Summer is over and as Autumn winds come blowing, and hopefully some rain is going to fall soon on our neck of the woods, It’s time to re-hop on the whisky bandwagon and taste some interesting whiskies that have arrived lately from all sorts of IB and distilleries. The first of which is the 2010 Highland which is a part of the Equinox & Solstice series by Decadent Drinks (whisky sponge et al.) which celebrates summer and winter. This Highlands single malt is nicknamed Candlekitty – It does not take a lot of imagination to figure out where this one comes from (hint: it starts with Cly and ends with Lish). The whisky was aged in is first-fill bourbon barrels, yielding 973 bottles, and bottled at 48.5% abv.
Higland Malt 10 yo ‘Candlekitty’ ,48.5%, Decadent Drinks ‘Equinox & Solstice’ 2021
Nose: Yes, this one’s a real kitty from Brora village, and nothing can hide that, from the first sniff: waxy and leafy and a bit autumnal (if I might say so), A bit dusty as well, with some nice minerality, but also a nice sweet note as well, mostly on green sour apples and maybe lime-infused sponge cake with the faintest hint of pear. further nosing reveals a hint of mint and more lime, more wax, and some wood char.
Palate: More lemony on the palate, with lemon and lime rind up front, maybe herbal as well, with cut grass, and grapefruit pith. The waxy/oily/dusty flavors are certainly here on the 2nd wave of sensations, and more of the green apple / unripe pear which turns creamier with vanilla and cereal notes towards the ending.
Finish: Medium long with the sweet cereals, salty shortbread, and waxy/dusty notes going on for some time…
Conclusion: I am quite the Clynelish lover myself (I am not alone, i know it) and this is a very well-made 10-year-old ‘Kitty’, by Decadent Drinks, looking fwd to more of their bottlings, so keep an eye for those coming soon!
Score: 88/100
This seems sold out at the time of writing the review…