I forgot to blog about yesterday’s dram. It was a 9 year old Glen Elgin by SMWS. I believe I got some points for the region.

Today then. This is a dram I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s from a refill sherry butt, and it tastes very well balanced. Bruichladdich independent casks have been coming out for a while now and from what I understand they’re very good. I don’t think I’ve tried (m)any yet.

Image from Whiskybase

Sniff:
Dry sherry and chalk at first. Some woody notes of old, dry oak. Leather as well, with a slightly bitter note as well. A bit like almonds or cherry stones.

Sip:
Pretty sharp on arrival, massive bite, so quite pronounced on the ABV front. Leather, sherry, dried fruit, bitter almonds, cherries. Maybe a bit of salinity.

Swallow:
Oily, but then drying on the tongue. Warming in the throat. Sherry, oak, salt, roasted barley, fruits.

Based on the salinity and the lack of obvious smoke I thought this was a Springbank, and since it is quite well balanced with there being sherry, but not a huge amount, I went for the 12 year old Cask Strength. Luckily, that meant I was only one year off, and I even got some points for the ABV.

Not bad. Not bad at all!

88/100

Bruichladdich 13, 2002-2016, refill sherry cask 461, 58%, First Cask by WIN. Available for around 100 euros.