SMWS 119.5 Fresh plums dipped in caramel
SMWS 119.5 Fresh plums dipped in caramel, 11 YO, 62.2 %
And here is the third and final review from me at this time of legendary SMWS bottlings of Yamazaki single malt. This 119.5 release was distilled September 1991 and bottled June 2003. There is no available information on the type of cask used.
Nose: Light and sugary on first approach. Very well integrated alcohol. You can dive into this one and not feel a whiff of alcohol. Lovely mixture of leather, tobacco leaves, caramel, cinnamon and toasted oak. With time also cigar box, earthy vanilla and a hint of incense.
Taste: Full bodied and fiery. Soot and strawberry jam. Dry ashes with lots of honey and white pepper. It is big and loud! Then it mellows out → sweeter and more fruity now. The promised plums do appear.
Finish: Medium to long finish. Rather green in character now - tomato vine, cut grass and green herbs. It remains fruity an sweet as well → prunes dipped in caramel is actually fairly accurate. I would say the dip also contains white chocolate and fudge.
Comment: A whirlwind!
Score 89/100
Sláinte!
-Thomas
