Distilled at Bimber distillery in London, the 2023 Santa's Edition stands as a testament to exceptional festive spirit. This expression undergoes full maturation in an ex-Cognac cask, yielding a unique character. Limited to just 570 bottles, each bottled at a robust 52.1% ABV, this release remains unadulterated by chill filtration and artificial colouring, ensuring an authentic and memorable tasting experience.
Sweet plums, marshmallows, and fresh pressed grape juice. The nose of this dram is a galore of sweet and ripe fruits, but without ever becoming overwhelming. It’s also highly approachable, despite it’s high ABV. If you’ve ever tasted Fria (Grape Flavour) from Curaçao, the nose of this dram reminds me of that drink a lot. Water brings forth notes of vanilla and caramel, reminding me of a very well-made crème brûlée.
NOSE
The plums and grape juice are back with a punch on the palate. A punch as in an explosion of flavour, as once again the high ABV is highly integrated into this dram and I’m barely getting any burn at all. Aside from plums and grapes I’m also getting Jaffa Cakes, freshly roasted almonds, and home-made apple compote. Just a few drops of water is enough to give some new added depth to this dram. It reveals notes of liquorice root, cacao, and freshly ground coffee beans. It turns it from a highly enjoyable dram into an absolute stunner!
FINISH
The finish sticks around for a very long time. Where the mouthfeel on the palate was already quite heavy, it feels almost syrupy on the finish (in the best possible way). The finish is full off molasses, apple-syrup, and dried sultanas. Thus far I’ve tried to keep the Christmas influences out of my notes (as it’s a dram that can be enjoyed year-round) but this finish would just be perfect to savour after a hearty Christmas meal. With water some of the darker notes from the palate carry through in the finish as well, and though it comes with a fair extra bit of intensity it does slightly shorten the finish.
