Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.72 2007 (9 year old) ‘BBQ Outside a sweetie factory’ 58.3%
Bourbon Barrel/ Dist: Apr 2007 Btl: Feb 2017/ Tasted: Oct 2017
The nose is oily and gritty with salt, cod liver oil and a touch of gritty peat. Water brings out some cereal and emphasises the oils, thus flattening it a little.
Intense and oily on the palate with sweet barley, malt, fish and salty notes. Very subtly violet peat. Water brings out the citrus (lemon) but makes it simpler. Long with plenty of sweet barley, violets and gritty oak.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.77 2008 (9 year old) ‘A classic rally’ 58.8%
First Fill Bourbon/ Dist: Feb 2008 Btl: 2017/ Tasted: Oct 2017
The nose is young and slightly feinty with sweet barley and a faint metallic note. Water makes it cleaner and brings out orange/ tangerine notes.
The palate is more evolved than the nose with subtly sweet barley, fish oils, violets and hints of gritty peat. Water makes it simpler and oilier. Neat the finish is masked and mouth-watering with an oily/ fishy after-taste. Water brings out some spice. In conclusion: Although better with water it could have done with longer in the cask.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.45 1999 (11 year old) ‘An unusual sweetie shop’ 57.6%
Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Dist: June 1999 Btl: 2012/ Tasted: July 2012
Intense, high toned and slightly soapy aromas of apricot, salt and what appears to be some light refill sherry spices. With time hints of earth and malt vinegar appear. Water brings out some pleasant orange and peat notes but emphasises the soapiness
The palate is dry and woody but pleasantly sweetly malted. Mainly refill sherry notes – liquorice, treacle and spice. Water softens the palate and the sweetness has become rather granulated sugar like. A bit simpler now though. Dry and quite tannic on the finish but pleasantly mouth-watering. Water lengthens and emphasises the salt and light peat.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.76 2005 (11 year old) ‘Beurre blanc and blue steak’ 61%
Re-charred ex-Bourbon Barrel/Dist: Mar 2005 Btl: 2016/ Oct 2017
The nose is light, herbal and gin-like with sweet toffee, brine and fish oils. Late Auchentoshan strawberry mousse note. Diluted it’s wonderfully juicy with orange/ Clementine notes.
The palate opens with Turkish delight, straw and alcohol! Hints of fish and brine. Water again makes it pleasantly juicy and citric. The finish is masked but subtly peppery. Water lengthens.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.22 1992 (14 year old) ‘A clean mechanic’ 61.1%
Sherry/ Dist: Mar 1992 Btl: Sept 2006/ Tasted: Sept 2007
A nose of leafy sherry cask, some sulphur followed by earth, orange fruit and hints of salt and seaweed. A drop of water reduces the sulphurous-ness but in doing so makes it a bit soapy.
The palate is rich and very fruity, coastal peat deftly intertwines with the cask. Unfortunately this is all marred by the sulphur. Water softens and brings out the wonderful bog myrtle peat and seaweed and gives it a break from the sulphur. Well it started off with promise and then ‘oh dear!’ Why was this bottled??
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.73 2001 (15 year old) ‘Seaside chillies with syrup’ 55.6%
Refill Bourbon Hogshead/ Dist: Feb 2001 Btl: 2016/ Tasted: Oct 2017
A deep and malty nose with smoked meat and hints of salt, violets and fish oils. Chunky background oak. Water flattens but brings out some orange.
Full and rounded on the palate with lightly creamy oak and hints of apricot, fish oils and slightly gritty tannins. Water brings out the citrus and emphasises the toffee’d oak. Long and very fishy with a slight herbal, spirit note. In conclusion: The palate is better with a drop of water.
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 93.78 1992 (26 year old) ‘Like a vintage dessert wine’ 53.3%
Second Fill Oloroso Butt/ Dist: Mar 1992 Btl: 2017/ Tasted: Oct 2017
The nose is thick, dark and treacly with cinnamon, pepper, walnut, prune juice, violets, fish and dusty, mature oak. Now that’s a seriously aged rancio!
Full and treacly on the palate with burnt wood, maple syrup, sweet, plumy dried fruit, violets and hints of classically gritty sherry. Again that’s fabulously mature! Long, juicy and treacly with a touch of citrus, salt and fish. Subtle burnt wood after-taste.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 