SMWSA Cask No. 125.48
Highlands, Northern Highlands
52.1% ABV
Distilled November 1998
$110
US Allocation: 150 Bottles
September 2012 Outturn Release
What the SMWSA Says:
The nose, initially offering orange liqueur, balsa wood and old-fashioned tea chests, took some time to open; a drop of water helped us to discover the depth and complexity – caramel, Mars bar, fruit tea with honey, a mixed bag of dried fruits and nuts and Dorset Cereals muesli with maple syrup. The palate, at natural strength, had good heat in it, plus flavours of leather, wood, tea leaves and coconut, with cinder toffee, burnt sugar and honeycomb crunch. The reduced palate developed malt and candy sweetness, with pleasant warm spices in the finish. ‘Perfected’ by the sixteen men of Tain.
Drinking tip: Pretty versatile really, but not one to be rushed.
What Richard Says:
Nose: Musty black tea like what’s left in a Tetley box after all the bags are gone. Dark orange notes and with a little water honey and wildflowers come out.
Palate: Caramel, British Mars bars, and toffee. Water brings out more orange notes and makes the sweetness more honey than toffee/caramel.
Finish: The finish without water is hot and a little musty. With water it’s of medium length and lightly peppery.
Comments: This is not like other Glenmorangies that I’ve tried but they spend so much time with wood finishes that it’s hard to say. This is a very nice express that I highly recommend trying.
Rating: Must Try
Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.
Richard, the SMWSA is quite descriptive with their tasting notes. Does that intimidate you in any way? Do you read any of it before tasting? My favorite is still the first sample you reviewed –
“…someone peeling tangerines in a recently painted hospital. …The palate had Elastoplasts and gauze bandages.”
Is that an endorsement? 🙂
Keep up the good work. Hope you’re enjoying your new digs.
I am a little intimidated. I can usually pull out no more the four different notes and my descriptions seems elementary next to what the Society provides. I don’t read them beforehand but when I do read them I find very entertaining. It’s like the J.Peterman of tasting notes.