162.2 An Island Sweetie Shop

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 162.2, An Island Sweetie Shop, is a single cask single malt from the Isle of Raasay distillery (SMWS distillery code 162) in the Hebrides. Distilled on 15 October 2020 and matured for 4 years in a new chinkapin oak barrel, it was bottled at a cask strength of 61.1% ABV, with an outturn of only 265 bottles. The Society places it in its Peated flavour profile, and the Tasting Panel found maritime peat wrapped around a sweet-shop array of toffee, honeycomb and fruit pastilles. As with every SMWS release it is bottled at natural cask strength without chill filtration, and the label carries the Society's cask code rather than the distillery name. A young, characterful dram for fans of coastal, gently smoky island whisky.

Nose: Sea breeze over honeycomb, butterscotch toffee, candied fennel seed and roasted peanuts; water adds thyme, sage, grilled lime and seaweed

Palate: Follows the nose with sarsaparilla, mace, kippers and fruit pastilles

Finish: Teriyaki chicken and chocolate biscuits

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