English Whisky Co. 9 Year Old Batch 4 - That Boutique-Y Whisky Company (50cl, 67%)

This is a nine-year-old heavily peated single malt from the St George's Distillery in Norfolk, home of the English Whisky Company. It spent its whole maturation in an oloroso sherry barrel rather than receiving a later finish. It belongs to the Wine Cask Series from That Boutique-Y Whisky Company, and Batch 4 was bottled at natural cask strength of 67%, in a 50cl bottle, without colouring or chill-filtration. The nose has dates, raisins and figs, wholemeal biscuit and dark chocolate, then sooty smoke with a hint of salt. The palate is dry, with coffee grounds, dark chocolate, fresh ginger and salted prunes, while peat smoke builds in waves towards peppery spice. The finish keeps smoke and salt, with a very fine touch of fruit.