Whisky : Glenlossie 17 Year SMWS 46.84 “Velvet Complexity” / “Sipping from a velvet Tardis”

Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside

ABV : 58.7%

Cask : 15 Year Ex-Oloroso Butt, 2 Year 2nd Fill Spanish Oak Oloroso Butt

Age : 17 Years (Distilled 31 May 2002)

Nose : Rich sherry notes overwhelm the senses with chocolate, dried cherries and plums, nuts, coffee, and old soft leather.  Deeper in sits notes of rich lumber, old varnished cabinets, antiques, and lamp oil.

Palate : Rich and syrupy, the profile balances between wood structure/tannins and concentrated fruits.  Coffee, cola, tobacco, and a dense fruity Christmas cake all come through.  Strong wood notes of a poorly ventilated attic in the summer come alive with lamp oil, hot wax, and a burning candle wick on the end.

Finish : Long and lingering dark chocolate and cherry.

Score : 6

Mental Image : Raiding Grandpa’s Curio Cabinet

Something Similar : Auchentoshan 18Y SMWS 5.70 (similar curio-cabinet/ varnished wood, more fruit)

Something Similar : Westland Sherry Wood (similar Christmas Cake and spice, less tannic)

Something Worse : Fettercairn 28Y Cadenhead (similar rich woody structure, more oil, more citrus)

Notes :  An immensely popular dram at a local virtual tasting, this Glenlossie had enough complexity from the double oloroso maturation/finish that there was plenty to love.  It had great structure or body from the wine and wood influence.  The flavor profile transitioned wonderfully from thick syrupy fruits to a lovely waxiness with burning oil lamps and candles.  There was only a kiss of a sulphurous sherry funk hanging in the background.  A few drops of water brought more of the fruits: dates, figs, and plums to the front while pushing some of the wood notes to the back.

While there are oloroso bombs that I enjoy a bit more and the Glenlossie malt rather disappeared behind the wine and wood on this, this was still quite enjoyable.  The only oddity on this was the name.  I have to assume it was the TTB that objected to the original UK name “Sipping from a velvet Tardis” and asked for it to be changed.  I assume it was “sipping” they took issue with as “Tardis” has been used on other bottles that have been approved.  It is hard to imagine someone going through the trouble of buying SMWS bottles being confused about what was in the bottle.