Virginia Highland Malt (46% ABV)
For those who don’t know, this is a Highland malt which is shipped to Virginia after being produced and aged in Scotland for the required legal time, and then finished in Virginia port casks.
Color: Amber
Nose: Sweet. Caramel and honey, with a slight woodiness. Really smells like a somewhat subdued bourbon nose.
Mouthfeel: Light
Palate: Sweet and fresh. Bright fruits. Apple, pear, lemon, raspberry, more honey.
Finish: Sweet wood and lightly grassy. Quite fresh, like the palate.
Overall: This is really a fascinating dram. The American influence is clear in the nose and a bit in the palate, as it almost comes across like a bourbon in places. However, the combination of that and its Highland origin surprisingly results in a taste and finish similar to Balvenie 12 Triple Cask, a Speyside. I really quite enjoyed this, and found it much more interesting than the Balvenie, as it has a different dimension of sweetness to it. I mentioned in my Balvenie review that it would be a good alternative to bourbon in the summer, but this, in my opinion, would be an even better option.
87/100