SMWS 1.182 Aromatic and enigmatic (Sample Box No 1, whisky #6)

SMWS 1.182 Aromatic and enigmatic, 11 YO, 57,1 %

Ho, ho, ho, here we go, whisky number 6 from my SMWS Sample Box No. 1. The box contains a total of 25 samples of SMWS releases, and all I know when tasting them is the ABV. That's it.

Here is the description from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society:

Fresh, bright and attractive – the nose gives citrus, peach, sherbet straws, crème caramel and flower meadows; also deeper notes of varnished wood and leather. The palate is enigmatic and surprisingly perfumed, with orange fondant, lemon bonbons, vanilla sponge and floral cosmetics.

This whisky was distilled on 2002-06-07, matured in a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel, then bottled in 2014, with a total outturn of 137 bottles. Either this barrel was extremely leaky, or this was a barrel split between different bottlings, but I guess we will never really know.

The SMWS 1.182 Aromatic and enigmatic appears to be sold out, but you might be able to pick up aa bottle at around GBP 65.

Nose (22/25): Vanilla, honey and caramel swirls. Butterscotch and mild toffee. Soft creamy notes. Mustard seeds.

Taste (22/25): Spicy caramel, a touch of burnt notes on the caramel. Ginger, almonds and caramel pudding. Someting green or herbal in the background.

Finish (21/25): Rather long finish. Dries off a little, but remains balanced all the way. The sweetness is also toned down a couple of notches towards the end. The floral notes turns into a mild perfumed character.

Balance (21/25): I do love 1st fill ex-bourbon barrels. Fun to try an ex-bourbon matured Glenfarclas, not very often one gets the chance to do that (I did buy a bottle recently though).

Score (86/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas