SMWS releases — October 2021

In short · Glenfarclas (Speyside), 9 years.

“Limited to 2 per member The nose, for one panellist, was a wardrobe full of perfumed ladies clothes but another recalled ‘haying time, sun-warmed hay and fruit pies…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glenfarclas (Speyside), 7 years.

“Limited to 1 per member A rich fusion of marmalade, mango and ripe dark fruits merged with nutmeg and demerara sugar in a juicy fruitcake with singed corners, while…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Bowmore (Islay), 17 years.

“The aroma burst form the glass with that familiar sweet, scented peat smoke.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Highland Park (Islands), 11 years.

“The aroma neat reminded us of a heather ale – floral, peaty, caramel, full of malt character and slightly herbal.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Auchentoshan (Lowland), 18 years.

“We noted at first a wonderful intense, yet delicate, citrus sweetness of lemon scones with clotted cream, followed by sliced pears and peaches and the aromatic scent of…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Longmorn (Speyside), 30 years.

“Limited to 1 bottle per member Looking at the colour we started with tasseography, a fortune-telling method also known as tea leaf reading.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Grant (Speyside), 13 years.

“The panel found a richly sweet and dense nose, full of bounty bars, jelly beans, bubble gum and fruit salad juices.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · BenRiach (Speyside), 11 years.

“Limited to 2 per member A big and hearty, savoury profile at first nosing.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Garioch (Highland), 18 years.

“Limited to 2 bottles per member The nose was complex with sweet aromas of toffee, honey and sticky pastries mixing with tropical fruits and roasted nuts dusted with…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Macallan (Speyside), 12 years.

“Limited to 1 per member This was dark, mysterious and outright scary – banana mummified in a sarcophagus wrapped in linen with the ritual of embalming papyrus with figs,…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Macallan (Speyside), 30 years.

“Any additional orders will be cancelled and refunded.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Clynelish (Highland), 10 years.

“Limited to 2 per member We were delighted by that familiar profile of waxy bubble gum, lemon barley water and sandalwood that so often accompanies these casks from this…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Cragganmore (Speyside), 17 years.

“Limited to 1 per member This sample boasted scents that excited us all; warm and welcoming, sweet and dark, cloves, cinnamon, roasted highly aromatic aromas with fruity…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Linkwood (Speyside), 10 years.

“Limited to 2 per member A lovely delicate distant smoke as we imagined watching Audrey Hepburn as Holly in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ using an oversized cigarette holder.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Dailuaine (Speyside), 14 years.

“Limited to 2 per member Imagine a full tabanco (a tavern in Jerez with a sherry soul), authentic flamenco music and tapas as someone glues posters on the wall…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Balmenach (Speyside), 9 years.

“Limited to 2 per member The aroma reminded us of white chocolate toasted oats, strawberry granola, bourbon vanilla bean shortbread cookies, rich tea finger biscuits and…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Caol Ila (Islay), 9 years.

“Limited to 1 per member “Big and dirty” like heavily burnt sage sausages smothered in a smoky barbeque sauce, while on the palate a dynamite shrimp that Japanese…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Royal Brackla (Highland), 14 years.

“Limited to 1 per member We opened a bag of raisins, dipped figs in malt vinegar and made soft nougat with dark chocolate, hazelnut and almonds topped with chocolate…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Strathisla (Speyside), 9 years.

In short · Teaninich (Highland), 12 years.

“Limited to 2 per member A wonderfully elegant and understated nose greeted the panel.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glentauchers (Speyside), 9 years.

“Limited to 2 per member A robust and unctuous aroma greeted us.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Ardmore (Highland), 12 years.

“Limited to 1 per member The panel went crazy describing the nose – ‘wood fire, ash and embers’, ‘shucking oysters wearing waterproof waders’, ‘putting up telephone poles…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Blair Athol (Highland), 10 years.

“Limited to 2 per member We opened a Gran Reserva Rioja wine bottle using a classic waiter’s corkscrew with the typical aromas of vanilla, hazelnut, black pepper, dried…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Aultmore (Speyside), 10 years.

“Limited to 2 per member We were delivered a bouquet of sweet aromas: vanilla custard, coconut milk, Jaffa cakes, key lime pie and a bag full of fruity wine gums.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Mortlach (Speyside), 32 years.

“Limited to 1 bottle per member Imagine a grilled tuna steak marinated in soy sauce, orange juice, olive oil and garlic followed by roasted figs with honey and Marsala…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Ben Nevis (Highland), 8 years.

“Limited to 2 per member A broad and generous aroma that included cream soda, baking parchment, barley sugars, soft waxes, pulpy yellow fruits, under-ripe melon, dried…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Speyburn (Speyside), 12 years.

“Limited to 2 per member The panel were a little taken aback by just how perfectly mature and luscious this one was.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Glen Scotia (Campbeltown), 9 years.

“Limited to 1 per member An unusually pure expression of these now notoriously funky stocks we thought.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Allt-a-Bhainne (Speyside), 14 years.

“Limited to 2 per member We had an evocative image of lifting the cedar wooden lid of a small beehive in the middle of a meadow and peering at a glistening mass of bees…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Loch Lomond (Inchmurrin / Inchmoan) (Highland), 19 years.

“Limited to 1 per member The Panel agreed: a sublime nose.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Loch Lomond (Inchmurrin / Inchmoan) (Highland), 10 years.

“The nose had hay, hessian, hazels and a malty lick of Horlicks; buttered toast, sun-warmed staves and teasing suggestions of coffee matchmakers and rose Turkish delight.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Braeval (Braes of Glenlivet) (Speyside), 11 years.

“Limited to 2 per member A fascinating variety of aromas neat greeted the panel; ginger and walnut carrot cake, nougat, key lime pie, raspberry millefeuilles, but then…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Loch Lomond (Croftengea) (Highland), 9 years.

“Limited to 2 per member A fun-filled set of aromas of sweets and confectionary such as fizzy watermelon, white mice, love hearts, chocolate limes and peppermint creams.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Loch Lomond (Highland), 18 years.

“Limited to 2 bottles per member Imagine standing on the Blue Mountain peak in the “Land of Springs” and you could see the bonnie bonnie banks of … or how about Bob…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS

In short · Strathclyde (Lowland), 15 years.

“Limited to 1 per member Nosing neat 3 C’s came to mind; Caribbean, Calypso and coconut – desiccated, toasted, ice cream and suntan lotion.…”Extract · full tasting notes at SMWS