41.172 Scotland Spain United States

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 41.172, Scotland-Spain-United States, is a single cask single malt Scotch whisky from Dailuaine in Speyside (SMWS distillery code 41). Distilled on 18 March 2010, it spent nine years in ex-bourbon wood before completing its maturation in a first-fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead, and was bottled at 13 years old. It was bottled at a cask strength of 58.3% ABV, with an outturn of 287 bottles. The Society files it under its Deep, rich & dried fruits flavour profile. The Panel called it a Spanish and American fusion: a tapas bar and fruitcake on the nose, then ham, olives, chicken skewers and barbecue ribs on the palate, with water adding toffee apples, pecan pie and a pleasant tannic grip of clove and root beer. Like every Society bottling it is bottled at cask strength without chill filtration.

Nose: A Seville tapas bar, fruitcake on an old school desk and candy floss; water adds toffee apples, sugared almonds and maple pecan pie

Palate: Ham, black olives, Spanish chicken skewers, barbecue-sauced ribs and blackcurrant jam; water brings tannic tree bark, clove, orange peel and root beer

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