Elements of Islay Sherry Cask Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

We're used to seeing the Elements series in 500ml formats. This bottling upgrades drinkers to 700ml. It's part of a new core trilogy of blended malts introduced in 2022 (the others are 'Cask Edit' and 'Bourbon Cask'). Matured in first-fill and refill sherry butts and hogsheads and combining whiskies from the north and south of Islay before bottling at a hearty strength, components are kept secret, but just looking at the bottle tells you everything you need; there are the expected aromas of sweet peat reek, joined by raisin cake, prunes, dried orange peel and baking spice, followed by a massive flavour drive that adds lanolin, walnut brownies, maritime salinity and chimney soot. Chilli-infused dark chocolate, smokey dates and trace iodine finish off this impressive blending effort that also comes non chill-filtered. 54.5% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Nose: obviously more sherried, with a rather dry profile on tobacco leaves, dark chocolate and Lapsang tea. Cigar boxes and hints of black peppercorns. Quite aromatic. Mouth: again more on the dark and dry side of the spectrum. Plenty of leafy notes, liqourice, dark chocolate and dried orange peels. A lot of sweet pepper, hints of seashells and a gingery edge. Rather sooty. Finish: really long, with dry smoke, dark chocolate, tobacco and a hint of muscovado sugar. - whiskynotes.be

Notes from the bottlers... Nose: The lingering scent of tobacco remains in an empty sandalwood cigar box. Arbroath smokie sits alongside aromatic notes of lemon oil, ginger root and a hint of menthol. Palate: Rich and unctuous. Dark-chocolate-dipped candied orange slices and chunks of crystalised stem ginger. Muscovado sugar syrup provides a sticky, dark drizzle over date-studded ginger cake. Sweet smoke and dried autumn fruits sit in the background. Finish: Treacle toffee and smoky black tea, sweetened by dark brown sugar. A long, sweet, rich and spicy finish.