Aultmore – 2001/2012 – 10yo – 54,9% – Cask 953836 – Duncan Taylor Octave for Dugas

Nose : We begin slowly with a bit of malt lingering towards hazelnut. We then get a good lot of green apples (peels) with a bit of green wood. It becomes more measured with a cardboard patina that seem to appear. We then find yellow fruits (peaches) alongside vanilla. This nose possesses a honeyed background that gives it roundness and, at the same time, a bitterness that draws it closer to too infused herbal teas (lime tree, jasmine). The water simply retains the profile.

Mouth : We have a beautiful density with a rather pleasant and supple texture. The alcohol is well integrated. The profile though is a bit more sharp than the nose was. We begin on green apple peels that give a specific sourness. Then, we go on a spices bouquet (cardamom, cinnamon, pepper) and a hint of hazelnut. We then find the peach back, like in the nose, even if the fruitiness is clearly set back. If we still have some honey, we find ourselves facing a green bitterness that once again lies within herbal tea. Adding water calms its ardor by smoothing it. If temperance is a good thing, it becomes very melted and in flavor restraint mode. It ain’t so bad once we’ve added water.

Finish : The finish shows us astringency with the infusion bitterness that amplifies and a profile that becomes void of sweetness. It’s a bit extreme and unbalanced on the aftertaste, with flower infusion once again lingering on green woodiness.