11.71 Kissed By Cherry Lips

Kissed By Cherry Lips is Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 11.71, a single cask single malt Scotch whisky from Tomatin. The Society labels its bottlings with a numbered code instead of the distillery name, and code 11 is Tomatin. The Society lists its region as the Highlands. Distilled on 18 September 2015, it matured for 10 years in a first-fill ex-oloroso butt. Unusually for the Society, it was bottled at a slightly reduced 48% ABV, the strength the whisky team judged best for this cask, rather than at full cask strength. This listing is the 700ml bottle.

Nose: Leather armchairs, aged oak, peach nectar and berry-scented silk; water adds glace cherry, orange oil, liquorice and sticky toffee pudding.

Palate: Cherry-laced dark chocolate, coffee grounds and duck in plum sauce, then fresh fig, balsamic and spice.

Finish: Cherry sweets melting into salted caramel and cocoa, with a trace of ginger and clove.

Serve: Taste it neat first, then add water a few drops at a time; the Panel's notes change noticeably once the whisky is reduced.