A single cask small batch release from Bunnahabhain via the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS"), this was released in 2021 for the annual Islay Festival. At a brash 7 years old, this was matured in second-fill Pedro Ximenez hogshead as well as re-charred casks (!). Interesting combination... not to mention it's heavily peated! So unsure quite what to expect.
Something is going on with Auchroisk over at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS"). This is my third bottle from that distiller, and all three have been re-racked into wine casks at a really young age, and then released after a pretty short finishing period. This bottle, coded 95.46 by the SMWS and nicknamed "Earthy and Mysterious" is the oldest at 8 years (!). Released as part of the annual Speyside Festival, as part of their "spicy and sweet" profile.
The Tobermory distillery on the Isle of mull makes both peated and unpeated whiskies. When they peat it, they release it under the imprint Ledaig ("Let-chick"). And that's what this is: a single cask bottling from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") from Ledaig, aged 13 years in refill ex-bourbon casks, peated, and served up at a delicious 58.3% ABV. Nicknamed "Wood Smoke Through a Porthole."
This is another heavily peated Bunnahabhain (often called "Staoisha" after Loch Staoisha on the Isle of Islay where the distillery is located), this time with an interesting re-casking. Hailing from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS"), this was aged for five years in ex-bourbon before being finished for two years in a second-fill Oloroso sherry cask.
I was able to try a small sample of this at a local liquor store; I'm not sure if it's a new product, but they were definitely trying to push it out the door pretty aggressively. I declined that opportunity, though; aged for an unknown number of years in first-fill bourbon barrels, this Bowmore is unfortunately bottled at a tepid, wishy-washy 40% ABV. Unfortunate. Well, let's dive right in:
Another interesting selection from Glenturret, as released by the independent bottlers at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS")! This one is USA-exclusive, and was released for Father's Day 2021 (alongside a 23-year Glenrothes).
When the Scotch Malt Whisky Society's ("SMWS") June 2021's outturn was released, very little was said about this interesting "oily and coastal" bottling from Highland Park. I usually associate Highland Park with a sweetish, gentle profile - a little smoke, a little honey, a little heather (a distinctly dry and floral note), a little fruit... balanced, almost delicate. Even their fantastic Cask Strength Release No. 1 was bold in a balanced, thoughtful way.
Here is a bottle I found totally by chance in a small DC liquor store (shout out to Central Liquors on E St in Chinatown! Great selection), after having reading about it here and there. After trying - and loving - the Big Peat Cask Strength offering from the same company, I had to give this a go.
Apparently Rock Oyster had two small batch Cask Strength releases (this is the first of the two), but then was rebranded to "Rock Island," so you may see it near you under that name. Unsure if they have released any cask strength Rock Island.
