Whisky : A Fine Christmas Malt 2020, The Whisky Exchange

Country/Region : Scotland/Blended Malt

ABV : 44.5%

Cask : Sherry

Age : 19 Year (Bottled 2020)

Nose : Fruit, wax, and salt. Big notes of dried fruit and candied apples with more subtle pomegranate and strawberries with a balsamic glaze. Hints of salinity, heather, and freshly extinguished candlewick.

Palate : Medium-bodied and incredibly well-rounded with fruit, wood, and subtle spice notes. Rich dried fruits, candied apples, pears, and persimmons. Subtle hints of a sweet balsamic glaze over juicy strawberries slowly moved toward chocolate and fig stuffed pastries. Waxy at turns with burnt candlewick and berries.

Finish : Lingering notes of fruit and chocolate.

Score : 7

Mental Image : Summer Fruit Salad

Notes : I must have gotten lost somewhere in this dram— the name said Christmas, but I wound up in summer. I did not pick up the spicy backbone that might have pointed me toward winter; instead, I followed a train of sweet summer fruits toward a vinegary-sweet salad and hints of burning candles. While I ended up in the wrong season, I thought this dram was incredible— undoubtedly a crowd-pleaser. It was rich, though not overpowering, and delightfully smooth and easy to drink. There were no sharp edges and no real off-notes that might deter even a novice to the world of scotch.

I do wish the dram were a little thicker on the mouthfeel, it had a nice texture, but it was too light for my taste on occasion. As everything else seemed to go right on the dram, that was not a deal-breaker. Not everything needs to be cask strength, and this dram was a great example of a mellow, balanced blend. There was still plenty of flavor and interesting things going on without the dram being all that flammable or suitable as a disinfectant.

Overall, I thought this blend of Edrington malts was quite the treat, even if I ended up thinking more of summer than Christmas.

Image Credit: The Whisky Exchange