Cask No. 24.138

The Vaults Collection

Cask No. 24.138

The Emperor’s old clothes

Speyside, Spey

Please limit one bottle per member

An apple so vigorously sleeve-polished and invitingly ripe you can check your hair in it. Its initial tartness of acidity is salivating but yields to eventual sweetness and, beyond that, a mustiness of true farmhouse cider. Hay lofts, bailed hay, savoury spiced fruit chutneys and hot pies from the oven. There’s a fatty quality as well, one that’s distillate derived - an often cloaked quality of this distillery which is on full and thrilling display here. Savoury pastry balanced by vanilla custard, sooty fire hearths and an easy, light oiliness. Water throws up an abundance of toasted seeds, sunflower oil, sweet syrups, baking soda and sponge cake. Pure, easy delight. The palate opens on fat, sweet, perfectly mature distillate. Barley sugars, lemon water, icing sugar, crushed biscuits, earl grey tea and warm fruit scones. A coffee morning in a glass. With water it’s perfect, sweet, soft, satisfaction. Lemons, hawthorne, hibiscus tea and a tickle of mint.

Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 29 years
Date distilled: September 1989
Alcohol: 51.2%
USA allocation: 24 bottles