We are not here to do a PS and try the whole outturn thrice. We are here to complete unfinished business: JS and I were here on Thursday and could not finish our list of drams, because others kept giving us other things to try. How rude!, I know.
Today, only PS and GT are here whom we know. And they are socialising with another table, which means they will have less time to drown us in whisky.
44.193 20yo 2005/2025 Deep, rumbling intensity (58.1%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Bourbon Hogshead finished in 1st Fill ex-Oloroso Hogshead, 206b): nose: well, the Oloroso maturation is not masquerading as anything else. It has earth and a syrupy sweetness, prunes and raisins (Corinth). Soon thereafter, it is dusty staves -- dare I say from a barrel? It certainly has dusty toffee that becomes more and more buttery with each sniff. Past the smashed prunes, the second nose has confectionary aplenty and ends with blueberry-scented plasticine. Mouth: boozy sangria, prunes syrup, pressed sultanas doused in new-make, toffee patties on white-hot stainless-steel plates. It also has red-chilli powder. The second sip seems even stronger and desiccating, borderline chalky and, in any case, searing. Finish: big and in line with the above, it is hot, syrupy and earthy, with hot caramel coating baked prunes and raisins. Here too, the second take is drier and earthier, if not chalky. The earth is very hot -- not scorched; just plain hot. The dried fruits now take the back seat -- a worn-out, crackly leather seat, that is. 7/10
70.60 16yo 2008/2025 Homer's delight (58.5%, SMWS Society Cask, 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 158b): nose: delicate, ethereal, this has a flurry of pastry or confectionary-sugar-coated sweets. Sweet dust leaps out of the glass. Then, we have poached pears, baked peaches... and a drop of urine. That last one dissipates and reveals a herbal touch, bay leaf or oregano, before coming back to powdered sugar. Over time, it develops a lovely coffee-soaked-biscuit cake with a thick butter cream. Lovely. Mouth: if it still has pastry, it is now filled with citrus -- lemon, to be precise. There is a slight bitterness at play, with one bay leaf adorning lemon curd. We also have thyme leaves, which works well with these baked lemon turnovers. It is more custard-y at second sip and showcases more butter cream, before before the chalkiness returns that we spotted earlier. Finish: a pinch of aromatic leaves (thyme, oregano) sprinkled on top of a lemon-curd-filled doughnut. Or is that because the picture in the booklet has a doughnut? This is cracking! 8/10
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| Homer's delight -- geddit? |
4.398 19yo 2006/2025 Tugboat tiramisu (63.4%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Bourbon Hogshead finished in 1st Fill STR ex-PX Barrique, 281b): nose: smoked meat on the barbecue, merguez sizzling above incandescent embers, chorizo slowly dripping its fat over flames, then a blend of pitch and soup. Later on, we have a drop of syrupy peach nectar, shoe polish and rubber beads. The second nose is drier and drier, with earth and leather, perhaps some dark mushrooms, and a warm dog by the fireplace, who spent the day outdoors. Mouth: ooft! This is a lot more sherried than I would prefer, syrupy and wine-y. Chewing brings cut peaches, soaked prunes, rehydrated sultanas, green chillies, and piping-hot custard. The second sip has Fino splattered over fleshy fruits (apricots, peaches, plums), and it has compote too. Finish: here too, it is big and syrupy, with a more-pronounced earthiness. Peach liqueur, wine-cured apricots and plums. The second gulp is huge, sweet, it has lots of hot (apricot) compote and baked peach slices. Of all the sherried whiskies we try in this outturn, this is my favourite. 8/10
Punter: "You had twelve beers?"
JN: "Yes."
Punter: "But, you're... I mean, you don't look..."
JN: "Thank you."
tOMoH:"It wasn't meant as a compliment."
4.400 15yo 2010/2025 Savour the sweetness (62.2%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Bourbon Hogshead finished in 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 225b): it starts off with a veil of smoke, then slices of citrus (lemon and calamansi). The second nose has a touch of chocolate in a smoked citrus custard. It becomes more and more tropical with time, which is, of course, excellent. Mouth: sweet-citrus juice, calamansi juice, limoncello, no added sugar. It also has papaya cubes and candied pineapple cubes, chewy and bursting with flavours, only a smidgen of alcohol, despite the arresting ABV, which keeps it interesting. Finish: candied papaya and pineapple wrapped in a thin cloak of smoke. This is beautiful! The second gulp brings a hint of hay to boot. This just beats the Balblair and probably deserves 9. It is on par with the excellent sister cask we had last week. For tonight, it is 8/10
Punter: "Nothing. I'm going to the toilet."
JN: "That's something you need to do on your own."
All: "Well..."
JN: "If you pay me enough..."
3.354 20yo 2004/2025 The crown jewels of ancient kings (56.3%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Bourbon Hogshead finished in 2nd Fill ex-Oloroso Hogshead, 235b): nose: virtually no smoke, some fruit and a lot of butter. Peaches so ripe they melt in the plate, suede slippers, Mirabelle plums seared in butter. We find clay upon second nosing, earthy and moist. Mouth: ooft! I find this difficult. It has meat and lots of chalk -- lots of it! More chewing piles on the chalk until it is overly drying and chewy. This is like munching on Junior Aspirin, which is to say it retains a certain fruitiness, but is mostly chalky. The second sip is even chalkier, desiccating and challenging. Finish: long and fruity, it seems to have shaken off the chalkiness to only keep strawberry -- phew! The second gulp brings chewy fruity clay. Over time, it ascertains that fruitiness and becomes more and more pleasant. That palate, though... Disappointment. 6/10
DS [looks at tOMoH]: "Only one?"
GT: "Yes, one for JS."
DS: "What about tOMoH?"
tOMoH: "tOMoH sucks! [looks at punter from earlier] But I'm not going to the toilet with you!"
Bunnahabhain Mòine 7yo 2013/2020 (59.5%, OB for Feis Ile 2021, Bordeaux Casks Finish, 5166b, b#3720): nose: this is super earthy. It has squid ink, blotting paper, tarry clay, crushed seashells and razor clams tarred by a black tide. Mouth: well, it is very peaty, with a good dose of tarry sands and smoked seashells, but it also has bold fruits (fresh peaches) and the heat of red chilli. Finish: more tarry sands and crushed seashells, as well as smoked apricots. It is a bit one-dimensional, I guess, but respectable all the same. After a while, we get dried kelp and algae sprinkled with smoked-peach juice. 7/10 (Thanks for the dram, JN)
The venue closes, we are all encouraged to leave. So glad we were allowed to finish the session today, though! It made for a much more enjoyable moment and a better following morning. Not to mention the chance to chat with other people too.
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