53.491 Gastronomic Beachcombing

Scotch Malt Whisky Society 53.491, Gastronomic Beachcombing, is a 12 year old Islay single malt from the Caol Ila distillery (SMWS distillery code 53). Distilled on 5 March 2012, it started in two ex-bourbon hogsheads that the Society combined at nine years old into a first-fill European oak Pedro Ximénez butt for further maturation. It was bottled at a cask strength of 58.9% ABV, giving 532 bottles. Filed under the Society's Peated profile, it offers a beach-barbecue nose of grilled pineapple, game and soy-glazed tuna, and a big palate that sets coal tar, brine and smoked prune against raisin pastry, heather honey and panettone, before a peppery, eucalyptus finish. As with all SMWS releases it is presented unchill-filtered at natural cask strength.

Nose: A beach barbecue of grilled pineapple, duck, venison and soy-glazed seared tuna; water brings dandelion and burdock, raisins in birch-tar liqueur, aubergine fritters and seaweed on lobster

Palate: Coal tar, ginger beer, smoked prunes, brine and chimney soot alongside pain aux raisins, heather honey and panettone bread pudding; reduced, crab and wakame salad with lemon thyme

Finish: Black pepper and eucalyptus

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