SMWS 39.131 Caribbean habanero hot sauce

SMWS 39.131 Caribbean habanero hot sauce, 9 YO, 59.9 %

It has been a while since I last reviewed a bottling from Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) now, so here goes. I have saved this for a while. The SMWS 39.131 Caribbean habanero hot sauce really is a spicy number. This is a 9 year old Linkwood. Distilled on 2007-02-17, and matured in a 1st fill ex-bourbon cask. When bottled in 2016 the total outturn was 198 bottles.

Here are the official tasting notes as printed on the label:

The aromatic scent of Caribbean habanero hot sauce was followed on the palate by a sweet and fruity combination still accompanied by that peppery heat. Water added wood spice and Muscovado sugar in a marinade and the finish a pineapple / passion fruit juice.

Nose: Deep vanilla sweetness, with spicy top notes. It is quite exotic and fresh in style. Hard to pick out many individual aromas, but it is very nice. Huh, after a few minutes I pick up nuts and ginger bread. How peculiar! (smile)

Taste: Ooh, here comes the hot sauce. The chilies and raw ginger make my tongue tingle with excitement and tiny burns. On the nose the sweetness and the spices were rather balanced, here the spices dominate completely.

Finish: Medium long finish. The spices do subside fairly quickly, and the sweetness comes more to the front. Then I get soft oaky notes and white pepper.

Comments: A young Linkwood with a real kick to it. I do love young whiskies with lots of character, and this is a prime example.

Score (87/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas