Glenturret 10yo 2001 (57.2%, SMWS, 16.32, refill port pipe, USA 120 Bts., +/-2012) 

From a refill port pipe which on the nose presents a richness vaguely familiar, some what like Isle of Mull or Deanston, along with some herbaceous notes and some really good honey sweetness. The meatiness richness along with the herbaceous notes and the honey make for an intriguing combination. The taste is once again reminiscent of Isle of Mull and Deanston and the herbaceous and honey notes are still present with a little bit of oak spice. A little water softens it somewhat but it remains true to form (not much changes). The finish shows some good malt and a lot of tobacco (unlit cured) and is quite good and fairly long. The honey notes have vanished somewhat but the aforementioned descriptors are a suitable alternative.

$95

Score 83 points

Rosebank 21yo 1990 (59.8%, SMWS, 25.63, refill hogshead, USA 108 bottles, +/-2012)

On the nose there are some ‘green’ notes along with some good malty notes and with time in the glass the malty notes grow and there is a curious and unusual hint of Chardonnay lurking in the back ground. The taste is quite dry and this grows over a very short time period, lots of cask influence here and then some chewy malt followed by more cask notes and still very dry. A splash of water brings the down the volume a fair amount but the cask influence is quite evident. The finish is also quite woody and astringent, the malt saves the day coming at the van to bring some order to the scene.

$145

Score 80 points

Cardhu 27yo 1984 (52.6%, SMWS, 106.18, refill hogshead, USA 78 bottles, +/-2012) 

On the nose there is juniper and rich warm honey (like the waft off warm toast) and some moments of ‘antique’ however the aromas definitely lean towards the juniper side of the house and all very pleasant. The taste is good, warming, some malt, some crème brûlée and a little sourness to give it a bit of an edge.  A dash of water doesn’t change things too much but the crème brûlée plays a bigger part. The finish is quite big and active with some nice cask influence and some really good malt moments, also some leather and chewy malt.

$175

Score 81 points

Penderyn 5yo 2006 (61.3%, SMWS, 128.3, First fill barrel, USA 78 bottles, +/-2012) 

The third ever SMWS bottling of a cask from Penderyn which has on the nose bananas, hair spray, lemon (at first) followed by a good richness that is quite enjoyable. Water releases the serpents (the swirls in the glass). The taste is amazingly sweet tinged with some vibrant oak spice and dry cocoa powder and moments of dry sherry. At full strength it’s all very dramatic. With a little water a Christmas tree pops up for a moment and the oak spice and dry cocoa take over, not to be out done. The finish is a riot of the aforementioned flavours now with some moments of malt, a little egg nogg (‘tis the season) and it’s a little short but nothing so short as to be a fault.

$85

Score 83 points

Kilchoman 5yo 2006 (60.2%, SMWS, 129.1, first fill barrel, USA 114 bottles, +/- 2012) 

The very first bottling of Kilchoman bottled by the Society; the UK allocation sold out in moments so a bit of a surprise that it should pop up in the USA but well done in any case. On the nose there is…drum roll please…peat smoke and from the initial nosing it’s a fair bet to say there is lashings of the stuff yet to arrive. And of course with time in the glass it only grows, like a massively desiccated and shrunk Godzilla that once rehydrated only grows and grows until you are confronted by a massive shadow blocking the sun…ok, ok a bit much but you get the point. It’s good too…. With a little cut grass with some youth thrown in for good measure. Seat belts please for the taste which is slightly perfumed with some good fruit but then the steam roller arrives to crush everything under unrelenting rollers made of peat smoke with a little coal smoke thrown in for good measure which is a wonderful delight since it adds so much depth. Malt arrives, waving for attention but of course the peat smoke steps in front. The malt however does make a good showing in the finish which is massive and long and quite sensational.

Well done….

$85

89 points

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