39.272 Reds Greens And Yellows

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 39.272, Reds, Greens And Yellows, is a single cask single malt Scotch whisky from Linkwood in Speyside (SMWS distillery code 39). Distilled on 5 December 2011, it matured for 11 years in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel. It was bottled at a cask strength of 58.6% ABV, with an outturn of 210 bottles. The Society files it under its Spicy & sweet flavour profile. The nose mixes talc, dried flowers and freeze-dried red berries with muscovado and nettle tea, and the palate moves from candied rose petals and strawberries to sandalwood, mustard powder and green chilli. With water, orange segments, melted butter and apricot come forward. Like every Society bottling it is bottled at cask strength without chill filtration.

Nose: Talc, dried flowers, crystallised barley, freeze-dried red berries and muscovado, then meadow flowers and nettle tea; water adds peaches and cream and pistachio

Palate: Candied rose petals, strawberries, sandalwood and mustard powder, then green chilli and oregano; water brings orange, melted butter, apricot and plum eau de vie

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