Late February 2013 Outturn Offerings 

In a gentleman’s club 

Cask No. 4.160                                             $115

Highland, Island

The nose had polished wood, cigars and leather chairs ‘like a gentleman’s’ club’, lots of cinder toffee, chocolate fingers, pastrami and various fruits (orange jelly, cherries in syrup, plums, figs). The initial palate was somewhat fierce but surprisingly enjoyable – moist ginger cake, Caramac, orange, smoked ham and burnt sticks in birch syrup. The reduced nose had incense, struck match, Trail Mix (dates, raisins, etc.) Horlicks, cinnamon and slightly over-done Christmas cake. The palate now found flambéed bananas, sweet dark toffee and abundant spice (musk, myrrh, cinnamon) at the end. The distillery is supposedly haunted by the ghost of Magnus Eunson.

Drinking tip: Prefect dram for the ferry to Orkney – otherwise after dinner

Colour: Dark rum                                         Date distilled: April 1997

Cask: Refill gorda                                        Alcohol: 56.1%

Age: 14 years                                               USA allocation: 90 bottles 

Mermaids at play in Lochindaal 

Cask No. 3.186                                             $120

Islay

This intriguing and rather unusual sample from the oldest distillery on Islay divided the panel. The nose initially delivered solventy, glue notes, but these turned more perfumed as it opened up – the perfumed and briny character stimulated conversation about mermaids! We also found hay, fresh ginger, coal, apple, banana, lemon and lime. The palate was also perfumed, with lots of gin-like botanicals, yet surprisingly sweet (candy floss, vanilla). The reduced nose suggested sherbet, pear flan and Plasticine. The palate now improved considerably – some mineral notes emerged and the escalating sweetness gently embraced the perfumed mermaid creating a triumphant final balance.

Drinking tip: As an aperitif or while snuggling up with your partner

Colour: Bright straw gold                           Date distilled: April 1995

Cask: Refill hogshead                                 Alcohol: 57.9%

Age: 16 years                                               USA allocation: 90 bottles

Scottish Heidi 

Cask No. 66.33                                             $95

Highland, Eastern

Aromas of a rock garden with a variety of herbs like sage, fennel and turmeric as well as a floral note of Edelweiss, whilst in the background fresh tar being laid on a road. On the palate smoky Swiss cheese with digestive biscuits then becoming sweeter, brownies and dark mint chocolates with a trace of teasing lavender smoke. Adding water, dry and dusty then turning fresh like a Ricola Lemon mint followed by a nougat note of dark Toblerone. The taste with water is of pork sausages, water biscuits with peppered cream cheese and a dry volcanic ashy note to finish. This distillery is believed to be named after a peninsula between Cardross and Helensburgh.

Drinking tip: After skiing with a Cheese Fondue

Colour: Blushed apricot gold                               Date distilled: November 2001

Cask: Refill barrel                                                    Alcohol: 58.0%

Age: 10 years                                                           USA allocation: 72 bottles 

Matron’s sick bay and Angostura Bitters 

Cask No. 93.51                                             $105

Campbeltown

The immediate impression is mineralic – we were strongly reminded of WD40 lubricating oil – with a growing medicinal aroma, a passing phase of quality wax shoe polish, becoming ‘grilling lamb chops and black cherries on a beach barbeque’. The taste at natural strength is sweet and reminiscent of ‘matron’s sick bay’ – Friar’s Balsam, crepe bandages, arnica, cloves – and Christmas spices. A little water makes it more medicinal, with scents from a workshop (again, WD40, with light smoke), raspberry ripple, ginger creams, then Angostura Bitters. Sweet and gingery to taste; mouth-cooling, with a lightly smoky finish. Bags of character from Campbeltown’s ‘other’ distillery.

Drinking tip: In the gun-room, with the Sunday papers

Colour: Mid gold                                         Date distilled: July 1999

Cask: Refill barrel                                        Alcohol: 61.4%

Age: 12 years                                               USA allocation: 102 bottles

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at www.smwsa.com