Whisky : Paul John 7 Year (2011), Cadenhead’s Authentic Collection

Country/Region : India

ABV : 55.4%

Cask : Ex-Bourbon Hogshead

Age : 7 Years (Distilled 2011, Moved to Campbeltown Feb. 2017, Bottled May 2019)

Nose : Fruit, wood, and subtle marine notes.  Tropical fruit and floral notes with pineapple, honeysuckle, and orange.  Bamboo, cardamon, and subtle pistachio remind me strongly of an old banquet hall.  Maritime salt, citrusy lemon, and milk chocolate emerged with more time.

Palate : Medium bodied and slightly oily with sharper notes of citrus and varnished wood.  Fried pastries with floral cardamon registered along with honey-pistachio cakes.  Hints of dried mango, crystalized ginger, tangerines, and blood orange.  Dried bamboo, rattan furniture, and damp tropical flowers came at the end.  A bit of water added some nice cream and highlighted the fruit.

Finish :  Lingering floral spice and dried fruits.

Score : 8

Mental Image : Beachside Rattan Getaway

Notes :  Beautifully balanced between sweet and spice, fruit and wood, this was the best Paul John I have ever tried and exceedingly different from the Peated Select Cask, my go-to for the distillery.  After nearly six years in the South Asian heat, this cask came to Campbeltown for a few years to finish maturing. The profile was loaded with all sorts of sweet nostalgia, which has always been worth a few extra points in my book.  This transitioned cleanly between different layers as I sat with it and everything felt complementary.

Overall this was an absolute beauty and left me hoping for some more opportunities to try single casks from Paul John.