
This is the Flora and Fauna bottling from Diageo that I believe will be ceased, if it isn't already, in the not too distant future. Thankfully there are some bottles out there. It retails at c£50.
This bottle has been open a month or so with just over two thirds left. Review is with no water added to a 30ml pour left 15 mins or so.
Nose - Sweet and dry sherry but leaning to the latter. Fresh raisins and soft dried figs with a little vanilla if you persist. There's some leather and pale blonde tobacco notes. Slight minerality or chalky note too with a hint of match box that's well integrated. Nutty and a waft of peat smoke - again persistence pays off with this nose.
Taste - Good mouthfeel, full and rich (jammy?). Similar to the nose really with a fruity arrival that's sweeter than expected, some of that leather note comes as it develops and then a tang of peat at the end. Robust.
Finish - Medium. Leaves a nice rich, fruity coating with a touch of peat tingling the tongue. Quite dry at the end.
Water simply reduces all that's there without really adding anything new - much better neat.
This is a very enjoyable and moreish whisky that caps off a meal really nicely. A rich fireside dram if ever there was one. If nit picking, it possibly veers too close to the overt sweet sherry side but just about maintains a nice balance of flavours. I'd have this again but for the same money, give or take a few pounds, I'd probably get a 'farclas 15 instead. The waft of peat smoke does sit well with this style though and dare I say it seems like an old fashioned kind of malt. A shame there's not more OBs out there really.
@RianC Thanks for the review - never had Blair Athol, but love that it's an ideal fireside dram. You mentioned 'farclas 15 and that's way easier for me to get so I'll probably settle with that and pretend. Would love a taste of Blair Athol one of these days so will keep a lookout...
@RianC, a joke:
What's brown and sticky?