Finished in first-fill Pedro Ximenez sherry and ex-Cognac casks from Tronçais, this stunning whisky embodies just what connoisseurs of extra-aged whisky look for: It’s elegant and layered yet full of subtle power, and the flavors of white raisins, dried apricots, baked pears, white figs, and woodsy spices are informed by the spirit’s time in oak but not defined by it.
Lingering through the finish are suggestions of dried tropical fruit and sweet spice, as well as a hint of orange sherbet and apricot conserve, all of it anchored by marzipan through the impossibly long finish. The 21 Years of Age expression, on the other hand, is finished in first-fill Oloroso sherry, Tronçais Cognac, and vintage Port casks, and drips with kirsch, melted dark chocolate, dried black raspberries, brandied cherries, cooked honey, and hints of hazelnuts tha vibrate through the finish.