Early June Outturn Offerings 

Cask No. 3.221                       $160

Starry, starry night

Islay

Childhood memories of airfix paint, Scalextric tyres, linseed oil and Caramac. Smoked duck breast and grilled oyster on the barbeque. To taste the panel found red licorice laces and burnt marshmallows. A big puff of peat, tarry rope and chorizo on the tongue. With water, we found it became fresher with aromas of menthol and English lavender. A crisp mineralic quality smoothed out the peat. It reminded one of ‘sooking spoots’ (sucking razor clams) from the shell. A clean and spritely finish of black pepper and sparkling water make this a perfect nightcap.

Drinking tip: For a romantic liaison by the seaside

Colour: Red panda

Cask: Refill butt

Age: 19 years

Date distilled: April 1994

Alcohol: 54.2%

USA allocation: 180 bottles

Flavour profile: Oily & coastal 

  

Cask No. 66.54                       $115 

A chameleon coat of many colours

Highland, Eastern

An ever changing character if ever there was one! The nose neat was perfumed with lavender, bay leaf and dried petals. Damp dunnage warehouse, dried fruit pie developed with creamier notes of bechamel sauce emerging. To taste, the panel found bresaola and wild boar carpaccio with an oily finish. The addition of water catapulted them into a Spring walk through the woods with breezy pollen, mint and eucalyptus. The reduced taste reminded them of the toasty crust of a pizza with grilled mushrooms alongside dried apricots and figs. The sweet and savoury flavours finally united for the turn coat.

Drinking tip: When you feel contrary

Colour: Faded polished penny

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 11 years

Date distilled: October 2002

Alcohol: 55.7%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Flavour profile: Young & spritely

 

Cask No. 123.10                             $100

Sweet treats on deck

Highland, Southern

The panel were whisked into a flurry of fresh linen on board a freshly varnished yacht. They found sliced pear with angelica, vanilla ice cream and wafers. The taste delivered flavours of continental bakeries heavy with butter icing, French fancies, amaretto cantucci, iced gems, butterscotch and honey. Water released elderflower cordial, lemon and lime jelly sweets while reclining on warm, newly polished decking with elements of hessian rope. It had a fizzy quality that reminded the panel of champagne tea with bread and butter pudding, chocolate truffles. Kick back and relax!

Drinking tip: A good holiday dram

Colour: Shiny doorbell

Cask: First-fill barrel

Age: 9 years

Date distilled: May 2005

Alcohol: 57.6%

USA allocation: 60 bottles

Flavour profile: Sweet, fruity & mellow 

Cask No. 64.60                               $115

Hemingway Daiquiri

Speyside, Lossie

The aromas neat were an enticing combination of sweet and fruity aromas. Fresh apples, mangos and bananas as well as cherry limeade, syrup sponge and creamy peach cranachan lured us to have a taste. We were not disappointed. Initially lively like Space Dust popping candy and chilli chocolate, calming down to caramel apple lollipops, foamy bananas and gooseberry candy with a mouth drying finish of cracked black pepper Ryvita crisp bread. Water released Peach Melba with sugar roasted doughnuts and vanilla ice cream sprinkled with a lemon vanilla chilli hot sauce and an ‘El Floridita’ Hemingway Daiquiri on the side.

Drinking tip: Awakening the senses

Colour: Dim candle-light

Cask: First-fill barrel

Age: 11 years

Date distilled: June 2003

Alcohol: 62.3%

USA allocation: 150 bottles

Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet

 

Cask No. G8.5                                $145

Body surfing at Bondi Beach

Grain

The panel were transported to a nautical scene of newly sanded, then polished, teak yacht in warm sun. With new shoes, they stretched out on deck and enjoyed an herbal cigarette and Greek grappa. Our Australians friends captured the surfing moment along with salted caramel chocolate, with Nepalese tea and candy floss on the stick. Redcurrant jelly and pomegranate dryness relented with water to reveal Arctic Roll, wine gums and plum pudding. Floral rose and cut pine mingled with herbal flavours of cardamon, bison grass and pistachio nut. Sweet Mr Kipling raspberry tart concluded this curious and eclectic dram.

Drinking tip: A perfect digestif after a barbeque

Colour: Polished rollocks

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 25 years

Date distilled: June 1989

Alcohol: 59.6%

USA allocation: 60 bottles

Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla

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