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. These bottlings have been released from the depths of our treasure trove of casks, after decades of slow maturation and careful nurturing.
Cask No. 38.39: It’s hay season! is everything you could wish for from a Vaults Collection bottling. It comes from a lost Speyside distillery which dates back to 1898 and had a chequered history as an ‘extension distillery’ until it finally received its own name in 1977. It was mothballed again in 2002 and the site was sold to coppersmiths Forsyths in 2010, and subsequently was dismantled and demolished in 2011.
That makes this one of an ever-diminishing selection of whisky from a lost treasure, aged beautifully over the past 30 years in ex-bourbon wood.
“Cask No. 38.39: It’s hay season! is a 30-year-old single malt from a closed Speyside distillery which was subsequently demolished,” says Euan Campbell, SMWS Head of Whisky Creation. “It’s from a second-fill ex-bourbon barrel which is just absolutely lovely and fruity, with flavours like almonds, caramelised apricots and juicy pears. When this textural dram was 26 years old, we combined various barrels which were of the same age and popped them back into different casks. This one is a straightforward second-fill ex-bourbon barrel which has really done its job and lets the spirits sing – truly delicious and a taste of history.”
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.
Find out more about Cask No. 38.39: It’s hay season! here