138.8 Alice Through The Tasting Glass

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 138.8, Alice Through The Tasting Glass, is a peated single cask Taiwanese single malt from the Nantou distillery (SMWS code 138). Distilled on 15 January 2016 and aged 6 years in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel, it was bottled at a cask strength of 55.8% ABV, with 208 bottles. The Tasting Panel was struck by its subtlety: herbal smoke and sharp salinity give way to sour cherry, balsamic, tarry rope and squid ink, while the palate is savoury and umami-rich with sour red fruit, fermented soy and smoked olive oil. Water softens it towards smoked rosewater, seaweed and salted dark chocolate. Like all SMWS whiskies, it is bottled at natural cask strength and is not chill filtered.

Nose: Ethereal herbal smoke, sharp salinity, sour cherry and balsamic, then tarry rope, smoked sea salt and squid ink; water adds miso, soy, cured game and five-spice pork scratchings

Palate: Sour red fruit, umami paste, fermenting soybeans, tar, burlap and smoked olive oil; water brings smoked rosewater, dried seaweed, charred fennel and salted dark chocolate

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