Someone must have lit a scented candle; the fragrance was warm, homey and comforting, of chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Other aromas were of pecan pie, frangipane and oranges in caramel brandy syrup. On the palate, we found dark chocolate-covered brazil nuts, chocolate spread on burnt toast, pork crackling and mushrooms sautéed in herb butter.

After reduction, we discovered black olive tapenade, sherry balsamic vinegar and a glass of rich, sweet vermouth. To taste, one Panelist imagined supping oloroso sherry from a castanet while others had a marinated and grilled octopus salad. Following 11 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky into a 1st fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead. Bottled exclusively for SMWS Canada in celebration of Canada Day 2024. This is a sister cask to last year’s Canada Day bottling, 18.57 “Hanky-Panky in the den.”