Kilkerran 8yo b.2022 (57.9%, OB Cask Strength, Port Casks, B#7, 22/22): nose: phwoar! this is wide and bold. Cured cold cuts and wine sauces, fortified wine by the sea, a Pimm's punch bowl by the barbecue. The influence of the cask's previous content is really obvious on the nose, with syrupy sweet wine and sea breeze engaged in a calm-but-loud dialogue -- loud enough that one can follow it from two doors down. Suddenly, they fuse to become brioche bread, slightly burnt, the crust having turned dark brown. There is a whiff of cosmetic powder, at this point, which brings a tart presence (brioche, tart -- see what I did?) Then, it is back to Pimm's, arguably also a favourite of tarts. The second nose is more farm-y, showcasing farmland paths and agricultural machines drying in the sun, earth and heaps of lime fertiliser. Mouth: green, lively, it has the impetuosity of youth, and it is also smokier than expected. Barbecue overtakes Pimm's (though there is still some of that too), with caramelised pork ribs, mechoui, charred chicken wings and barbecue or teriyaki sauce. To say it is ashy would be an overstatement, but it certainly is chargrilled to a high level. The second sip is almost medicinal, with ether, and Iso Betadine mixed with some sauce (Reggae Reggae?), a sauce that manages to muster (mustard?) a certain sweetness. Beside that growing sweetness, further sips deliver lime fertiliser in jute sacks. Finish: it has a bit of a kick, yet, considering how lively it was on the palate, it is almost well-behaved, here. It is an earthy finish, with terracotta and scorched earth, and it has a musky, rancio-y touch too, pointing at a fox, roasting its buns by the fireplace. One could imagine that was imparted by the Port, to some extent, yet it is strikingly different from what said Port brought to the nose: it is noticeably drier, now. Repeated quaffing tames that dryness with smoked cough lozenges, clearly not the sweetest bonbon in the candy box, but a little sweeter than what preceded, nonetheless. And, yes, that does bring a mentholated facet to this finish -- unless it is a note of eucalyptus. In either case, it wakes one up! 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, WK)
Happy birthday, sonicvince!
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