Seaweed & Aeons & Christmas Cake & Cinnamon - 43.8%
Seaweed & Aeons & Christmas Cake & Cinnamon is the offspring of two single malt whiskies from Islay and Speyside, blended in equal proportions. 50% of the blend comes from an undisclosed Islay distillery in the form of Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire, whilst the Speyside 50% is courtesy of the aptly named Christmas Cake & Dark Chocolate & Medjool Dates & Cinnamon.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Amber gold, forms a thin line which beads before falling as slow, oily legs.
Nose: Dried fruit with candied peel, chocolate caramels, butter shortbread biscuits and a hint of dry, earthy peat smoke. Smoke becomes more apparent when rubbed into the back of the hand.
Palate: Toasted fruit loaf with raisins, sultanas and cinnamon, followed by a hint of salt and dry, ashy smoke. A few drops of water bring a touch of creaminess to the relatively thin mouthfeel, but at the expense of flattening much of the flavour.
Finish: Short, dried fruit quickly disappears leaving wisps of dry smoke to linger together with cinnamon, a touch of clove and slightly bitter, drying oak.
Summary: This is a whisky which promises so much but, for me anyway, falls short by a long distance. Perhaps it’s the expectation generated by those four words declared in such forthright fashion on the label that makes it so disappointing when it doesn’t live up to its billing.
Marrying two single malts with such strong individual characteristics sounds like a great idea, however in this case the result is a whisky where everything feels diluted down to the point of being muffled and indistinct. It’s not fruity or rich enough to be ‘Christmas Cake-y’, nor is it smoky or peaty enough to makes its presence felt.
Taste is a very personal thing and I’m sure many will enjoy this. It’s not a bad whisky per se, but apart from a decent nose it’s just lacking in character. I paid just under £30 for this bottle, perhaps unsurprisingly it’s not one I’d buy again as I feel there are far more interesting offerings with a similar price point.
