SMWS 163.1 (Harris 6yo 2018/2024)

SMWS 163.1 (Harris 6yo 2018/2024)

2024, SMWS
Single malt - Islands
Golden yellow, hints of green
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peaches, white grapes, green tea, gooseberries, malted grains, sandalwood. With water, honey, white grapes, green tea, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, loosens, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Olive brine, green tea, white grapes, lemon zest, olive oil, leather, hints of diesel exhaust, hints of smoke. With water, white grapes, gooseberries, olive brine, hints of malted grains. 

Finish: Medium. White grapes, peaches, gooseberries, honey, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

Savoury, lots of underlying complexity including green tea and stone fruit. Water brings out some maltiness, but mainly more fruit and that savoury olive brine. Very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 94.14 (Fettercairn 32yo 1988/2021)

SMWS 94.14 (Fettercairn 32yo 1988/2021)

2021, SMWS
Single malt - East Highlands
Sunshine yellow
52.6% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, malted grains, sourdough bread, white grapes, nutmeg. With water, sourdough bread, candle wax, lemon zest, hoppy beer. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, volatile, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour. Lemon zest, sourdough bread, malted grains, hoppy beer, white grapes, hints of cinnamon. With water, malted grains, candle wax, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Hoppy beer, white grapes, malted grains, magic marker. 

Comments: 

Zesty and estery, lots of cereal notes too. Water opens it up, becomes more malty and waxy. There’s still plenty of lemon and white grapes though, very complex dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 49.4 (St Magdalene 12yo 1980/1992)

SMWS 49.4 (St Magdalene 12yo 1980/1992)

1992, SMWS
Single malt - Lowlands
White wine
62.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, magic marker, cucumbers, cinnamon, white grapes, fresh cut grass, hints of acetone. With water, magic marker, cucumbers, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, volatile, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour. Acetone, fresh baked bread, fresh cut grass, white grapes, lemon zest, vanilla, honeycomb, hints of nutmeg. With water, honeycomb, pears, candle wax, hints of dried apricots. 
Finish: Long. White pepper, white grapes, malted grains, vanilla, fresh cut grass. 

Comments: 

Delicate, but with surprisingly well defined flavour layers. Water brings out delicious floral, waxy notes, and reminds me of sitting in a meadow with bees, flowers and grass. Very lovely whisky indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

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. 

SMWS 157.2 (Warenghem 7yo 2016/2024)

SMWS 157.2 (Warenghem 7yo 2016/2024)

2024, SMWS
Single malt - Brittany
Amber
61.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toffee, fresh cut grass, hay, chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, hints of brown paper. With water, coffee, toffee, cinnamon, chillies. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, hot, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Chocolate, cinnamon, black tea, hay, raisins, leather, toffee, hints of damson jam. With water, coffee, chocolate, toffee, cinnamon. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, hay, brown paper, cinnamon. 

Comments: 

Very sweet and grassy, lots of cinnamon notes. These become more prominent with water, and combine with coffee and chocolate too. A very active cask, which obscures the best characteristics of the distillery though.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 19.43 (Glen Garioch 19yo 1988/2008)

SMWS 19.43 (Glen Garioch 1988/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - East Highlands 
Golden, hints of pink
53.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, cream, candle wax, hay, fresh cut grass, camphor, hints of turmeric. With water, raisins, blueberry jam, honey, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, warm, astringent. 

Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Blueberry jam, hay, fresh cut grass, camphor, mustard, gooseberries, hints of cocoa nibs. With water, mustard, applesauce, blueberry jam, cinnamon, honey. 
Finish: Short. Camphor, candle wax, hay, gooseberries, applesauce, hints of cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

Creamy and herbal, and water brings out a lot of fruit. It’s got a bitterness on the tongue that is almost mouth puckering. It’s layered and complex though, with clear delineation between flavours. Very good whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 53.241 (Caol Ila 6yo 2011/2017)

SMWS 53.241 (Caol Ila 6yo 2011/2017)

2017, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Very pale pink
60.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: New plastic, malt vinegar, autumn leaves, smoke, sea salt, vanilla, coconut cream. With water, lemon zest, lemon sweets, sultanas, hints of soy sauce. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, static, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Peat, malted grains, malt vinegar, leather, smoke, lemon zest, vanilla, coconut cream, hints of sultanas. With water, sultanas, autumn leaves, smoke, lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Smoke, diesel exhaust, lemon zest, peat, leather. 

Comments: 

Complex and chemical, lots of creamy sweetness abounds, with a citrusy bite. All this is wreathed in huge amounts of smoke and diesel exhaust. Very complicated whisky, unusual for such a young dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 35.247 (Glen Moray 11yo 2008/2019)

SMWS 35.247 (Glen Moray 11yo 2008/2019)

2019, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Amber bronze

65% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, almonds, walnut skins, cinnamon, cloves, apple juice, dates, toffee. With water, raisins, white pepper, aluminium foil. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Cream, raisins, walnut skins, cedar, toffee, white pepper, dates, cocoa nibs. With water, raisins, cream, brown paper, honey. 
Finish: Long. Cream, cocoa nibs, cloves, raisins, dates. 

Comments: 

Sherried Speyside, very classic, very high in ABV. Lots of bitter notes offset the sweet, and there’s a good sherried nuttiness that pervades the whole dram. Stands out among a crowded pack.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 58.53 (Strathisla 14yo 2008/2023)

SMWS 58.53 (Strathisla 14yo 2008/2023)

2023, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside
Dandelions
58.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, coffee, white pepper, malted grains, dark chocolate, brass polish, aluminium foil. With water, coffee, dark chocolate, aluminium foil, lemon zest, hints of autumn leaves. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Brass polish, dark chocolate, coffee, rhubarb and custard sweets, sea salt, lemon zest, apricot jam. With water, hoppy beer, malted grains, lemon zest, coffee, hints of aluminium foil. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, malted grains, dark chocolate, rhubarb and custard sweets. 

Comments: 

Not a distillery I know well, but this whisky is rather good. Lots of fragrant, feinty and slightly savoury notes on the nose, which turns malty, rich and chocolatey on the tongue.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS B4.4 (FEW 5yo 2016/2020)

SMWS B4.4 (FEW 5yo 2016/2022)

2022, SMWS
Single bourbon - Illinois
Amber red
64.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, pear drops, vanilla, white pepper, brown paper. With water, honey, cherries, white pepper, cinnamon. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, mouth coating, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Pear drops, cough syrup, cherries, fresh cut grass, brown paper, white pepper, honey, popcorn. With water, fresh cut grass, honey, cherries, popcorn. 
Finish: Long. Cherries, cough syrup, fresh cut grass, raisins. 

Comments: 

Intense and sweet, lots of cough syrup like notes. It turns herbal and nutty with a bit of water. Another distillery I’ve not managed to sample in a while. Must search out more. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 53.318 (Caol Ila 11yo 2008/2020)

SMWS 53.318 (Caol Ila 11yo 2008/2020)

2020, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Pale pink gold
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roast pork, soy sauce, driftwood smoke, cedar, peat, lemon juice, heather, hints of honey. With water, honey, germolene, driftwood smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, warm, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty bitter. Soy sauce, heather, malted grains, lemon juice, charcoal ash, driftwood smoke, peat, hints of fresh baked bread. With water, lemon juice, malted grains, driftwood smoke, peat. 
Finish: Medium. Charcoal ash, roast pork, lemon juice, driftwood smoke. 

Comments: 

Quite smoky, and sweet for a Caol Ila. There’s some lovely meaty notes too, together with floral heather. Quite tasty and complex, especially for a whisky just 11 years old.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 9.181 (Glen Grant 24yo 1996/2020)

SMWS 9.181 (Glen Grant 24yo 1996/2020)

2020, SMWS

Single malt - Speyside 
Bronze 
49.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, toffee, cocoa nibs, honey, milk chocolate, nutmeg, cloves, marshmallows. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, astringent, tingly, hot. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Cocoa nibs, milk chocolate, raisins, damson jam, black tea, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, fresh baked bread . 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, fresh baked bread, raisins, cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

Sweet and chocolatey, lots of beautiful sherried notes, well layered, distinct and balanced. Lovely and well-aged, it was a real pleasure to drink this.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS B3.10 (Rocktown 5yo 2015/2021)

SMWS B3.10 (Rocktown 5yo 2015/2021)

2021, SMWS
Single bourbon - Arkansas
Amber, hints of green
59.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Brown paper, raisins, toffee, cocoa nibs, vanilla, honey, hints of camphor. With water, raisins, dark chocolate, strawberries, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, hot, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Damson jam, strawberries, camphor, vanilla, honey, cocoa nibs. With ginseng, toffee, damson jam, hints of dark chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Ginseng, cocoa nibs, damson jam, brown paper. 

Comments: 

Sweet and raisiny bourbon. I could be drinking PX sherry if I closed my eyes. It’s got herb and spice undertones and builds to a lovely long spicy finish.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 39.175 (Linkwood 29yo 1989/2019)

SMWS 39.175 (Linkwood 29yo 1989/2019)

2019, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside 
Dark amber gold
49.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, raisins, white pepper, jasmine, pears, orange peel, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, cool, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Sourdough bread, sandalwood, pears, fresh baked bread, dark chocolate, gooseberries, hints of raisins. 
Finish: Long. Dark chocolate, gooseberries, raisins, hints of jasmine. 

Comments: 

Quite heavy, thick and unctuous. Lots of bread and chocolate, with a fragrant sandalwood note that lightens it a little and makes it interesting. Huge extended finish that goes on and on. Lovely old Linkwood.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 59.48 (Teaninich 30yo 1983/2013)

SMWS 59.48 (Teaninich 30yo 1983/2013)

2013, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands
Amber, hints of gold
51.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Wet stones, photocopy paper, pineapples, green tea, sandalwood, hints of pear drops. With water, magic marker, pineapples, photocopy paper. 

Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, oily, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Green tea, malted grains, yoghurt, white pepper, sandalwood, peaches, hints of wet stones. With water, smoke, leather, pineapples, green tea. 
Finish: Long. Wet stones, yoghurt, fresh baked bread, peaches, hints of green tea. 

Comments: 

Complex and minerally, this whisky still tastes bright and vibrant despite its age. Plenty of tannic, feinty notes dominate some mild fruit and spice. Very good indeed, excellent old highland whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 149.1 (Ardnamurchan 5yo 2015/2021)

SMWS 149.1 (Ardnamurchan 5yo 2015/2021)

2021, SMWS
Single malt - Western Highlands
Dark bronze gold
61.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, malted grains, candied orange peel, overripe peaches, sea salt, lemon sweets. With water, candied orange peel, nutmeg, citron, magic marker. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, hot, tingly, expands slightly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Lemon sweets, peat, leather, sourdough bread, overripe peaches, rope, hints of smoke. With water, peat, leather, sourdough bread, candied orange peel, citron. 
Finish: Long. Lemon sweets, peat, leather, brass polish, rope. 

Comments: 

Citrusy and complicated, yet laden with sweet fruit, this Ardnamurchan stands out. It’s toasty and a little smoky too, and slightly musty even - but in a good way.  A fitting inaugural bottle for the SMWS. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 78.43 (Ben Nevis 10yo 2010/2021)

SMWS 78.43 (Ben Nevis 10yo 2010/2021)

2021, SMWS
Single malt - Western Highlands 
Honey gold 
61.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pineapples, bananas, honey, sea salt, vanilla, red chillies, hibiscus, hints of green tea. With water, lemon sweets, honey, sea salt, vanilla. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slippery, loosens, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Honey, vanilla, hibiscus, barley sugar, bananas, hints of pineapples. With water, honey, lemon sweets, vanilla, barley sugar. 
Finish: Medium. Honey, bananas, hibiscus, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

A floral, slightly tannic Ben Nevis. Not as fruity as some, this whisky is quite delicate, but laden with sweet flowers. Some slight saltiness brings to mind lemon sweets, particularly with water.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 9.171 (Glen Grant 26yo 1992/2018)

SMWS 9.171 (Glen Grant 26yo 1992/2018)

2018, SMWS
Single malt - Speyside 
Golden
52.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, lemon zest, white grapes, rhubarb and custard sweets, honey, fresh baked bread. With water, honey, golden syrup, oat clusters, apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, thickens, syrupy. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Malted grains, white grapes, greengages, apricots, fresh cut grass, cinnamon, fresh baked bread, hints of cloves. With water, lemon zest, honey, apricots, malted grains. 
Finish: Medium. Pear drops, fresh baked bread, rhubarb and custard sweets, white grapes. 

Comments: 

Bright and fresh, lots of stone fruit and cereal. There some estery notes that come to the fore on the finish that stand out. Water opens it up, but drowns the complexity a little, it just intensified the cereal and stone fruit. Quite pleasant.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 50.88 (Bladnoch 25yo 1990/2015)

SMWS 50.88 (Bladnoch 25yo 1990/2015)

2015, SMWS 
Single malt - Lowlands
Amber gold 
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honeydew melons, lemon zest, white grapes, hay, hints of fresh cut grass. With water, honeydew melons, rambutans, white grapes, honey, hints of broccoli. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens slightly, hot, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Rambutans, yoghurt, lemon zest, hay, fresh cut grass, hints of broccoli, hints of honeydew melons. With water, sweeter, honey, lemon zest, rambutans, fresh cut grass. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, fresh cut grass, honeydew melons, hints of malted grains. 

Comments: 

Quite a vegetal Bladnoch, there’s a cabbagey green note that I’ve written down as broccoli, alongside some more familiar grassiness. Plenty of grain and tropical fruity too. Highly enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

SMWS 25.125 (Clynelish 25yo 1993/2018)

SMWS 25.125 (Clynelish 25yo 1993/2018)

2018, SMWS
Single malt - North Highlands 
Pale gold 
47.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cucumbers, custard apples, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, honey, candle wax, lemon sweets. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens slightly, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Candle wax, petrol exhaust, lemon sweets, nutmeg, rubber bands, honey, white grapes, hints of jasmine, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Medium. Lemon sweets, rubber bands, vanilla, honey, smoke. 

Comments: 

Rather decent Clynelish, this. It’s somewhat unusual, there’s a fair bit of smoke, as well as a savoury edge. It’s got the typical waxy lemon sweets though, as well as floral jasmine. Very nice.

Verdict:

I like this.