Highwayman x Whisky Abbey 2024
A Hymn in Oloroso and PX - Refilled, Not Refined

Single cask. No chill filtration. Natural colour. These aren't just bullet points; they're a creed. This whisky doesn't ask for attention - it takes it, dressed in a brooding blend of refill Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez cask influence. The use of refill wood is a masterstroke: it dials back the cask aggression just enough to let the distillate speak through the sherry, not be drowned by it.

On the nose, it's immediately evocative - a plush, spiced darkness. Imagine dried dates dipped in espresso, blood orange peel, and old cigar box. There's a lick of dark chocolate ganache, and a ghost of damp earth, like walking through a forest after a summer storm. But don't mistake this for pure weight - there's brightness too: a flicker of burnt marmalade, maybe even rosewood polish.

The palate is rich and textured, like molten treacle poured over smoked fruitcake. Figs, maraschino cherry, walnut oil, and a swirl of black tea tannin all arrive in concert, with a sturdy backbone of seasoned oak and spice rack warmth - think clove, anise, and a hint of pink peppercorn. The refill cask allows the spirit to remain visible - that underlying malt character holds its ground amidst the syrup and shadow.

Then comes the finish - long, tactile, and deeply satisfying. Dark toffee, leather, roasted almond, and the fading ember of PX-soaked smoke. It's like the final scene in a slow-burn Western - no explosions, just a long walk into the horizon, boots crunching gravel.

A Dram for the Aftermath
This isn't a whisky for every mood - and that's exactly the point. It's for the late hour, the slow sip, the deep breath after the noise has passed. It's full of soul and smoke, yes - but also intent. A whisky of decisions made, not dances dodged.

If you're used to first-fill sherry monsters that batter the palate with sweetness, you'll find Highwayman x Whisky Abbey 2024 surprisingly mature - restrained where it matters, indulgent where it counts.

Final Thought
Highwayman x Whisky Abbey 2024 is a whisky that walks a fine, dangerous line - rich but not cloying, dark but not impenetrable. It knows where it comes from, and it carries that legacy like a blade in the boot: hidden, but ready.

It's not just a dram.
It's a well-dressed outlaw with a sherry-soaked grin.