Bunnahabhain 9 Year (SMWS 10.240 "No Naked Flames")

 

It's been a while since the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") released any heavily peated Bunnahabhain. This 9 year old features a rather unusual four year finish in a second fill oloroso sherry hogshead, which made it more enticing than usual. 

Mannochmore 15 Year (SMWS Rare Release, Spirit of Speyside Festival 2023, "Luscious Velvet")

 

Mannochmore is a very recent distillery - it only opened in 1971 - and was closed from '85 to '89. In the 1990s it became "known" for the jet-black Loch Dhu ("Black Lake") bottling, which was, frankly, a curiosity or novelty. It's owned by Diageo, which means it's usually consigned to blend fodder except through independent bottlers. 

Allt-a-Bhainne 14 Year (SMWS Spirit of Speyside Festival 2023, "Frolics in the Rose Garden")

 

For some reason, I had a strong intimation - a sixth sense - I would like this one - and I was right. Released by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") as part of their Spirit of Speyside festival in 2023, from the hardly-known distillery of Allt-a-Bhainne, it's a 14 year first-fill ex-bourbon, bottled at 58.3% ABV. 

Bunnahabhain 14 Year (SMWS 10.249, 30th Anniversary Bottling, "Spectacular Horse's Mane Waves")

 

This throwback label celebrates 30 years of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in America - and the whisky behind the label is a 14 year unpeated Bunnahabhain. I really like Bunnahabhain and was delighted when I won this lottery-only release. 

Craigellachie 10 Year (Douglas Laing's Old Particular)

 

I picked this up on a lark, to fulfill a minimum purchase requirement to get free in-city shipping on a Mother's Day gift. I do love Craigellachie quite a bit, and I'm always impressed by Douglas Laing bottlings, which are often characterful... so why not?

Highland Park 10 Year (SMWS 4.319 "From Coast to Kiln")

 

The sixth and final of six samples provided at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society May 2023 outturn event at the Jack Rose Saloon in Washington DC. This is a 10 year Highland Park, revatted after 6 years, bottled at a rousing 63.3% ABV. 

Glen Spey 13 Year (SMWS 80.39 "Achingly Beautiful")

 

The fifth out of six samples at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society May 2023 outturn tasting at the Jack Rose Saloon in Washington DC. This won a gold medal at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and is already long sold out on the SMWS website. It's a 13 year Glen Spey, finished in a Marsala barrique (!), bottled at 57.8% ABV.

Royal Brackla 14 Year (SMWS 55.71 "New Shoes")

 

The fourth of six samples at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society May 2023 outturn at the Jack Rose Saloon in Washington DC. This is a 14 year Royal Brackla, finished in a #3 char hogshead, and bottled at 55.1% ABV. I will admit that the six drams of the night were had in short succession, and this one is where I noticed my abilities to taste and smell might not have been 100% accurate. That said, I think I did an OK job tracking the main flavors here. 

Inchmurrin 21 Year (SMWS 135.49 "Jack-in-the-Box")

 

Third of six samples at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society May 2023 outturn event at the Jack Rose Saloon. This is a 21 year Inchmurrin (one of the Loch Lomond imprints), bottled at 53.6% ABV. 

Glentauchers 19 Year (SMWS 63.91 "Oh, Behave!")

 

Second sample of the six offered by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society at their May 2023 outturn tasting event at Jack Rose Saloon. This one is a 19 year Glentauchers at 52.3% ABV, all maturation in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel. 

Dalmore 8 Year (SMWS 13.97 "A Wee, Sweet-Toothed, Scottish Picnic")

 

Normally I try to stagger my reviews, when I have more than one ready at a time, to every other day... but I've decided with these Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS") outturn tastings to just dump them all at once, to better help people who are still trying to decide while the outturn is fresh. So the other five samples will be posted as soon as I can write them up tonight or tomorrow.