Tasting Notes
The Panel were immediately plunged into scrubbing an old barbecue grill. But on the side were lemons, buttery samphire, tangy pickles and chutney, and crackers with sea salt and black pepper. We also got whiffs of smoked ham and a summery coastal tang. Reduction brought out delicate threads of smoke, distant beach bonfire embers, engine oil and kippers smashed on to toasted brioche. When neat, the palate was sweetly lemony and smoky, with fish pâté, pickled cornichons, charred fennel, jalapeños in brine and clam broth. Water added layers of texture and thickness in the mouth, while bringing out gristy porridge notes, and other elements including lavender honey and a gherkin lurking in a dirty martini.
Introducing The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Festival Collection
At The Scotch Malt Whisky Society we might be best known for our single cask whiskies. But for our festival collection this year, we wanted to create a range of whiskies that could go a little bit further. We have a global membership, after all, and single casks don’t always stretch that far! So because this time of year is a global celebration of festival season for the Society, we have set out to showcase distinctive flavours from across Scotland’s whisky regions – and we also wanted to make sure there were more bottles to go around.
With that in mind, we’re presenting 12 different bottlings this year, encompassing some very different spirit styles and from lots of different wood types as well. The Whisky Team had a great time creating all these, with everything from Writing Bureau, a 30-year-old Speyside blended malt, to six whiskies with various sherry influences to celebrate the Society’s passion for amazing sherry cask-matured whiskies – and much more in between.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary festival and experience whisky in its most captivating form. Cheers to the Flavour Hunters Festival and the endless possibilities that await within each dram!