Whisky: North British 13 Year (2009), Brave New Spirits Cask 316281

Country/Region: Scotland/Lowland

ABV: 60.6%

Cask: First Fill PX Sherry Hogshead

Age: 13 Years (Distilled April 2009, Bottled Oct. 2022)

Nose: Leather and figs, cooked grains with brown sugar, smoke machines and sweet plasticine, soda machines and sticky floors with cola, citrus, cherry, and a touch of sarsaparilla; plywood and guinea pig bedding.

Palate: Medium to full-bodied and syrupy, big and tannic with cherry wood, figs and honey, waxed leather, Sichuan peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, and creamy Camembert— water brought out more of the slightly funky creaminess; sweet plasticine and unfinished wood.

Finish: Medium to long with dried fruit, wood, and a touch of leather.

Score: 7 (82)

Mental Image: Laser Tag Regional Quarter Finals.

Narrative & Notes: The big sherry guns came out for this one as it absolutely blitzed the senses with cask-driven fruits, leather, and wood.  The aroma and palate were similar as figs, brown sugar, and wood notes ran rampant, with intriguing plastic and leathery elements not far behind. It was a robust and beastly thing— not really the style I typically go for, but I loved the sweet plastic notes and the absolute supernova of soda fountain fruity delights.  I have chewed on many a pen in my lifetime and I seem to have a thing of whiskies with a similar plastic quality.

This was the absolute standout during our Brave New Spirits tasting. I had no expectations for this whisky—young grain in a first-fill sherry cask? Not my vibe. Yet, this was fantastic, with a really surprising richness and depth. It reminded me of some of the much older, very sherry Cambus that Signatory Vintage has put out on occasion.

Overall, an absolute shocker that left me ready for a return to the Laser Tag Arena.