20 & 27 June 2020 "Seconds"
Bottler : Morrison & Mackay’s Càrn Mòr
Distillery : Invergordon
Country/Region : Scotland/Highland (Single Grain)
ABV : 51.1%
Cask : Refill Hogshead
Age : 31 Years (Distilled 22 June 1987, Bottled 3 Sept. 2018)
Nose : Creamy and sweet— spiced custard, oaky molasses, creamy caramel, and creme brûlée. Between the caramelized sugars and creams are subtle notes of fruit and pastry.
Palate : Medium bodied and immensely creamy. Full fat cream yogurt, browned butter, and citrusy hints of range and lime. Overtime develops the oily consistency of whipping cream along with notes of sweet brown sugar and salt. A bit of water in the glass brings forward caramel and hints of cocoa to the cream.
Finish : Long and lingering with buttery sugars and subtle citrus zest.
SMWS Codename : G10.21 “Surfing a custard wave”
Distillery : Strathclyde
Country/Region : Scotland/Lowland (single grain)
ABV : 57.0%
Cask : 2nd Fill Ex-Bourbon
Age : 41 Years (Distilled 23 Nov. 1977)
Nose : Rich custard and fruit— apple, pear, or blueberry— baked inside a creamy tart. Fried apple hand pies, cinnamon, bananas foster, and orange zest. Loads of buttery pastry and creamy custard.
Palate : Full bodied with intense sugar and pastry— fresh hot fried malasadas rolled in sugar and cinnamon and stuffed with vanilla cream. Rich malty fried dough, vanilla pastry cream, and just a hint of citrus or lemon zest. Fruit and cream notes reprise at the end as fried plantains covered in honey.
Finish : Very long with vanilla pudding and creamy custard.
Bottler : Whiskybroker
Distillery : Cambus
Country/Region : Scotland/Lowland (single grain)
ABV : 56.9%
Cask : Sherry Butt
Age : 25 Years (Distilled 8 Aug. 1991, Bottled 8 Mar. 2017)
Nose : Immediately fruity and musty. Dried li hing cherries, li mui, and dried prunes— we find ourselves amongst the oversized glass containers full of dried, preserved, and candied fruits in a Crackseed store. Faintly creamy notes of lilikoi butter emerge tentatively, while more aggressive sulphur and salt notes— not unlike a dirty gym bag— come forward.
Palate : Medium bodied, the flavor profile matches the nose almost exactly. Li hing mui, musty Crackseed store shelves, and dried plums. The fruity sourness is pleasant, taking the senses toward apple cider and black vinegar. Bits of spirit, sulphur, and hot plastic come near the end.
Finish : Lingering mouth drying salted fruits.
SMWS Codename : G10.22 “A crescendo of custard and spice”
Distillery : Strathclyde
Country/Region : Scotland/Lowland (single grain)
ABV : 59.8%
Cask : Ex-Bourbon Hogshead 29 Years, 2nd Fill French Oak 2 Years
Age : 31 Years (Distilled 15 June 1988)
Nose : Opened with creamy vanilla custard and dark stone fruits. Coffee, mocha, and pepper spice slowly came into focus before raisins and figs pushed them out of the way.
Palate : Medium to thick body bursting with fruits and spice. Pepper, twangy paprika, and dark mocha all come out punching. Sweet fruits develop on the mid palate with pears, apples, and creamy custard carrying us to dessert. Tannic black tea, cinnamon, and hints of bananas and raspberries appeared near the end.
Finish : Lingering dry tea and mocha.
SMWS Codename : G1.18 “Pyjamas for the Soul”
Distillery : North British
Country/Region : Scotland/Speyside
ABV : 60%
Cask : Oloroso Butt 26 Years, 2nd Fill PX Butt 1 Year
Age : 27 Years (Distilled 15 Oct. 1991)
Nose : Thick and heavy withs strong notes of brown sugar and maple syrup. Kiss of salt and milk chocolate are joined by oak and honey.
Palate : Thick and syrupy with loads of spice. Bursting with brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamon, and earthy red ginger. Almost winey with the heavy cask influence— dry spices, chocolate, coffee, and a bit of tannic dryness.
Finish : Lingering dried apricots and stone fruits.
