53.466 Crunchy Munchies

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 53.466, Crunchy Munchies, is a 15 year old Islay single malt from the Caol Ila distillery (SMWS distillery code 53). Distilled on 27 May 2008, it spent eleven years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before the Society moved it into a first-fill American oak Pedro Ximénez hogshead. It was bottled at a cask strength of 56.8% ABV, with an outturn of 240 bottles. Placed in the Society's Lightly peated flavour profile, it opens with salt, sea air and gentle smoke, then shows a tarry, meaty palate of roasted octopus with honeyed soy and seaweed; with water the Panel found salt beef, mustard and charcoal-roasted lamb. As with all SMWS releases it is bottled at natural cask strength without chill filtration.

Nose: Salt, sea and light smoke, like Greek olives with smoked mackerel and pickled walnut salad; water brings a salt beef and mustard mayo rye sandwich and lamb slow-roasting over charcoal

Palate: Tarry and meaty, like roasted octopus with honeyed soy sauce and seaweed

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