Elements of Islay Sherry Cask Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml

We're used to seeing the Elements series in 500ml formats. This bottling upgrades drinkers to 700ml. It's part of a new core trilogy of blended malts introduced in 2022 (the others are 'Cask Edit' and 'Bourbon Cask'). Matured in first-fill and refill sherry butts and hogsheads and combining whiskies from the north and south of Islay before bottling at a hearty strength, components are kept secret, but just looking at the bottle tells you everything you need; there are the expected aromas of sweet peat reek, joined by raisin cake, prunes, dried orange peel and baking spice, followed by a massive flavour drive that adds lanolin, walnut brownies, maritime salinity and chimney soot. Chilli-infused dark chocolate, smokey dates and trace iodine finish off this impressive blending effort that also comes non chill-filtered. 54.5% Alc./Vol.