122.80 Better With Smoked Bacon

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 122.80, Better With Smoked Bacon, is a single cask single malt from Loch Lomond, bottled under the Society's code 122 for the distillery's Croftengea spirit. Distilled on 11 April 2016, it spent its first three years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before moving to a refill hogshead with a heavy toast and medium char for the rest of its 9 years. It was bottled at a cask strength of 59.2% ABV, with 262 bottles. Filed under the Society's Smoky & fruity profile, it pairs floral and fruity top notes with savoury, smoked-meat character, which the Panel likened to a smoky Old Fashioned. As with all SMWS bottlings, it is presented at natural cask strength without chill filtration.

Nose: Parma violets, serrano ham, melon, pine, moss, lavender, sea salt and honey-glazed bacon corn snacks

Palate: Smoked bacon in an Old Fashioned with smoked mackerel and lemon; water brings saffron-rosewater ice cream and smoked lemon s'mores

Serve: Neat, then with a few drops of water to open up the aromas; at full cask strength it rewards patience.