03/05/2013 May outturn at the SMWS

Another month, another outturn. Fixou's first as well, as he is usually working the first Friday of the month. The place is busy, but not too crowded, which is a relief.

13.39 21yo Braised apples and ??? slices (52.7%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill Hogshead, 252b) (all): an older glory that happens to be there. Nose: brine, plum eau-de-vie and a slightly farmyardy character. Mouth: a mixture of salted honey and black pepper -- very interesting. Finish: another odd mix of paint and marmite, with a dash of vinegar, though it is red-wine vinegar, not the noble, basalmic kind (thanks PS).

48.34 9yo 2003/2012 In a sweetie shop (63.3, SMWS Society Single Cask, ex-Bourbon Barrel, 227b) (A): nose: nail varnish remover, some wood and Haribo sweets (A). Mouth: a little sparkly (Fixou), with more varnish, paint thinner and quite a bit of citrusy jam. Finish: more jam, marmalade and lots of wood. A nice Balmenach, probably one of my favourite, so far. 7/10

73.52 23yo 1989/2012 Speakeasy perkiness (57.5%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Sherry Butt, 544b) (JM): nose: lots of cured meat, Mentos sweets (that'll be mint, then), ether (JM). With water, the nose becomes really lovely. Mouth: this one bites! Powerful. Also strangely milky, in a good way. Oranges in the back. Finish: marmalade and leather. An enjoyable Aultmore, this.

121.59 14yo 1998 Vanilla candles on a polished table (55.8%, SMWS Society Single Cask, 187b) (A): nose: banana and coconut shell, as well as peach. Very nice. Mouth: gentle and light, with some yellow fruit -- peach again, I think. Unexpectedly coating, at any rate. Finish: flowers, honey, fruit and a little wood. New school, attractive and very agreeable. 7/10

64.43 23yo 1990/2013 Full, complex and reassuring (55.5%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 260b) (me): nose: surprisingly waxy, with some vanilla-ed woodiness. Nice! JM finds marshmallows in there too. Mouth: plant-juice bitterness. Finish: long and bitter, with lichen and dunnage warehouse. Good nose, disappointing mouth and finale.

7.83 19yo 1993 Fresh, airy and sherbety (52.1%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 248b) (Fixou): nose: very flowery (forsythia), cut grass, gooseberry, or red currant. Mouth: it is now black currant, a touch of honey and lots of pepper. Finish: very long, with some flower-stem bitterness too. My kind of drams, today. Fixou does not care for it: 'I don't have enough hair to enjoy that kind of whiskies, any longer,' he claims. 8/10

1.171 28yo 1984 Orchids in an old wardrobe (55.1%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 176b) (Fixou): nose: lots of flowers (probably violets), new oak shavings. Mouth: this is really as neutral as can be. Distant pear, perhaps? Buttercup bitterness (for those who have tried chewing on one...) Finish: more plant bitterness, with a discharge of fruit in the back (papaya or mango). The finish has some strong characteristics, but this is otherwise not worthy of notice. 6/10

29.130 19yo 1993 A chimney sweep smoking a cigar (52.1%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 230b) (A): nose: this reeks of ash, embers, spent cigar and earth. Mouth: smoke and farmyard. Finish: spent cedar wood. An efficient Laphroaig -- will not spend too much time on it, as it is as predictable as they come.

JM embarks on a mission to taste the good 26es and 29s, guided by captain Fixou. I do not keep track of that.

Teaniliquorice

59.43 29yo 1983/2013 Caramel Swirl Ice Cream (56.4%, SMWS Still One Of A Kind, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 262b) (me): I am very interested in this one, as it is the first Teaninich at the Society since we have started frequenting the place. Nose: lots of alcohol, in there! Nail varnish remover, paint thinner, a bit of flowers and some liquorice allsorts, after a minute or two. It smells like a grain, oddly enough. Mouth: milk chocolate? Flower bitterness (it is such a day!), pepper, ground coriander, almond milk. Finish: silky smooth, lovely vanilla and chocolate shake. The nose is disappointing and it is too expensive. 7/10

77.32 25yo 1987 Salivating sweetness; savoury whispers (58.2%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill Hogshead, 246b) (JS): nose: milk, straight from the udder, and a bit of lichen and grape juice. Mouth: this is very dry! Almond, and vanilla milk in the back, with a twist of pepper mill as well. Finish: very dry again, with flower-stem juice. Alright, not blinding.

3.198 14yo 1997 Smoker's tooth powder and dentists' chairs (57%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Sherry Butt, 563b) (A): nose: lots of smoke, smoked bacon. Mouth: some nail varnish, light coffee, dark cocoa beans. Finish: lots of cocoa beans, now, coffee and proper bitterness. 6/10

G7.4 28yo 1984 Buttery waffles on polished wood (58.4%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 295b) (me): nose: lovely bakery, butterscotch, banana, vanilla fudge (A), elderberry, pineapple, even. Burnt coconut shells, Tatin tart (A). Mouth: peppery, but also fruity -- pineapple again (roasted) and a little bit of banana to finish on liqorice allsorts. Finish: rising croissant dough, black currant, violet and some vanilla. Werther's Original (A). This is the dram of the day for Fixou and myself. 8/10

35.79 28yo 1983 Calming, warming and comforting (57.7%, SMWS Still One Of A Kind, Refill ex-Sherry Butt, 167b) (JS): nose: tons of faded coffee that sat in the tin for too long. Mouth: more tamed and faded coffee, butterscotch past its date. Finish: old, dry coffee again, ground coffee, roasted coffee, cold coffee. Is this one-dimensional or what?

Everyone had the lamburgerini, bar myself (suckling pig) and Fixou, who had a Scotch egg and is well into it, now, after a less-than-thrilling experience with Tesco's offering -- but then, it was probably made with horse eggs too.

The whole British beef industry is facing a new challenge

Good times, though the outturn is slightly disappointing. No stunner in there.