1998 Royal Brackla 18 Year Old "Hepburn's Choice - K&L Exclusive" Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml)

We're back with round two from Royal Brackla, in what is another bold, assertive, and flavorful single cask selection. Rich, robust, and caramel-laden in its essence, this particular whisky is loaded with fruity esters that light up the finish like a pack of fireworks. Under all that spice are rounded notes of chocolate and toffee that have soaked in from the ex-Bourbon barrel. The nose begins with classic oak aromas, but is quickly enveloped by the cocoa and creamy malted notes on the mid-palate. At 55%, a bit of water does help to tame some of the heat, opening up more of the toffee notes and some of the fruit. When you go back in for a second nosing, the glass simply brims with aromas of cereal milk, chocolate malt, and sweet barley. A fascinating and fun whisky for a really, really good price.