Speyside

Whisky #529: SMWS 71.51 Summer Berry Brûlée

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SMWS 71.51 Summer Berry Brûlée. 9 year old single cask, cask strength single malt from Glenburgie Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 61.4%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $139 (bottle).

Happy World Whisky Day! 🥃 What better way to start the day’s celebrations than with a bright and spritely dram like this one from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS).

Colour: Glowing morning sunshine.

Nose: Hiking through a forest on a cool winter’s morning – earthy and fresh. Fruit salad too – passionfruit, pineapple and strawberries.

Palate: The palate almost has a few phases – it starts quite fruity, morphs into some more creamed honey and vanilla flavours before sliding into more oaky tones.

Finish: A zing of lemon and juicy pineapple chunks on the top of the tongue, followed by a long oaky warmth that lingers long.

Comments: It feels a bit strange to be cracking open a whisky called Summer Berry Brûlée when it’s late May and quite chilly here in Sydney. But as a breakfast whisky to kick off World Whisky Day it works a treat – it’s light, bright and full of flavour, but isn’t going to blow away your tastebuds when you’ve got an exciting day of dramming ahead. And at only $139, I’d challenge anyone to find a single cask, cask strength whisky for the price, let alone a drop as good as this. Cracking value and an outstanding way to kick off World Whisky Day!

Whisky #518: Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask Matured Single Malt

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Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask Matured Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 40%. Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $14 (50mL sample from Casa de Vinos).

Colour: Polished copper.

Nose: Light on the nose. A basket of fresh lemons.

Palate: It’s like chewing on the obligatory few gains of malted barley that you get handed when you do a distillery tour. A dry mouthfeel with toasted bread and a few woody notes. Easily glides down the tongue though.

Finish: Like chewing into a vanilla cream biscuit – still quite dry. Better have another sip to wash it down.

Comments: It’s one of the least Aberlour-like Aberlours I’ve had; certainly not the sherry-driven flavours of many of their other expressions. The 40% ABV makes it very approachable and would be a good gateway whisky for those looking to explore Aberlour (rather than jumping into the cask strength explosive sherry bomb of say the Aberlour A’Bunadh), but it’s probably not the best example of the house style. Easy drinking and pleasant however.

Whisky #516: Tormore 16 Year Old Single Malt

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Tormore 16 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 48%. $16 (50mL bottle split).

Colour: Polished copper.

Nose: Vanilla cream biscuits dunked in a hot cuppa tea.

Palate: Juicy and tangy with some spice (think cinnamon and cloves). Like an orange marmalade reduction or the jus from duck à l’orange.

Finish: Salty but some sweetness shines through in the finish. Treacle, salted caramel and tart blueberries. A warming salty tingle, some tobacco notes in the fade…like you’ve just taken a puff of a cigar.

Comments: I can’t even remember the last time I had duck à l’orange. The closest thing would have to be Kylie Kwong’s signature five spiced duck that I last tried maybe 10 years ago at her Sydney restaurant Billy Kwong…a stunning dish that etched itself into my mind. I reckon it’s amazing how certain tastes and smells can trigger a memory and transport you back to another time. Great balance of contrasting and yet complementary flavours; so easy to drink that without realising I almost finished the glass before making too many notes.

Whisky and Seafood – Whisky #513 & Whisky #514…Glenfarclas, Arran, King Crab and Lobster

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Whisky and Seafood – Whisky #513 & Whisky #514…Glenfarclas, Arran, King Crab and Lobster.

Whisky and seafood, two of my great passions. I’ve enjoyed many whiskies, but I’ve not enjoyed reviewing too many more than today’s lineup.

Today’s seafood – fresh WA Rock Lobster and king crab legs from the Sydney Fish Market. The king crab legs are so tender, juicy and salty; while the rock lobster is firmer with very creamy flesh but a more subtle shellfish flavour.

Full-flavoured seafood deserves full-flavoured whisky. So let’s dive in to a couple of contrasting drams…a sherry influenced Glenfarclas and a creamy, tropical fruit malt from Arran.

Whisky #513: Glenfarclas 10 Year Old Single Malt Bottled at 50% Exclusively for The Whisky Club. ABV: 50.0%. $130 (bottle).

Colour: Deep caramel.

Nose: An initial nose prickle when you first pour it in the glass. After it settles there’s dried raisins and strawberry marshmallows.

Palate: Almost a bit tannic, like some red wine finished whiskies. Golden syrup and burnt butter with caramel.

Finish: Dry, spicy and a slightly briny aftertaste.

Seafood combination: The Glenfarclas is better with the king crab, which softens the tannins and accentuates the sweetness of the whisky. Brings out some fresh raspberry notes too.

Whisky #514: Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask Single Malt (Batch 2). Isle of Arran, Scotland. ABV: 55.2%. $135 (bottle).

Colour: Bright orange gold.

Nose: Like sticking a pine needle up your nose – it’s fresh and green, tickles a little and makes you pull away initially before heading back for more. Fresh lemon, kafir lime leaves, BBQ’d pineapple slices, and top-notch vanilla ice cream. None of that generic reduced fat, bleached white bulshit you buy from a cheap supermarket – this is the full cream, full-flavoured stuff where you can see the real vanilla beans swirled through the real deal cream coloured frosty goodness.

Palate: Loads of caramelised pineapple, honey, vanilla, and soft fresh oak.

Finish: Creamy, oh so creamy. Zesty lemon sherbet. Fresh prawns on freshly baked white bread you’ve picked up from the bakery that morning. Lemon cheesecake with a crumbled ginger nut cookie pastry. Sweet ginger spiciness.

Seafood combination: With the lobster, the lemon sherbet and fresh oak shine through. The king crab brings brown sugar, buttery croissants and juicy pineapple to the fore.

Overall comments: As a whisky, the Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask leaves the Glenfarclas in the shade. Combined with seafood though and they both allow some flavours to be accentuated and others to emerge. But overall, the Arran The Bothy Quarter Cask is an amazing dram that marries stunningly with fresh seafood like king crab or lobster. Outstanding stuff.

Whisky #509: Glenfarclas Family Reserve £511.19s.0d Single Malt

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Glenfarclas Family Reserve £511.19s.0d Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43%.

£511.19s.0d. That’s how much John Grant – the first generation of what would become a whisky family dynasty – paid for the Glenfarclas distillery way back in June 1865.  I wish I could set up a distillery these days for a tick over £500!

Colour: Glowing amber sunset.

Nose: Rose petals, dried raisins, creamy vanilla sponge cake and fresh pastries.

Palate: A mouthful of mixed dried fruits. Creamed honey, candied strawberries and almond biscotti. A cool, oily mouthfeel.

Finish: Drying; sherry and sultana notes, medium length.

Comments: This Glenfarclas Family Reserve was released to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the distillery. While this is far from my favourite Glenfarclas whisky (that honour goes to the Glenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom 9 Year Old Single Cask), it’s a damn fine example of the Glenfarclas house style.

Sitting here thinking about the long history of Glenfarclas, it makes you ponder about what legacy you’ll leave long after you’ve sipped your last dram. Having recently had a health scare (thankfully unrelated to drinking whisky!), it really has led me to contemplate a lot about what I’ve achieved in life so far and what I’ve yet to accomplish. Things can be taken away from us in an instant – I have some burning passions and drivers in life, there’s much more to do. Raising a glass here now is just the beginning.

Whisky #506: SMWS 39.114 So Many Colours in the Rainbow

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SMWS 39.114 So Many Colours in the Rainbow. 11 year old single cask single malt from Linkwood Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 60.0%. Tasted at home, $184 (bottle).

What a week…this is the 7th and final Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) whisky of the week. What a way to celebrate reaching the milestone of 500 whiskies here on Whisky a Day…7 days, 7 SMWS whiskies!

Colour: Pinkish gold.

Nose: Freshly peeled mandarine skins and blueberry muffins so fresh out of the oven they’re still warm.

Palate: Tangy raspberries, a fizzy sherbet sensation as the whisky dances around your mouth. Salty and slightly sour blueberry notes. An intriguing balance of sweet, salty and sour.

Finish: A rich, warm honey and lemon tea tingle all around the mouth. An exceptionally long and satisfying finish; some saltiness with oak and soft fruit jubes in the fade.

Comments: A whisky of contrasts. An intriguing nose. Flavours and aromas that make your mind explode with food analogies. A finish that goes on for days. All the things that epitomise a typical SMWS whisky and make them so unique.

I’ve been a very happy member of the SMWS for a few years now – I’m not a brand ambassador for them or get paid to spruik their wares. I’m simply a huge fan of their whiskies and ethos that I am happy to tell the world about it. Stunning whisky that is unique and always surprising.

If you like the sound of this one, be sure to check out the other SMWS single cask single malt from Linkwood Distillery we looked at earlier in the week – SMWS 39.118 Sweet Memories.

Whisky #505: SMWS 73.83 Anzac Biscuits & Cricket Bats

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SMWS 73.83 Anzac Biscuits & Cricket Bats. 15 year old single cask single malt from Aultmore Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 56.9%.

Chosen by the Australian Cellarmaster of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), Andrew Derbidge, this 15 year old single cask single malt was selected to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the SMWS Australian branch.

Colour: A glorious molten toffee.

Nose: Chocolate mouse, raspberry coulis, hardwood…imagine walking into a furniture store with lots of lacquered timber furniture.

Palate: Spicy; both in terms of a peppery heat and almost fragrant garam masala type flavours. Balanced out nicely with some rich, creamy caramel-like flavours. It’s almost like someone has cracked some black pepper over your creme brûlée, but to your surprise it actually works!

Finish: Long…with a drying, powdery mouthfeel. Tobacco, black pepper, red wine and tart berries.

Comments: Matured in a sherry cask, this is certainly a unique whisky, like all the SMWS whiskies to be fair. Much like that old saying…it’s unique, just like all the others. A whisky of contrasts, it see-saws across your tastebuds but seems to always come to rest and find balance.

Whisky #504: SMWS 66.86 Dancing Round the Campfire

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SMWS 66.86 Dancing Round the Campfire. Speyside, Scotland. 10 year old single cask single malt from Ardmore Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 60.7%. Tasted at home, $159 (bottle).

Let’s continue the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) week to celebrate Whisky a Day reaching whisky #500 by exploring another cask strength single cask whisky from Ardmore Distillery. We had a look at another SMWS Ardmore yesterday – the SMWS 66.75 David Faces Up to Goliath – so let’s see how this one compares.

Colour: Pale rose gold.

Nose: A real nose prickle. Like someone has given your nose hairs a decent tug. Pine needles, nori sheets and heavy smoke, a freshly opened packet of liquorice. But dominated by peat.

Palate: Explosive. Leather and woody notes melded together. Mouth coating smokiness, a slight buttery hint…which is only overpowered by the love in the room as I share this whisky with my two very good mates who I’ve just moved into a new apartment with & whom enjoy a good whisky.

Finish: Extremely long, salty sea and some faint salted caramel notes as the sweet smokiness subsides.

Comments: Not a whisky for the faint hearted, this is definitely more up-front and in your face than the SMWS 66.75 David Faces Up to Goliath Ardmore reviewed yesterday. If you’re introducing friends to the SMWS or to peaty whiskies, this is probably not the one, it could be a bit full on. But if you’re confident they can handle a full-throttle peat monster with a difference…let them loose on this beauty.

Whisky #503: SMWS 66.75 David Faces Up to Goliath

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SMWS 66.75 David Faces Up to Goliath. 11 year old single cask single malt from Ardmore Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 59.3%. Tasted at home, $185 (bottle).

Colour: Faded gold.

Nose: Hessian sacks, fresh hay. Like walking into a horse stable. Sticks of liquorice too.

Palate: Like gnawing on BBQ lamb cutlets…meaty, smokey and with a hint of charcoal.

Finish: Smoked paprika and salty beef jerky, with a long fade.

Comments: One of the things I love about Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) whiskies is their quirky names and tasting notes on the bottle. The SMWS tasting committee absolutely nail it sometimes, and other times you’re left wondering if this might have been the tenth whisky they’d tasted that night as the descriptions get a little wilder.

Regardless of whether you pick up some, all or none of the official descriptors that appear on the label, it’s always an intriguing prelude to the inevitably amazing (and undoubtedly unique) whisky you’re about to taste.

I’ve yet to have a SMWS whisky I didn’t enjoy – some have been incredible, others have been merely fantastic. This one is no exception.

Whisky #502: SMWS 35.165 Variety, the Spice of Life

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SMWS 35.165 Variety, the Spice of Life. 13 year old single cask single malt from Glen Moray Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 52.9%.

Colour: Deep toffee.

Nose: Almost a bourbonish hint. Some sticky BBQ sauce, floral rose water, freshly hewn hardwood timber sawdust.

Palate: Such a soft, elegant mouthfeel. Oily, mouth-coating and full flavoured. Toffee apples, burnt butter, brown sugar, golden syrup, hot buttered toast…

Finish: Almost a touch of spiced rum in the finish, light peppery fade as the caramel flavours subside. A long, satisfying finish.

Comments: This drop has a bit of everything, it really is the spice of life. I’ve not previously had anything outstanding from Glen Moray, the drams I’ve had have always been a little too light. This drop however…I could sip this one all night. Amazing stuff.

Whisky #501: SMWS 39.118 Sweet Memories

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SMWS 39.118 Sweet Memories. 8 year old single cask single malt from Linkwood Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 59.5%. Tasted at home, $140 (bottle).

Let’s continue the celebrations for reaching 500 whiskies and delve into our second Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) bottling of the week…7 days, 7 SMWS whiskies!

Colour: Pale straw.

Nose: Tart lemon curd and freshly baked biscuits…so it’s basically a lemon tart. Pine cones and snapped lantana branches. A slight nose prickle right at the end as you really take it all in.

Palate: A richness that tingles on the front of the palate. Lemon Fruit Tingle lollies that you’ve left just fizzing on the tip of your tongue. Some creamy lemon meringue, spicy white pepper and a hint of vanilla.

Finish: A drying sensation, the whisky seems to evaporate off the front of your tongue. Fizzy creaming soda, lemon sherbet and a touch of liquorice, yet quite salty in the fade.

Comments: Fresh and zesty, this one really dances on the tongue and has a party all on its own. Bugger anything you’ve had to eat or drink before, for me the name Sweet Memories is a bit misleading – it’s not a dessert whisky, it’s the kind of whisky that interrupts the whole damn dinner party and starts dancing on the table to grab your attention.

Whisky #500: SMWS 76.126 Racy Lady Wearing Leather

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SMWS 76.126 Racy Lady Wearing Leather. 28 year old single cask single malt from Mortlach Distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 57%.

A special whisky for a special milestone. 500 whiskies, damn! This dram was kindly provided courtesy of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s (SMWS) Australian Brand Ambassador, Matt Bailey, to celebrate reaching Whisky #500. Long time readers will know that I’ve been an active member and great fan of SMWS bottlings for a number of years now, so I thought why not stretch this Whisky #500 party out and have a whole week of SMWS whiskies!

So strap yourself in for the Racy Lady Wearing Leather, because she’s the first of 7 SMWS whiskies in 7 days…

Colour: Lustrous gold.

Nose: Earthy notes, dusty bookshelves and freshly baked chocolate brownies.

Palate: Imagine you’re eating a creme brûlée with a wooden spoon…sweet, creamy, a touch of burnt caramel, and some soft oaky notes. Savoury notes too when you have a few more sips; quince paste, caramelised balsamic onions cooked on the BBQ. Definitely a lot more subtle than you might expect from a 57% ABV whisky, both in terms of flavour and mouthfeel.

Finish: It’s quite a delicate and textual finish…the whisky almost caresses your tongue as it escapes down the back of your mouth. Almost like the racy lady is teasing you with a silk scarf that she draws gently across your face as she slinks off to a dark room, enticing you for more.

Comments: There’s a certain delicious irony in a seductive title like “Racy Lady Wearing Leather” coming from the Society’s “Old and Dignified” flavour profile! Though old and dignified she is. I enjoyed this one with Miles Davis’ classic “Kind of Blue” in the background, a fitting soundtrack for such a glorious whisky.

An outstanding whisky and certainly one worthy of the #500 milestone. Here’s to the next 500 whiskies, cheers!

Whiskies #474-477: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society World Whisky Day Showdown

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Whiskies #474-477: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society World Whisky Day Showdown.

Happy World Whisky Day to you all! It’s certainly one of my favourite days on the whisky calendar…along with any Delivery Day when the whisky gods deliver their sweet nectar in the post. To celebrate this holiest of whisky days, I thought it best to crack out something fairly unique and a bit special. And what more aptly fits that description than a few bottlings from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Single cask, cask strength independent bottlings…for those of you who haven’t sampled a SMWS whisky before, get on it! They really are brilliant. I’m not paid by them and don’t get any kickbacks to write nice things, I’m just a very happy paid-up member who thinks they’re doing some amazing stuff.

Anyway, I’m thirsty – let’s get into the booze!

Whisky #474: SMWS 54.34 Monkey’s Lunch. 9 year old Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling from Aberlour distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 59.8%. Tasted at home, $165 (bottle).

Colour: Pale straw.

Nose: Fruit salad, soft lemon, passionfruit, strawberries and cream.

Palate: It’s a wave of creamy, lemony flavours…like biting into a lemon cheesecake.

Finish: Dried pineapple chunks that fade to a drying mouthfeel with white pepper and woody notes.

Comments: The finish is quite a contrast to the nose and palate, it’s a bit Jekyll and Hyde this one. Aberlour are one of my favourite distilleries so it’s great to try a whisky that’s quite different to their usual house style full of dried fruits and Christmas cake flavours. Cracking drop this one.

 

Whisky #475: SMWS 64.80 Fruit Punch Explosion. 9 year old Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling from Mannochmore distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 58.2%. Tasted at home, $150 (bottle).

Colour: Sparkling honey.

Nose: Fruit covered pavlova. Now this is going to sound a bit odd – there’s some aromas like opening up a velvet lined wooden chess set. The kind where the board is hinged and folds in half so you can keep the pieces inside. My dad had one from when he was a young fella, I still remember the smell of it as I opened it to set up the pieces and have a few games with the old man when I was younger. The old bugger always beat me!

Palate: Fresh raw honey straight from the hive, served on a wooden stick…sweet and oaky.

Finish: Almost a few candied bacon flavours in the fade, like you’ve poured maple syrup over pancakes with crispy bacon on the side.

Comments: I love a whisky that triggers memories from long ago, whether they be from the aromas or the flavours. Stunning.

 

Whisky #476: SMWS 63.33 Rich,Treacly, and Sumptuous. 9 year old Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling from Glentauchers distillery. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: . Tasted at home, $185 (bottle).

Colour: Bright toffee.

Nose: Golden syrup, treacle and freshly baked blueberry muffins. A slight nose prickle.

Palate: Buttery and lots more golden syrup. If I had to do a blind tasting and pick the distillery I would have said Glendronach. The SMWS title really has summed it up perfectly – it is incredibly rich, treacly and sumptuous.

Finish: Front of the palate gets all the fun – plenty of salted caramel. A long tingly finish, like crushing some brown sugar crystals against the roof of your mouth with your tongue.

Comments: As I sip this one I’m listening to Nina Simone singing “I Put a Spell On You”. Kind of like tasting cask strength whiskies when you’re doing healthy pours – by the time you get to the third whisky it’s starting to put a spell on you. But without a doubt, this is the standout whisky of the night. Amazing stuff.

 

Whisky #477: SMWS 42.25 A Beach Barnacle Banquet. 9 year old Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling from Tobermory distillery. Isle of Mull, Scotland. ABV: 60.4%. Tasted at home, $165 (bottle).

Colour: Pale apple juice.

Nose: Salty; hessian sacks soaked in sea water.

Palate: Surprisingly smooth and sweet. Reminds me of grilled salmon nigiri, the one with some kind of glaze on it that they’ve smashed with a blow torch to give those amazing caramelised salmon flavours.

Finish: A long salty tang at the front of the palate, especially when you press your tongue up into the roof of your mouth.

Comments: A perfect conclusion to the Speyside sweetness we’ve had before. Great balance between salty, sweet and savoury.

 

There’s just something about the SMWS whiskies that makes me think of all kinds of foods and flavours. They’re always so vivid and take your mind and your tastebuds on a wild gastronomic journey. I’m not known for doing things by half measures (some of my friends would say I do things by double measure), but with whisky this good it’s probably not my penchant for smashed avocado and coffee that’s preventing me getting into this insane Sydney property market. Bugger it, I might just pour another dram of each of these…happy World Whisky Day!

 

Whisky #465: Glenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom 9 Year Old Single Cask

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Glenfarclas Whisky & Wisdom 9 Year Old Single Cask. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 60.5%. Tasted at home, $229 (bottle).

Now this is a special drop. Fellow Sydneysider, Andrew Derbidge – Director & Cellarmaster of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Australia, and also the man behind one of my favourite whisky blogs, “Whisky & Wisdom” – personally selected this cask for a special Whisky & Wisdom bottling. The man has some damn fine tastebuds, this one is a cracker!

Colour: Boiling caramel.

Nose: Dried cranberries, sultanas and a freshly opened block of dark chocolate. Leather-bound books and rich mahogany…must resist the urge to quote Ron Burgundy…

Palate: The intensity of the flavours is amazing; it’s rich without being overpowering. Strawberries and raspberries – rich and syrupy with a bit of tartness. Rich, creamy toffee with chocolate biscuits. The alcohol isn’t too much either, more a gentle wave of heat that builds along with the berry and some toasted oak notes.

Finish: A gentle warmth that slowly fades, drying woody notes too. Front of the tongue gets most of the joy.

Comments: This really is the kind of whisky you pour yourself when you get home after a tough day, slump into a comfy leather chair and put on some music to drown out the world. Don’t even think of talking to me, this whisky is taking me places. It’s so well balanced, smoother than it’s 60.7% ABV would suggest, and eminently drinkable. Bucketloads of flavour and subtle power, it really is one of those whiskies that has the ability to make the mind drift off and unwind. Which also made it a challenge to review, as I was enjoying it so much and just wanted to drift away with each sip.

I won’t hesitate to say this is one of my top 10 whiskies I’ve ever had, hands down.

Andrew selected this cask at the Glenfarclas Distillery. It must have been a tough job to taste all those contenders, but he eventually settled upon a 1st-fill European oak sherry butt that was distilled in 2007 and bottled as a 9 year old cask strength single malt in January 2016. If you want to hear more about how Andrew decided on this particular cask, check out the Whisky & Wisdom page.

Whisky #461: BenRiach 15 Year Old Tawny Port Finish Single Malt

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BenRiach 15 Year Old Tawny Port Finish Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46%. Tasted at home, $135 (bottle).

Heading out for a pre-dinner whisky, better warm up by having a whisky…

Colour: Polished copper.

Nose: Soft. Both in strength and aroma. Strawberry marshmallows; orange and poppyseed muffins.

Palate: Thin on the palate. Muted citrus notes – there’s candied orange and some dried orange peel. Sweet yet dry.

Finish: An oaky, salty tang in the fade.

Comments: Matured in ex bourbon barrels before being finished in tawny port hogsheads. It’s like the whisky is not quite sure what it wants to be – it’s a little sweet, yet salty too. It’s quite pleasant without scaling any tremendous heights. A perfectly acceptable warm-up dram!

Whisky #451: Craigellachie 13 Year Old Single Malt

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Craigellachie 13 Year Old Single Malt. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 46%. Tasted at home, $93 (bottle).

Seeing as my last review was a Craigellachie whisky bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (Whisky #450: SMWS 44.66 Summer-Fresh and Sweetly Attractive) – albeit a cask strength single cask release – I thought I’d compare it with one of Craigellachie malts.

Colour: Light gold.

Nose: Very light; you’ve really got to get your nose in the glass to take this one in. Cereal notes and a very faint smell of pine cones.

Palate: Freshly toasted white bread, soft oak and lemony flavours. Almost a bit cheesy, like taking a bite of a slice of Swiss cheese.

Finish: Slightly salty hay-like notes. The flavours fade reasonably soon, leaving a salty tang which lingers.

Comments: I’ve previously enjoyed this whisky, but for some reason tonight the Craigellachie 13 didn’t really do it for me. I’m a fan of Craigellachie as a distillery and have had some great whiskies from them previously. Maybe this one seems a little bit pale in comparison to the cask strength SMWS 44.66 Summer-Fresh and Sweetly Attractive I tried a couple of days ago. Decent, but not outstanding.