30/08/2019 Some drams at the SMWS

Gaija is in town. I join him at the SMWS for a few drams. We have only been there for twenty minutes when MJ makes a surprise appearance with a guest. JS arrives a bit later too.
To business.

50.105 28yo d.1990 Willow wood in the sun (54.4%, SMWS Society Cask, 2nd Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 87b): nose: soft and gentle. Gaija calls it shy, I would not go that far. I get honey, mountain-flower honey, to be accurate, then the flowers turn into linen and line-drying clothes. Mouth: floral and lively, there is saxifrage on the palate, sugar water, lemon drops and manuka honey. Finish: a fleeting bitter touch of green ivy, then milk chocolate, caramelised honey and honeysuckle. Hm. "shy" (read: "neutral"), "mountain flowers", "chocolate"... Is this a Swiss whisky? :o) 9/10

26.124 7yo d.2010 Fun and frolic (59.4%, SMWS Society Cask, 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 235b): Gaija went for 26.128, but it is sold out. This is the only 26 here. Nose: crystallised strawberries, candied peach slices, then Virginia tobacco and icing sugar. Mouth: big, coating, fruity and flowery. I get waxy caramelised plum, strawberry cake, yet also a pinch of chilli. This is powerful! Finish: huge, with a perfect balance of wax, fruit and flowers. A superb Clynelish. Amazing quality at a young age. 8/10

53.294 9yo d.2009 Drampaigne extra brute (58.1%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 328b): nose: souped-up farmyard and pickled onions, then smoked oysters, mud and tree bark. Mouth: salty as hell, it has mussels, oysters and green-chilli flakes. Finish: wow! It is sweet and salty, here, with confectionery sugar and hot tar. It reminds me of the Port Ellen Dovr-Tvtes-Mares, though this one seems even tarrier. 8/10

36.162 18yo d.2000 A powerful enticement (52.7%, SMWS Society Cask, 1st Fill PX Hogshead, 224b): nose: velvety, with the trademark pine cones, roasted macadamia and soaked prunes, as well as a dark pine forest, deep in the back of the nose. The second sniff brings coffee. Mouth: juicy and rich, with prunes, mahogany cupboards and melted shoe polish, augmented with peach juice. Finish: huge, colossal, juicy, it has soaked prunes, peaches and only the most minute touch of pine and resin. JS finds it a generic PX-matured whisky, rather than a cracking Benrinnes. She might be right, but I still like it a lot. 8/10

66.150 10yo d.2008 Smoke, soot and tarry ropes (59%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 217b): nose: cow stable, bandages, gauze, smoked cheese rind, smoked ketchup (curry ketchup, says Gaija). In the distance, old leather is present too. Mouth: smoked cheese it is! Scamorza, ricotta affumicata, smoked raclette, Applewood smoked cheddar. Finish: a massive dose of farm-path earth and mud, caked into the tracks of a tractor tyre. This is the best 66 in a long, long time, in my opinion. 8/10

Time for food.