Cadenheads 7 Stars 30 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml)

This very reasonably priced thirty year old is said to be inspired by the blends of yesteryear. Cadenhead's add, "Our traditions and methods haven’t changed and so we have resurrected 7-Stars using whisky from distilleries all over Scotland. The blend is then finished in Oloroso sherry casks giving it a bolder, yet well balanced, flavour." Word has it, this isn’t from Cadenhead’s own stocks, rather it was purchased already blended. Given it was mostly drawn from sherry casks, the whiskies that fit the bill would be Macallan, Highland Park, Glenturret or Glenrothes, but probably even Cadenheads don't know the actual contents. The grain influence is reported to be slight, so expect a malt-heavy blend with good weight at 46% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Noses like a malt, to be honest. Palate: A lot of dried fruits. Some overripe cherry and that rather new-ish style of dumpy, heavy (and oh, so cocoa-powder-dry), nutty sherry (anyone else miss the tropical old jammy sherry of old?) So this is a blend, is it? Really? First sips don’t really suggest that. Notes of gingerbread and boozy tiramisu, doused in over-oxidized Oloroso. Some more raisins. Ok…a bit of grainy silkiness peeking through now. Neat, but heavy. Finish: Long and deep. Expected nothing less. Apple peelings. Slight touch of maraschino. A bit grippy. Thoughts: I’m rather keen on this one. And the packaging too. Smartly, wickedly retro. - All Things Whisky

Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Fresh, lemon drizzle, coffee & walnut cake, rum and raisin, caramel. Flavour: Lightly roasted coffee, date syrup, sticky toffee pudding. Peppery: Peppery, salted caramel, nutmeg, flint.