May 2013 NEW Outturn Offerings 

Cheshire cat whisky 

Cask No. 1.164                                             $175

Speyside, Spey

‘Sweet manna from heaven’ – toffee, fudge, caramel, Toffifees, vanilla, honey – but more – tea chests, spice racks, aromatic smoke, burnt heather and pencils in a library – we could have sniffed it endlessly. Water opened up the fruit – sherbet, orange zest, peach, strawberry, tinned grapes, sweet sap and light smoke – panellists grinning like Cheshire cats. The sweet, oaky palate had tablet, fudge and bread dough – by an open fire; but it also had a darker side – woody, earthy, drying, with sticky cassis and treacle. Water brightened it up – Starbursts, Skittles and spicy Advocaat. From the distillery always directed by John or George.

Drinking tip: It needs time – one for a long journey perhaps – or for an evening with no pressure

Colour: Polished gold                                 Date distilled: October 1985

Cask: Refill hogshead                                 Alcohol: 52.1%

Age: 27 years                                               USA allocation: 60 bottles

The Camping Trip 

Cask No. 3.188                                             $115

Islay

Remember the last time you were camping? The smell of the dew touched grass in the morning a distant memory as the sweat, deep heat and old tent pierce your nostrils. An oily smoked fish caught earlier in the day mixes with the aroma of roasting marshmallows and ash. The barbecued green peppers, mushrooms and lemon dressing on the palate make way for heat and lavender. When the water is added, the campfire smoke intensifies, the petrol used to light the fire maybe wasn’t such a good idea as it catches the nose, but that won’t retract from the comforting beach aromas and the budget chocolate bar you’ve been sitting on all day.

Drinking tip: On a camping trip

Colour: New Engine Oil                              Date distilled: September 1997

Cask: Refill butt                                            Alcohol: 58.8%

Age: 14 years                                               USA allocation: 120 bottles

 

Superb sweet and salty symbiosis 

Cask No. 27.100                                           $110

Campbeltown

The nose took us places – a harbour wall (fish boxes, lobster pots) – an old bike shed – a coal shed (coal-sacks, newspaper) – a smoke-house (fish again) – a sandy beach – a tennis locker – a Greek seaside taverna (salted pistachios, ouzo, lemons, fish again, well-done loaves from a wood-fired oven); quite a journey! The palate presented a superb sweet and salty symbiosis and a warm, mellow mouth impact – wonderful sweetness (sugared almonds and peanuts, liquorice allsorts, popcorn); yet muscular, with the nippy heat of aniseed, mustard and chilli. Even the fishiness was sweet (sweet-cured herrings, sweet smoky barbecued fish). From the quintessential Campbeltown distillery.

Drinking tip: While sailing around the Greek islands, of course! Or with food. Or with friends, singing ‘Campbeltown Loch, I wish you were whisky…’

Colour: Pale moon gold                             Date distilled: March 2000

Cask: Refill barrel                                        Alcohol: 52.4%

Age: 12 years                                               USA allocation: 90 bottles 

 

Flip-flops up a chimney 

Cask No. 33.120                                           $85

Islay

Quite a nose! We found delicate smoke wafting from snuffed candles, mint humbugs, char-grilled prawns, hessian sacks, sandy beaches, maple-cured bacon, sherbet, pencil boxes, vanilla pods and recently washed hospital floors. Water brought apples, plums and red grapes, liquorice, Murray Mints and flip-flops up a chimney. The unreduced palate was very nicely layered and constructed, with tar, tobacco, stir-fried seaweed, anise, liquorice, muscovado sugar and Bendicks dark chocolate mints. The reduced palate – a fabulous balancing act between sweet and smoky – gob-stoppers, smoke-flavoured Edinburgh Rock, aniseed balls, wood ash and hints of roasted meats. From LVMH’s heavenly little corner of Islay.

Drinking tip: After dinner – perhaps with a cigar

Colour: Pale sand gold                              Date distilled: September 2003

Cask: First-fill barrel                                     Alcohol: 58.5%

Age: 8 years                                                 USA allocation: 72 bottles 

The palate gets a Ping! 

Cask No. G1.9                                              $150

Grain

The nose was attractive and complex – sweet (butterscotch, flapjacks, golden syrup, corn candies, vanilla ice-cream) with good orange zestiness (marmalade on toast, dark chocolate orange) and leafy perfumes (geranium, eucalyptus, tea-tree). Our palate were pinged to attention by ‘wake up the senses’ ginger snaps and chilli heat – also golden syrup on toast, caramel, toffee, honey waffles, bourbon, root beer and tomato leaf. Water brought out toffee popcorn, honey-glazed chicken wings and clove-studded baked ham on the nose; the palate became more agreeable and easy, with vanilla and banana barbecued in brown sugar and cinnamon. The distillery’s neighbour is Hearts F. C.

Drinking tip: A summer afternoon or evening with a barbeque – could even take ice

Colour: Burnished oak                                Date distilled: December 1990

Cask: Refill hogshead                                 Alcohol: 62.8%

Age: 21 years                                               USA allocation: 60 bottles

 Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/