Nose: Strawberry conserve, pineapple, passionfruit, banana, dusty oak barrels, sea spray, white pepper, vanilla slice. Water adds white flowers, white nectarines and more of the sea spray.
Palate: Pineapple, banana, vanilla slice, marzipan, dark chocolate, red peanut skins, grapefruit, strawberry conserve, passionfruit, salt & pepper. With water malt and pistachios. Medium bodied.
Finish: Lemon tart, white pepper. marzipan, dusty oak, licorice, cacao paste, oak tannins and what seems like some light peating.
Last Word: Tasty young Mars and consistancy of quality has become a hallmark for their single malts. Still hoping for some older age statement releases soon as 2021 marks 10 years since Mars started distilling whisky again.
Rating: 88/100
I enjoyed this one although the 2019 Sherry version was a lot better IMHO. And yes to some older expressions even if this young age release formula is obviously working very well for them.
Looking at my notes I went the other way and prefer the 2020 though only by a couple of points. Horses for courses and they’re both good IMO.