18.69 This One Is A Must

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 18.69, This One Is A Must, is a single cask single malt from Inchgower (SMWS distillery code 18) in Speyside. Distilled on 12 February 2009, it spent 11 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before the Society moved it into a refill toasted French oak barrique, and it was bottled at 15 years old at a cask strength of 58.4% ABV, with an outturn of 231 bottles. The Society places it in its Oily & coastal profile, and the Tasting Panel's notes are full of savoury, seaside food: spiced nachos, shellfish soup and a fresh crab sandwich by the harbour. Like every SMWS release it is bottled at natural cask strength without chill filtration.

Nose: Jalapenos on salty nachos, chimichurri steak and a cayenne-spiced shellfish soup; water adds trawler exhaust, wet wood and yellow rubber boots

Palate: The freshest crab sandwich eaten on a fishing-harbour wall, washed down with a pickleback

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