5.125 If I Were A Lady

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 5.125, If I Were a Lady and You Were a Carpenter, is a 20 year old single cask single malt from the Auchentoshan distillery in the Lowlands (SMWS distillery code 5). Distilled on 27 January 2003 and matured throughout in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel, it was bottled at a cask strength of 56.1% ABV, with an outturn of only 168 bottles. The Society places it in its Juicy, oak & vanilla flavour profile; the Tasting Panel found polished wood and confectionery sweetness on the nose, a more restrained, creamy palate, and beeswax, hay and wildflowers once water was added. Like all SMWS releases it is bottled at natural cask strength without chill filtration, and the label identifies the distillery only by its Society code.

Nose: Polished wood with vanilla slice, chocolate orange, cinder toffee, nutty cornflakes and freeze-dried strawberries; water brings beeswax, a carpenter's workshop, cut hay, wildflowers and potpourri

Palate: Restrained sweetness of nougat, brandy snaps with chantilly cream, puff candy, runny honey and cherry-liqueur chocolates; reduced it gives ice cream, rum fudge, barley sugar, corn candy and jellybeans

Finish: A light tingle of nutmeg

Serve: Neat, then with a few drops of water; at full cask strength it opens up noticeably with a little dilution.