93.207 - Harbourside Hoopla

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 01/05/2024 - 20:10

32 years old, distilled 1st October 1991, 52.0% abv, Second Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 139 bottles, dram price VC-B

55.92 - Does What It Says On The Tin

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 01/05/2024 - 20:06

15 years old, distilled 29th September 2008, 57.2% abv, First Fill Ex-Oloroso Hogshead, 298 bottles, dram price E

39.274 - Marmalade Pipe Tobacco

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 01/05/2024 - 20:01

16 years old, distilled 24th July 2006, 57.8% abv, First Fill Ex-Oloroso Hogshead, 270 bottles, dram price E

2.139 - Feeling Peachy

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 01/05/2024 - 19:56

17 years old, distilled 29th September 2006, 57.5% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 154 bottles, dram price F

SMWS Outturn 341 - Flavour Hunters Festival

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 01/05/2024 - 19:49

Outturn 341 is packed with Festival Drams, which I hope to be publishing reviews of later this month - but they're all under embargo right now. Fortunately, there are plenty of drams in the regular outturn to look at.

My favourite was the Batch 24 - Underwater Barbecue. The SMWS has made some superb blended malts in the past and this is one of their best. Not quite an Exotic Cargo or Beachcomber, but still something I expect will charm many who try it, and will make an appearance at many social events this summer.

Also of note is the Glenlivet which is a peachy, fruity delight. Sadly the sherried drams didn't impress me much on this list, but out of left field there was a rye whisky I enjoyed. Yes, you read that right, the end times are approaching - I am enjoying rye! The Kyrö is a gentle, fruity, cereal-led pleasure that restrains its spice and surprised me. Also surprising was the Worthy Park rum, which has estery fruits and touches of smoke.

Finally we should address the elephant in the room - the Glen Scotia. Which I very much enjoyed and would recommend - but I don't see the prices when I write previews, only the bottles themselves. When I say I'd like a bottle that doesn't mean I can afford it! Hopefully this simply reflects the current remarkably high cask prices for Campbeltown casks. I don't much like discussing the prices of whisky, but please understand I reviewed it on its merits, not its RRP.

~~The festival drams will follow soon...~~

Flavour Hunter Festival drams are coming in two waves, with the first wave coming on Friday 10th. Of the four drams in that wave my favourite was the Auchentoshan, which should surprise nobody. It's a lovely glass of fruit, perfect for summer. The Highland Park was decent, with plenty of coastal elements and lemon. The Ardnamurchan is decent but didn't quite float my boat - and the same can be said of the Royal Brackla. Both set out to do what they wanted to, but just aren't quite my style.

None of them changes my mind that the best whisky of this Outturn is the Blended Malt Batch 24.

The final batch comes out next week on the 17th...

R2.18 - Sticky Spice Cake

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 03/04/2024 - 20:30

18 years old, distilled 31st July 2004, 59.0% abv, Second Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 204 bottles, dram price D

B4.11 - Like A Grown-Up In A Candy Store

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 03/04/2024 - 20:26

4 years old, distilled 11th October 2018, 61.1% abv, #3 char new oak barrel, 187 bottles, dram price D

A4.8 - Classic Cherry Clafoutis

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 03/04/2024 - 20:22

Vintage 2006, 50.2% abv, Refill Gascon Black Oak Barrel, 442 bottles, dram price D

G15.19 - Sweet Shop on the Beach

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 03/04/2024 - 20:17

8 years old, distilled 27th November 2013, 63.2% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 214 bottles, dram price A

95.95 - Peppery, Zingy and Cooling

Submitted by Philip Storry on Wed, 03/04/2024 - 20:14

10 years old, distilled 18th October 2012, 60.5% abv, First Fill Ex-Oloroso Hogshead, 277 bottles, dram price C

SMWS