3 April 2019 "The Glen Off"
SMWS Codename : 85.49 “Aloha!”
Distillery : Glen Elgin
Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside
ABV : 60.9%
Cask : 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel
Age : 10 Years (Distilled Oct. 25, 2007)
Nose : Custard like creaminess with overripe pineapples and mangos. A sweet effervescent ginger and cinnamon spice rather like a ginger beer. Dry pressed flowers with a floral vanilla and fresh cut melon slices.
Palate : Dried citrus rinds and lemon pith give an unmistakable astringency. Faint elderflower and menthol sweet notes are dominated by chalk and hot wax. The sweetness on the nose is more subdued on the palate with faint ginger, brown sugar, and grilled peaches.
Finish : Medium length and very clean; fruity spice.
SMWS Codename : 93.98 “Hospital facehugger”
Distillery : Glen Scotia
Country/Region : Scotland/Campeltown
ABV : 58.2%
Cask : 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel
Age : 10 Years (Distilled Feb. 29, 2008)
Nose : Farmer’s market tropical fruits: creamy custardy cherimoya, soursop, melon rind, fried plantains, and over-ripened brown banana. In the background a sun baked puddle of salty sea water, iodine, band-aides, and antiseptic cleaner hint at the subtle peat.
Palate : Bright and sweet like fresh crushed sugar cane juice with lime. The velvety smooth body carries Chinese five spice and star anise. An astringent wet wood or moist pepeiao (wood ear mushroom) provide a faintly earthy sweetness.
Finish : Long and lingering, sweet swimming pool chemical chlorine, hot tar covered pavement, and hospital waiting room. It clears the sinuses.
SMWS Codename : 9.149 “Delightful gravitas”
Distillery : Glen Grant
Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside
ABV : 55.1%
Cask : 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt (27y), 1st Fill Pedro Ximénez Sherry (3y)
Age : 30 Years (Distilled April 10, 1988)
Nose : Dried flowers, dates, and figs give the impression of concentrated fruity fine sugar. Musky rose in bloom with rich garden soil along with delicate rose water. Subtle spices of cinnamon and ginger with an unmistakable fruity nuttiness of almonds or almond confectionary.
Palate : The depth of flavor wafts from dried fruits to nuts; sweet succulents to bitter menthol. Crushed blueberries and blackberries are sweet to the nose, but tart on the palate. Pandan cake or black sugar give sun dried concentrated sweetness with a bitter edge. Black pepper and ginger provide an element of spice that helps tie things together.
Finish : Depth of flavor falls quickly toward herbal notes of bitter menthol, orange, and clove.
