Whisky: Glenturret Ruadh Mhor 10 Year (2009), Single Cask Nation Cask 57

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 60.7%

Cask: 2nd Fill Bourbon Hogshead

Age: 10 Years (Distilled March 2009, Bottled Aug. 2019)

Nose: Meaty at times, charcoal, earth, cinnamon; more orchard fruits with time or water, roasted pork, camphor, muscle rub.

Palate: Medium-bodied with ash and charcoal, caramel apples and orchard fruits, Chinese style roast pork toward the end, brown sugar and anise.

Finish: Medium-length; a return to red dusty earth with hints of fallen orchard fruits and pepper.

Score: 6 (78)

Mental Image: Apple Picking in Pompeii

Narrative & Notes: Initially meaty as burnt ends and charcoal soot blew in with dusty red dirt and hints of cinnamon spice. Apples and orchard fruits took more time to emerge with a dusting of earth while sweet roasted pork popped with some herbal camphor and muscle rub. Medium-bodied with a gust of tobacco ash, coal dust, and caramel apples. The flavor profile was dirty and sooty with plenty of sweet fruits waiting to swoop in.  Meatier toward the end with sweet roasted Chinese style pork with brown sugar and anise. The finish was medium-length and a return to red dusty earth with hints of fallen orchard fruits and pepper.

There were few subtleties on this fiery young peated Glenturret. The spirit came out swinging, leaving me in a fit of coughing as I regained my composure and went once more into the breech. The distillery announced late last year that they would cease producing peated malt, and I felt a little bit of the joy I find in the world suddenly drain out.  This was not the most subtle or complex example of the spirit, known as Ruadh Maor, though it was considerably fruitier than many of the others I have encountered.

Overall, robust fare with a surprising balance between dirty grills and orchard fruits. I found it a touch sweet for my taste, and while the fruit and grill notes were balanced, they were not always harmonious as they sometimes tugged one another toward bitterness on the finish.