Cask No. 31.30                              $205 

Going Dutch

Highland, Island

This one took us to old Amsterdam; first stop was a cobbler’s shop selling traditionally handmade clogs. Next we entered an antiquarian bookshop with a coal burning fire in the back room and finally we went into an old fashioned apothecary. Then we stopped and had a bite to eat – a plate of cured meat with Jenever followed by a black cherry and kirsch truffle dessert. A drop of water and we happily headed to an Amsterdam coffee shop famous for its ‘cannabis cups’, the ideal place to relax and reminisce over the day’s events and to plan the next adventure.

Drinking tip: Ideal with a charcuterie board

Colour: Lemon curd

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 26 years

Date distilled: September 1988

Alcohol: 48.4%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Flavour profile: Old & dignified 

*President’s Choice* 

 

Cask No. 64.59                               $115

Gymkhanas and gym class

Speyside, Lossie

A gaggle of girls perched on dusty haybales as they fussed over groomed ponies. The scent of oiled wood mingled with plaited manes and well worn leather saddles. They feasted on well stewed apple and cinnamon crumble with creamy toffee sauce, along with hazelnut praline. The giggling girls pursed their cherry lips in surprise at the sudden heat. They fed their ponies waxy apples and hard pears. They bounced old basket balls on freshly cut grass, then lolled in the sun while weaving daffodils into their hair. They munched on banana bread with clotted cream washed down with homemade ginger beer.

Drinking tip: With friends – it’s a cheery wee soul

Colour: Fading Summer sun

Cask: First-fill barrel

Age: 11 years

Date distilled: June 2003

Alcohol: 62.6%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet 

 

Cask No. 30.87                              $135

A skinny dipping dram

Speyside, Spey

The panel jumped straight in and found treacle tart, baked prunes, smoked paprika, cinnamon and plums. Bubbles of aroma popped on the nose with heather, toasted brioche, walnut oil and fragrant bergamot. One felt it bracing like sea air after a dip. The taste was curiously herbaceous with bamboo shoots and wicker cane. A bracing picnic of jacket potatoes, sultana cake, coffee chocolate fudge and black tea from a billy can. Old fashioned canvas tents and camphor reminded one of Scottish holidays. A good dram to have once you had bagged a Munro. Not complicated but ticked all the boxes.

Drinking tip: When you are out and about in the great outdoors!

Colour: Mariner’s bell

Cask: Refill Port Pipe

Age: 14 years

Date distilled: March 2001

Alcohol: 55.6%

USA allocation: 150 bottles

Flavour profile: Spicy & dry 

 

Cask No. 10.85                              $150

Live life on the edge!

Islay

From the word go it became clear this was no ordinary dram. Imagine yourself opening a box of brand new leather riding boots, or squeezing a tube of double concentrate tomato puree or drinking a hot steaming mug of Bovril to which you have added Maggi seasoning sauce. The taste was sweet, thick and comforting like a steamed treacle sponge pudding and sherry soaked raisins in an almond cake. Adding water, and we were horse-riding across an empty beach on the Costa de la Luz during a short sharp shower and we ended up eating bacon-wrapped dates with a glass of Amontillado.

Drinking tip: YOLO!

Colour: Amber with an orange glow

Cask: Second-fill butt

Age: 17 years

Date distilled: April 1998

Alcohol: 55.8%

USA allocation: 90 bottles

Flavour profile: Deep, rich & dried fruits

Cask No. 42.17                              $100

Beachcomber’s dram

Highland, Island

The unreduced nose evoked various suggestions from the panel – warm hay bales, rum-soaked sultanas, ginger cake, honey drizzled on fried bananas, Thai prawns and a new car. The palate was robust, sinewy and youthful, but we had no trouble enjoying its hot, sweet flavours neat – dark chocolate, pineapple, mango and gooseberry; Liquorice Allsorts ice-cream (is there such a thing?); bacon rolls and balsamic reduction. The reduced nose found light smoke, quite a bit of vanilla, burnt toast and wood and plastic gathered on a pebble beach. The reduced palate suggested scorched rhubarb, dark sugar and pepper and salt on fried food.

Drinking tip: One to take wild camping – on the coast

Colour: Star-bright platinum

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 9 years

Date distilled: April 2006

Alcohol: 60.9%

USA allocation: 90 bottles

Flavour profile: Oily & coastal

Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of American at http://www.smwsa.com/ for further information.