Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America March Outturn Offerings – Scotch Whisky News
March Outturn Offerings
Cask No. 95.15 $185
A Graceful Tight Rope Walker
Speyside, Spey
The initial nose had a whiff of varnish and pine reminiscent of the Big Top. A delightful balancing act ensued between grapefruit and marmalade, and the sweetness of Danish pastry and sultana cake with star anise. The tastes teetered with orange chocolate liqueur, Turkish delight and blackcurrant cordial delivering a spicy, lingering aftertaste. With a drop of water, it relaxed with mellow sticky toffee pudding with caramel icing poised between cooler notes of fennel and menthol. The finale flourished with chocolate chews, orange and damson syrup with black tea. Stage exit with balsa wood and hessian.
Drinking tip: For mulling and musing over
Colour: Copper belt buckles
Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 23 years
Date Distilled: June 1990
Alcohol: 57.4%
USA allocation: 150 bottles
Cask No. 2.90 $105
Flower meadows and patisseries
Speyside, Spey
The nose told us that scythes had just been through the flower meadow and that children had just been through the patisserie (vanilla slice, fruit scones, strawberry jam, caramel, butterscotch and fudge). The palate balanced delightful sweetness (toffee, crème caramel, Danish pastry with vanilla icing, jam) with tart gooseberry, lemon, lime and cranberry – an unusual leather, liquorice and pine after-taste tingled the tongue. The reduced nose found blackcurrant, heather honey and digestive biscuits; the palate was now green, grassy and self assured, with custard cream sweetness and mouth-coating fruits dusted in fine ash. The distillery is uphill from the Packhorse Bridge.
Drinking tip: An anytime dram – but especially in the garden, with no thought of working.
Colour: Angel’s curls in the moonlight
Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 10 years
Date distilled: November 2003
Alcohol: 60.2%
USA allocation: 60 bottles
Cask No. 5.42 $130
Bathed in a bakers shop
Lowland
One panel member came over all broody, reminded of bubble bathed babies wrapped in fresh towels. Others found it very juicy, bouncing with green grape, apple chews and lemonade lollies. Ginger gave a lively spritziness to taste, baby was then soothed by vanilla Angels Delight, and peanut butter on bagels. The addition of water opened spearmint, elderflower soap and brioche on waxed paper. Mother hen found her baby swaddled in a newly laundered crochet blanket, while the rest found sweetly iced christening cake decorated with white lilies, lychee and pea shoots. A bonny, blooming bairn!
Drinking tip: A christening perhaps?
Colour: Cava spritzer
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 13 years
Date distilled: October 2000
Alcohol: 59.5%
USA allocation: 90 bottles
Cask No. 7.109 $105
Take the MilkyWay
Speyside, Lossie
On first sniff, bananas, peaches in syrup, orange blossom and orange barley sugars. Vanilla and juicy oak begged us to take a sip, but not just yet. Cloudy lemonade fizz, spicy wedding cake mix and creamy nougat sweetness tempted further. “Wow!” went the taste. Top quality American oak gave flavours of lemon and sugar pancakes, Edinburgh rock, blueberry muffins, cherry bakewells and hot buttered malt loaf. Water stirred aromas of white chocolate and raspberries. Intense vanilla, frangipane and Juicy Fruit gum raised eyebrows while someone was reminded of holidays in Portugal with Pastéis de Nata (custard tarts). Cooling Softmints, Turkish delight, MilkyWays and toasted coconut to finish.
Drinking tip: Add water and enjoy with pastries
Colour: Brass door knob
Cask: First-fill barrel
Age: 10 years
Date distilled: September 2003
Alcohol: 59.7%
USA allocation: 141 bottles
Cask No. 73.67 $180
Orchard meadow picnic dram
Speyside, Deveron
The main nose character carried butter, cake and vanilla (Victoria sponge, custard, buttered fruit scones); panellists also identified flower meadows, various fruits (banana, mango, citrus), pine-wood, furniture polish and considerable spice (aniseed, clove, chilli). The palate was citric and fruity (sherbet lemon, apple strudel, Haribo sours, blackcurrant jam), with Dr. Pepper, cinnamon, ginger and humbug spice. The reduced nose became even more attractive – apple orchards – sunny days – picnic of lemonade, stroop waffles and Terry’s chocolate orange. The palate developed lively flavours of bitter lemon, rhubarb and custard sweets, gummi bears, grapefruit and butterscotch. The distillery lies two miles from Keith.
Drinking tip: An aperitif, especially in the summer time
Colour: Warm, buttery gold
Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 22 years
Date distilled: March 1992
Alcohol: 50.1%
USA allocation: 140 bottles
