168.1 Seaside Sauna

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 168.1, Seaside Sauna, is a single cask single malt from the Lowland distillery InchDairnie (SMWS distillery code 168). Distilled on 4 January 2017, it spent six years in an ex-bourbon barrel before further maturation in a first-fill American oak oloroso hogshead, and was bottled at 8 years old at a cask strength of 56.1% ABV. Only 207 bottles were filled. The Society lists it as Bold & peaty, and the Tasting Panel describes smoky, savoury barbecue notes and, with water, a wood-fired sauna on the shore: iodine, seaweed and hot stones. As with every SMWS release it is bottled at natural cask strength without chill filtration, with the cask code on the label in place of the distillery name.

Nose: Smoked bacon roll with brown sauce, apple chutney, sweet paprika and toffee; water brings iodine, seaweed, rosemary and hot sauna stones

Palate: Barbecued sausages and tomatoes with lemon and herbs; reduced, chalky with toasted marshmallow, peppered mackerel, tar and ash

Finish: White pepper, cinnamon, liquorice root and a bloody Mary

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