SMWS Outturn July 2024
So Outturn dram started on a strong note, as we were welcomed with the Penderyn (128.32). For those of you who don’t know this is a Welsh whisky!!! My lovely friend who lives in Cardiff has promised to take me for a visit, and I can’t wait!! I expected to be disappointed but was taken off guard by the complexity of the dram! The Mesmerising Moroccon Market came to life despite falling into the Young and Spritely flavour profile (9 years old; 61.9% ABV). While the initial nose turned me off at petrol, this quickly evolved into vanilla and tropical tinned fruits, coconuts, and maraschino cherries. When tasting this dram, it deserved to be finished (no pouring out here!), with orange sherbet, honeyed apricot, and white flowers coming through. But that’s not all! It also provided some herby-ness from rosemary an grass. There were bouts of cereal and granola. Of course, there was pineapple. But, the finish was a delicate white pepper. All in all, a nice dram. I question the price… but I think prices are increasing and £80 isn’t too terrible for this dram in the end.
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DeBunnahabhain (10.263)
A smoky Meatlover’s Pizza. I’m VERY VERY sad that this was not available to buy, as this was my favourite of the night! It wasn’t too old at 10 years, with a PX finish. Similar price to the Penderyn (£82) there was so much in this dram beyond the sweet peat. As I said on Instagram, this took me back to childhood when I used to dip my jolly rancher (watermelon flavoured sugar candy) into my soda- either a root beer or a Dr. Pepper. This is what came across on the nose, but the taste was much more savoury. While I did get smoked gammon (ham) as the meatiness, there was much more including charred onion, grilled peppers, anise, and red pepper flakes to boot. All in all, YUM.
Caol Ila (53.472)
I wasn’t too excited about the name Islay and Jerez-twinned, though I was excited about the number of casks that this dram went through. Same price profile again (£82) and same age (10 years) so quite reasonable for a Caol Ila. The typical aspects did come across- vanilla and sweet peat. S also makes excellent fairy cakes (cupcakes) and he adds a bit of smoke to them, and this is exactly what this dram reminded me of on the nose! When tasting I got sultanas, smoked BBQ, hay, icing sugar. BUT, the most interesting aspect of this dram was the pickles (mustard seed) and the wasabi peas that I was able to detect on the nose. This made the dram’s heat that much more special! On the palate, this came across more herby- as burned rosemary.
Balcones (140.9)
It seems that this expression wen through quite a few different casks- bourbon, a wine barrique, and then madeira. This came across in complexity. While initially I got notes of cream soda, lemon zest, mandarin jam, and vanilla, this turned into fennel and pickles. When tasting it, I bit into a chocolate orange bar (this is very popular in the UK) and petrol. Most notably, flavours of green curry came through- coconut, green peppercorn, thai basil, etc. While not my favourite Balcones dram, this was one very interesting and we very happily purchased it. (£89; 57.9%ABV, 6 years old). All of us at our table bought this dram!! It was that delicious.
The Ben Nevis (78.84)
Mingle into Darkness also was the black horse of the night. I didn’t expect anything from it. But it was quite interesting. On the nose, it gave off elements of baked goods, like the zingy baking soda when you bight into a cake. This also followed with green apples and a malty apple cider drink, with lemon zest that sat atop a lemon meringue pie. When tasting it, it was much more interesting. Going back to childhood, it reminded me of sweet candy corns that we used to Trick or Treat for during Halloween Beyond this, I found pickled mango, green peppercorn, chutney, a saline quality, and finally sage.
Auchroisk (95.104)
It was definitely interesting for me, but not too complex in flavour. While now that I think back to it, it’s a very good price for the dram (£59), it put me off on the name- To Accompany gardening or sketching. So essentially, it’s either a dram to keep you non-sober at a boring event or a dram that boring people like. But, really it wasn’t so. This dram also took me back to childhood. As a girl, I would go to this Mexican fruit stand in our city called La Palatera. They would put together fruit cups, the bottoms with melons, the middle with kiwis, and berries. The top would be coconut. THEN they would ask you how spicy you want your fruit cup, as they would add lime juice and a red pepper to it. I would always ask for extra extra spice (getting a XXXL written on my cup). This came across just like that fruit cup- pina colada, watermelon rind, apricot, ham, chipotle chile, lime. A must try dram!
Miltonduff (72.114)
I definitely detected fruits (red currant, blueberries, strawberry fruit letather) and some herbs- sage and parsley. The taste was interesting- beef jerky with a strong peppercorn outer edge. It was salty and also had more floral elements of pink peppercorn.
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Highland Park (4.385)
It just didn’t tell me what it wanted to be. It was almost torn. On the nose, I got pleasant aromas of peanut brittle and vanilla. There was also a lightly toasted marshmallow that was only charred briefly over a campfire. It also reminded me of a crème caramel or a flan. The taste though introduced harsher cigar ash, Sichuan pepper, and sugariness like a crème brulee or burnt sugar finish. It was too burnt sugar and there was also a funkiness that emerged. The pepper and the sweetness battled on, but it left me more confused.
Craigellachie (44.180)
I really wanted to find the funk meaty notes, the sulfur elements that I’ve loved from this distillery before. Sadly, it was a sweet bomb- peaches, honey, lavendear, apricot, almonds, floral notes, pineapple. If I’d have named this dram, I’d call it Peachy Keen.
The Loch Lomond (135.58)
It was if it became raisin bran- a very present note of barley or cornflakes and then drunk raisins (dipped in rum). On tasting it, it was also quite simple and I was only able to detect some white flowers, tinned peaches, and fennel. Very oaty and very sweet. Nothing great.
None of the other ones were disappointing, they just weren’t to my taste. Either they were Light & Delicate (a SMWS flavour profile that doesn’t speak to me but might be more relevant for those who are newer to whisky) or they were not worth the price.
Speaking of price, the Old Pultney (52.45) was quite nice but it wasn’t worth the £595 being asked). While it was 30 years old, the price was more than what I thought it warranted. I do want to emphasise that it was very pleasant on nose and palante! It had sweetness and a powerful peppery eucalyptus. Right off the nose, I got notes of kettle corn (the sweet popcorn but with added notes of salt). The funk that it had was enhanced with notes of mint and tinned peaches. The chamomile I tasted was added to with a lovely creamy peanut butter. It weas a very nice dram, but too pricey.
Strathmill (100.41) was quite fruity and sweet. It had notes of melon, raw pineapple, cereal, granny smith apples, mango, and orange sherbet. There was a bit of caramel, almost like a pecan pie when tasting it along with a light white pepper.