This delivered exactly what I love about Palo Cortado, a perfect pairing for this lovely Lowlands Bladnoch. My only complaint is the cask overpowers the distillery characteristic a bit more than regular bourbon/sherry releases.
Bladnoch 2005 16 Yr Palo Cortado Cask / 51.4%
Tasted neat
This Bladnoch was distilled in October 2005 and bottled in May 2021, matured in Palo Cortado hogshead #1022 and bottled at cask strength. Mine is #97 of 330 bottles, and I’m very excited about this, because I’ve been on a bit of a Palo Cortado kick and it’s currently my favourite kind of sherry cask.
- Color: russet (1.3)
- Nose: burnt sugar, grape must, cornbread, vanilla, and rosewater
- Taste: rich double-chocolate cake, dry red wine, molasses, orange, and orchids
- Finish: long, thick syrup, cardamon, and more honey
This is pretty close to end-game for me; it’s fantastically thick, rich in flavour, with a huge finish. It’s definitely for those with a sweet tooth, if you’re craving something light and clean, this won’t do. If you think Palo Cortado has a bit of magic, a little mold underneath the marble, this is for you.
Rating: 96/100
