Liber 12 Year 2008, Spanish Whisky Club
Whisky : Liber 12 Year 2008, Spanish Whisky Club
Country/Region : Spain
ABV : 60%
Cask : PX Sherry
Age : 12 Years (Distilled 2008, Bottled 23 June 2020)
Nose : Fruit, wood, and spice. A spread of cured and dried treats laid across a lacquered bar: dried fruits, nuts, aromatic peppercorn crusted meat, harissa spiced hummus, and Iberian ham. Subtle notes of mineral rich clay, shoe polish, sandalwood, and green coffee lingered in the background.
Palate : Thick and dry with notes of wood, leather, and nuts. Opened with salty cured ham skin, dried leathery fruits, sandalwood, and rubber slippers. Fragrant spices popped on the mid-palate as peppercorns, sweet wasabi, and licorice took hold. Further in were herbal notes of holly, sage, and thyme which gave away to a mild chemical-plastic note at the end.
Finish : Lingering tannic dryness with fragrant sweet spice.
Score : 3
Mental Image : Biting the Plastic Display Jamón Ibérico
Notes : This was really interesting and, beyond the plastic-rubber notes, it was quite nice. It packed a ton of PX sherry cask flavors including a deep salty-umami note that came off to me as cured ham, but which may strike some of as more of a rancio. The nose on this had an incredible smorgasbord of different spices and notes and I really enjoyed the almost earthy quality that occasionally appeared.
Overall, it was had to get past some of the plastic-rubber notes and even a few drops of water did not totally tame them. This was really interesting to drink and while I would happily accept a pour of it, I would never order it otherwise. I have a few older Liber bottles to try, so I am looking forward to seeing how the malt and cask do with a few more years.
