16/11/2019 Christmas outurn at the SMWS

November spells Christmas, at the SMWS. A 45-bottle-strong outturn that has seen the bankruptcy of many a member. It is a chance to try a few new things, at least.

36.166 21yo d.1997 Silky, smooth and sweet (61.5%, SMWS Society Cask, 2nd Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 194b): nose: perfume-y, it has jasmine broth, macerated satsuma peel, then the trademark pine needles jump in, fresh and fragrant. Mouth: spicy, with cloves, star anise, a drop of liquorice and pine-tree bark. Finish: squashed strawberry on a pile of pine needles, augmented with a dash of chocolate coulis. Lovely. I can see adc going for this sort of profiles. 7/10

63.57 17yo 2002/2019 Fields of pleasure (55.2%, SMWS Society Cask, 2nd Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 206b): nose: tinned-peach-scented nail varnish, then a touch of merbromin. It turns metallic, after a while, just before crème brûlée and caramelised honey appear too. Mouth: tinned peach alright, juicy, fruity and refreshing. It is coating and sweet, with honey accents. Finish: tinned peach is spot on, with a metallic edge, giving the peach a run for its money. There is even milk chocolate, at the death. 8/10

28.43 11yo 2008/2019 Muscle-toned heft and punch (59.6%, SMWS Society Cask, 1st Fill ex-Oloroso Sherry Butt, 609b): nose: the trademark dusty fruit (in this case: cider apples, decaying away) and a lick of shoe polish. The sherry influence (probably -- writing this before knowing what the details) is pretty big, with mud crust and leather to complement the fruit. Mouth: spicy, leathery, it has dark tobacco and smoked paprika, polished leather and chocolate. Finish: tobacco again, leather, ground cloves and ground cardamom -- black cardamom, at that. Malt-y chocolate completes the picture. 7/10

C7.1 33yo A la recherche du temps perdu (52.2%, SMWS Society Cask, Cognac Barrel, 532b): my first SMWS Cognac, I think. Nose: earthy grapes, deep and enticing. Mouth: balanced, fruity and a bit earthy, here too. Finish: the earth is even louder here, but it retains lots of that grape-y touch. 8/10

Dornoch New Make b.2019 (60%, OB): nose: new make-y, it has waxy plums and powerful alcohol. Mouth: sweet, gentle, it carries cotton candy. Finish: big, it has mustard and waxy plum. Nice, but still too young to make a proper opinion.

My neighbour lets me try the latest 10 (I do not write down the reference), which is overpowered by wine, but funny and actually quite good.