Holiday Outturn Offerings

Balmy evenings in hot tubs

Cask No. 35.55
Highlands, Speyside (Lossie)

Silence descended on the Panel as we discovered Demerara rum, buttermilk pancakes drenched in maple syrup, aged bourbon, mincemeat, figs, boozy prunes, woody spices, pink Calpol, paint (both spray and poster) and crumble topping. The taste didn’t disappoint as we were transported to balmy evenings in hot tubs under eucalyptus and rosemary munching on aged Balsamic covered figs and Parma ham drizzled in extra virgin olive oil. With water (we really didn’t want to add any) we found pomanders, peaches, spices, curry leaves, vine tomatoes, rum, bourbon, figs in Balsamic reduction; soft, juicy and voluptuous to taste. From Elgin’s only distillery.

Drinking tip: For following dusk around the globe

Colour: Demerara caramel
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 39 years
Date distilled: October 1971
Alcohol: 50.3%

$265

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Spicy marmalade

Cask No. 7.68
Highlands, Speyside (Lossie)

Rich notes of leather, cinnamon & nutmeg dusted apple pie, banana bread, treacle tart, pecan pie, saddle soap, fresh apricot and crème brûlée; spicy tastes of light fruitcake, ginger biscuits, leather, Dundee marmalade and tea chests made for a fantastically well-integrated first impression. The addition of water (be careful, it doesn’t need much) with aromas of fresh pipe tobacco, well-used furniture, Seville oranges & black pepper, fresh leather, floral notes (gorse flowers, carnations) and school satchel, books and all. Now on the palate we found spicy marmalade, cinnamon sticks, orange curd, thyme with a wonderful woody aftertaste. Highly prized as a top dresser for blends.

Drinking tip: This deserves to be appreciated so take your time as; try with a cigar

Colour: Amber
Cask: Second-fill hogshead
Age: 21 years
Date distilled: December 1989
Alcohol: 55.1%

$145

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Rum toffees and water wings

Cask No. 27.93
Campbeltown, Argyll

A classic, old-fashioned example of the iconic Campbeltown malt. After a sweet start featuring cheap rum toffees, we were plunged into a public outdoor swimming pool (chlorine and carbolic, with traces of rubber water wings) – fresh and somewhat tart scents. The taste at natural strength is sweet, maritime (complete with salt) and lightly smoky, with some ginger in the finish. Water continues the swimming images: wet swimming costume, rubber flip-flops – now joined by Chinese rice wine and charred driftwood, with the toffee note remaining. A smooth texture and a sweet and salty taste, with new plimsolls in the finish.

Drinking tip: In a communal shower with a rugby team

Colour: Vin gris
Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 11 years
Date distilled: March 2000
Alcohol: 51.5%

$105

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A league of its own

Cask No. 29.100
Islay, South Shore

Wet peat, raw oysters, almond oil, smoked mussels, crispy duck, heather smoke, hot diesel engine, earthy dunnage floors and a whiff of perfumed new make made a diverse first nose. Diesel, dirty like a burnt pan, white pepper, rock salt and grilled mackerel or sardines to taste; while water made it sweeter and perfumed. There were mentions of Brylcreem, cinder toffee, flake (Australian gummy shark) and one Panellist was ice fishing with Grumpy Old Men Jack Lemmon & Walter Matthau. To taste this was ‘easy drinking’, smoky, salty, sweet, earthy; one Panellist had radicchio or red chard. Prince Charles’ favourite whisky.

Drinking tip: A brilliant Islay and a very interesting example of the make

Colour: Platinum gold
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 12 years
Date distilled: April 1998
Alcohol: 58.5%

$115

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Sinister yet swoony

Cask No. 59.40
Highlands, Northern Highlands

Deep, rich, unctuous, heady: Armagnac soaked sultanas, fried Christmas cake, Crêpes Suzette, buttered malt loaf, sticky toffee pudding stuffed with dates, treacle buns and Fry’s orange cream had the Panel in raptures. Wonderful tastes of leather (Chesterfields and bound books), tobacco, treacle, Terry’s dark chocolate orange, waxy honeycomb, old polished wood all interwoven with a delicate trace of smoke. Fresher with water – yew topiary, marmalade on sultana scones, mandarins & cream, orange groves; to taste it was deliciously woody, with Dundee cake, Selkirk Bannock, marmalade and tobacco – one Panellist called it ‘sinister yet swoony’. This distillery draws its water from the Dairywell Spring.

Drinking tip: While on a murder mystery weekend in a country manor

Colour: Orange oil
Cask: Second-fill hogshead
Age: 27 years
Date distilled: November 1983
Alcohol: 55.0%

$165

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