Speyside 25 Year Old Marriage Cask (SMOS) Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml (ABV 52.6%)

Elixir Distillers is an independent bottler that released The Single Malts of Scotland range in 2002. This range consists of vintage single malt Scotch whiskies selected for their individual quality and character. Along with the classic single cask collection, the range includes the Director's Special series personally selected by Sukhinder Singh, as well as two small-batch collections: the accessible Reserve Casks and the more mature Marriage of Casks.

This is a marriage of whiskies distilled at the Speyside Distillery in 1996 and matured in just three ex-bourbon barrels, which yielded a total of 780 bottles.

Nose - Soft orchard fruit is joined by gently contrasting hints of citrus: baked apples and ripe pears with a squeeze of lemon and a spoon of marmalade. Grassiness follows, run through with fragrant mint leaves and balanced by juicy nectarine and wax-polished oak.

Palate - Sweet and fruity with underlying layers of spice. Baked apple with cinnamon is contrasted against creamy lemon tarts, buttery pastry and cooling mint fondant. A hint of char and oak hides under unripe mango and pineapple.

Finish - Pineapple becomes apple as char fades and soft spice lingers.