Cotswolds Harvest Series Flaxen Vale - Batch 01/2023 (70cl, 53.9%)

Flaxen Vale is the second edition of the Cotswolds Harvest Series, a single malt bottled in 2023 as Batch 01/2023 at 53.9%. It was filled into 3,500 bottles of 70cl. The whisky marries Pedro Ximénez sherry casks of American oak, Oloroso sherry casks of Spanish oak and refill casks that once held peated whisky, which adds a light peat note to the fruity character. It is non-chill-filtered and uncoloured. The tube carries a landscape painting of the region at harvest time in high summer, by local artist Annabel Playfair. The nose offers sweet dates with a faint touch of peat. On the palate come caramel, dried red fruit, roasted hazelnuts and charred oak. The finish keeps the wood tannins present for a long time.