Scottish Whisky

SMWSA Cask 26.84

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No. 26.84
Highlands, Northern Highlands
49.1% ABV
Distilled August 1990
$145
US Allocation: Unknown
October 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
We immediately noted a lightly mentholated effect, then a complex of fruity and woody scents: artificial peach, fruity syrup, varnish, natural liquorice, stripped wood, sawdust, beeswax. The taste, unreduced, is sweet, herbal and fruity (‘lime pith’), with light waxiness and white-pepper spiciness. It takes a while to open up with water, then becomes very fragrant (patchouli and vanilla, meadowsweet and elderflower) and fruity (fruit salad chews, fresh pineapple, rhubarb), with a whiff of snuffed candle. The taste is sweet and waxy; the floral note of jasmine, and the fruity element Juicy Fruit chewing gum and orange pith. The distillery stands adjacent to another of the same name, overlooking the North Sea.

Drinking tip: An early-evening dram in the Highlands, when the rain has ceased.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Lovely notes of heather, wild grass and fresh pine needles. As it opens up little whiffs of peat smoke sneak through. Water brings out a weird fruity varnish smell. I definitely prefer the nose at cash strength.
Palate: Ooh that’s lovely. Honey, vanilla, and wildflowers. Water make it fruitier and herbal.
Finish: The finish is long, lightly peated, bitter, with a flavor of raw wood (think of a toothpick left in the mouth too long). It makes you want to reach for more of the nose and palate.
Comments: I’m betwixt by this one. The cash strength nose and palate are great but it doesn’t close nearly as well. I also don’t really enjoy it with anything more than a drop of water. Good thing it’s under 50% ABV out of the cask!
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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Balvenie Caribbean Cask

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Balvenie Caribbean Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 14 Years
43% ABV/86 Proof
$60
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The delicate fresh taste of Caribbean Rum enhances The Balvenie’s vanilla notes in the finishing – whilst adding spicy aromatic qualities to the whisky. Characterised by toffee, vanilla and a hint of fruit.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Vanilla, alcohol dribbled treacle tart, and a roast beef savory note.
Palate: The rum adds a nice sweetness above and beyond the regular Balvenie. Vanilla, honey, and a Cuban guava pastry come to mind.
Finish: The finish starts slow and sweet and builds to a long, dry finish of black peppercorns and oak.
Comments: This isn’t as good as the recent 17 Year Old rum finishes but it is very nice in its own right. Fans of the long gone 17 year expressions and Glenfiddich Gran Reserva might want want to take a look at this one for a less expensive alternative. And in case you’re wondering, this is a whole different animal from the GoldenCask.
Rating: Stands Out

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Springbank 10 Year Old 100 Proof

/ / Campbeltown, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Springbank Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years
50% ABV/100 Proof
$65+
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The original Springbank whisky has been distilled legally on the site of the present distillery since 1828, and probably illicitly since well before then! Known and loved amongst whisky enthusiasts the world over, Springbank is produced using lightly-peated barley and a unique two-and-a-half-times distillation. This gives the whisky a character all of its own, making it stand out as a must-have dram on anyone’s shelf.

Produced using the most traditional of production techniques, from floor malting all the way through to the bottling stage, Springbank can best be described as a “hand-made” single malt. The classic Springbank complex, rich character can be found throughout the various bottlings available: the 100 proof 10 year old is considered by many to be Springbank in it’s purest form with its salty, briny flavour.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Savory on the nose and the alcohol needs a little taming. From there the brine shines through.
Palate: Heavy on the brine and smoke.
Finish: A powerful smack you in the face finish that comes across like a more intense version of the palate.
Comments: Is this the regular 10 year old with more alcohol? Not really. This version is a little less nuanced to me. I much prefer the standard 10 year old.
Rating: Stands Out.

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Springbank 10 Year Old

/ / Campbeltown, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Springbank Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years
46% ABV/92 Proof
$50 to $60
Website


What the Distillery Say:
The original Springbank whisky has been distilled legally on the site of the present distillery since 1828, and probably illicitly since well before then! Known and loved amongst whisky enthusiasts the world over, Springbank is produced using lightly-peated barley and a unique two-and-a-half-times distillation. This gives the whisky a character all of its own, making it stand out as a must-have dram on anyone’s shelf.

Produced using the most traditional of production techniques, from floor malting all the way through to the bottling stage, Springbank can best be described as a “hand-made” single malt. The classic Springbank complex, rich character can be found throughout the various bottlings available: the 10 year old is matured mostly in bourbon casks, emphasising the distillery’s character.

Matured 60% bourbon 40% sherry cask

The perfect introduction to the Springbank range. Complexity is the key word here. Yet the combination of Springbank matured in Bourbon and Sherry casks remains perfectly balanced from first sip to the full, rich finish.

Nose: Orchard fruit (pear) with a hint of peat, vanilla and malt.
Palate: Malt, oak, spice, nutmeg and cinnamon, vanilla essence.
Finish: Sweet with a lingering salty tingle.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Heather, honey, burnt sugar, and a little anise.
Palate: Very viscous, almost chewy. Great mouth feel. Fruity and briney. I’d love to be more specific on the fruity but it’s like southern ambrosia. It’s hard to pull the parts out.
Finish: A nice briney oak and an almost but not quite peat smokiness that all rolls together very nicely.
Comments: Oh Springbank I am so at odds with you. I love your whisky but I don’t want to tell people about it for fear it will be harder to get. It’s really hard to go bad with a Springbank. This one, along with Talisker, is in my opinion one of the two finest 10 year old single malt scotch drams available. The price may be a little off putting but you really need to try it.
Rating: Must Try

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SMWSA Cask G1.8

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No. G1.8
Grain
62.9% ABV
Distilled December 1990
$145
US Allocation: 60 Bottles
September 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
Lots of fruit on the early nose (pear flan, rhubarb, lemon curd, apricot) growing richer in the glass – soon we found marzipan, fudge, toffee, Bakewell tart, butterscotch, vanilla and straw. The palate was just as fruity but also sweet and nippy (some found it fiery) – like a bag of assorted boiled sweets. In reduction, the nose split between citric components and banana toffee – also some dustiness, like rubbing butter into flour. The palate opened and became cleaner and fresher, but evaporation from the tongue left rich joys of tobacco, liquorice and dark chocolate Bounty bars. From Edinburgh’s only grain distillery.

Drinking tip: A summertime dram – or maybe while making cakes.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rum soaked golden raisins, pears, fresh ginger, saltwater taffy, and heavy cream that’s sat out on the counter too long.
Palate: Old pot coffee, navel oranges, liquorice, and old rubber.
Finish: Water or no water….this is a hot finish with a little bit of charred coconut skins.
Comments: Nose – yes. Everything else – not so much. I would probably send this one packing for the price. Irrespective of price it’s pleasant enough but nothing remarkable stands out. Although, you don’t see much North British bottled so if you can go splits with some folks on the bottle it is an interesting curiosity.
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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