Our next Tasting Panel Experience release is here and just in time for a pitch perfect seasonal sipper! 

In October 2019, legendary whisky expert Charlie MacLean and SMWS America director Tom Smith embarked on a tasting tour across the US. The objective was twofold: 1) offer our members the once-in-a-lifetime experience of participating to the Society’s Tasting Panel under the guidance of the Tasting Panel’s actual chairman, who flew from Scotland to be with us in person; 2) entrust these members with the task of evaluating several casks and assessing their readiness for release. Quite simply, our mission was to enable US members to choose their own US exclusive casks! Six casks were evaluated by nearly 150 members in five cities and, over the course of 2020, the three casks chosen by our members were released via lottery with immense success. Last year, we were not able to host in-person events, so we took the virtual route, with Charlie MacLean joining the SMWS America team on our YouTube channel for a live tasting of six new samples. American members were represented on the Tasting Panel with Charlie by SMWS America’s management team Tom Smith, Ben Diedrich and Jenna Elie. And members cast their votes to decide which three exceptional casks would be released in 2021!

Today, we are very proud to present Cask No. 16.52 Campfire breakfast on a damp morning, which arrives just in time to soothe our senses as the cooler weather takes hold. Hailing from the oldest working distillery in Scotland (dating back to 1763), this “Heavily Peated” whisky is special in more ways than one. Not only is this a single cask, cask strength malt but this type of peated whisky represents a mere 6% of this small distillery’s production…. a very rare dram indeed! After 11 years of maturation in a re-charred hogshead, Charlie immediately noted the “gorgeous colour” and how impressed he was with the mellow nature of this whisky that sports a 63.4% ABV! The entire Panel was deeply impressed with the robust smokiness that pervades the aromas and flavours. Fire was a descriptor used by each panelist in some form, with Tom noting a “carnivore’s S’Mores” of burnt marshmallow, milk chocolate and smoked salami, whilst Jenna imagined the burnt fat of tri-tip barbecue and Ben found bold mesquite smoked barbecue in his glass. Charlie got only a “thread of smoke” at full strength and was astonished at how smoky the whisky became after water was added. Richer notes of sherry, orange juice concentrate, dried fruits and toffee only made this remarkable dram more irresistible! Everyone agreed that this was cool weather camping whisky at its finest. We trust you will enjoy tasting it as much as we did! Society director Tom Smith and Society member Bryan McCoy sat down last night to taste this USA-exclusive single cask whisky. Follow this link to check out the tasting and their thoughts on Cask No. 16.52 Campfire breakfast on a damp morning!

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the expected high popularity of this release, Cask No. 16.52 will not be available for ordering today. Instead, we invite interested members to enter the raffle below for a chance to order Cask No. 16.52. Entries must be completed by Monday October 18th at 2pm EDT. Winning member names will be drawn at that time. They will be contacted shortly thereafter and will have 48 hours to order their bottle (until Wednesday 10/20 at 2pm EDT).

We thank those members who participated in last year’s virtual Tasting Panel Experience and helped select Cask No. 16.52, hats off to your perfect choice! We hope all members across the US can enjoy this very special malt and, while sharing with those near and dear to you, also share in the pride we all feel for our American chapter of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society! 

Slàinte mhath!

Cask No. 16.52

Title: Cask No. 16.52 Campfire breakfast on a damp morning

Tasting Note: Fall in the Highlands with its deep amber hue, a gorgeous liquid slow dancing in the glass. A mild and mellow nose-feel, notes of campfire toasted marshmallows, smoked salami and juicy fresh orange juice. Dried fruits, figs and crystallised orange peels contribute to a comfortable and comforting moment in time. A little water raises damp, earthy, mossy notes and increases the scents of smoke and ash, like waking up to the smell of bacon fat from your tent, the smell of damp earth surrounds you. Smoked brisket rides in on a lightly oiled mouthfeel that slightly spritzes across the tongue, and is carried off by a drying, long smoky finish of fatty burnt ends in wellies bound in hessian. A sweet pop of fondant settles in the mid palate with a dash of water. An adventurous spirit, bound to transport you to camping, Highland style.

Age: 11 years

Date distilled: December 2009

ABV: 63.4%

Region: Highland Southern

Barrel: Re-charred hogshead

Outturn: 269 bottles

US Allocation: 269 bottles

Price: $115

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The entry period for the lottery is now closed. Feel free to email info@smwsa.com or give us a call at 646-844-1154 if you have any questions!