SMWS Christmas Outturn

[bifter]

The approach of Christmas always presages a bumper (and early) outturn at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and this year is no exception. There are 40 casks in this year's releases:

Cask No. 3.212 (Bowmore)
3.212 Anti-aphrodisiac
£76.00
Cask type: Refill ex-sherry butt
Age: 19 years

Cask No. 4.181 (Highland Park)
4.181 A muscle man from Orkney
£60.00
Cask type: Refill ex-sherry butt
Age: 16 years

Cask No. 5.36 (Auchentoshan)
5.36 Rubbing White Tiger Balm on your forehead
£48.10
Cask type: Second fill ex-sauternes hogshead
Age: 14 years

Cask No. 7.98 (Longmorn)
7.98 Fresh tingly fizz-bomb
£48.40
Cask type: First fill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 9 years

Cask No. 9.76 (Glen Grant)
9.76 Out of Africa
£92.40
Cask type: Refill ex-sherry butt
Age: 25 years

Cask No. 9.78 (Glen Grant)
9.78 White Chilli Chocolate
£45.00
Cask type: First fill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 11 years

Cask No. 17.36 (Scapa)
17.36 Exotic and Oriental
£49.50
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 11 years

Cask No. 21.28 (Glenglassaugh)
21.28 Relaxing in a tropical garden
£349.00
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Age: 37 years

Cask No. 26.95 (Clynelish)
26.95 Rose petals on a tropical breeze
£48.40
Cask type: First fill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 10 years

Cask No. 27.104 (Springbank)
27.104 Cowboy's delight
Cask type: Refill ex-sherry gorda
Age: 15 years

Cask No. 28.25 (Tullibardine)
28.25 Sweet nutty personality
£82.80
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Age: 23 years

Cask No. 33.130 (Ardbeg)
33.130 The Farmyard and the Chip Shop
£64.70
Cask type: Second fill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 11 years

Cask No. 35.98 (Glen Moray)
35.98 Lets paint the town red
£41.80
Cask type: First fill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 10 years

Cask No. 35.101 (Glen Moray)
35.101 Oh How Joyfully
£280.00
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Age: 39 years

Cask No. 36.65 (Benrinnes)
36.65 Apple flavoured tobacco in a Hookah
£49.20
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 15 years

Cask No. 37.55 (Cragganmore)
37.55 Surprising smoky and savoury
£46.10
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Age: 12 years

Cask No. 39.91 (Linkwood)
39.91 The epitome of finesse
£82.20
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Age: 22 years

Cask No. 44.59 (Craigellachie)
44.59 Lime marinated grilled chicken
£87.20
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Age: 23 years

Cask No. 48.40 (Balmenach)
48.40 Boozy Fruit and Fragrant Flirt
£42.80
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 11 years

Cask No. 50.53 (Bladnoch)
50.53 Monster mango and melon
£95.90
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 23 years

Cask No. 53.188 (Caol Ila)
53.188 Beach scene from Local Hero
£85.30
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Age: 21 years

Cask No. 53.192 (Caol Ila)
53.192 Mojitos cigar smoke and everlasting joy
£95.90
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Age: 23 years

Cask No. 66.46 (Ardmore)
66.46 Pretty Woman in a new Maserati
Cask type: Refill ex-sherry butt
Age: 11 years

Cask No. 71.40 (Glenburgie)
71.40 Sticky apricot tarts at an Indian Market
£82.80
Cask type: Refill ex-sherry butt
Age: 23 years

Cask No. 72.28 (Miltonduff)
72.28 What a wonderful world
£125.50
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Age: 30 years

Cask No. 73.60 (Aultmore)
73.60 Watching the Monaco Grand Prix from a roof terrace
£92.40
Cask type: Refill ex-sherry butt
Age: 24 years

Cask No. 76.111 (Mortlach)
76.111 Boisterous and exuberant
£48.40
Cask type: First fill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 9 years

Cask No. 77.33 (Glen Ord)
77.33 Orange Grove at spring time
£45.00
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 11 years

Cask No. 80.6 (Glen Spey)
80.6 Laura Ashley with attitude
£45.70
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 14 years

Cask No. 94.4 (Fettercairn)
94.4 Ode to Autumn
£92.40
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Age: 24 years

Cask No. 121.62 (Arran)
121.62 Steak and ale pie
£54.50
Cask type: First fill ex-sherry puncheon
Age: 16 years

Cask No. 125.68 (Glenmorangie)
125.68 A tale of two ladies
Cask type: First fill ex-bourbon hogshead
Age: 9 years

Cask No. 127.33 (Port Charlotte)
127.33 Mouth-numbing mountaineering dram
£54.00
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 11 years

Cask No. 129.3 (Kilchoman)
129.3 Unwind and set your watch to Islay Time
£75.00
Cask type: First fill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 4 years

Cask No. G4.5 (Cameronbridge)
G4.5 Sweet and Spicy
£83.10
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead
Age: 34 years

Cask No. R1.5 (Port Morant)
R1.5 Caressed by the cool Caribbean trade winds
£61.60
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 21 years

Cask No. R5.2 (Trinidad)
R5.2 To Life, Love and Loot
£47.10
Cask type: Refill ex-sherry butt
Age: 10 years

Glen Spey and Fettercairn are particularly rare bottles to see at the Society but there is plenty to intrigue, not least a Sauternes-cask (finished?) Auchentoshan. These whiskies are all listed on the SMWS Web site, though those without prices can only be purchased as part of an offer.
However the excitement doesn't quite stop there! The following Japanese whiskies are also available from the venues:

Cask No. 130.1 (Chichibu)
130.1 Dynamic and attractive
£123.40
Cask type: First fill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 4 years

Cask No. 131.1 (Hanyu)
131.1 The sinful side of sexy
£199.60
Cask type: First fill ex-bourbon barrel
Age: 22 years

132.1 (Fuji-Gotemba or Karuizawa - not enough clues to say for sure!)
132.1 Secret moonlit garden dram
£268.30
Cask type: Refill ex-sherry butt
Age: 28 years

Obviously these would stretch most people's budget, in fact they are stretching my credulity! £123.40 for a four year old whisky is in Octomore territory. Even when you factor in that these are Japanese, first SMWS casks and one is now closed, it is still a lot to ask. Perhaps best left to the collectors and those with deep pockets?
_________________
"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw]

[bifter]

Here's the link for those available on the Web site, it will be valid until January:

http://www.smws.co.uk/new-outturn?filter_numberperpage=-1
_________________
"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw]

[William]

I am sure there will be a few crackers amongst them

Let us know if you get the chance to taste any, and if any are particularly good.
_________________
There's no bad whisky. Just good whisky and better whisky.

[Cuba]

The line up and pricing does make it very tempting to sign up to join the SMWS, if i could take advantage of the venues i would join immediately

[albo]

I will be heading along with my father this afternoon. I'll let you know what I sample and how it stacks up

[albo]

Ok so I went to the SMWS this afternoon and tried the following.

Auchantoshan - pleasant but nothing more. Didn't really do it for me. I really thought this was going to be something but it wasn't not bad but just not particularly great either. A solid 7.5 out of 10.

Arran - I was worried with it being a sherry cash that it may be sulphured but not a bit of it. Most enjoyable to be honest. Just sadly lacking a touch of sweetness that one expects from a sherry finish.

Glen Spey - I had high hopes for this, I've had a single cask Glen Spey before and loved it. This on the nose and initial pallet was great a lovely thick buttery malt mouth coating and very
moreish. however the addition of water brought out a real hot note that could only be tamed by more water which Sadly washed it out. Such a pity as before water it was excellent.

Mortlach - this was wonderful so sweet and juicy. Nose and palate were full of fruit the addition of water just made things better. My big worry with this bottle is that I'd drink it in one sitting such is its easy drinking nature. Very very good.

Highland Park - its unusual for the society to have a sherry finished HP so again I had very high hopes. This was high on my possible purchase list before attending. Sadly however as with so many society sherry casks it was rank with sulphur. The nose gave just a hint but the palate was awful. Even with water things got no better. I didn't finish the dram. How anyone could bottle and try to sell this is beyond me. The society at its very worst I'm afraid. Not good not even passable. I'd not even take a free bottle of this. Horrid.

Springbank - another sherry finish and sadly another sulphur tainted cask. Not nice. Not as bad as the HP but it was there and it wasn't enjoyable.

Glen Grant - the younger one of the 2 called white chilli chocolate. This was stunning on nose and palate. Sweet fruity juicy great on the finish. Probably not a winter dram but a lovely long summer drink. I couldn't find fault in this at all. I've had a few society GGs and I've been very impressed with therm this carried on that trend it was great.

I'll blog more later. The list goes on.

[albo]

Part 2. Following on from the GG.

Clynelish - This took a wee while to open up actually the nose was quite closed at first but when warmed up a bit the nose was just great so much going on. A true Highland nose all Heather and wood. Very rustic and one id swear was older than it is. The taste was a little hot at first but again opened up with time and really started to blossom. Water made this better and with water it really gave off some great complexity again belying it's age.

Craigellachie - At 23 this was the oldest we tried and that really showed through. It was classy and dignified. The nose was excellent and the palate great to. I've had a couple of Craigellachie SMWS bottles and they show the same characteristics a real star.

Ardbeg - I've not yet had a good Ardbeg from the society and I've tried a few. That was before today. This righted the wrongs of the previous Ardbegs. A full in your face single cask Ardbeg full on full power and actually loads going on behind the scenes. For all its smoke and peat and being in your face, it has lots to think about and a finish that just won't quit. Everything you expect from Ardbeg and a little bit more.

Port Charlotte - this was full throttle in your face peat. No gimmicks no hidden depths like the Ardbeg just slaps you in the face with its peat stick and has a party in your mouth. Then when it's finished it's party it leaves you with the taste of a licked out ash tray. A true delight in every way.

Lastly the Kilchoman -At £75 for a 4yo it's not what I'd call well priced. And being so young I wasn't expecting much Other than overly spirited fire. In truth it was much better than I thought. A lot going on taste wise. Not as peaty as the above 2 not as refined as the Ardbeg but it's showing signs of a distillery that's progressing really well in the right direction. I have to say this is the best Kilchoman that I've tried. I've had a few of them too.

All in all it was a great afternoon. My father and I were there so I'm not that greedy to have had all of the above myself.

So many tried but so many I didn't get to try.

[albo]

Also, I left with 2 bottles. See the latest edition thread.

My father however, left with 5 bottles!

[sorren]

Wouldn't Mind getting the Auchentoshan, but alas I'm not a member... O well

[albo]

I went again this evening tried the Scapav which was excellent really really good. smooth and sweet a little hot on the finish bit truly excellent over all.

Also the young Glen Moray which was Ok. Nicer without water than with. A little bitter with water. Not unpleasant but not add good as the Scapa.

[albo]

[eelbrook]

130.1 Chicibu
131.1 Hanyu
132.1 Karuizawa

Confirmed. Also very dear.

[eelbrook]

130.1 Chicibu
131.1 Hanyu
132.1 Karuizawa

Confirmed. Also very dear.

[albo]

[bifter]

I tried the R1.5 (Port Morant) last week and it's phenomenal! Really smooth and sweet. The nose is almost like a (great) grain whisky. The R5.2 is over 80%! I was tempted but the tasting notes hinted at a little sulphur influence.
_________________
"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw]