Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada December 2023 Outturn – Scotch Whisky News
It’s that time of year! Treat the whisky lover in your life – maybe that’s you – to one of the superb bottlings from our December Outturn and be the best gift-giver around.
Keep things light and delicate with Cask No. 70.53 “Fragile fruits and floaty flowers” or sink into the succulent sherry notes of Cask No. 35.351 “Pudding whisky.” Ramp up your Christmas scene with Cask No. 55.87 “The stage is set” which is the first bottling from distillery 55 we’ve seen since 2018!
The peat freaks on your list will love the elegant floral smoke of Cask No. 4.285 “Parallel bars of sweetness and smoke” or the sherried smoke found on Cask No. 10.252 “A firefighter’s reward.”
There’s something for everyone on your list, even the rum lovers, in December’s Outturn so read on:
FRAGILE FRUITS AND FLOATY FLOWERS
REGION: Highland
CASK TYPE: 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel
AGE: 14 years
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Light & delicate
BOTTLE NOTE: “An intricately structured, refreshingly light dram; a detailed patchwork of fruit and floral flavours that makes for entertaining sipping.”
PUDDING WHISKY
REGION: Speyside
INITIAL CASK: Ex-bourbon hogshead
FINAL CASK: 1st fill Oloroso hogshead
AGE: 17 years
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Deep, rich & dried fruits
BOTTLE NOTE: “A showcase of classical sherry deliciousness, with sticky dark fruits, herbal medicines, coffee, chocolate and myriad tasty puddings and desserts.”
THE STAGE IS SET
REGION: Highland
INITIAL CASKS: Ex-bourbon hogsheads
FINAL CASK: 1st fill Oloroso ex-bodega butt
AGE: 16 years
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Spicy & dry
BOTTLE NOTE: “We move from a sherry bodega to an underground wine cellar with this single malt originally from two bourbon hogsheads married in this cask.”
A TASTY MORSEL
REGION: Highland
CASK TYPE: 1st fill Pedro Ximenez sherry butt
AGE: 6 years
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Juicy, oak & vanilla
BOTTLE NOTE: “Freshly cut pine trees by the sea, a spicy tuna salad nori wrap, new potatoes with a seaweed mayonnaise dip and a ‘sparkling galliano’ cocktail.”
PARALLEL BARS OF SWEETNESS AND SMOKE
REGION: Highland Island
INITIAL CASKS: Ex-bourbon hogsheads
FINAL CASK: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
AGE: 20 years
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Old & dignified
BOTTLE NOTE: “Single malt originally from bourbon hogsheads, married in this cask. Boatyards, profiteroles and cigars, heather and rosemary on a bonfire.”
A FIREFIGHTER’S REWARD
REGION: Islay
INITIAL CASK: Ex-bourbon hogshead
FINAL CASK: 1st fill Pedro Ximenez sherry hogshead
AGE: 9 years
FLAVOUR PROFILE: Peated
BOTTLE NOTE: “Smoke from beach bonfires and blazing barns, good sweetness (toffee, maple syrup, muscovado), chimney scrapings and crispy aromatic duck.”
