North British 28 Year (1991), Signatory Vintage
Whisky : North British 28 Year (1991), Signatory Vintage
Country/Region : Scotland/Lowland (Grain)
ABV : 46.2%
Cask : Refill Sherry Butt
Age : 28 Year (Distilled 2 Sept. 1991, Bottled 3 June 2020)
Nose : Dried fruit, baking spice, and chocolate. Waves of rich sherry crested with dried berries, figs, and cherries. Caramel notes of dulce de leche with sweet baking spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa powder. Hints of freshly roasted coffee, sandalwood, and brown sugar. Chocolate notes built slowly and left the impression of a spice chocolate mole sauce.
Palate : Medium-bodied with notes of dried fruit, baking spice, and nuts. Tannic and drying throughout, it opened with notes of roasted nuts: cashews and almonds in particular, before dried fruits and chocolate lent the impression of a fancy trail mix. Baking spice and brown sugar led to notes of gingerbread with sugary icing. Sweet, creamy coffee beverages— holiday-themed lattes— came at the end with subtle oaky notes of coconut and vanilla. Leather and chocolate-covered cinnamon red hots lingered through the finish.
Finish : Lingering cinnamon candies.
Score : 7
Mental Image : Holiday Lattes
Notes : For a dram that was incredibly cask-driven, this had loads of complexity. The refill sherry cask took center stage and, after nearly three decades, dominated the grains' influence. Just about every classic sherry note was present in this without any off marks. It was a bit sweet for my taste and a tad astringent, but I loved how it transitioned between different flavors and distinct impressions. What began as a journey through a bag of trail-mix quickly became a tasting flight of holiday flavored lattes.
Overall, while sherry-driven single grain whiskies have not traditionally been something I have loved, this was about as good as they get. I don't particularly appreciate when the cask runs over the distillate, which often happens with grains and sherry. Yet, you can still get tons of delicious complexity when the cask is good. My North British sample size is not very big, and this easily hit the top stop.
