Speyside 21 Year Old 1995 Whisky Broker

I confess, the official releases from the Speyside Distillery (be it the new Spey releases or the old Speyside releases) are not much to my liking. But sometimes you can find a hidden gem in the warehouses of independent bottler and I was told this twentysomething sherry matured Speyside from Whisky Broker was well worth my while. Well, in that case, I’ll be happy to try it!

Sweet nose on butterscotch and sweet famer’s butter. Very creamy. Evolves somewhat towards buttermilk (there is that typical sour note again). Some raisin and peach, but in the back. Funnily enough I get hardly any fruit, which is not common with a sherry cask. But having said that, this nose is candy-like sweet nonetheless and I like it. Hint of cloves. Some herbal notes after a while. But you wouldn’t be able to tell from the nose that this spirit spent over two decades in a sherry cask.

Stury arrival. Sweet and spicy, but also very herbal. The sweetness reminds me of raisins and chocolate, while the spices are nutmeg, ginger and green garden herbs. But it does remain quite sharp. Sharper than expected for this age.

The finish is warm and spicy, but now a huge bitterness emerges, making me reach for a glass of water. That’s not how it should be in my book.

Much better than the official releases for only a fraction of the price. But that still doesn’t make it a great malt. Seems much younger than 21 years old. Thanks, Anthony!

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