Whisky: Glenturret Ruadh Moar 13 Year (2010), The Single Cask Ltd. Cask 773

Country/Region: Scotlannd/Highland

ABV: 47.6%

Cask: First Fill Fino Octave

Age: 13 Years (Distilled 30 March 2010, Bottled 22 June 2023)

Nose: Sweet and salty with rich maritime meats, bonito flakes, smoked nori, charcoal, more subtle earth with lacquered wood, herbal and smoky; burnt pine with more time.

Palate: Medium-bodied, slightly syrupy, sarsaparilla, maritime and meaty, black pepper, coffee with a touch of chicory, grilled fruits.

Finish: Medium to long with grilled fruits and more subtle maritime meats.

Score: 7-8 (87)

Mental Image: Highland Ramen Bar

Narrative & Notes: A blast of concentrated umami struck my senses dead with bonito flakes over smoked nori, and a charcoal barbecue. Earth lingered in the background with a lacquered wooden chest hiding cured maritime meats, smoked tea leaves, and dried nori. Sweet notes of char and mellow funk opened to salty-savory shoyu and a touch of burnt pinewood.  Medium-bodied and slightly syrupy, bright sarsaparilla and root beer arrived ahead of bonito flakes and black pepper.  Dark roasted coffee developed gradually with a bright chicory spice and grilled fruits.  The finish was medium to long with grilled fruits and more subtle maritime meats.

What sorcery was this?  How did this peated Glenturret transform into a coastal, umami rich delight?  I have never had a Glenturret like this before. I can see how some of the rich earthiness of ruadh maor might combine powers with a dirty fino cask to produce something like this with its dried bonito flakes and smoked nori— but it was still a shock.

Perhaps the leakiness of the cask played a role as well, though it was not clear if it was the original cask or the octave that clearly leaked, allowing quite a bit of the alcohol to be lost.  My bets are on the original cask, but either way, the effect was to amplify some of the savory qualities of the malt.

Overall, atypical fare, but absolutely delicious.