- Nose
- A slightly sour start on copper polish, caramelized nuts and pipe tobacco. Raisins and dates against a background of sweaty, damp wood. Worn leather. Light whiffs of Play-Doh, chestnuts and peppercorns. The lightest hint of iodine. Sweet, fruity and light umami on butterscotch, marzipan, broth and armagnac. Tarragon and Maggimix herbs, furniture polish and rum raisins. Lots of dried fruit, crisp 'cold mountain morning' backdrop. Leather and peaches, raisins and a whiff of oak. Bandaids and a bit of iodine. Delicious wood aromas with a light spicy pepper. A bouquet of sultanas, dates, figs and dried apricots. A dusty, nutty aroma of marzipan. Cigar leaves drying on the quay. Creamy chocolate with some flakes of sea salt in it.
- Palate
- Quite woody, with lots of walnuts, dark caramel, more black pepper and hints of eucalyptus throughout. Hazelnuts and a hint of charred oak. It's quite tight, staying on leathery notes and heavy tea. Surprisingly soft and distinguished on plum jam, hazelnuts and candy sugar with an umami side as if from roast beef with an oranges' sauce. Fine balance and spicy enough to entertain. The cold morning crispness turns a little bit watery on the arrival, followed by quite a lot of dry oak, peaches and apricots. Some peppery heat. Cedar wood, dried fruit, hazelnut and some maple syrup. Hint of smokiness. Belgian praline with a little roasted hazelnut in the middle.
- Finish
- Long and drying, returning to the sour tobacco leaves, walnuts and herbal tea. Always a woody heat. Leafy, rather intense style. Wonderfully long, gently drying but sweet until the very last moment. The peppery heat turns more towards a woody warmth. Not too much sweetness, and more leathery notes. The sherry butt provides a nice long finish. The cedar wood (cigar box) lingers nicely on the palate.
