North Star Spirits Islay 2007 (10 year old) 57.6%
Lagavulin aged in Refill Bourbon Hogshead, finished in ex-Bordeaux wine cask
Dist: Oct 2007 Btl: Feb 2018/ Tasted: Mar 2017
The nose opens with redcurrant/ cherry infused malt, dusty wood spice and hints of menthol. There’s a good amount of lightly medicinal peat, along with tar, subtle herbal and coffee notes. Beneath lies some slightly sweet barley.
The juicy, winey red fruit appears first, followed by the medicinal peat, tar and barley. A lovely spicy and gently woody middle, even the peat becomes quite woody in character. An intense wine and salt finish with lingering mint, bog myrtle and heather. There is a very slight mustiness on the aftertaste but it sort of mingles in with the coffee notes.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 