Origin: Speyside (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 53.1%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon 2nd fill
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Average price: € 400.00
Official website: www.smws.com
Vote: 80/100
I took this sample in the beautiful setting of Whisky week in Florence, from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society stand where brand Ambassador Francesco Ramella was super nice.
‘A dram for when you return home after a long day.
A whisky that gladdens the heart, compelling and profoundly beautiful.
Pleasure and subtlety that indicates joy”.
This is what the phrase whispers on the label of this 33 year old bottling.
THINE HAPPY PLACE comes from society cask 35.304 (distillery 35 and cask 304, here you can find a handy guide to its provenance), and was distilled in September 1987. Only 205 bottles of this whisky were produced, which to date have been declared sold out directly by SMWS.
Every bottle of SMWS is a pearl, in fact it was acquired in 2015 by the luxury brand LVMH.
Tasting notes
The nose releases typical Speyside whisky scents, lots of sour fruit such as kiwi, green apple, grapefruit, lemon and pineapple, over which spicy tones such as cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg together with a faint hint of almond stand out. Notable presence of malt.
On the palate, the fruit is less pronounced and spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger are perceived more, with the almond much more evident and pronounced, accompanied by hints of toffee and custard that add a slight touch of sweetness.
The finish is long and relaxing, with peppery notes tingling the palate and lips, ending on a sweet note of vanilla.
In conclusion, THINE HAPPY PLACE is a good whisky to drink after a long day at work and why not, even in your living room at home watching the wood burning in the fireplace.
Honestly from a 33 year old I was expecting that extra specialness that I didn’t find, but it’s still a happy place because that is how it is wherever you drink your favourite whisky.