Mystery Scotch Review #1 from /u/devoz [Scotch review #750]

Thank you to /u/devoz for a random mystery for this milestone dram.

This is the first of many celebratory drams that I am having for my 750th Scotch reviews. Turns out I’ve had quite a few milestones so I have to stretch these out.

Also I have some high end drams to drink. I know, it’s a rough life. You all are happy I live with it.

So up first we have a mystery. Why a mystery? Because I suck at mysteries and need to get better.

So I’m poured this sample blind, with no idea what it is at all. It’s suppose to be in line with what I’ve been reviewing quite a bit of.

So if I was smarter, I’d think Bruichladdich. However if I was that bright then I’d be better at mysteries and not doing a mystery for #750.

So with that circular logic flowing and booze coming, let’s see how this tastes, shall we?

Price: N/A at the LCBO

Region: Islay

Cask Type: Ex-Bourbon hogsheads

Number of Bottles: 588

Vintage: 1992

Bottled: 2016

Abv: 53.3%

Colour: 10YR 8/10

Nose: Funk, peach, raw ginger, Prosecco, grapefruit, yeast

More funk on the nose. I’m just assuming everything devoz hands me has funk now. Because of course. Some raw notes, yet also a developed fruit/effervescent/acidic note here.

And yes, I know different Proseccos have different flavours. It’s that developed flavour that’s there. And then yeast on top of that. Not like a Champagne style, which is more integrated with the yeast. Here the water brings out yeast. Like a bad date.

Taste: Bellini, creme brûlée, cardamon, currant, cumin

Mixture of peach and that note that I butchered above that made all you wine fans double think if I should be doing this at all.

Also some wonderful developed eggs, which I miss since I can’t have eggs at all anymore. Nice brown sugar, well done orange and spices. The cask here has given us something interesting and tasty. I’m guessing (wrong) a sherry cask.

Finish: Caramel, tangerine, sparkling wine, oak, smoked BBQ

Nice finish. Less of that grapefruit sweet sparkling wine note, and more of a generic, dry note now. Yes, I know that’s not 100% kosher.

Nice smoke finish. Lovely tartness that balances it out. Good effect of the wood here.

Conclusion: A solid, solid dram. What I’d later assume was an old sherry cask, but ended up being an old, fun, subtle ex-bourbon cask that I’ve become more and more enamoured with this year. It’s been an odd year.

This has that dry taste, a sweet balance, what I thought was Prosecco throughout because I’m unrefined as fuck. There’s some amazing complex citrus here. Lots of wonderful caramel and buttery notes as well. Worth it and then some. Not going to blow your mind, but on it’s way there. Solid, well done work, and one that I’m proud to review as my 750th.

Well, one of them.

85/100

Guess: Speyside 18-22 year old Sherry Cask

Actually: Bruichladdich 24 1992 Cadenhead’s Small Batch

Scotch review #748, Islay review #177, Whisky Network review #1237