Cask No. 13.77       

Foraging the forest floor

Highland, Northern

Things are not as they seem. A beguiling aroma of fresh carpet, forest floor, mown lawns, trimmed privet hedges, lemon zest, bath bombs, salted bread, new shoes and freshly laundered towels. Big, emphatic and somewhat unusual. With water there’s swimming pools, fragrant mineral salts, sandalwood, beach bonfire ash, dried kelp, mercurochrome and dried lavender. Some wild flowers and 80 shilling ale as well. In the mouth it’s all sooty muesli, lychee syrup, icing sugar dusted over beach wood, green peppercorns in brine, suncream, cooking oils, leather handbags and eucalyptus toothpaste. Given time and water it reveals mustard powder, old cask staves, hot smoked paprika, tar extracts, waxed canvas and camphor.