Another day, another dram and here’s yet another SMWS dram. As you know I have some affection to their products and I’m always glad to try another SMWS dram.
This time it’s a 14 yo old Auchentoshan that was aged in ex-sauternes cask that my whisky brother Tom was generous enough to send me a sample of.
This SMWS bottling had divided those who tasted it to 2 camps – the larger camp couldn’t stand it and the minority camp liked it a lot. So which camp did I find myself in?
This is the 2nd post with the tasting notes of The Hanyo SMWS 131.2 Magic Carpet in a Sweetie Shop. I’ve tasted it online in Tweet Tasting event with a group of friends who bought and shared a duo of excellent Japanese whiskies from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. The story behind this one is detailed in the previous post on the SMWS 132.2 dram right here.
It’s good to have friends who shares with you the same whisky passion as you do. A while ago, November 2013, the SMWS released a duo of rare Japanese whiskies from closed distilleries just in time for Christmas shopping rush:
132.2 (Karuizawa) – Stunning Panorama of Exotic Fruits. 22yo refill sherry, 335 bottles, 62.4% (!)
131.2 (Hanyu) – Magic Carpet in a Sweetie Shop. 13yo first fill sherry, 646 bottles, 55.1%
Yesterday I posted on my visit at Laphroaig distillery in October 2013. As usual, here’s a companion review of a Laphroaig dram 🙂
This one was a sample I got from Stewart & Kirsty when we met at SMWS bar in Edinburgh (Thanks folks!). No, it’s no coincidence I choose a SMWS Laphroaig dram given to me in SMWS bar in Scotland to escort a distillery tour post I did during the same trip 🙂
Nose: the classic medicinal notes of Laphroaig – iodine, antiseptics, earthy peat notes, some burning coals, lots of sweet lemon and heather, some fruity/herbal edge. after a few minutes in the glass the peat and medicinal weakens mightily and the sweet notes takes the front seat.
palate: earthy oily peat mixed with sweet heather honey and toasted sugary candies. This time the sweet takes the backseat and the peat notes are rolling over the tongue in big strong wave with leather and greenery notes
Finish: medium length, strong earthy peat and leather notes lingers with small fluffs of sweetness popping up in surprise, although those come infrequently.
Conclusion: Lovely and classic Laphroaig dram. It bore all the classic Laphroaig notes shared with heavy dash of honey and sweet candies. Superb dram.
What would be a trip to Scotland without meeting friends and sharing a few drinks? As I’m quite active on twitter, I’ve made lots of friends over the last few years and It was a rare opportunity to (finally) meet some in person, so we’ve setup a meeting at the SMWS venue on Queens Street in Edinburgh.
SMWS, the Scotish Malt Whisky Society for you, is practically the largest whisky club on earth (30,000 and counting). You pay annual subscription and get access to unique cask strength bottling done every month which you can buy or taste at the venues. This is what you get to choose from at the venue:
Impressive selection ah?
If you’re following my recent whisky reviews, you probably know I love Islay and peated whisky. But I admit that I have a very soft spot for Laphroaig – it was my first true single malt taste and I love their core range of bottles – the QC, 10yo, 18yo and the PX but never tasted indie Laphroaig bottling until this one.
Mike, the mind behind Abbey Whisky shop (great online whisky which you can visit here) celebrated his firstborn with a contest for this dram and I was the lucky one win this!
This one is bottled by the famous SMWS – The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, which bottle different single malt whisky from different distilleries for a very affordable price and have some great whisky bars/lounges around the world (I will visit the Edinburgh one in this coming October!) – I’d probably be member of if I’d live in UK and if you live there, you should really be member of this club if you like whisky.
So first indie Laphroaig and SMWS bottling for me – should be good ah?
Nose: Starts with classic and lovely trademark Laphroaig notes – peat, iodine, seaside smell, lots of salty notes in this one and it’s strong and very fresh – feels very young (although aged for 20yo). After 5 minutes in the glass, prominent notes of lemon and ginger, honey, spearmint. Did I already say it’s very fresh? With added water, the spearmint and lemon takes center stage along with the peat.
Palate: Starts very Laphroaig – peat, iodine and salt and then we get strong and big punch of raspberries notes with some dirty notes. after they are gone, we stay with mineral and peat notes
Finish: Medium length. Peat and wood notes, being zesty, with lingering salty raspberries.
Conclusion: Frankly – this ain’t your standard Laphroaig dram. But still, it’s a very good one. It’s more of a dram for sunny day noon beach stroll. Very easy-drinking Islay one. Loved it!
Whisky Gospel 