4.344 Seashells In A Box

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 4.344, Seashells In A Box Of Burnt Pencils, is a single cask single malt Scotch whisky from Highland Park in the Highland islands (Orkney) (SMWS distillery code 4). Distilled on 18 February 2010, it is one of several casks filled after the Society combined selected casks from this distillery at seven years of age and re-casked the single malt; this portion finished in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel and was bottled at 12 years old. It was bottled at a cask strength of 62.9% ABV, with an outturn of 246 bottles. The Society files it under its Peated flavour profile. Floral sweetness of lavender, honeysuckle and burning heather meets dried seaweed and seashells on the nose, and the hefty palate pairs smoky bacon and kippers with lavender honey and cherry jam. Water draws out rock pools, cured salmon and pickled ginger. Like every Society bottling it is bottled at cask strength without chill filtration.

Nose: Dried lavender, honeysuckle, burning heather, honey on scorched toast, dried seaweed and seashells; water adds oily fish skin, rock pools and cured salmon

Palate: Weighty like dark beer: red liquorice, smoky bacon crisps and kippers, then lavender honey and cherry jam on burnt marshmallow; water brings cloves, pickled ginger and smoked salmon

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