SMWS Codename : 93.140 “Bacon on a bonfire”

Distillery : Glen Scotia

Country/Region : Scotland/Campbeltown

ABV : 55.9%%

Cask : 2nd Fill Ex-Bourbon

Age : 17 Years (Distilled May 2002, Bottled 2020)

Nose : Subtle savory with notes of applewood bacon, burning maple and pecan in the fireplace, and faint pine resin.  Sweet meat notes of candied bacon, Chinese sweet pork, and caramelized bbq sauce come though along with faint oil and grill grease.  Citrus zest and sweet honey cut through some of the meat leaving behind oatmeal and mineral notes.

Palate : Subtle flavor profile with a nice mild oiliness and tannic dryness on the back end.  Campfire, graham crackers, and dark chocolate bring to mind s’mores.  Sweetness and mild creaminess build into milk chocolate and a bottle of Yoo-hoo.  Charred tri-tip steaks, baked bacon, and crispy pork skin give a meatiness on the back end.

Finish : Light and air with chocolate milk and a pleasant woody astringency.

SMWS Codename : 39.195 “Starch of the penguins”

Distillery : Linkwood

Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside

ABV : 59.1%

Cask : Refill Ex-Bourbon

Age : 13 Years (Distilled 24 July 2006)

Nose : Fruity and floral with apples, pears, fresh raspberries, musty grapes, and lavender candies.  Notes of marzipan and condensed milk head toward to the pastry cart, while green grass and new bedsheets dredged up memories of the Sound of Music. 

Palate : Medium bodied with a mouthwatering dryness.  Malty notes of gingersnap cookies and milk chocolate pastries join fruity notes of lemon, fruit punch, pomegranate, and saltwater taffy.  Grassy sweet notes of crushed sugar cane precede an herbal turn toward the backend with licorice and linseed oil.

Finish : Long and lingering malt whoppers, molasses, and a kiss of salt.

SMWS Codename : 112.53 “Sophisticaed and seductive”

Distillery : Inchmurrin

Country/Region : Scotland/Highland

ABV : 57.4%

Cask : Ex-Bourbon Hogshead 13Y, First Fill Limousin Oak 2Y

Age : 15 Years (Distilled 19 Oct. 2004)

Nose :  Subtle and slow to open up with curried lentils, melon rinds, and waxy citrus skins.  Sweeter notes of salted taffy, salted caramel, and fruit punch begin to develop.  Dried cracked leather, empty cigar boxes, and black tea offer slightly savory contrast.

Palate : Medium to heavier body with pleasant dryness and bright acidity.  Strong black tea along with lemon iced cookies and mango jam stuffed pastries.  Fruity notes continue to roll out with strawberry icees, fresh coconut water, and fruit punch.  Toward the end, candied notes of grape nerds and juicy fruit gum develop.

Finish :  Medium length strawberry pop rocks with a mild woody astringency and waxy mouthfeel.

SMWS Codename : 7.238 “The problem of reality” (aka, Tiki Kitsch)

Distillery : Longmorn

Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside

ABV : 50.9%

Cask : Refill Hogshead

Age : 26 Years (Distilled 4 May 1993)

Nose : Roadside tropical fruit stall; cantaloup, melon, coconut, and blue vanilla shave ice syrup.  Ripe stone fruits slide into view, apricots and pluots, along with kouign-amann and buttery pastries.  Subtle notes of mineral water, candle wax and a burning wick hang in the background.

Palate : Crisp and clean flavors with a light body and pleasant dryness.  Citrusy notes of blood oranges, limes, lemons join with fragrant vanilla, pineapple, and cantaloupe.  Tropical night market with notes of sweet floral hibiscus, coconut, and dry bamboo.

Finish : Long and lingering, dry and sweet with a hint of bitter minerality.

SMWS Codename : 93.137 “As usual: unusual”

Distillery : Glen Scotia

Country/Region : Scotland/Campbeltown

ABV : 59.7%

Cask : First Fill Ex-Bourbon

Age : 7 Years (Distilled 9 Feb. 2012)

Nose : Tart fruits and subtle spices.  Unripened starchy tropical fruits, green pineapple, tart lemon curd and stewed rhubarb.  Funk and cream come through as rotten bananas and white pepper gravy.  Faint barbecue and charcoal linger in the background old charred salmon cedar plank.

Palate : Creamy and mouth coating, it begins sweet before transitioning to funk and finally salty brine.  Fresh cheese and herbs, apricot marmalade, tart fruits, and yogurt.  A few drops of water brought out more tannic dryness, bitter herbs, and spice.  A few more drops of water toned down some of the bitter notes and brought forward earthy ginger and a spicy sarsaparilla root beer bite.

Finish :  Lingering dryness with earthy notes and faint ash.

SMWS Codename : 35.254 “Pure decadence”

Distillery : Glen Moray

Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside

ABV : 63.9%

Cask : Ex-Oloroso butt 9Y, New Oak Heavy Char #4 Puncheon 2Y

Age : 11 Years (Distilled March 2008)

Nose : Malty halloween candy grab bag: candy corn, milk duds, and whoppers.  Cask char comes through as burning chimneys, jack-o’-lantern candles, and haunted house smoke machines.  Mild grassiness of hay bales along with sweet fruity cotton candy.

Palate : Medium body and mouth-coating, the dram has tons of tannic structure, but no real astringency.  Very sweet with loads of candies; whoppers, Red Vine licorice, and chocolate covered fruits.  Hints of floral black tea, jam, and pastries come on the end.

Finish :  Lingering sweet caramel and malt with a slowly building dryness.

SMWS Codename : 30.109 “Strangely smoothing”

Distillery : Glenrothes

Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside

ABV : 64.9%

Cask : First Fill Ex-Sherry Butt

Age : 12 Years (Distilled 6 June 2007)

Nose : Rich and heavy with tons of caramel, toffee, Turkish delight, and sweet coffee desserts.  Chocolate ganache, cream cheese brownies, and green herbaceous tobacco leaf give way to fruity hookah bar smoke and stewed plums.

Palate : Thick and tannic with loads of oaky structure.  Opens with coffee, nutty almond or pistachio pastries, and Turkish delight.  Malty milk dudes, and whoppers come into focus with ginger and cola.  Chocolate and fruit come on in the finish with cherry coffee cordials and cocoa cola brownies.

Finish : Lingering rich toffee and malty shortbread.

SMWS Codename : 53.325 “When two powerful pearls meet”

Distillery : Caol Ila

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 61.2%

Cask : Ex-Bourbon 6Y, Refill Madeira 1Y

Age : 7 Years (Distilled 7 March 2012)

Nose : Opens into salty sea breezes, sweet wood kindling, and a funky smoky gorgonzola.  Sweeter notes appear with candied fruits, molasses, and pineapple upside down cake.  A few drops of water brought out wine cured meats, earthy mushroom, and mild creaminess.

Palate : Thick and heavy the viscous spirit sits on the palate.  Rich notes of dried fruits, condensed milk, and sweet cured meats: soppressata or smoked maple bacon.  Gradually spices come into focus with pepper, salty brine, and lemon peel.  A sweet wood fire smoke arrives at the end along with toffee and slightly salty caramel.  A few drops of water brought out impressions of grilled strawberries, slightly bitter herbs, and creaminess.

Finish : Lingering sweet wood char and caramel.