe with quince and Golden-apple skins thrown into the mix, though that does not disturb the encaustic and patina-covered dining chairs. Flowers still tickle the nostril from the sideline, now predominantly white (deutzia, white azalea). Mouth: juicy and sappy in texture, the mouth has a soft leafy bitterness to support yellow fruits (mirabelle plums and peaches again, perhaps physalis too). Waxy wood subsists, though it only becomes clearer after thirty seconds or so swirling around the mouth. Sappy flower petals grow in intensity at second sip, which is to say there is a gentle bitterness at play, not at all offset by a pinch of caster sugar. Repeated sipping underlines the freshness of the palate -- a perfect spring-morning drop. Finish: powerful, yet elegant. Cracked green pepper augments the now-expected yellow fruits and tulip petals. Some juice survives this far, more acidic than previously. The second sip is a little sweeter, still very much on a yellow-flower tip without that ever being too much. Each sip seems spicier and warmer than the previous, bringing cedarwood and banana-leaf cigars to the table. All the same, it never loses its freshness or spring-like character. Come to think of it, that might be apple mint, lively, yet fruity and fresh. Very, very good. 8/10 (Thanks for the sample, adc)