THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY TRADES IN WELSH GOLD

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is known the world over for sourcing and bottling only the finest single cask, single malt Scotch whiskies for its members to buy.  It takes an extraordinary whisky to make it past The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Tasting Panel and this month it has secured a brace of exceptional casks from the Penderyn distillery in Wales. The Society is renowned for getting its hands on the rarest of whiskies and this is the first time anyone other than the Welsh Whisky Company has bottled Penderyn.

The Society was formed in the 1970s when a group of friends discovered the joys of drawing their whisky straight from the cask, straight from the distillery. The full flavour was retained and each cask was unique. No two casks are identical even if they’re filled with the same spirit and laid down for the same amount of time and it’s this diversity the Society celebrates.

Today that spirit of adventure and curiosity continues on in each of the casks The Tasting Panel approves and each of the bottles made available to members. Occasionally, only very occasionally, one from outside of Scotland makes it. There have been a few from Ireland and Japan to date and very well received they’ve been too. But Wales? Who’d have thought?

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has had its eye on Penderyn for some time. A scout was dispatched earlier this year who reported back in wildly enthusiastic fashion about the qualities of a single cask port finish 7 year old he was allowed to try when the public weren’t looking.

Two casks were identified by The Tasting Panel; a 6 year old first fill port cask and a 7 year old first fill Madeira cask with only 233 of the former and 227 bottles of the latter available. Although relatively young, each is beautifully well-balanced and mature (for their age).

The Society releases new single casks every month and the Penderyn bottles are part of its biggest ever release with a total of 41 single casks being offered in November. It is anticipated that the Welsh wonders will be of particular interest so members will be restricted to one bottle of each (priced at £49.50) when they go on sale on November 19.
 
The sole distillery in Wales, The Welsh Whisky Company is one of the smallest (legal) distilleries in the world and only produces a hogshead of its Welsh gold each day. Established in 2000, Penderyn uses a unique design of still for its malted barley spirit. The still was developed by weapons inspector Dr David Faraday (a descendant of science legend Sir Michael Faraday).

Kai Ivalo from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society said: “Our Tasting Panel searches far and wide for the best whiskies for our members and we’ve been watching developments at Penderyn with interest. Our members are a smart lot and many had guessed that we were going to be bottling a single cask from the Penderyn distillery so we’re and pleased to be able to finally get the news out there. No-one other than the Welsh Whisky Company have bottled Penderyn which is the kind of coup that we like at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. These are two great single cask examples and they’ll definitely delight malt whisky enthusiasts.”

Stephen Davies, managing director of the Penderyn Distillery said, “To be recognised by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is an immensely proud moment for all of us at Penderyn.  Not only is this an appreciation of the whisky, but also of our innovative distillation technology.  When we embarked on reviving the tradition of Welsh whisky, our objective was to ensure that we created a spirit that we and Wales as a nation could truly be proud of.  In particular, the efforts of Master Distiller Dr Jim Swan and Gillian Macdonald have to be commended for creating a world class whisky that has earned such critical acclaim.  And with less made in a year than many distilleries produce in day, Penderyn truly is Welsh gold!”

Notes

• Membership of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is the perfect Christmas gift. Membership costs from £100 for the first year and offers the sheer pleasure of exploring the world’s widest selection of single cask single malt whiskies. New members receive a beautiful membership box with a specially-selected quartet of bottles on joining and admission to the Society’s exclusive Members’ Rooms.

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society began 27 years ago when a group of discerning friends shared the price of a single cask of fine malt whisky.

• The Society bottles over 300 single casks of malt whisky a year for its members and selects them from a range of more than 128 distilleries.

• Members can choose from the world’s widest selection of single cask, single malt whiskies with only the very best selected and approved by the Society’s respected Tasting Panel.

• Exclusive Members’ Rooms are located in Edinburgh and London for tastings, dinners, meeting and presentations.

www.smws.co.uk 

PENDERYN TASTING NOTES:

128.1 A string quartet of flavours
The evocative nose delivered blood orange, strawberry, sangria, cola cubes, Calpol syrup and Covonia cough medicine; ‘pink’ Chartreuse, ‘After Shock’ and wine gums. Slightly different aromas appeared with water – furniture polish, shoe polish, bubble gum and freshly valeted cars. The unreduced palate had layers of flavours in harmony, like a string quartet – scented wood and spice in the middle, strawberry syrup, redcurrant and cranberry on top, with bass notes of smoke, embers and struck matches. The texture was deliciously thick and the finish long. The reduced palate had lip-smacking red fruits and Haribo sweets.

Colour – Deep Zinfandel blush
Cask – First fill ex-Port Barrique,

Drinking tip
A summery dram suitable for any sunny moment, real or metaphorical
Distillation Date Strength Age Outturn UK bottle price
Sep-03 55.6% 6 233 £49.50

128.2 Caribbean breeze
The relaxing nose brought cherry lips, rhubarb tart and redcurrants; ginger cake and Pledge furniture polish.   The unreduced palate was multilayered and mouth-filling with fruitcake, marzipan and icing sugar, fresh root ginger and redcurrants.  Water brought out softer antique-like aromas with leather, beeswax and resin; Battenburg and sponge cake.   The reduced palate became “oh so creamy” with almond and cherry cake, palm trees and green ginger – the sweetest parts of the oak. The finish was surprisingly dry. 
 
Colour – Burnt ochre
Cask – First fill ex-Madeira Hogshead

Drinking tip
A sweet and exotic dram for holidays relaxing in the sun
Distillation Date Strength Age Outturn UK bottle price
Sep-02 60.5 7 227 £49.50