Kilkerran 8 Year Old 2007 Barolo Wine Cask for The Nectar

I first tried this bottling for The Nectar at the Spirits in the Sky 2015 festival. I felt it was sublime. We are now more than 6 months later. High time to try this one again, from the sample that I scored at the festival. This Kilkerran was finished on a Barolo wine cask and bottled at a whopping 61%. It has a bright copper color and sticks to the glass.

The nose is very mineral with a sweet and sour note of mango, pineapple and organs, but also slate, motor oil and rosewater. Strange herbal side on parsley and sage. A few moments later it turns a whole lot sweeter on caramel, cherries and mirabelles. I am already a fan!

Despite the high ABV, it is quite quaffable – albeit carefully – and wonderfully sweet. Mango, pineapple, cherris, peach and oranges. The oranges dominate. Mild bitter touch. Grapefruit? But it cannot deny its roots. Leather, liquorice and peat turn up. Nicely balanced, by the way. A leaf of mint keeps it fresh.

The finish is very long on honey, black pepper and orange zest. At the death, a sudden and unexpected salty note appears.

Beautiful and complex Kilkerran that took advantage of the wine cask, which is not an easy feat. Outstanding is the word I am looking for.