CHICHIBU 2011 Single Cask Unpeated 1st Bourbon LMDW Cellar Book

Nose : voluptuous, ethereal. The particularly harmonious initial nose is a veritable ode to malted barley. With incredible finesse, it gradually becomes floral (white lilac, old rose). Then, bourbon vanilla slowly arrives in the aromatic palette. This is closely followed by juicy citrus fruit (orange, clementine). With rare elegance, it lingers on notes of vetiver and geranium blossom. Magical.

Palate : taut, distinguished. Deliciously generous, the attack on the palate pays its own tribute to malted barley, taking us right to the malting floor. Enveloped in vanilla, it stays impressively close to the elements found on the nose. Allowed to breathe, it then takes on more exotic (kiwi, mango, pineapple) and shady (pine, lime, chestnut) tones. The end of the palate is even mentholated, with hints of lush notes (verbena, camomile).

Overall : long, silky. The incredibly distinctive mouthfeel brushes across the taste buds, gently leaving setting down notes of dried fruit (walnut, almond, fig). Extremely sappy, it allows a glimpse of floral notes (violet, lavender) and a wonderful minerality (schist, chalk). In unison, the retronasal olfaction and the empty glass reveal an evanescence that is full of character. They also leave the taster the freedom to follow whichever gustatory path they choose. Magnificent.