Late June Outturn Offerings

 

Cask No. 76.119                             $155

‘On Christmas day in the morning!’

Speyside, Spey

The panel were whisked away to the excitement of Christmas morning as a child. Aromatic spiced orange mingled with eggnog, sugar puffs and milky hot chocolate sprinkled with nutmeg. Still in their pyjamas, the panel dipped into their stockings to find cranberry, pomegranate and red currants with Hubba Bubba gum. Water opened glugg infused with orange and mint, cola bottles. Fragrant lavender, saffron and lemon thyme wafted from the glass. Fresh wood from a homemade dolls house gave a grippy quality to the reduced taste which tingled with ras el hanout spiciness. Lingering flavours of pomander completed the festivities.

Drinking tip: Well now…Christmas day!

Colour: Dirty copper

Cask: Refill butt

Age: 18 years

Date distilled: July 1995

Alcohol: 56.7%

USA allocation: 180 bottles

Flavour profile: Deep, rich & dried fruits 

 

Cask No. 7.103                       $220    

After church

Speyside, Lossie

A venerable library – polished wood, candles, hessian tapestry – with a fruity complex behind (over-ripe pears, bananas and pineapple). Then an empty fireplace (cleaned out for the summer) or dusty store, with dried marjoram. The waxy notes increase with water (church candles, on brass candlesticks), then tablet, vanilla fudge, linseed oil and vegetable oil, ‘spice drawer’ and dried orange pomander. The taste, straight, is sweet overall, with traces of scorched newspaper in the finish, and a hint of cinnamon toast mid-palate. Warming, with nutmeg and sandalwood in the aftertaste. With water the taste is more waxy; rich and sweet, with dried orange peel.

Drinking tip: With a good film on Sunday afternoon

Colour: Polished mahogany

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 29 years

Date distilled: October 1984

Alcohol: 51.6%

USA allocation: 54 bottles

Flavour profile: Sweet, fruity & mellow 

 

Cask No. 9.100                       $125        

Coffee and cigarettes

Speyside, Spey

We were enticed in with flapjacks and macaroons, coffee with cream and deep vanilla notes. It was a Parisian cafe serving creamy panna cotta and rich espresso martini. There was sandalwood oil and hints of coconut and sweet tobacco. The palate had butterscotch, burnt coffee and an ashy feel, then Murray Mints and a woody finish. The diluted nose had toasted crumpets and offered menthol cigarettes with an Americano and dark chocolate. There was a Café Crème tin on a pinewood table and some light floral notes. Our taste buds tingled with paprika, ginger and liquorice root, then cigarillos with strong coffee and a cinnamon aftertaste.

Drinking tip: While watching the film or having your own discussion

Colour: Olive oil

Cask: First-fill barrel

Age: 12 years

Date distilled: August 2002

Alcohol: 59.9%

USA allocation: 90 bottles

Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet

Cask No. 4.191                               $180

A Romp in the Heather

Highland, Island

A first impression of peach and rose Turkish delight. And then a delicious romp of carrot cake, golden syrup and buttered crumpet. Warm cedar wood polished with linseed oil. Distant burning heather moors. The mouthfeel is chunky and meaty with soy and black pepper. Hessian bags full of ash. Salted caramel, butterscotch and dark chocolate. Water released mint and crispy seaweed. Waxed jackets and new Wellington boots. The finale is ash smoked sausage and menthol cigarettes. The panel agreed that it was like been grabbed up and rolled around in lavender, damp moss and heather. What a delight!

Drinking tip: Choose your partner carefully for this one

Colour: Buttercup

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 22 years

Date distilled: May 1991

Alcohol: 54.2%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Flavour profile: Lightly peated 

 

Cask No. 53.210                     $190

Fantastic stuff

Islay

This nose had  a little bit of everything one might expect – peat smoke, tea chests, tobacco, pine resin, sea breezes, bandages, puff candy, peanut brittle and smoked salmon, to name just a few. The palate was a delight – a good whack of smoke and toffee apple sweetness – but nicely complicated by aniseed, liquorice, Brazil nuts, sesame oil, soy sauce, five-spice powder, salt and vinegar crisps and smouldering sawdust. The reduced nose was softer and sweeter, with caramel, treacle, old tawny port and pork crackling, while the palate found some mint and ash in the finish. Fantastic stuff from Islay’s biggest distillery.

Drinking tip: Could accompany a stir-fry or aromatic duck – or an evening bonfire as the stars appear.

Colour: Toasted barley gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 24 years

Date distilled: December 1989

Alcohol: 53.3%

USA allocation: 60 bottles

Flavour profile: Peated

The Outturn can be viewed online here: SMWSA Late June Outturn

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