Cadenhead's Small Batch Glenrothes-Glenlivet 24 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

One for the hardcore Sherry fans. Twenty four years of age and fully matured in ex sherry butts. Dark, and no caramel colouring. And then to top it off...it's at cask strength. From Mark Watt at Cadenheads: "Massive sherry, grab a knife and fork for this. Lots of marzipan, quite creamy like a sherry trifle and then more meatiness grows." Distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2015. 966 bottles on offer.

Tasting note: Deep copper, sienna brown with gold ochre edges and good legs. Spirity opening sniffs are mildly sulphury / rubbery / hessian sack-like; Second pass reveals more of the latent whisky with dense and weighty notes of walnut fudge, hazelnut, marzipan and dried fruits; Final pass accents a sweeter aspect as sticky date pudding / vanilla. Huge bittersweet attack. Early sugars give way to intense paprika, marzipan, cocoa and light raisin cake. Dry and peppery with bittersweet oak and mild sulphur to finish. This should have more than a few Sherry-heads rejoicing. 55.7% Alc./Vol.