Claxton’s ‘The Single Cask’ English Whisky Rum Cask 2011 (6 year old) 60.5%
Dist: Apr 2011 Btl: 2018/ Tasted: Apr 2018
A subtly estery nose with fleshy banana, apple and pear. Hints of dark honey and the rum cask sweetness sit in the background. late straw, milky coffee and gristy barley.
The palate is grippy and gristy with barley and loads of sweet, rummy dried fruit – apricot, pineapple, pear and apple. Quite spicy and unsurprisingly alcoholic on the middle, although the sweetness balances. Long with grassy and slightly marc-like finish. Light coffee’d after-taste.
Water brings out hints of brown sugar, lime, mandarin, toasted oak but also emphasises the youthfulness of the spirit. The palate is more herbal, but still grippy with more noticeable oak. It also emphasises the marc-like notes as well. Still it’s pretty well balanced, but I prefer it neat.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 