June Hidden Gems from Jenna Elie

At The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, we are on a passionate pursuit of the world’s most unique casks of whisky. Oftentimes the casks that turn out to be the most memorable happen to be the most unexpected. Here are three (3) Hidden Gems selected by Jenna Elie to consider for your home collection and for sharing.

Oh! The nose of Cask No. 55.71 New shoes is Summer on the farm! Whiskey-peach cobbler out of a new leather boot, with notes of honeysuckle and horse grain just encompass my nostrils! The palate, rich and dense (thanks to that #3 charred hogshead) with sticky toffee cake and fresh stone fruit in a tack room make this one absolutely stunning dram. I will very much be enjoying this Sweet Fruity and Mellow gem on sunny afternoons this Summer!

Cask No. 89.17 Keep nosing was given the perfect name.... you won't want to take your nose out of the glass! This 9-year-old Speysider in 2nd fill ex-bourbon is a bouquet of aromas, with fresh herbs, tea leaves and a floral-tobacco whipped cream! At 67.5 percent, this comes through with big bold butterscotch candies (the kind you’d get from your grandmum) and fresh mint leaves. This would make the perfect digestif with friends after a Summer night’s meal, as it’s not only a conversation piece, but a perfectly sweet one at that!

I tend to gravitate more towards peated drams in the summertime than the winter, as they make fantastic accompaniments to grilled Summer meals and campfire conversations. Cask No. 108.51 From the seaside to the A&E side adds just a little more than that with its heavy dose of medical twang! The nose is a seaside seafood fest at a hospital, salty, yet fresh with herbs and citrus! The palate rings true, with saltfish, bright lemon zest and parsley straight from the garden! And on the finish comes that medical iodine note that makes it all the more special! This is one to enjoy both neat, perhaps by the seaside, paired with a seafood dish, or even in a refreshing highball!

If ordered separately: Cask No. 55.71 = $155; Cask No. 89.17 = $110; Cask No. 108.51 = $115.

Cask No. 55.71 - New shoes 
Date distilled: September 2007
Cask: First-fill hogshead, char #3
Age: 14 years
Alcohol: 55.1%
Region: Speyside Findhorn
700mL bottle format

Cask No. 89.17 - Keep nosing
Date distilled: December 2012
Cask: Second-fill barrel
Age: 9 years
Alcohol: 67.5%
Region: Speyside Spey
700mL bottle format

Cask No. 108.51 - From the seaside to the A&E side
Date distilled: October 2011
Cask: Second-fill barrel
Age: 10 years
Alcohol: 63.7%
Region: Speyside Spey
700mL bottle format