Whisky Wednesday Reviews SMWS 40th Anniversary Bottlings (Glasgow Grain & Caol Ila) – Scotch Malt Whisky Society News
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Edinburgh!
I have had the honour of being hosted by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society for few hours back in May to celebrate their 40th anniversary.
Heading over to their Queen Street branch, I was honoured to have met their ridiculously talented and knowledgeable staff who were more than handy in helping me pick some choice whiskies to review for Whisky Wednesday.
First, we have a spirit made by The Glasgow Distillery, typically a malt distillery, but they’ve produced a one-off, made to order outrun for The SMWS to assist with the celebration The G16 Rare Release (Dark & Stormy Crème Brûlée) is a limited batch of 1,300 bottles, at 6YO, bottled at 50% ABV, all in all, a rather tame ABV for The SMWS, but nonetheless, a fun privilege to try this bottle.
Layered in sweet, rich, and some welcome earthier notes of liquorice, ginger, and molasses notes that help fill out the heavy caramel, vanilla, and Tonka driven flavour profile that it offers to you. It’s a very easy drink that isn’t unusual for a grain whisky, but as it’s a custom order for a big celebration, it’s quite a pleasure to be able to try this.
A must try if you can still. Get your hands on it. If not, then do head over to. Their website to check out a host of other options. For your grain whisky needs.
Our next whisky is 53.429 (Kelp Is On The Way) bottled at 58.9% ABV, 10YO, 289 bottles. It’s a rather stunning example of refill bourbon cask Caol Ila that isn’t sweet at all. Bottled specifically for The Queen Street branch SMWS; it was an absolute pleasure to be able to showcase this whisky on the channel.
Caol Ila is a massive distillery, the biggest distillery on Islay and its house profile is peated and smoky, but, for me, has always had a creamier, sweeter character to it, certainly compared to some of it’s fellow distilleries on Islay.
This whisky is full of cracked black pepper, fresh salt, fish oil, wet beach, and that petroleum fishing boat feel that everyone first gets a whiff of when they smell any peated Islay for the first time. The refill cask has allowed the spirit to shine through much more, offering up these more vegetal, powerful, west coast powerhouse notes. In many ways, it’s a perfect Islay whisky to celebrate such a big occasion with. The taste is all peanuts, vinegar and chili oil, and soy sauce. Amazingly inviting with Asian food flavour profiles with a gentle fizz of heat ruminating throughout the finish of the whisky.
