Submitted by Philip Storry on
The September outturn is another decent showing from the SMWS. Will their tyranny of excellence never end?
If you like sherried whiskies, then this list sees you SOL - "Sherry? Out of Luck!"
There's a whopping six first-fill bourbon casks though, which is pretty decent. And there's a white-wine cask too, which is a nice find.
My favourites were the Arran, the Longmorn, the Highland Park, the Glenfarclas and the Cragganmore. There was also a very pleasant surprise in the unusual Ardmore, which is the white wine cask alluded to earlier - and a must try for anyone visiting an SMWS bar! But the standout whisky for the list was the Bowmore - a wonderful dram, very much in the style I like from that distillery.
So there's obviously a lot to like about this list. But whisky is subjective, so it's worth noting that there are some people I was drinking with who will be dismayed at the lower scores I gave the Glen Moray and the Laphroaig - perhaps they just weren't the style I was looking for? Who knows. But disagreement is one of the fuels that fires the passions in the whisky world, so I'd be remiss if I didn't score them honestly, and then accuse anyone who disagrees with me of being a crass idiot who needs further education!
(That last part was a joke. It's a pity that we've reached the point where the internet needs jokes pointed out to it, but there we are...)
Overall, I think that September's list was a good one. When it shone, it really shone - and there seemed to be something to please almost everyone, except possibly the sherry fans. But you can't please all the people all of the time...