09-may-22
Scotch Club whisky tasting #10. This meeting was long-delayed but what a reward for waiting! Three independent bottlings, 2 of which came from the Single Malt Whisky Society in London. All agreed that this evening might be impossible to top due to the very limited nature of the bottles. Ah, enjoy them while you got them.
The first bottle on the left is an Old Malt Cask bottling of a Highland Park 11. It's a bit weak overall for an HP, but it has a lingering industrial aftertaste that keeps it interesting. In the middle was a SMWS bottling from the Loch Lomond distillery - slightly raw with a hint of lemon cleaner:
Tarmac and lemon
Cask No. 122.17
£50
An interesting industrial nose was immediately identified by the Panel. Tarmac, asphalt, coal, and liniment oil were found on the unreduced nose. The longer we left it in the glass the more approachable it became with mint, butter and a twist of lime zest. With water the nose had more smoke, Tungsten oil, bacon andlemongrass. The palate was initially hot (chilli perhaps?) and sweet. With water we found zesty lemon, oak, and artificial sweetener. A long coal tar smoky finish prompted one Panellist to say, "I'd like to sit with this after laying a few tonnes of road tar!" This is a peaty spirit fromthe distillery on the "bonnie bonnie banks".
Drinking tip: An enjoyable dram after a hard day's labour
Colour: Light gold
Date Distilled: September 1992
Cask: Refill barrel
Alcohol: 58.2%
Age: 16 years
Outturn: 191 bottles
Finally, the second SMWS bottling was from Springbank - very salty and it certainly packed a punch:
Sea pinks, samphire and oomph
Cask No. 27.69
£62
Founded in 1828, this distillery is the great Campbeltown survivor. It also has its own maltings and bottling plant. This interesting sample brings to the nose light smoke, caramel, grappa and perfumed shrubberies. Slightly burnt sausages, oily fish and some sweetness with dry ash also appear in the mouth at natural strength. The reduced nose suggests sea pinks, rock samphire and honey notes but still with lots of masculine oomph. The reduced palate is fresh and clean, like salt sea breezes with some sweet tar added in.
Drinking tip: Definitely a dram for the outdoors
Colour: Green gold
Date distilled: December 1989
Cask: Refill hogshead
Alcohol: 52.8%
Age: 18 years