The record-setting attempt took place during ‘The Gathering’, the flagship event in the Society’s year-long series of 40th anniversary activities for its growing community of members around the world.
The drams sampled are:-
- Cask No. 55.78 What a Spread! – a 13-year-old rich and sweet bottling from a Speyside distillery, with tasting notes of “spiced toffee, creme brulee and a touch of fresh oak”
- Cask No. 39.244 Tutti Frutti in a Wooden Bowl – an 11-year-old whisky from the SMWS Juicy Oak & Vanilla flavour profile.
- Batch 15 Smokus Fruticosus – a blended malt comprised of malt whiskies from the islands of Islay & Orkney.
Many thanks to The SMWS (@SMWSUK) for inviting me to the event and for sending me the three samples!
So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …
Tasting Notes – Cask No. 39.244 Tutti Frutti in a Wooden Bowl (61.5%)
11 Years old from the SMWS Juicy Oak & Vanilla flavour profile.
Cask Type: 1st. fill ex-bourbon barrel
Region: Speyside
ABV: 61.5%
Nose: Light fruit and wood with added caramel and toffee apple.
Palate: Thick, creamy vanilla mouthfeel with fruity flavours, honeyed and tasty tropical fruits a la adult Tuitti Frutti! Finish: Deep spice with a very savoury dry finish. Overall: There’s a punchy strength to this dram but it’s also coupled with some powerful flavours – very nice! |
Tasting Notes – Cask No. 55.78 What a Spread! (59.2%)
13 Years old
Cask Type: 1st. fill ex-PX hogshead
Region: Highland
ABV: 59.2%
Nose: Dried tropical fruits with caramel, toffee and orchard apple.
Palate: Luscious toffee, orange and dark chocolate. Plump fruits and cane sweetness. Finish: Smooth with some sweet woodiness, peppery spice and cinnammon. Salty finish. Overall: As stated at the virtual tasting, this dram doesn’t come across as strong even though it is 59.2% – just a hearty, full-flavoured whisky instead! |
Tasting Notes – Batch 15 Smokus Fruticosus (50%)
A blended malt comprised of malt whiskies from the islands of Islay & Orkney.
10 Years old
Cask Type: Ex-bourbon, PX and oloroso casks.
Region: Blended
ABV: 50.0%
Nose: Smokehouse peat which is sweet and slightly fruity liquorice.
Palate: Smokey sweetness with savoury and peppery thickness. Liquorice with hints of blackcurrant and a ‘zingy’ sparkle on tbe tongue! Finish: Smooth with no burn and a hearty pepper flavour but that sweet peaty smokiness just goes on and on! Overall: This is a great intro. to smokey drams with just the right amount of sweetness to make it palatable to first-time smokey sippers! |
But, Did we break the Record?
Well, only time will tell as the Guinness team are still checking all the data but, as ever with SMWS drams, just getting the opportunity to taste these fine whiskies makes it a sure-fire winner to me!
About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS)
• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and has 37,000 members around the world.
• It is owned by The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask and single malt whisky, exclusive blends and a range of other Single Cask Spirits.
• The Society has bottled whisky from 180 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 different single malt whiskies every month
• Members have access to four exclusive SMWS Members’ Rooms in Leith, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London along with a global network of 100 partner bars.
• The Society offers a variety of membership options that can be tailored.
• For more information about the Society, visit: https://smws.com/, Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk
About The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC)
• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is based in Edinburgh
• The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) plc is building a portfolio of premium brands that bring together some of the world’s best spirits producers with a growing movement of discerning consumers by curating unrivalled collections of craft spirits.
• ASC owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) and in 2021 it launched J.G. Thomson & Co. Inspired by its namesake, which was originally a wine and spirits merchant in Leith, Scotland, in the 1700s, J.G. Thomson is a new, adventurous blender, creating small batch blended malt whiskies, blended grain whiskies, rum and gin.
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