SMWS Whisky Team
CASK CUSTODIANS
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Whisky Team is the beating heart of our club, planning years ahead to make sure our members will always be able to enjoy an exceptional variety of outstanding whiskies. Duncan Gorman pulls back the curtain to find out more about how the team operates.
Cask No. 46.67
FRESHNESS AND LIGHT
€60.00
PROFILE Sweet, Fruity & Mellow REGION Speyside AGE 9 years ABV 59.5% CASK TYPE 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel
The Panel noted aromas of shortbread, lemon syrup, cactus and mint leaf at first nosing. This was followed by fudge, poached pears, a freshly mowed lawn and brown bread with white pepper and olive oil.
Reduction brought out dried herbs, soda bread, trampled bracken and boxed raisins. Also an effervescent elderflower champagne aspect. On the palate we found vanilla custard with a silky and viscous Turkish delight note. Joined by lemon bonbons, green fruit jellies and lime curd. A little water added earthy notes of turmeric, wild flowers, tiger balm and white stone fruits.
Cask No. 35.382
A HUMBLE MOUNTAIN FEAST
€180.00
PROFILE Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits REGION Speyside AGE 20 years ABV 57.9% CASK TYPE 1st fill ex-PX butt
The nose transported us to a Norwegian cabin where a feast awaited post-sauna, with chicken chow mein, olives, brown cheese and spiced rum served on an oak table. With the palate, we found ourselves in Japan sipping umeshu while gazing at Mount Fuji. There were bitter oranges, tiramisu, marinated scallops and sweet chilli prawns.
With water the nose produced mocha, salted caramel, sweet baked beetroot, and bramble jam-coated popcorn. The palate brought more of those, plus milk chocolate and trail mix in a saddlebag. This whisky spent 14 years in an ex-oloroso butt before being transferred to a first fill PX butt.
Cask No. Batch 23
SHIMMERING SILK
€100.00
PROFILE Irish Whiskey REGION Northern Ireland AGE 11 years ABV 50% CASK TYPE Matured in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and first fill PX hogsheads
This stunning single malt was created specially for members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society by our friends at Dunville's Irish Whiskey. Needless to say, our Tasting Panel were bowled over by the quality & complexity on display. Pour a glass and lose yourself in silky opulence. We dipped candied oranges into a chocolate sauce at the same time as baking French blueberry fig tarts and preparing a plum and pear compote with honey. A silly, silky-smooth texture on the palate reminded one Panellist of a honey lavender earl grey latte, while another had a tropical smoothie blending mango, pineapple, banana and coconut milk.
Following reduction, we discovered crème Catalan flavoured with citrus peel and cinnamon as well as barbecued mango with macadamia nuts and honey. The taste left us all speechless, truly a knockout! – chocolate ganache, stirred until smooth, silky and shiny, topping cream-filled chocolate cupcakes.
SMWS & SHERRY
WHAT IS SHERRY?
There’s a lot to learn when you start your whisky journey. But sometimes you have to broaden your horizons and dive into a whole new world to understand a little more about what’s going on in your dram. If you enjoy a sherry cask-matured whisky, here’s what you need to know about the Spanish wine and how it’s much more than a sweet, creamy drink beloved by elderly relatives at Christmas time.