53.308 - Let the tempest tout an’ blaw

Submitted by Philip Storry on Mon, 30/12/2019 - 13:57

30 years old, distilled 18th April 1989, 52.0% abv, Refill Ex-Sherry Butt, 186 bottles, dram price J

The nose has smoked bacon, grilled salmon, bitter chocolate and salted caramels - an unusual experience but somehow it works! The mouthfeel is decent but has little cling. The body has sherry smokey bacon crisps, marzipan, grilled salmon and then bitter chocolate. The finish is bitter chocolate, salmon and smokey bacon crisps.

Water brings out thick, compact whorling that settles quickly into brief mottling. The nose gains peat smoke and some lemon, but loses nothing. The body gains peat and ash, lemon juice and some hints of olives. The finish gains peat and lemon juice, with a hint of ash - and loses the salmon.

This is a big beast of a dram. Wonderfully balanced, with the sherry never dominant. The bitterness could be a bit too much for some, but I found it nicely conterpointed by the lemon and the smokey bacon.

One for summer nights.

Technical score: 5/5

Personal preference: I’d like a bottle.

97.22 - Emerald-masked triple thrill

Submitted by Philip Storry on Mon, 30/12/2019 - 12:58

29 years old, distilled 23rd April 1990, 57.5% abv, First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 146 bottles, dram price J

The nose has pine floorboards, brioche and some new make notes, but rapidly gives way to passion fruit and mango with a hint of gooseberry. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has passion fruit, mango, then citrus zest and a hint of zinc coated bicycle clips before croissants and new pine furniture notes sweep across the palate. Very light and fresh. The finish has passion fruit, zinc and gooseberry.

Water brings out thin, compact whorling that settles quickly into brief mottling. The nose gains more brioche and mango, and loses the new make notes completely. The body gains more pine and mango, and loses the gooseberry. The finish gains more mango and some pine, and loses the zinc. There’s also a hint of peppermint.

A fruity delight, balanced by some wood and pastry notes. For me, Littlemill often has a citrus zest and slightly zinc-like top note, which needs lots of flavour as a counterpoint - this dram manages that. It’s a pleasant window onto not only a closed distillery but also one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries. Sadly, that zinc note also reminds me that this was never my favourite Lowland malt experience. It’s remarkable that a 29 year old in a first fill bourbon cask can be this light, sweet and fruity - if that’s your style then this will satisfy. But I suspect many will value it more highly for its provenance than its flavours, which is rather a pity.

One for summer mornings - whisky for breakfast, anyone?

Technical score: 5/5

Personal preference: I’d have another dram.

24.129 - Meeting an old master

Submitted by Philip Storry on Sun, 08/10/2017 - 21:43

27 years old, distilled 7th May 1990, 53.6% abv, First-Fill Pedro Ximinex Butt, 414 bottles

25.70 - In a perfumed garden

Submitted by Philip Storry on Sun, 08/10/2017 - 21:32

26 years old, distilled 14th November 1990, 58.3% abv, Refill Ex-Sauternes Hogshead, 170 bottles

The Vaults Collection

Submitted by Philip Storry on Sun, 08/10/2017 - 21:26

The SMWS has a super-premium range called the Vaults Collection. These whiskies are rare, well packaged, and accordingly priced.

Some members have disliked this new tier of whiskies - although it should be noted that the bottles sold well. And the Society did decide to allow members to buy 10ml samples at the venues for reasonable prices, which takes a lot of the sting out of it - you may not be able to buy a bottle, but you can at least try some.

Naturally, even though these bottles are out of my reach, I still write tasting notes for them!

SMWS Vaults Collection