One last one for this year. It has been quite the run, in the second half of December, to make up for the other months.
Stronachie 18yo (46%, A.D. Rattray, Hogsheads, b.2015): nose: not exactly a talkative nose, we have here. Some lacquered wood, maybe, medlar, beechnut, and the faintest whisper of faint smoke from burning lichen-covered branches. Over time, a lick of Verdigris appears, just as shy as the rest, and dried peach slices, when one blows on the liquid's surface. Those peaches are really dry and chewy. The second nose is a little more expressive, and showcases a boiler room. Oh! it is not the Industrial Revolution; merely a dusty apparatus that provides warmth to a dwelling. That is accompanied by mild marmalade (mildmalade?), which increases the impression of an old-school dram. It has something buttery too -- perhaps farm butter spread on fresh sourdough, then, *ahem*, armpit sweat. Mouth: if 'velvety' were incarnated, this Stronachie would be it. It is ridiculously easy on the tongue, in a warm-custard way. Said custard has vanilla pods, juicy apricots, and a measured serving of cracked black pepper. Scratch that: ground black pepper. Fudge and toffee rock up, after a bit, that do not change the texture. The second sip somehow manages to combine buttered sourdough and smashed apricots, and adds a minor bitterness to it. Smoked dolmas come to mind, for some reason, yet it is not very precise. Finish: peppery toffee, gently smoked. Picture Quality Street's Toffee Penny made in a bothy. Easy, pleasing, and nonetheless elegant. As it did on the palate, the second sip brings smashed apricots into the picture, still with that veil of smoke and vine leaves, now augmented with a dash of hazelnut milk. It is a fairly-short, mellow finish, all in all. Here is a simple-ish dram that will not change anybody's life, but is a pleasant sipper for all occasions. It you are stuck at a boring New Year's Eve party tonight, you could do worse than order this. 7/10 (Thanks for the sample, A.D. Rattray)
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