The front label of this Vatted Highland Malt Whisky tells us it contains the remaining Fettercairn 1988 from a few years back, with some Deanston 1995 in almost equal proportions, married for almost three years in a refill bourbon cask. A bottling from the latest batch of Maltbarn releases.
Vatted Highland Malt 25 yo 1988 + 1995 (47,5%, Maltbarn 2020, bourbon cask, 48 btl.)
Nose: soft wax and wild flowers, with gentle fruits in the background (gooseberries, pears). Hints of hay and vanilla, light oily touches and a whiff of blonde tobacco. Dusty books. The joys of refill wood.
Mouth: similar oily profile, with hay, dried apples and flashes of peaches. Rapeseed or sunflower oil. Some mashy notes. Also beeswax, with a subtle chalky and herbal touch towards the end. A slightly subdued profile, naked yet complex.
Finish: medium, with subtle fruits, a little tea and oak.
A very harmonious, elegant whisky that needs time to develop. It doesn’t really stand out in any way, but it’s quite lovely nonetheless. A very small outturn so I’m afraid it will be difficult to find a bottle.