Another XO / Very Old blended malt, this time bottled by Whisky-Fässle. For similar bottlings we’ve heard rumours about old (possibly underproof) casks of Macallan / Glenrothes / Tamdhu / Highland Park – former distilleries from the Highland Distillers group. It’s pretty much the malt base for The Famous Grouse, sometimes blended with some younger whisky to get more punch, and matured further. This one could be similar. Or maybe not.
Fine Blended Malt ‘Very Old’ (45,2%, Whisky-Fässle 2016, sherry butt)
Fine Blended Malt ‘Very Old’ (45,2%, Whisky-Fässle 2016, sherry butt)Nose: as expected, a rather dry and old-style sherry profile. Walnuts and hazelnuts, as well as some hay and sappy, leafy notes. Red apples, hints of dried fruits and some menthol. Also hints of dusty, old books.
Mouth: again quite leafy and dusty, really nice. Old woods, hints of old cognac too. A little tobacco and tea. Faded apples. Juicy and spicy at the same time, but always smooth. A little juniper and all-spice. Hints of waxed papers. Old-style – I like it.
Finish: not too long, but nicely smooth, on herbs and oak spices.
A rather savoury, herbal take on old sherried whisky. The opposite of the fruity, vanilla-laden American oak sherry you mostly get nowadays. You should really get one of these XO / Very Old blended malts, this is not something that we be available forever. Still available from Whisky-Fässle for around € 100.
Score: 87/100