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.