North British 14 Year Old 1991 Signatory Vintage

My first encounter with North British (coincidentally exactly one year ago, also from Signatory) was a disappointment. But when I tasted the 11 Year Old from Berry Bros & Rudd during a whisky dinner in Antwerp, I was pleasantly surprised. So let us see what this 14 Year Old can do for me, matured on a Californian sherry cask and bottled at cask strength (it would be rather strange, otherwise, since it is released in the Cask Strength Collection).

The nose is more than okay: fresh, fruity and frivolous. Vanilla, freshly cut grass, buttercups and a touch of oak. This is upholstered with nice fruit such as apricots and rhubarb. In the background I detect some banana, that is quickly coming to the foreground.

It is somewhat oily and feisty on the palate. Immediately the sherry speaks, honeysweet but very spicy A lot of green banana, now. This somehow reminds me of the better rums.

The finish is medium long on sherry, vanilla and banana.

That was a very pleasant surprise, I must say. Nicely balanced, sweet and anything but flat. This is not a lightweight, mind you. Ideal with dessert. Thanks, Jan VC, for the sample.

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