January Outturn Leaflet Offerings
Cask No. 25.59
Boxing gloves and rapier thrusts
Lowlands, Central Lowlands
Perfumes shifted and shimmered under our noses, conveying chocolate Cheerios, crème brûlée, lychee, lemon, pepper, pears in honey, vanilla and straw; a flower vase stood on a beeswax polished table. The surprisingly dry palate had mouth-numbing clove and menthol tobacco – boxing gloves of spice and rapier thrusts of citrus (orange, grapefruit, lemon zest) left us gasping. The reduced nose became more straightforward – light, fresh, lemony, floral, with green fruits, crisp white wine and oysters. The reduced palate (still pepper hot, but less drying), was woody (fresh pine), fruity (cherries, lychees), juicy and floral. The distillery name is also rather floral.
Drinking tip: An aperitif for a special meal
Colour: Vibrant daffodil gold
Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 20 years
Date distilled: July 1991
Alcohol: 53.8%
$140
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Cask No. 23.70
Campfire by sea cliffs
Islay, Loch Indaal
The nose had herbal notes (witch hazel, eucalyptus, bog myrtle) intimations of sea cliffs and then walnuts, peppered olive oil, biltong, toffee and ladies’ handbags (leather, nail varnish, parma violets, maybe cigarette packets). The taste was huge – peat smoke, engine oil, smoked ham, dark chocolate, toffee bonbons and somehow both salty and chalky. The reduced nose found syrup, mango skins, tarred ropes and a pine forest by the sea. The reduced palate was still minerally (licking a limestone cave), with star anise, red peppercorns and a campfire among the ferns – very curious indeed! From the biggest distillery on the Rinns.
Drinking tip: A dram for going camping
Colour: Olive oil
Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 9 years
Date distilled: November 2001
Alcohol: 66.0%
$90
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Cask No. 48.24
Dried roses and honey on floorboards
Highlands, Speyside
Shy at first, the nose developed fruits (lychee, mandarin, peach, blackberry jam) then fudge, nougat, dry roses, hazelnuts and wood (someone suggested ‘honey on old floorboards’). The unreduced palate had beautiful, chewy, viscous textures with delightful sweetness, including fudge and dried grapes; treacle and leather coming out later. We cautiously added very little water (wisely) to find the nose now had apple strudel with vanilla cream, five spice powder, Imperial Leather and monkey nuts – very complex and dynamic. The reduced palate had ice wine grapes, creamy caramel and toffee nut brittle. The distillery was licensed in 1824 by James McGregor.
Drinking tip: A fine dram for special friends or special occasions
Colour: Old sweet white wine
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 22 years
Date distilled: March 1988
Alcohol: 49.3%
$145
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Cask No. 82.19
‘Stunning!’
Highlands, Eastern Highlands
The nose produced fascinating and weighty aromas – cola cubes, toffee, dark chocolate, treacle, nutmeg, walnut, plums, vintage port and Christmas cake with dark cherries, soaked in rum and Madeira. The palate was mouth-drying but ‘stunning!’ (according to one panellist) – dark chocolate with cherries, dark toffee apples, tarte tatin, black tea, rum, charcoal and molasses; even an old gym shoe. The reduced nose had tobacco, pecan pie, treacle tart, toasted coconut and brown sauce. Water lifted the palate – leather, oranges, toffee and maple candy – an interesting combination of vinegar astringency and toffee apple juiciness. A rare appearance from this Brechin distillery.
Drinking tip: To accompany beef or game – or as a digestif
Colour: Coca cola
Cask: Refill puncheon
Age: 13 years
Date distilled: May 1998
Alcohol: 55.7%
$110
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Cask No. 93.46
Tar, tea-chests and engine oil
Campbeltown
The nose started out with wood polish and pear, before turning sweeter (strong honey, toffee crunch ice-cream). It also had a smoky, oily meatiness, like grilled lamb chops and a coal-miner’s overalls. The palate was somewhat challenging at full strength – putty, plasticine, tar and liquorice root but with big toffee and fudge sweetness. Water turned the nose cleaner – citrus, banana, candle-wax and honeycomb, but with distant singed mackerel or breakfast kipper. We agreed the reduced dram was eminently drinkable – bourbon cream biscuits and brandy snaps balancing leather, tar, tea-chests and engine oil. This distillery’s cast-iron mash-tun is painted bright red.
Drinking tip: An outdoor party dram
Colour: Sauternes
Cask: Refill gorda
Age: 12 years
Date distilled: June 1999
Alcohol: 59.8%
$110
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Members will receive $10 off every bottle of Society whisky purchased is the month of January.
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