2007 Adelphi Breath of the Isles 13 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Yet another sherried malt in the collection is this mystery whisky drawn from a refill Oloroso sherry butt. On the nose, Adelphi find Peach Melba, lychee, gorse flower, croissants, sweetcorn lathered with butter and driftwood. The palate is a beguiling combination of pink peppercorn, Hobnob biscuits, sweet and salty popcorn, and the whiff of peatbogs, resolutely backed up by a lurking peat. The finish is medium and savoury. Sounds like a wonderful co-mingling of peat and sherry! Review from whiskyfun.com below suggests it's unmistakable as a Highland Park. 58.6% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Colour: pale gold. Nose: there is a 'sibling' impression of sharpness that seems to echo from the Elixir bottling. Only here instead of this acetic quality, it's more around citric acidity, salinity, cellar must and damp coal embers. Over time there's a much clearer impression of an 'Orkney accent' emerging. Some sheep wool oils, a lick of peat, sandalwood and dried herbs. With water: lovely! Lots of ozone, mineral salts, bay leaf, lemon peel and some drier aspects like chalk and bit of brittle waxiness. Mouth: peppery and prickly with alcohol. But it's also nicely savoury, salty, heathery, sooty, piney and with this firm impression of coastal freshness and distant, heathery peat smoke. Unmistakeable! With water: rather more oily in texture, all on seawater, cooking oils - sunflower oil and smoked olive oil perhaps - sandalwood, camphor and putty. Finish: medium in length but rather coastal, fresh, invigorating and with further impressions of sheep wool oils and sandalwood. Comments: pretty exemplary and solid Orkney 'stuff'! 87 points - whiskyfun.com