14/02/2024 Strathearn

Strathearn 55do (55%, Cask Sample): indeed, fifty-five days old. Nose: ooft! this is woody. Oily exotic woods such as mahogany, iroko, or teak, walnut, or freshly-cut cherry tree. The nose is akin to walking into a carpenter's workshop, and catching them in the middle of applying a thick coat of lacquer. Polished-walnut dashboards, precious-wood jewellery cases, still wet with lacquer, drinks cabinets so fragrant they are guaranteed to taint any booze kept in them, walnut stain, walnut oil, and the wooden, coffin-like cases Douglas Laing used to use for their Old & Rare Platinum Selection range in 2011-2013. The inside of those cases have a characteristic smell imparted not only by the wood, but by the protective lining and the glue it is stuck with; well, this is that. There are apricot stones too, cleansed and polished beyond recognition, made into decorative objects. The second nose swaps the wood for tins of stale orange tea cakes (PiM's), and (stale) gingerbread. Then, we have oily pipe tobacco and mixed peel interlaced with shards of cassia bark. Mouth: carbonyl, turpentine, and diluted modelling paint meet chestnut oil, shiny chestnut shells, and a tiny amount of grated Kluwak nut. Incredibly woody without it becoming a nuisance, it is actually rather classy, and still vibrant -- it simply vibrates with wood. Flat root beer slowly enters the picture. The second sip confirms the flat root beer. It is sweet, and a tad bitter (nothing to worry about), which hints at citrus foliage (kumquat). Keeping the liquid in the mouth increases a candied sensation, either mixed peel with cinnamon or cassia splinters, or a mulled-wine mix (minus the wine): cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and a dollop of black-as-tar pouring honey. Finish: surprisingly discreet, considering the age and ABV, it does take off after a couple of seconds, warming, comforting. Here are flat cola, walnut oil, maple syrup or dark honey, and shallots. Yes! It is a lovely vinaigrette with a sweet touch. Chestnuts and roasted walnuts linger (it is actually pecans), sprayed with pineapple juice and glazed with maple syrup. An oily finish it is, with ground cloves and sumac to complement candied blush-orange peel. The whole is bathing in walnut and orange oils. In the finish too, we find a drop of carbonyl, yet it is nothing like it was in the first nose. This has to be tasted to be believed. 8/10 (Thanks for the sample, DH)