Tasting Notes
Hungarian csíramálé (caramel) was served atop walnut paste and accompanied by a glass of peach and white grape juice. The nose was full of sweetness. With a luxurious runny honey on the palate, we paused for the appearance of refreshing melon and pineapple, followed by cherry jam. Water offered a warm cedar on the nose, joined by lemon juice and sugared almonds. Sparkling orange blossom water now cleansed the palate, opening up to coconut, bubblegum and apple.
From the Whisky Team
It’s not every day that our Tasting Panel is unanimous about anything. But when reviewing the notes and the first thing that catches your eye is a panellist’s big, bold “BEAUTIFUL!” as the first descriptor for the nose, you know you have something very precious. Distilled in 1988 from stills powered by the naked flame, which some say helps produce a fruitier distillate, this is one of those relics of another era that should not be ignored. While it lands in the Society’s Sweet, Fruity & Mellow flavour profile, it displays the hallmarks of age and great maturity. Honey, caramel, ripe melon and pineapple saturate the nose, while on the palate there is a balance of darker notes, with exotic cedar wood, nutty almond aromas and refreshing mentholic notes leading to more intense fruity flavours. Whether you’re looking for a superb sipper or a dram with gravitas and groove in equal measure, this is it. Sometimes the better stories are the simpler ones, and this one is a reminder that the humble old bourbon hogshead can reveal some mouthwatering flavours.
About The Vaults Collection
The Vaults Collection is a selection of the finest and rarest single cask, single malt whisky, set aside from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s most remarkable stocks over the years. They have been released from the depths of our treasure trove of casks, after decades of slow maturation and careful nurturing. The Vaults Collection represents the whisky lover’s dream: A chance to journey back into whisky history, including the opportunity to experience styles or distilleries that no longer exist. The Collection takes its name from the Society’s historical home at The Vaults in Leith, Scotland’s oldest commercial building in continuous use whose connection with the drinks world dates back to the 12th century. Each bottle has a specially designed label and is offered in a beautiful wooden box.