St Bridget's Kirk Cask #4 8 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

"Love this unlikely baby because of all those blood oranges." - whiskyfun.com

The St Bridget's Kirk range are made by blending malt whiskies from different distilleries and differing styles. The intention is that each batch is small, bespoke and distinctively different from the last; blended, married, bottled and hand labelled in Lady of the Glen's own warehouse, Batch #4 is a lightly peated blend including components from five malt distilleries. It's a thick, chewy, fruit-cakey malt with a light injection of dried fruits, peel and subtle smoke richening up the spicy finish. Married for over two years in a first-fill ex-Amarone wine barrique, the final yield was 145 bottles at 48.9%. Non-chill filtered.

Other reviews... A wise friend once said that the only red wine that's heavier than amarone is called a magnum. What's more, this baby spent no less than two years in first fill amarone wood. And yet, the whisky's not red, or even pink(ish), it's only... Colour: apricotty. Nose: no heavy cherries de la muerte or raspberries del inferno, rather a soft, caky nose, with just a little guignolet and crème de cassis from Dijon. Some triple-sec too, cassata, banana jam, and the expected raisins. Mouth: it is sweet. Loads of blood oranges (which I love and cherish), cracked pepper, melon cream, banana foam, orange drops, cloved, a small glass of lemonade and another one of ginger tonic, Italian bitters… I'm sure you could use this in a posh Spritz. Finish: long and spicier. Honey and more blood oranges in the aftertaste. Comments: blood oranges will save the world. Love this unlikely baby because of all those blood oranges. Mind you, amarone! 85 points - whiskyfun.com

Notes from the bottlers... distant bonfire smoke, Jamaican ginger cake, strawberry jam with dried orange peel.