Whisky: Macduff 7 Year (2012), SMWS 6.39 “A belter of a dram!”

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 65.2%

Cask: Oloroso Butt (5Y), First Fill PX Butt (2Y)

Age: 7 Years (Distilled 23 Jan. 2012)

Nose: Rich dried fruit, leather, baking spice, nougat, cream, praline, and a hint of menthol.

Palate: Full-bodied with stewed stone fruits, leather, jammy cassis, baking spices, hints of balsamic and strawberry with tobacco.

Finish: Medium-length and slightly drying with fruity syrups and a mild cream.

Score: 6

Mental Image: Merry with Sherry

Narrative & Notes: Fortified by the heavy double sherry maturation, the aroma brimmed with dried dates, stewed plums, and a less-than-subtle layer of baking spices featuring nutmeg and cloves in equal measure, oiled leather, a subtle menthol, and sweet caramel praline. More spirit-driven notes appeared mainly in the background with nougat, a subtle cream, and occasional hints of star anise. The palate was full-bodied with rich stewed plums and dates, oiled leather, and a jar of sweet cassis preserves. Baking spices ran under the fruit with cloves and cinnamon, while more subtle notes of balsamic and strawberry arrived near the end. The fruits continued through to the end with a bit of tobacco. The finish was medium-length and slightly drying with fruit syrups and mild cream.

I will skip my usual disclaimer statement about not being into whiskies this cask-driven or smothered with sherry and only say that if you like that style, you would surely rank this a peg or two higher than I. This young Macduff was a competent sherry beast with some intriguing complexity— I do love balsamic notes— that came out more with a few drops of water. Water further highlighted some of the latent creamy elements of the malt.

Overall, not a complex affair, but considering the age, this was remarkably well put-together and, despite the abv, not a palate scorcher— though I did think water improved the overall effect. Really, the only question worth asking when considering this dram is, do you like sherry?

Image Credit: Whisky Auctioneer