Plenty of sherried Highland Park recently: a vast array of official single casks and also a series of Secret Orkney whisky that can only come from the same distillery. Today we’re trying a 2007 vintage bottled by The Nectar of the Daily Drams at the end of December. One of the darkest whiskies I’ve come accross in the past few months (not that it matters much, of course).
Secret Orkney 13 yo 2007 (56,1%, The Nectar of the Daily Drams 2020, sherry cask)
Nose: starts dark and just slightly meaty, but it picks up freshness and fruitiness along the way. Plenty of prunes and dates, raisins and chocolate. There’s a nice tobacco note and a fragrant hint of cognac rancio, but also strawberry jam and fresh peaches. A whiff of liquorice and smoke too. A very seductive nose, with just the right amount of fruitiness and bright character that we’re often missing in sherry bombs.
Mouth: very good again, even though it’s less bright and less complex now. Big, drier notes prevail, like dark chocolate, liquorice and tobacco leaves. Espresso. Wood resin. Herbal notes, mint and leather. Still plum eau-de-vie, a drop of Chartreuse, some orange peel and cinnamon.
Finish: long, on walnuts, chocolate, earthy oak and herbal tea.
When I reviewed the Orkney Malt 2007 Reserve Casks, I wondered what a cask strength version could be like… so here it is. The added strength also brings woody and spicy elements, but it’s an impressive modern sherry bomb at a great price. The Whisky Exchange just received new stock.