KWM Whisky Advent 2017 Day 25 – The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 10.117: Smoky, salty, sweet porridge
As has become a tradition, we are capping off the Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar with a special 100mL bottle from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Why a 100mL? Because you made it through the first 24 days and you deserve it… actually, it is because the Society doesn’t bottle 50mls, but they do bottle 100ml whiskies, and we redesigned our Whisky Advent Calendar box a few years back to accommodate it.
About the Scotch Malt Whisky Society: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is the world’s largest whisky club, and also an independent bottler. As a club it has close to 30,000 members all over the world, and branches in close to 20 different countries. It is an independent bottler that has been thrice accorded the honour of Independent Bottler of the Year by Whisky Magazine. It bottles as broad a range of single cask, single malt Scotch whiskies as any other firm, and it doesn’t stop there. It has also bottle Japanese whiskies, Bourbon, Grain whisky, Cognac, Armagnac and Gin. Whether it is a whisky, or another spirit, the Society always bottles the spirit from a single cask, straight from the cask, Unfiltered. Undiluted. Unrivalled.
Kensington Wine Market is proud to be the original home of the Society in Canada, and its exclusive retailer in Southern Alberta and all parts east. Over the last six years we have introduced more than 500 whiskies to more than a thousand Canadian members. Every month we launch at least 6, and usually 7 new whiskies. Membership is easy and gives you exclusive access to the widest selection of single cask single malt whiskies anywhere in the world. We also hold month outturn tastings at the shop. Only Scotch Malt Whisky Society members can buy our exclusive single cask single malt whiskies, but anyone can try them. We’re confident once you’ve had a taste you will want to join the club. For more information on the SMWS you can visit our web page or http://www.smws.ca/ .
For the second year in a row, this year’s Scotch Malt Whisky Society whisky is a cask selected especially for the Kensington Wine Market 2017 Whisky Advent Calendar. Cask 10.117 is not yet available for sale, and will be launched early in 2018. We can’t tell you what distillery #10 is, but there isn’t much you can’t find on the internet anymore. This is the 117th cask of Distillery #10 bottled by the Society. It is from a refill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, bottled at 61.2%. Its name, is “Smoky, salty, sweet porridge”, a named inspired by the Tasting Panel’s tasting note.
SMWS 10.117 – Smoky, salty, sweet porridge – 61.2% ABV
This Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottle hails from a northern Islay distillery. It is 9 Years Old from a refill ex-bourbon barrel.
SMWS Tasting Notes
Plenty of peat smoke, chimney soot and tar right at the beginning, but it did not stop there as we discovered an underlying sweetness which needed to be unearthed. In time we discovered aromas of brown-sugar glazed parsnips, honey roasted chocolate peanuts and black currant wine gums. The taste was like a sweet golden syrup, but at the same time, smoky salty austere, steaming hot creamy porridge – most unusual. Water calmed tempers somewhat, on the nose now sweet potatoes and honey glazed carrots whilst on the palate; grilled hot dogs with mango chutney and red onion relish.
Andrew’s Tasting Note: “Nose: peanut brittle and chicken satay on egg noodle; glazed pork, grilled bbq unagi, dried orange and mango salsa; sugary and floral with willow branches. Palate: more bbq unagi, chicken satay and glazed pork belly; fatty, oily and smoky; fresh orange and lime citrus; a shade of dark chocolate and sooty-oil-soaked mechanics rags; becomes tarry and more medicinal with each passing sip, but also more tropical and fruity. Finish: warming, smoky and fruity; the engine-oils coat the mouth with flashes of citrus and more tropical fruits; long, very long. Comment: this is going to be a very popular malt… Society members will be clambering for a bottle; thankfully we have the whole cask!”
Evan’s Tasting Note: “Nose: Oily smoke, earthy peat. Salt, brine, and iodine. Light citrus, bell pepper, laundry fresh out of the dryer, lavender and the slight hint of parma violet. Butter on toast. Chocolate fudge, fennel, sunflower seeds, malted barley, and a squeeze of lemon. Palate: Salt, black pepper and smoke. Spicy up front before it settles in and switches to creamy. Starchy plantains dipped in chocolate, fresh roasted peanuts, oatmeal with blackberries and cinnamon, lemon pepper seasoning, vanilla yogurt plus a dash of honey. Finish: Warming. Smokey and creamy with a dash of salt and a light touch of sweetness all the way down. Comment: Your kids may have gotten up far too early on Christmas morning but feel free to forgo the coffee – this is a delicious way to wake up. Let the kids open their gifts. For you perhaps the presence of this is present enough.”
Merry Christmas and a Peaty New Year from all of us at Kensington Wine Market!
