Early February 2016 Outturn Offerings 

Cask No. 121.77                                      $160

Dunnage warehouse orange boxes

Highland, Island

The nose had elements of oiled wood, linoleum, balsa wood and orange boxes, plus various sweet treats (brown sugar, toffee, sweet fig, chocolate and crunchy-nut cornflakes). The unreduced palate had spicy samosa heat to liven up the mouth; flavours included nutty (toasted pistachio, almond croissant) and sweet (bonbons, marshmallows, dark chocolate orange, sweet pastry). With water, the nose found syrup sponge and sugared almonds, with some new complications joining in to draw out a broader character – dunnage warehouses, burnt sticks, tobacco and ham. The palate was now a sweet and juicy pear flan with burnt edges – pleasant and nicely balanced.

Drinking tip: Sunday afternoon – listening to your favourite music.

Colour: Marmalade sky

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 19 years

Date distilled: November 1995

Alcohol: 53.4%

USA allocation: 114 bottles

Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet 

*President’s Choice*  

 

Cask No. 28.26                              $105

Pile-driver punch whisky

Highland, Southern

The nose hinted at paint and glue – water shifted this to fresh linen and warm photocopies; we didn’t find that in the taste. The rest of the nose had herbal, grassy notes (hay, thyme, cucumber) and fruity sweetness (brandy snaps, orange zest, peach stones, golden syrup, chilli marmalade). The palate had a pile-driver punch of spirity heat (even with water) but after a couple of sips we learned to take it on the chin – nice grassy, cereal notes, including popcorn, riverbank reeds and mint, then more of that fruity sweetness (mandarin, rhubarb and pineapple, with spun sugar, vanilla and pink Chewits).

Drinking tip: A good one to sip while watching action movies.

Colour: Golden sheen

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 10 years

Date distilled: March 2005

Alcohol: 61.4%

USA allocation: 78 bottles

Flavour profile: Young & spritely 

 

Cask No. 100.12                                      $105

Trip to a shopping mall

Speyside, Deveron

On the nose, lemon, elderflower and tinned fruit salad gradually gave way to deeper notes of cashews, raisins, cinnamon, ginger and Buttercup cough mix. The neat palate had light spice and lots of sweetness (marshmallows, cherry lips, cola cubes, foamy bananas, Nutella and sticky toffee pudding). The reduced nose offered banana liqueur, red laces and rum and raisin ice-cream; some panellists were transported to a shopping mall (noodle bar, hairdresser and confectioner nearby). Oaky spice and vanilla began to show through on the reduced palate, along with butterscotch, banana chips, popcorn and toasted marshmallows – and a hint of Murray mints.

Drinking tip: To take on a city break, perhaps.

Colour: Buttercup gold

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 10 years

Date distilled: February 2005

Alcohol: 58.7%

USA allocation: 108 bottles

Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla

 

Cask No. 33.133                                      $110 

Whipped with Happiness

Islay

This was a full Scottish Breakfast served in a leather armchair in front of a peat fire with aromas of fried eggs and bacon, grilled tomato, tatties, bangers, baked beans, sautéed mushrooms and black pudding. Wait until you try it. A sweet, smoky and savoury sensation! It has it all, everything you ever wanted in the right amount and in the right balance – ‘just throw away the cork’. If you want to add water; we were handed a vihta – a bunch of fresh birch branches to get whipped with in a Finnish sauna and the taste was bittersweet chocolate, mouth-watering and to die for.

Drinking tip: Makes every moment special

Colour: Polished cherry wood

Cask: Second-fill butt

Age: 8 years

Date distilled: May 2007

Alcohol: 60.5%

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Flavour profile: Peated

Visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at www.smwsa.com