Early August Outturn Offerings

Peeling tangerines in hospital 

Cask No. 3.182                          

Islay, Loch Indaal 

We found quite a bit of fruit on the nose – tinned pears, passion fruit and ‘someone peeling tangerines in a recently painted hospital’ – in addition we enjoyed lavender, orange blossom, patchouli, burnt paper, smoky bacon and well-kept stables – quite complex all in all. The palate had Elastoplasts and gauze bandages, star anise, walnut fudge, honeysuckle, nutty tobacco and baklava. Water brought freesias and parma violets, creosote and peat fires to the nose, while the palate became sweeter, developing slightly burnt treacle tart, sugar cane and dark chocolate coated marzipan with some coconut to finish. The distillery was built in 1779. 

Drinking tip: A good barbeque or camp fire dram 

Colour: Brass door knob                             

Cask: Refill hogshead                                                 

Age: 21 years                                         

Date distilled: August 1990

Alcohol: 46.4% 

$145

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Attractive as apple pie

Cask No. 7.69                     

Highlands, Speyside (Lossie) 

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 – flavours of honey, apple, and butterscotch, spiked up by the 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 

Colour: Bright yellow gold                         

Cask: First-fill barrel                                                    

Age: 8 years                                          

Date distilled: May 2003

Alcohol: 61.6% 

$85

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Sweet, but with grown up flavours 

Cask No. 24.122                        

Highlands, Speyside 

The satisfyingly fragrant nose offered dried pear, green apple, fruits in syrup, scented soap, light Pernod, vanilla, caramel and dark chocolate gingers; also hints of smoke (from burning paper). The palate conveyed ample sweetness (amaretti biscuits, honey, bourbon creams) but also some quite ‘grown up’ flavours – cinnamon, clove, star anise, chilli, salt, menthol and gunpowder. The nose was much lighter with water – jasmine, daffodil and floral soap, alongside poached pear, creamy dragon fruit, plantains and tree bark. The reduced palate was sweetly fruity, with pleasant lingering Christmassy spices, carrot cake and Rooibos tea. The distillery lies between Aberlour and Craigellachie. 

Drinking tip: A perfectly reasonable alternative to afternoon tea 

Colour: Yellow gold                                                    

Cask: Refill hogshead                                                 

Age: 16 years                                         

Date distilled: September 1995

Alcohol: 53.0% 

$120

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Long, hot sweet delights 

Cask No. 30.68                          

Highlands, Speyside (Rothes) 

Salty, dry and earthy – this really didn’t hide its 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 savoury 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 its London owners. 

Drinking tip: Too big to take lightly 

Colour: Ripe apricots                                                  

Cask: Refill gorda                                        

Age: 10 years                                         

Date distilled: March 2001

Alcohol: 60.6% 

$95

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at www.smwsa.com for further information on their single cask bottlings.