Mossburn Ephemera The Reliquary

(57.4%, 70cl)
 
King Robert the Bruce is one of Scotland's best known national heroes, famed as a warrior who successfully fought for Scottish independence. In his testament, Robert requested that his heart be taken on a tour of the Holy Land and presented before God at Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre before ultimately being buried in a reliquary at Melrose Abbey.
 
His wishes were not completed until his heart was finally interred within Melrose Abbey, in 1996, almost 700 years after he had initially requested it!
 
To celebrate one of Scotland's most precious reliquaries, our whisky makers have selected single grain whiskies from each of the five decades from the 1970's and blended them before leaving them to marry together harmoniously in our Reliquary Barrel, a fine oaken receptacle, if rather bigger than that needed for Bruce's heart. It contains many of our oldest whiskies, which were aged only in firstfill or re-fill whisky hogsheads.
 
TASTING NOTES
Nose:  Belying its age with a wonderfully fresh, light nose of lemongrass, hay and lemon zest still has a light florality and grassy graininess
Palate:  Apples, malt, barley sugar, oranges, a little tanin with a subtle white pepper undertone, toast and vanilla too.  
Lightly citric on the finish