Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Canada October Outturn – Scotch Whisky News
October Outturn brings a colourful collection of vibrant and lively drams that dance across the tongue. Taste and explore 7 new single casks that strike dramatically at the senses. Beautifully balanced but powerful, expect zingy zest, lip-smacking sweetness and spice, and intense, super smoke.
CASK No. 55.24 CHERRY PIE MOONSHINE
20 years old; 2nd fill hogshead; 52.7%; Spicy & sweet
Evocative aromas of late summer cornfields in the Midwest as Tom Sawyer begins to whitewash a fence. The taste neat was that of corn on the cob or homemade blackcurrant jam. Water added root beer and ‘cherry pie moonshine’.
XO years old; french oak barrel; 48.4%; Spicy & sweet
Magical intensity on the nose; wood smouldering through a magnifying glass, burning incense as well as curled-up treacle scones. The taste was creamy, sweet with a teasing spiciness. Add a drop of water; you might just get ‘un petit coin de paradis’. The Society’s very first Cognac!
25 years old; refill butt; 55.3%; Spicy & dry
Dry and unusually smoky: Brazil nuts, over-steeped jasmine tea, mushrooms, high strength cocoa powder, treacle toffee. Some liquorice, salted caramel, figs, dark chocolate, coffee and burnt toast (with jam) on the palate. Very different from the familiar light-weight proprietary bottlings.
CASK No. 128.6 RUMBLING, REVERBERATING RESONANCES
7 years old; 1st fill Madeira hogshead; 59.9%; Spicy & sweet
Black Forest cherry cake, cinder toffee, dried dates, tobacco and furniture restoration workshops. Then, old books in libraries, cherry brandy, Christmas pudding and after-dinner chocolate mints. Perfectly delicious and mightily intriguing, this whisky emerged from the cask with a natural haze.
19 years old; refill hogshead; 53.9%; Oily & coastal
Aromas of smoked mackerel salad, sweet cured marinated herring and potato salad with sour cream, whilst on the palate Swedish meatballs, dry-cured smoked ham and summertime sweet pickles. Diluted, a vegetarian kebab skewer and in the finish slightly burnt marshmallows.
CASK No. 66.82 GRITTY TURNED PRETTY
17 years old; refill gorda; 57.5%; Deep, rich and dried fruits
A heavily Sherry-fed fruit cake and a roast leg of lamb, before we tasted God’s wrath in the form of smoke, embers and brimstone. Even with a liberal amount of water it’s still massive. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
CASK No. 10.90 MUCKLE, MASSIVE INTENSITY OF SMOKE
9 years old; refill hogshead; 64.1%; Heavily peated
The nose hurls a wave of peat-smoke and smouldering sawdust – surfing that wave are grilled prawns and a wet dog smoking a cigar. The breath-taking palate has tar, smoke and ash, barbecued scallops, pork crackling, liquorice, toffee and school cagoules.
