Filey Bay Single Cask (No. 904), 59.2%

On the nose, rowan jelly, vanilla essence, red apple, blueberry, and a little spice. The palate opens with juicy red apples, the pepperiness building steadily as the alcohol climbs, bursting with some powerfully hot clove notes and retreating in a cascade of milk chocolate and malty flavors. Adding water is recommended to take the sting out, but the resulting maltiness, oxidized apple peelings, and dulled spice were less appealing.