Annandale ManOSword Founders Selection Cask 348 2017
Peaty, Leathery2022-05-16
Originally, the barrels were filled with French Burgundy for up to seven years. The staves of the barrels were planed and toasted over fire with oak chips. This process is supposed to caramelise sugar and vanillin - exposed by the planing process. Finally, the casks were burnt out again and transported from Spain to Scotland. During the transport, the barrels were filled with Oloroso sherry. This ensured that the barrels remained hydrated.
Smell
With a neat cold, medicinal and iodine-like smoke, the single cask whisky ManOSword by Annandale greets us in the nose. Shortly after the olfactory receptors get used to the smoke, coconut and almond aromas follow, layered with bark mulch and a fresh potting soil. This reminds us a little of the coconut-soil potting tablets you can get in any DIY store.
Taste
The more than 60% vol. highlight the flavours very clearly and manage to create a full and at the same time dusty mouthfeel. A true peat explosion. We clearly perceive some pineapple next to the peat-smoke. A little later, vanilla and peach follow with a slight saltiness and subliminal but not unpleasant spiciness.
Finish
What remains is strong peat-smoke, a peppery spiciness and a slight tingle.
Thoughts
We have here a very well selected cask for the Single Cask Annandale ManOSword Founders Selection Cask 348 from 2017. Some would say: "It takes your pants off." We are rather pleased with the intense flavours of the Scotch Whisky, matured for a maximum of four years. In any case, it is a Whisky that can be tasted very well on an evening with friends, especially since the story behind the cask will certainly cause discussions.