Early Winter Outturn Offerings

Unusual, intriguing and delightful

Cask No. 33.108
Islay, South Shore

The nose required some concentration – but we were rewarded with charcoal, light smoke, leather, Germolene and well-fired rolls – behind that, lemon zest, peeled twigs, nettles and subtle floral perfumes. The unreduced palate needed no concentration at all – ‘Where did that come from!’ someone exclaimed – ash, coal, burnt sticks, etc., but all balanced beautifully by delicious sweetness and warm spices. In reduction, the nose had lemon, lime and laundry freshness with delicate smoke and toffee, while the palate presented maple-cured bacon, sweet smoke, citric freshness and Victory V tingles in the aftertaste – a delightfully intriguing dram from the far Kildalton distillery.

Drinking tip: On the ferry to Islay

Colour: Riesling
Cask: Second-fill barrel
Age: 13 years
Date distilled: October 1997
Alcohol: 56.6%

$110

The Oriental Connection

Cask No. 24.118
Highlands, Speyside

The Panel thought this displayed typical sherry cask characteristics – crème brûlée, Marmite, treacle toffee, Christmas cake, dark chocolate-covered almonds, flan, walnuts, peanut brittle and venison & cranberry sausages. Big to taste; orange & ginger suet pudding, newly snuffed candles, matchboxes and a wee hint of cordite. Adding water brought out toffee, caramelised walnuts, dark fudge, port, prune juice, hazelnut oil, cloves and a touch of sulphur. Powdery and dry on the palate with white pepper, pencils and cherry cheesecake (with a ginger biscuit base) although five spice, dark soy, star anise and tamarind pulled us in an Oriental direction. From the Easter Elchies distillery.

Drinking tip: In celebration of Chinese New Year

Colour: Burnished bronze
Cask: First-fill ex sherry hogshead
Age: 20 years
Date distilled: December 1990
Alcohol: 50.7%

$145

Growing old disgracefully

Cask No. 41.49
Highlands, Speyside

This transported us to a stately home kitchen – baked ham, wood polish, camphor, truffle oil, ceps and pot pourri. Lively and spicy to taste with orange oil, leather, salty almonds, sulphur, smoked gammon smothered in plum sauce, leather, Marmite on toast, and toffee apples. Diluted we found Davidoff pipe tobacco, clean linen, wood smoke, waxy toffee apples, plums, vanilla, lavender & violets. To taste the Panel agreed it was beautiful – silky, spicy, lively and woody with cinnamon, fresh tobacco, leather, smoke, mussels (strangely), lavender, orange and more Marmite on toast. The first distillery to have a pagoda roof.

Drinking tip: With aromas such as these this one is to linger over

Colour: Hebridean sunset
Cask: Second-fill sherry butt
Age: 30 years
Date distilled: December 1980
Alcohol: 50.9%

$170

Complex cornucopia

Cask No. 64.27
Highlands, Speyside (Lossie)

‘Helluva lot going on’ said the Moffat-man – and indeed, the nose was a cornucopia of aromas –vanilla slice, coconut, lemon curd, brandy snaps, butterscotch, hazelnut oil, marmalade, toffee, a puff of smoke and much, much more – very complex. The palate seemed interesting and mature but with youthful heat – flavours of vanilla fudge, shortbread, lemon, lime, morello cherry and spices. In reduction, the nose became fresher and more floral – hawthorn blossom, old-fashioned meadows, jasmine and chocolate. The reduced palate was sweetly perfumed with fruity toffee, citric zest and summery flower meadows. The distillery dates from 1971 and has connections with monks.

Drinking tip: Summer’s evening in a meadow

Colour: Pale ginger gold
Cask: First-fill barrel
Age: 9 years
Date distilled: April 2001
Alcohol: 61.9%

$90

Please click on the LINK to read further and visit the SMWS of America at www.smwsa.com  for information on how to join.