Early August Outturn Offerings
Peeling tangerines in hospital
Cask No. 3.182
Islay, Loch Indaal
We found quite a bit of fruit on the nose – tinned pears, passion fruit and ‘someone peeling tangerines in a recently painted hospital’ – in addition we enjoyed lavender, orange blossom, patchouli, burnt paper, smoky bacon and well-kept stables – quite complex all in all. The palate had Elastoplasts and gauze bandages, star anise, walnut fudge, honeysuckle, nutty tobacco and baklava. Water brought freesias and parma violets, creosote and peat fires to the nose, while the palate became sweeter, developing slightly burnt treacle tart, sugar cane and dark chocolate coated marzipan with some coconut to finish. The distillery was built in 1779.
Drinking tip: A good barbeque or camp fire dram
Colour: Brass door knob
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 21 years
Date distilled: August 1990
Alcohol: 46.4%
$145
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Attractive as apple pie
Cask No. 7.69
Highlands, Speyside (Lossie)
The enticing nose – ‘attractive as apple pie’ – offered maple syrup, toffee, vanilla, Danish pastries (with cinnamon and almonds) and hints of tobacco and hay. Even with water, it remained beautifully warm and inviting – ice-cream, toffee apples, fudge and jasmine perfume. The palate was hot but smooth – flavours of honey, apple, and butterscotch, spiked up by the zing of Fentimans Victorian lemonade with ginger; some tobacco and leather tannic dryness lengthened the finish. Water seemed to allow the toffee and syrup sweetness to come through, while retaining the chilli, peppercorn heat. The distillery has links to one Saint and many sinners.
Drinking tip: Would suit early evening – but is very versatile
Colour: Bright yellow gold
Cask: First-fill barrel
Age: 8 years
Date distilled: May 2003
Alcohol: 61.6%
$85
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Sweet, but with grown up flavours
Cask No. 24.122
Highlands, Speyside
The satisfyingly fragrant nose offered dried pear, green apple, fruits in syrup, scented soap, light Pernod, vanilla, caramel and dark chocolate gingers; also hints of smoke (from burning paper). The palate conveyed ample sweetness (amaretti biscuits, honey, bourbon creams) but also some quite ‘grown up’ flavours – cinnamon, clove, star anise, chilli, salt, menthol and gunpowder. The nose was much lighter with water – jasmine, daffodil and floral soap, alongside poached pear, creamy dragon fruit, plantains and tree bark. The reduced palate was sweetly fruity, with pleasant lingering Christmassy spices, carrot cake and Rooibos tea. The distillery lies between Aberlour and Craigellachie.
Drinking tip: A perfectly reasonable alternative to afternoon tea
Colour: Yellow gold
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 16 years
Date distilled: September 1995
Alcohol: 53.0%
$120
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Long, hot sweet delights
Cask No. 30.68
Highlands, Speyside (Rothes)
Salty, dry and earthy – this really didn’t hide its cask influence; we were getting treacle toffee, chestnuts, polished leather, mushrooms, smoked almonds, raisins, sandalwood bark, ink, dark Indonesian soy sauce, and matchboxes. The taste revealed savoury meaty notes of Szechuan peppered steak, wild mushrooms and tuna steaks but also the sweet delight of peaches in Sauternes. Water released Pedro Ximenez soaked prunes, more matchboxes, hot sandpaper, root veg (beetroot), electric storms (!), sticky dates and raspberry syrup. Long, hot, tannic to taste with dark chocolate, pine trees and raisins. From the distillery that is vintage bottled by its London owners.
Drinking tip: Too big to take lightly
Colour: Ripe apricots
Cask: Refill gorda
Age: 10 years
Date distilled: March 2001
Alcohol: 60.6%
$95
Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at www.smwsa.com for further information on their single cask bottlings.
