2000 Berry Bros & Rudd Orkney Islands 17 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Orkney's windswept archipelago of seventy small islands lies off the top coast of Scotland and is home to the most northerly outpost of whisky making in the world. Two distilleries vie for the honour of the furthest; Highland Park and Scapa. The winner by about 300 metres is Highland Park. Although we can't be 100% certain where this is from, Berry Brother's Cask No.1 bottling offers a strong sense of ‘Orkneyness' that matches one particular distillery's style. Extremely limited stocks.

Tasting note... [20ml sample] Matured in an American oak refill sherry cask. Deep gold. Unfolds in stages. Sherry and smoke compete on the nose, a touch of sulphur lurking in the background. More air contact brings toasted cereals, wild honey, beeswax, sweet wood smoke… 3-4 minutes adds dates, fruity dark chocolate… the peat recedes. Thick and chewy. Lashings of honey, while the peat enters sooty, peppery, slightly dry and earthy to finish. Lots of budding spice. Very distinctive HP, kind of reminiscent of what the 12 year old was like many, many moons ago (circa 1990-2000). A dollop of water fluffs up the texture, adding considerable mid palate length, while the aftertaste remains dry and ashy. Non chill filtered. 56.3% Alc./Vol.