Up North Distillery Single Malt

Talked with the owner/Distiller while I was there, and asked him for more info on the single malt, but the only thing out of the ordinary for a single malt he mentioned was the whiskey was aged in barrels previously used for the Distillery's honey spirits. On the nose I get a fair amount of stale wood/cardboard, which is unpleasant. On the palate the stale flavor is still there, but it's not near as pronounced, and the single malt flavor is very pleasant, with a bit of oak, and honey on the finish. The pour I had in the tasting room did not have the same stale flavor. I'm unsure if I got a bad bottle, but it's still very pleasant, and I will likely pick up another bottle

After letting the bottle breath for a while, the stale silly putty flavor still takes the front on the nose and palate. Without the play-doh/silly putty, the malt is very pleasing. Will have to go to up north again and see if I just got a bad bottle