Elsburn Willowburn Ember Batch 004 (70cl, 46%)

Ember Batch 004 is a single malt from Hercynian Distilling Co, made under the Elsburn name in its Willowburn line, the distillery's spicier range. It was bottled in 2025 at 46% in a 70cl bottle, with 1,824 bottles in the batch. It is non-chill-filtered and has no added colour. Around 84% of the whisky matured in sherry hogsheads and 16% in bourbon casks. Half of the barley malt was smoked over wood. The nose brings raisins, oranges and mandarins with fine wood smoke. The palate is velvety, with apricots, grapes, dark chocolate, roast coffee, marzipan and toasted almonds. The finish is long and malty, with vanilla, a hint of apple pie and gentle smoke.