A Speyside Distillery 2009/2021 12 Year Old Thompson Bros (70cl, 54.7%)

This is a 12 year old Speyside single malt from an unnamed distillery, distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2021 by Thompson Bros at 54.7% in a 70cl bottle. It spent nine years in ex-bourbon barrels, followed by three more years in a single sherry octave. The octave yielded just 80 bottles, fewer than had been predicted. The nose offers sweet toffee apples, autumn leaves, apricot, fig and sticky sponge cake, with a little milk chocolate and later cigar box and sweet spice. On the palate come juicy red apple and apple skin, hazelnut and a little toast.