Origin: Orkney Islands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 60.6%ABV
Ageing cask: Ex-Bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Average price: € 80.00
Official website: www.smws.com
Vote: 89/100
Let’s take a step back in time together, when the Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottles had a very sober box and label, but already had the evocative names we love so much.
Bottle code 4.125 (look in this guide for the distillery of origin), as always for a cask strength single cask with no alterations.
Distilled in April 1999 and bottled in March 2008, with therefore eight years of ageing, I have to thank the German branch of the Society for this homage from the distant past.
Tasting notes
Light gold in the glass.
Very mineral and saline on the nose, with a fresh sea air caressing the nostrils. A thin wisp of smoke appears in the background, blowing over herbaceous tones and hints of dried fruit, peach, green apple, lemon juice, with no sign of alcohol. Sharp.
The coastal soul returns overbearingly to the palate, with the peat more present although not as a protagonist. Decidedly softer than on the nose, with vanilla, yellow fruit (peach, banana, pineapple), touches of citrus, liquorice and a hint of menthol. Abundant sprinkling of black pepper. Very dry, the minerality cleans the mouth with every sip while maintaining the balance between the flavors.
The finish is long and saline, dry, with hints of liquorice, anise, lemon and dull embers.
Young but already so balanced and elegant, without the smears you would expect from age but with refinements that many older whiskies dream of. Very drinkable, dangerously so given the alcohol content which, in the long run, does not fail to make itself felt.