ARRAN 8 ans 2012 Peated First-Fill Bourbon Barrel Single Cask Conquête

Nose : powerful, confident. The intensely peaty, smoky and oily first nose immediately states its intentions. Allowed to breathe, a hint of barley sugar, fresh walnut, vanilla and crisp pear beat a path to the surface of the complex and concentrated palette of aromas. Notes of bacon, barbecue and spice (paprika, white pepper), all accompanied by an invigorating acidity and a very pleasant mentholated freshness.

Appearance : yellow gold.

Palate : lively, booming. As on the first nose, the attack knocks over everything in its path. The peat is just as present and has been enriched with empyreumatic (sleet, coal) and herbaceous (cut hay, tobacco) tones. On the mid-palate, candied lemon appears alongside porridge and yellow melon. This more peaceful sequence is nonetheless quickly thrown into disarray by an intense smoke and notes of turpentine.

Overall : long, heady. The start of the finish is saturated with smoke. Gradually, a still-oily but now also dewy peat takes the end of the palate to green (green malt, linen) and exotic (kiwi, lychee) lands. On the retro-nasal olfaction, zan liquorice sweets, clove and fresh coriander beautifully draw the tasting out. The very expressive empty glass is like a block of peat enveloped in intense smoke.