Mystery /r/Scotch Howdy 2 [Howdying Mystery Review Series]

A small glimpse of light in the darkness shines towards my face.

I crawl my way towards it. The heavy gravity pulls my legs down.

Yet still I continue. For if I’m to escape the S.S. Howdy, I’ll need to do so with my wits.

With my tongue, more so. The end review is always the most demoralizing. The doubts, the misses. The horror.

Another arm slams the ground. Another length is dragged forward. Another bit of hope is held onto, even as more blood is lost.

“HOWDY! HOWDY!” It screams as I move forward. A dump against metal. A blink of the light.

I’ll make it out of here. I’ve done worse. I can still move.

Another arm forward. Another Step Forward. Almost done.

It’s been fun.

Price: N/A at the LCBO

Bottle No. 162 of 287

Cask No.: 5612

Aged: 16 years

Date of Bottling: Aug. 2012

Cask Type: Pedro Ximenez Sherry Cask

Region: Speyside

Abv: 53.9%

Colour: 2.5YR 5/10

Nose: Lime, mint, cherry, pineapple, butter, cream, cassia buds

The tempting smell of spice and many fruits forces me back. It knows I’m going to stop posting mystery reviews, and has left the best for last.

Am I lost within the made architect’s (/u/devoz) design?

Taste: Cinnamon, plum, caramel, rubber, mint

Spice and rubber hit the ground. Not as much as I would like. More hope is held.

I scramble to the light. Cinnamon only holding me back. It’s good, but not great enough.

“HOWDY!”

Finish: Heavy cream, basil, light brown sugar, oak, dry apple

A last great hurrah holds me back. This is creamy, sweet, and has a nice finish. It’s dry, in the right way. It’s sweet, and in the right way this time.

The oak adds nicely. I push with all my might, yelling one last word…

“HOWDY!”

Conclusion: All in all, a nice dram. It’s creamy, tasty, and hits a lot of the right notes. The taste is really the only bad part, with a lack of complexity not helping it much. I like this, and I like the nose. I think it needs a little more oomph.

Good use of a sherry cask though. That much is obvious. Anything else and I’m lost.

80/100

Guess: Darkness Aultmore 16

Actually: Benriach 16 1996 Single Cask PX Finished