Glen Keith The Maltman 22 Year Old, Sherry Hogshead Cask, Cask #12829, 1998, Meadowside Blending, 49.7%

crumpled_atlas28 Sept

The creamy palate gives dark cherry and warm spices room to work together rather than compete. Coffee, toffee and cinnamon appear as hints, which suits my preference for spice that stays in proportion to the fruit. Fresh fruits and brown sugar on the nose offer a lighter opening before those deeper palate flavours come through. The finish takes a different turn with powdered banana bread and caramelized raisins, making it distinctive without asking one flavour to carry the whole whisky. There is plenty here to enjoy, but the appeal for me is the balance between the creamy texture, darker fruit and measured spice rather than the number of flavours on offer.

The contrast is appealing: fresh fruit and brown sugar on the nose lead into a creamy palate of dark cherry, warm spice and coffee, with toffee and cinnamon adding a sweeter edge. The finish shifts toward powdered banana bread and caramelized raisins, giving the whisky a rounded, dessert-like close without losing the spice-led thread. That progression feels more interesting than a simply sweet profile.