55.75 Exotic Opulence

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 55.75, Exotic Opulence, is a 16 year old Highland single malt from the Royal Brackla distillery (SMWS distillery code 55). Distilled on 5 August 2006, it spent thirteen years in ex-bourbon wood before being transferred to a first-fill heavy toast, medium char hogshead, and was bottled at a cask strength of 56.9% ABV with an outturn of 282 bottles. The Society places it in its Juicy, oak & vanilla profile. The Tasting Panel noted mineral flint giving way to amontillado, herbal rye and almonds on the nose, an exotic palate of coconut, pineapple, rum, dried mango and rose petal, and a lively liquorice-and-spice finish; water made it silky and syrupy. Like all SMWS bottlings it is unchill-filtered at natural cask strength.

Nose: Flint and putty, then amontillado sherry, herbal rye, whole almonds and Moroccan trail mix; water brings tropical fruit, honeysuckle, balsa wood, nutmeg and brandy snaps

Palate: Coconut, pineapple and rum, dried mango and rose-petal perfume; with water silky and syrupy, like honey on buttered wholegrain toast

Finish: Liquorice root and zingy spice

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