Scottish Whisky

SMSWA Cask 4.153

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No. 4.153
Highlands, Orkney
58.6% ABV
Distilled October 1999
$100
US Allocation: 150 Bottles
Late August 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
Plenty to keep you occupied – smoked bacon, Golden Crunch Creams, Fry’s chocolate cream, ylang ylang, cherry liqueur, coal scuttles, Eton Mess, glossy magazines, and clean wood smoke. On the palate this multifariousness had become solventy – petrol, lighter fluid, kerosene – but was thick and mouth coating with ginger beer and lime pickle. Water drew forth pink grapefruit, orange, peardrops, Swarfega, coal tar soap, tinned fruit salad, faraway creosote and haggis spices. It had softened but still with a hint of petrol to taste, Lily of the Valley talcum powder and smoke (as if from a really large drawing room fire). From Orkney’s premier distillery.

Drinking tip: Enjoy while on a camping trip.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Delicate and slightly herbal with a wisp of sherry. Water opens it up to heater, honeysuckle, fresh cut grass, and a hint of smoke.
Palate: Rich, creamy, sweet milk chocolate covered caramels. Mouth coating. With water the sweetness is more honeysuckle with a little wheat grass.
Finish: The palate quickly fades to wood smoke, barrel char and bitter high cacao chocolate. Water leaves the finish extra dry and chalky.
Comments: This is a journey in a glass. The nose, palate, and finish all stand apart giving no hints of the others, each it’s own island of sensation. You don’t just drink this one, you experience it. Is there ever really a bad Highland Park dram?
Rating: Must Try

Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.

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SMSWA Cask 39.83

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SMWSA Cask No. 39.83
Highlands, Speyside (Lossie)
53.9% ABV
Distilled October 1982
$180
US Allocation: 120 Bottles
Late August 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
The inviting nose was intensely floral (chrysanthemums, dahlias, elderflower, pot-pourri) but an array of other aromas (mocha, almond cakes, Crunchie bars, painted wood, blueberry bubblegum) suggested a coffee shop and book shop combination. The palate was rich and warm, giving thick heather honey, sweet coconut, Sunday roast, flower salad and varnished wood – we were bowled over. The reduced nose continued beautifully perfumed with the coconut of gorse flowers and sweet and sour Peking duck. The reduced palate became yummy and mouth-watering, with vanilla, meadowsweet and perfumed elderflower champagne. The distillery, dating from 1824, sits on the eastern edge of Elgin.

Drinking tip: To share with best friends.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Floral with almond scented Italian shaving soaps. The floral notes really need water to open up. There is also something that reminds me of chewy candy.
Palate: Creamy mouth feel with a light honey sweetness. Water brings out a weird varnish note and make it very peppery.
Finish: Out of the barrel the finish is clean and fading. With water it’s bitter and peppery.
Comments: There is a lot here to like. I’m just not fond of how it fits together. There is a distinct lack of balance. It’s a nice Miltonduff but not anything special.
Rating: Average

Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.

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SMWSA Cask 76.84

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SMWSA Cask No. 76.84
Highlands, Speyside (Dufftown)
57.8% ABV
Distilled August 1989
$145
US Allocation: 239 Bottles
Late August 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
Someone reported a hint of paint at the start, but we mainly identified dried fruit (dates, figs, pineapple, papaya, Christmas cake). We also found orange zest, spearmint, black currant and liquorice. The palate had a nice chewy texture and feisty assertiveness, with flavours of leather, pepper, tobacco, Madeira wine and spicy marmalade on burnt toast. The reduced nose offered prunes, Jaffa cakes and lemon and lime jelly, with slightly burnt fruit-cake. Candied orange, dark chocolate and glazed ham graced the reduced palate, making it mouth-watering, but with a dry finish. King Malcolm defeated the Danes at a spot near this distillery.

Drinking tip: With coffee.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Lovely, lovely nose. Ripe berries, treacle tarts, and spearmint. Water opens up a nose reminding me of orange glazed roasted meat. Mouth watering.
Palate: Delicious sherry sweetness. Black pepper, aged leather, and a fine cigar. It’s like a whole evening out at an exclusive men’s club all rolled into one dram.
Finish: Fresh cracked pepper, polished oak, and sherry on the finish. Surprisingly smooth at barrel proof. WHile water makes for additional depth on the nose and the palate it makes the finish a little too dry.
Comments: An all around lovely dram. For those with the means and access I couldn’t recommend this enough. Mortlach makes some seriously good whisky. It’s a shame Diageo doesn’t bottle more of it.
Rating: Must Buy

Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.

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SMWSA Cask No. 30.68

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SMWSA Cask No. 30.68
Highlands, Speyside (Rothes)
60.6% ABV
Distilled March 2001
$95
US Allocation: 120 Bottles
Early August 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
Salty, dry and earthy – this really didn’t hide it’s cask influence; we were getting treacle toffee, chestnuts, polished leather, mushrooms, smoked almonds, raisins, sandalwood bark, ink, dark Indonesian soy sauce, and matchboxes. The taste revealed savory meaty notes of Szechuan peppered steak, wild mushrooms and tuna steaks but also the sweet delight of peaches in Sauternes. Water released Pedro Ximenez soaked prunes, more matchboxes, hot sandpaper, root veg (beetroot), electric storms (!), sticky dates and raspberry syrup. Long, hot, tannic to taste with dark chocolate, pine trees and raisins. From the distillery that is vintage bottled by it’s London owners.

Drinking tip: Too big to take lightly

What Richard Says:
Nose: At first it’s all seaweed, brine and salt water swimming pools. Water opens up nutty treacle notes. As the nose continues to develop vanilla, orange blossom honey and salt caramels move forward.
Palate:Creamy and rich but very hot out of the bottle. Water pulls out a savory, salty, and sweet profile with a nice leathery undertone.
Finish: The finish is long and hot. Water mellows it out nicely and leaves you with nutty dark chocolate notes.
Comments: This is a really tasty dram. Glenrothes (I’m guessing) all the way. The only thing better than the whisky are the tasting notes from the SMWSA. It reads like the J. Peterman catalogue of whisky notes. I don’t know that I can taste an “electric storm” but I kind of wish I could.
Rating: Stands Out

Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.

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SMWSA Cask No. 7.69

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SMWSA Cask No. 7.69
Highlands, Speyside (Lossie)
61.6% ABV
Distilled May 2003
$85
US Allocation: 150 Bottles
Early August 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
The enticing nose – ‘attractive as apple pie’ – offered maple syrup, toffee, vanilla, Danish pastries (with cinnamon and almonds) and hints of tobacco and hay. Even with water, it remained beautifully warm and inviting – ice-cream, toffee apples, fudge and jasmine perfume. The palate was hot but smooth – flavors of honey, apple, and butterscotch, spiked up by a zing of Fentimans Victorian lemonade with ginger; some tobacco and leather tannic dryness lengthened the finish. Water seemed to allow the toffee and syrup sweetness to come through, while retaining the chilli, peppercorn heat. The distillery has links to one Saint and many sinners.

Drinking tip: Would suit early evening – but is very versatile.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Cherry ice cream, apple turnovers, cinnamon, and black peppercorn. Oak, vanilla, and oranges play a minor supporting role.
Palate: The dry chardonnay of single malts? The palate is very clean. Almost too clean. The flavors try to bob and weave away from you. It reminds me of a well aged cigar in a leather furnished men’s club lounge.
Finish: The finish is where the dryness really gets you. It’s been a while since a whisky made me thirsty just drinking it. Hints of Pernod linger before everything fades.
Comments: Another pleasing yet somewhat shy malt. This is a nice aperitif or palate cleanser at the end of a meal. The nose was my favorite part but the rest left me a little wanting. Maybe this one is still needs to grow up a little.
Rating: Average

Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.

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