Paul John Peated Select Cask

The last one to try in this Paul John series from India is a Peated Selected Cask. Expectation are elevated as this is a single bourbon cask and bottled at a higher strength, something that I always appreciate.

Apart from honey and a touch of fruit, with citrus in the lead (say mandarin and lime), I get loads of peat in the share of earth, vegetal hints and plasticine. Quite floral too. Heather? Dandelions? Hints of cocoa. The nose is quite pleasant.

Despite the higher ABV it arrives rather softly. The peat speaks first, with a salty edge, followed by wonderful fruity notes from torpical fruits, both fresh and candied. This is good. The honey makes it somewhat creamy. The peat makes it powerfully smoky.

The finish may be somechat short, but does remain nicely smoky with a lime-y finish.

The best Paul John so far, without any doubt. Around 80 EUR.