21/02/2019 A few drams at the SMWS

Savoureur is visiting London. It seems like the perfect opportunity to bring him to the SMWS. OB and JS join us.

We start at a reasonable pace, but of course, it barely stays in control when four of us swap glasses and sample more quickly as time passes. Notes will become thinner and thinner. Who wants to read Proustian novels anyway? They can sometimes seem awfully self-indulgent or resemble shameless marketing.

60.28 10yo d.2008 One more unto the peach dear friends (63.5%, SMWS Society Cask, 2nd Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 233b): this is from the mid-month outturn, a wave of bottles that reach some venues, well, in the middle of the month, when the regular outturn of twenty-or-so bottles is almost depleted. It never used to happen, of course, but it is now a frequent occurrence. I cannot remember trying distillery 60 before -- not as an SMWS bottling, that is. Nose: syrupy and thick, peach-y, it has furniture polish, wood stain, dried wood and almond skins (Savoureur, who is very sensitive to almond skins, tonight). Mouth: a bit rougher, but by no means rough rough -- just not as polished as the nose suggested. It has coarse wood (also known as bloody wood, boom-tsch), then red chilli and acidic lime juice. Finish: sophisticated (Savoureur), with a huge wood presence that remains pleasant. Wood stain, crushed almond and baked plantain. This is not a particularly easy malt, but I like it a lot. 8/10

72.70 10yo d.2008 Aromatherapy with margaritas (53.5%, SMWS Society Cask, 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 255b): nose: citrus peel and marzipan, alongside a note of pine needle. The second nosing brings out more herbs: oregano, sage or verbena, almost metallic. Later still, cherries emerge. Mouth: honey, forsythia, almond milk and a warming overtone that never becomes hot. Lovely. Finish: the arrival is characterised by a kick in the throat that introduces a warming, comforting blanket. This is honeyed, peachy and lush. Lastly, marzipan comes back. Amazing quality-to-price ratio, this. 8/10

54.73 11yo d.2006 Sunshine all year round (57.2%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 180b): nose: lots of straw and lots of alcohol. I do not really spend enough time with it to detect anything else. Mouth: more mellow on the palate, it has apricot, hot, unsweetened custard and still quite a bite. Finish: custard, much sweeter, this time, and really pretty pleasant. The finish is clearly the strong point of this dram, but it still does not change my life. 7/10

"Clearly, you're full of shit."

Savoureur interjects that no whisky changes one's life anyway. OB and I disagree, even if we admit it does not happen often. JS says nothing, but I know she is on our side.

68.20 11yo d.2006 Ginger beer in a champagne flute (54.7%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 305b): another lesser-seen distillery in this place. Nose: dry sand and fat-human sweat. Well, that is appealing... :-| Mouth: bitter orange marmalade and dirty leather. Savoureur talks about the faded seats of an E-Type Jaguar (JS's favourite car), then digresses about whiskyfun's images (Aston Martin is superior, according to the Web master, which is rubbish, in my opinion). Finish: odd and animal, musk-y and nutty (nut skins). This is less my style. It is almost Clynelishian in its wet-fox, animal character. 6/10

66.134 12yo d.2006 Tar very much (59.3%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 307b): nose: chocolate, mocha, leather and farm-y peat, as well as bits of wood. Mouth: more leather, gentle peat smoke and horse's hair. Finish: peat and fruit with an added pinch of nut skins. The finish brings an interesting edge to this, with its fresh fruit. Enjoyable. 7/10

There is a hilarious moment when we are brought a plate of cheeses and cutlery for all, whilst JS is ordering at the bar. When she comes back, she thanks me for ordering as I ask her if she did. Quick question to the staff clears up the situation: it is not for us. Good thing we did not dive on it!

Instead, JS orders this! \o/

G5.11 30yo d. 1987 Flash, I love you! (52.4%, SMWS Society Cask, 2nd Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 206b): every time they have a G5, I have to try it -- who could forget the legendary G5.5 and G5.2? This one is part of the mid-month outturn too, which is a good bonus. Nose: crystallised citrus, toasted coconut, cut mango and a gently metallic note to boot. Mouth: soft and sweet, the palate has mango slices and cane sugar. Finish: warming (perhaps a tad too hot) and herbaceous. The fruit subsides in the finish, which is bad news to me, but it remains solid altogether. 8/10

39.172 28yo d.1989 Starry starry night (48.5%, SMWS Society Cask, 2nd Fill Toasted Hogshead, 182b): I remember liking this a lot when it came out and want to share the joy. Nose: an unbelievable fruity-sherried journey, with cherries and exotic fruits revealing themselves. Mouth: soft, luscious, pillow-y, fruity and... well, good. Finish: a soft-yet-amazing kick of exotic fruit rounds off an exemplary sherry maturation. We all agree this is head and shoulders above all the others we have had. 9/10

16.35 7yo d.2007 Dante's mondeo (60.5%, SMWS Society Cask, Re-Charred Hogshead, 317b): I insist on taking this -- a peated Glenturret. A couple of drams after the Ardmore, it does not seem as peaty as when I tried it a couple of weeks ago (no notes), but it is also not a softy-softy one. Nose: meat, rotting on the bone and lots of cold smoke. Mouth: mellow and fruitier than I expected or remembered. Finish: big, powerful, it has wood, musk and refined smoke. Well made, this. Savoureur finds it too young and, certainly, it is not a noble old lady. All the same, I think it is more than just a curiosity. 7/10

10.166 11yo d.2006 It's cocktail thyme (61.8%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 188b): nose: fruit precedes mint... and lots of horsepower! Marzipan joins the dance. Mouth: soft(ish), fruity and, actually a little spirit-y too. I suppose it starts off soft, then turns out to be rather strong. Finish: big, powerful, slightly herbaceous in the fashion of a pumpkin risotto (rosemary, garlic). Again, rather well made. 7/10

Enough for the day. Savoureur has been walking all day and is on painkillers, after twisting his wrist. He has understandably had enough. Just as well, perhaps: it is a school night, after all. Food at Kolossi Grill (does the trick!), then off to bed.