4.354 Heather Honeycomb And Humidors

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 4.354, Heather, Honeycomb And Humidors, is a single cask single malt Scotch whisky from Highland Park in the Highland islands (Orkney) (SMWS distillery code 4). Distilled on 29 October 2009, it is one of several casks filled after the Society combined selected casks from this distillery at eight years of age and re-casked the single malt; this portion finished in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel and was bottled at 13 years old. It was bottled at a cask strength of 62.7% ABV, with an outturn of 241 bottles. The Society files it under its Oily & coastal flavour profile. A complex nose of perfume, petrichor and apricot jam carries maritime notes, leather and distant heather smoke; the neat palate is feisty, with tar, sea shells, heather honey and pipe tobacco, turning to black bun and brandied figs with water. Like every Society bottling it is bottled at cask strength without chill filtration.

Nose: Perfume, petrichor, apricot jam, maritime notes, leather and smoke; water adds potting sheds, seafood smokers, honeycomb and humidors

Palate: Feisty: fresh tar, sea shells, dandelion and burdock, heather honey and pipe tobacco; water brings honey-lemon lozenges, black bun, brandied figs and muscovado

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