SMWS G16 Rare Release (Glasgow 6yo 2016/2023)

SMWS G16 Rare Release (Glasgow 6yo 2016/2023)

2023, SMWS
Single grain - Lowlands
Amber gold 
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Shortcrust pastry, aluminium foil, butter, fresh baked bread, sea salt, plums, white grapes, hints of roast chicken. With water, fresh baked bread, damson jam, roast chicken. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Fresh baked bread, shortcrust pastry, damson jam, prunes, butter, raisins, hints of ginseng. With water, fresh baked bread, damson jam, prunes, hints of fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Medium. Raisins, sea salt, fresh baked bread, black pepper, damson jam. 

Comments: 

Unusual grain whisky from Glasgow distillery. It’s buttery and redolent with dried plums and damsons. Complex for its young age, and bottled at a decent strength. Pleasing and pleasurable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Hom Mali Rice Whiskey

Hom Mali Rice Whiskey

Official bottling
Single grain - North Singapore
Amber
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, white grapes, honey, sea salt, brioche, hints of butter. 
Mouthfeel: Cool, static, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Rice husks, toffee, honey, blueberry jam, butterscotch, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Short. Rice husks, butterscotch, blueberry jam, sea salt, honey. 

Comments: 

A milder version of the cask strength, with some additional bready notes. It’s got the fruitiness and the gentle peppery spice, but a lot of the muscular spirity power has dissipated. I think around 45% would be a good strength. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Hom Mali Rice Whiskey (Cask Strength)

Hom Mali Rice Whiskey (Cask Strength)

Official bottling
Single grain - North Singapore
Amber
68% ABV
Dram

Nose: Caramel, blueberries, cooked rice, sea salt, wet stones, magic marker, pears. With water, caramel, pear drops, watermelons, honey. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, loosens, warm, astringent. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Rice husks, wheat germ, cooked rice, sea salt, magic marker, pears, white grapes, hints of toffee. With water, rice husks, cooked rice, pear drops, honey. 
Finish: Medium. Magic marker, toffee, honey, rice husks. 

Comments: 

Rice whisky is still new to me, and this is a Singaporean version. It tastes of rice, unsurprisingly, but the wood aging has imparted notes of fruit and toffee. Very interesting.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.