11/05/2013 An evening at the Edinburgh SMWS

En route to the land of whisky, we stopped in Edinburgh to visit a friend and have a dram or two.

59.20 20yo 1981/2002 (58.3%, SMWS Society Single Cask for the USA) (JS): nose: pepper and oregano. Mouth: uncommon mix of sumac (yes, it is becoming my favourite tasting note) and vanilla. Finish: very long, with bubble gum. Probably superior to the more recent expression (tasted here), but still not a total winner.

69.13 27yo 1979/2007 (58%, SMWS Society Cask) (me): nose: old school and as unsexy as it comes. Dust, rotting apples, lime. Not too impressive, but my kind of drams. Faded tobacco leaves, finishing on gentle candle wax. Mouth: tame dough, lemon. It is creamy too. Black pepper and peach. Wonderful. Finish: very long, with dust and orange peels. Brilliant, old Highlander. 8/10

vs.

69.14 28yo 1979 Complex and delightful (57.6%, SMWS Society Cask, 242b) (me): yep! Not only do they still have one Glen Albyn, they have two of them. Since I cannot decide which one to start with, I take both. Nose: ooooh! That's old school again. Marmalade, leather, maybe Cognac, even? A touch of coal dust and a lot of candle wax. Mouth: silky smooth, with a late discharge of black pepper. Finish: black pepper and... verbena? Bay leaves. It is superbly long. Two fantastic drops from a distillery I am not extremely familiar with. 8/10

64.40 22yo 1990/2012 Gingery heat and oaky tannins (53.7%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 172b) (M): Murrolo is looking for something nice for a gift and he has grown an appreciation for Mannochmore, so I recommend this one. Nose: squashed raspberries, alongside more usual vanilla and coconut (lots of it). Mouth: mellow and gentle, slightly tickly on the tongue. Finish: custard, coconut, maybe even butterscotch. Lovely dram, this. 8/10

Venison burger

Food. Venison burger for JS and myself, steak sandwich for Murrolo. We go for desserts as well, which is overly indulgent (pannacotta for M, pineapple carpaccio for me).

G5.8 19yo 1993 Baked Goods (64.2%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 231b) (me): this one comes recommended with the dessert I have chosen, so I go for it. Nose: lots of bakery shenanigans, violet and blackcurrant. Murrolo thinks it smells like a gentlemen's smoking room on a Sunday morning -- embers and Cacharel after-shave lotion. Mouth: blackcurrant, liquorice allsorts, TONS of white pepper. Finish: lovely blackcurrant and ginger bread. A neverending finish, this, for a rather traditional Invergordon. 6/10

35.91 10yo 2002 Caribbean fruit with tingly spice (59.9%, SMWS Society Single Cask, ex-Sherry Butt, 222b) (JS): the 51.1 I ask for is strongly not recommended by the staff, so I change my mind and choose this for JS. Nose: candle wax and marmalade. Mouth. light and gentle, flowery. Finish: slightly bitter, with a quince and grapefruit aftertaste. Dram of the day for everyone, surprisingly enough. 8/10

7.83 19yo 1993 Fresh, airy and sherbety (52.1%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 248b) (M): nose: a tiny bit of coffee in the back, burnt croissant. Mouth: skimmed milk, then white pepper. Finish: quince jelly drowned in white pepper. Nice. Chocolate- or caramel-filled doughnuts. 8/10

Excellent session to kick-start the break. The venue is very hot, which makes it nice to eventually get out.
Once at Murrolo's, we go for a nightcap.

Mannochmore 12yo (43%, OB Flora & Fauna, b. ca 2011): nose: some wax and thick citrus jam. Milky Bar (M), lovely coconut. Mouth: white pepper in a bath of milk. Finish: delicate vanilla and jam or marmalade. 7/10