German bottler Sansibar released a new series earlier this year, with a nice Samurai label. One of the highlights in the series was this undisclosed Speyside malt distilled in 1977.
Speyside Malt 38 yo 1977 (46,1%, Sansibar 2015, sherry butt, 582 btl.)
Speyside Malt 38 yo 1977 (46,1%, Sansibar 2015, sherry butt, 582 btl.)Nose: really nice, quite a lot of straight oak but in a beautiful way. A lot of cinnamon, fresh oranges and some orange blossom, cardamom. Cedar wood. Big minty notes, hints of eucalyptus. Some waxy notes. Apple peelings and mirabelles. A slight oriental hint as well, with a little tobacco and incense.
Mouth: quite wood-driven again, including a light sour touch. Ginger, walnuts, lemons and Seville oranges. The tobacco returns. Aniseed and plenty of herbal liqueur. Coconut.
Finish: medium long, minty and oaky, with hints of fruit tea.
This Speyside Malt is really oaky alright, but in an aromatic way rather than a drying way. It reminds us of some 1970s Glen Grant, or Tamdhu. Around € 300.
Score: 90/100