Ichiro's Malt 1985 Ace of Spades

Tasted in Whisky Magazine Issue 56 by Martine Nouet and Dave Broom.

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Tasting Notes

Martine Nouet Nose Distinguished, aristocratic. Rich but without ostentation. Old leather. Antique shop. Cloved orange. Candied orange and hazelnuts cake. Palate A good mix of sweet and sour flavours with oak in the first place, firmly dominating but not in an aggressive way. Candied citrus fruit. Finish Beautifully lingering. Liquorice. Comment When oak is elegantly mastered, no problem. Same with the alcohol. A beautiful example of controlled maturation.

Dave Broom Nose Rich and quite fat. Chocolate-covered raisin with a hint of creosote and treacle. Yet still very pure with some complexity. Shows maturity. Palate Thick and very chewy, like melting toffee in the mouth balanced by an intense, savoury edge which then shifts into prunes macerated in brandy. Huge impact. Finish Dusty and lightly tannic. Comment If you like your whisky in yer face then this is for you.