Bell's Extra Special Aged 8 Years

Tasted in Whisky Magazine Issue 9 by Michael Jackson and Paul Pacult.

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Tasting Notes

Michael Jackson Nose Briney. Fresh earth. Arousing. Palate Grassy, juicy. Malty, firm, chewy. Shortbread. Cookies. Lemon marmalade. A lot happening. Finish Distinctly oily aromatics coming through. Long, peppery, dry. Comment Assertive but rounded. A wonderfully satisfying whisky. Enormously improved since its (and my) younger days.

Paul Pacult Nose Softly grainy, with nuances of heather and moss. Dry. Palate Starts moderately sweet at entry, then turns more hard candy-like and caramelly at mid-palate, with not-so-subtle notes of stone dry resiny oak. Oily texture and medium bodied. Very focused. Finish Medium long and mildly floral/ripe/sweet in the throat. Comment I favourably responded to the oily texture and laser beam graininessof both the flavour and finish phases. Approaches genuine complexity. Bravo.