A 35th Anniversary bash with an online Virtual Tasting!
I always love an anniversary so I was greatly looking forward to Celebrating The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s 35th Anniversary bash with an online Virtual Tasting!
The evening was hosted by master brand ambassador John McCheyne at The Vaults. He introduced five hand-selected Society drams, each with a different flavour profile.
This was their first ever golbal Virtual Tasting. John moved the tasting order around a bit but we got there in the end!
The malts sampled were:-
- SMWS 35.214 Without pretence
- SMWS 63.49 In the dark of the abyss
- SMWS 135.6 Cones vs crones
- SMWS 93.94 The final trawl
- SMWS 29.249 Sweet black tea in the surgery
If you want to catch up on what all the tasters had to say you can view the whole event here: #SMWSat35.
So, what did I think?
Here are my tasting notes … and the one which was my favourite on the night!
Tasting Notes – SMWS 35.214 Without pretence (55.7%)
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Nose: Green apples, citrus, vanilla and fudge with a little wood. There’s also some lovely tropical fruits! The nose is intensely sweet with rich fruit and chocolate. Palate: Vanilla, blackcurrant, apple and chocolate. Finish: Powerful spicy chilli with a menthol finish coupled with smooth caramel! Overall: A solid dram with plenty of fruity sweetness. |
Tasting Notes – SMWS 63.49 In the dark of the abyss (60.6%)
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Nose: Rich, sweet sherry – almost porty. There’s also treacle, fudge, stewed fruits and a little sulphur. After a while the nose exhibits a really powerful, creamy vanilla fudge! Palate: Luscious mouthfeel with rich stewed fruits, orange and dark chocolate. Finish: Smooth finish with mild spice – very tasty! Overall: If you can wait awhile with this dram in the glass it turns into something glorious! |
Tasting Notes – SMWS 135.6 Cones vs crones (57.1%)
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Nose: Very powerful rich caramel toffee! Chocolate biscuit, butterscotch and popcorn. Palate: Tropical sweetness and golden syrup popcorn. Finish: Hot, peppery spice with a little salt. Overall: Quite a strong taste of new-make spirit in there which makes this dram my least favourite. Maybe it’s the young age? |
Tasting Notes – SMWS 93.94 The final trawl (56.8%)
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Nose: Great, rich, peaty aromas – lovely smoke and burnt wood! Seaside air and smoked fish, oily and coastal which mellows into a smooth caramel seaseme halva! Palate: Zingy citrus with a lovely woody, smokey peat! Sweet and fruity. Finish: Tobacco finish with peppery spice. Overall: A joy to sample this one – so rich in flavours and aromas! |
Tasting Notes – SMWS 29.249 Sweet black tea in the surgery (48.6%)
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Nose: Sweet, antiseptic, smokey with a little peat. Palate: Sweet, smokey and fulfilling! Finish: Chilli spice with a smooth finish. Overall: Strong hints that this dram is from Laphroaig. The taste certainly seems to confirm this! |
My Favourite On The Night
Out of the 5, I think it’s got to be the SMWS 93.94 – The final trawl. A powerful dram with lots of flavours!.
Many thanks to SMWS (@SMWSUK) for sending the samples and for a great dram evening!
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