30/11/2016 St Andrews at the SMWS

Meeting up with a visiting friend. Where better than the SMWS?

63.36 26yo d.1989 A Caribbean dream (51.8%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 180b): nose: powerful glue at first, then caramelised fruit (orange, candied lemon). Soon, tobacco leaves come up, then melon and orange water. Mouth: candied lemon, juicy melon and a touch of green chilli. This is thick and syrupy. Finish: the fruit ensemble goes on, with all sorts of jams, candied lemon and orange, as well as cantaloupe melon. 8/10

50.90 26yo 1990/2016 Apple-Calvados Fruitcake (60.5%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 150b): nose: marzipan, turpentine, apricot, sweet lipstick. Very fragrant. Mouth: silky and fruity, with peach, marmalade and apricot jam. It becomes drying, after a while. Finish: white pepper, bitter apricot stone, juicy jam. 8/10 even if the drying mouth almost brings it down to 7.

29.190 17yo 1999/2016 Divine dark temptation (58.1%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Sherry Butt, 582b): nose: bandages and hospital corridors. Mouth: dark-fruit syrup. Finish: big, bold, peaty and full of dark fruit. 7/10

37.81 13yo d.2002 Orange Turmeric Margarita (56.6%, SMWS Society Single Cask, 2nd Fill Sauternes Hogshead, 270b): nose: citrus, oranges, lemons, marmalade. Mouth: acidic citrus and green pepper. Finish: long, warming, citrus-y and peppery. 7/10

50.89 26yo 1990/2016 Sweet sensuality (59%, SMWS Society Single Cask, 2nd Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 173b): nose: flowery, buttery. Mouth: powerful! This stings like a blade, or Thai red pepper. Finish: long, invading, salty, vinegary, even (kimchee, says JWB). It has pastry and hot dough, towards the end, as well as a bitter side. Not for me, this. 6/10

35.159 21yo d.1994 Waves of intensity (55.5%, SMWS Society Single Cask, 1st Fill Toasted Oak Hogshead, 270b): nose: butter scones, pastry, tobacco smoke. Mouth: soft, delicate and ethereal, perhaps esthery? Finish: wax, boiled sweets, marshmallows, tulip petals. 7/10

We meet MS on the table next to us, then BC and DW turn out to be upstairs the whole time, which we do not realise until the time they decided to leave. Good times anyway.