RUGGED BEAUTY

€72.50

PROFILE Peated REGION Highland AGE 8 Years ABV 63.4% CASK TYPE Re-charred hogshead

Imagine sitting in a Scottish black house, dry-stone walls and thatched roofs rendered black with soot from a permanent peat fire in the centre of the building. On the palate we had rabbit stew with black olives, sundried peppers and garlic served with patatas a la pobre (poor man’s potato), fried with eggs and plenty of olive oil. Following the addition of water, a floral fragrant smoke developed combined with toasted cumin seeds and teriyaki sauce. To taste, it was like a rich barrel-aged oat stout beer with a burnt toffee flavour finish.

HAZELNUT BUBBLEGUM

€120.90

PROFILE Spicy & Dry REGION Highland AGE 18 Years ABV 55.6% CASK TYPE 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

The complex nose immediately evoked a generous helping of hazelnut spread. There were bars of nougat, flaked almonds, and sweet peanuts. "This is nuts!", exclaimed one humorous panellist. In time, it became more oily, chamois leather, over-ripe peaches, and nectarines as well as a leafy note, with eucalyptus and tea tree oil. To taste, we found salted caramel and white chocolate mice. Still oily, peppery nasturtium leaves, Sichuan pepper, citrus peels, and assorted gin botanicals. With water, "that's a fat distillate!", we all agreed. Sweet & creamy, a hessian sack full of barley, rum fudge, boiled toffee sweets and apple and peach Tart Tatin. The amateur baker among us picked up notes of wholemeal bread drizzled with honey and buttery brioche. The taste was full of expressive esters; pink bubble gum, red apple skins, pear drops and raspberry sherbet. We walked through an old sweetie shop, then kicked through autumn leaves before polishing antique furniture in a country manor.