Whisky: Speyburn 11 Year (2010), Gordon & MacPhail Cask 431 for Broken Barrel Club

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 65.7%

Cask: First Fill Oloroso Sherry Hogshead

Age: 11 Years (Distilled 2010, Bottled 12 Sept. 2022)

Nose: Massive waves of sherry fruits, brown sugar, and caramel; peppercorns, currants, prunes, brown sugar cakes, subtle lacquered wood and burning incense, fruit cobbler with a touch of crushed pecans.

Palate: Medium to full-bodied, syrupy, big cask-driven fruits turning to leather; mellow earthy clay with leather and licorice lingered in the background; cherries and currants in syrup with a touch of show polish; spirited and peppery, especially at the end.

Finish: Long and lingering currants, fruit leather, and peppery spirit.

Score: 6 (77)

Mental Image: Burning Effigy of the Sherry Gods

Narrative & Notes: To keep this brief, I am not a bit of a fan of these massive cask-driven whiskies, but if you are, then I think there is a lot to love here. Bonus points if you gravitate toward high-proof whiskies and instantly get excited about things bottled at “hazmat” strength— this was not a hazmat 70% abv whisky. Still, it had plenty of youthful prickle and peppery spirit.  None of those are elements I chase after, so your mileage may vary with this cask.

Overall, my first Speyburn— another whisky I can check off the old Pokédex.  I initially tried this at a tasting along with a number of releases from Brave New Spirits. I still think this whisky was better than I initially expected, even if it was not to my taste. I tried it again a few months later and found it much the same. I needed to add a good teaspoon or more of water to a 1 oz pour to tame the spirited prickle, water brought out additional fruits, but washed out some of the nice background complexity.