2009 Aultmore 14 Year Old "Redacted Bros." (Thompson/Dornoch) Single First Fill Red Wine Barrel Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

When Phil Thompson suggested this barrel of Aultmore I was skeptical. 1st fill ex red wine casks have been some of the most controversial and inconsistent malts we've ever bottled, but he assured me of the quality. When we finally tasted it, I was glad I'd trusted the man. There's almost nothing out there like this to be honest. I don't think this went thru the STR process, but it certainly reminds me most of something like Kavalan Vinho Barrique rather than the sour or funky flavors you typically get from fresh red wine cask. The color, first off, is absolutely nuts. It's a wild auburn color darker than 95% of the 1st fill sherry out there. On the nose it's got the big fresh oak character, almost bourbon like, pointed with sticky red fruit and cinnamon candies. The big woody character might scare away the more traditional loves looking for very malt driven style as air brings more big oak character, but on the palate it's ultra balanced and has tons of sweetness to balance the big oak spice. A powerful heady vanilla note, almost coconut-like in character, pervades the palate. With water, the powerful oak softens and sweetness comes forward, while avoiding any of the tartness that plagues other red wine casks. Now it's feeling very bourbon-y! This is definitely the best 1st fill red wine cask I've tasted in ages, maybe ever, mostly because it doesn't really taste like any of the other red wine casks I've ever had. If you like the big oaky malts of Kavalan and want to pay about 20% of the price, you'll probably love this weird wonderful little barrel.