64.169 Bright Effervescent And Full

Bright, Effervescent And Full Of Energy is Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 64.169, a single malt Scotch whisky from the Mannochmore distillery (Society distillery code 64) in Speyside. Distilled on 12 May 2009 and bottled at 16 years old, it spent 12 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before transfer to a first-fill Pedro Ximenez ex-bodega barrique. Like every Society release it was bottled at natural cask strength, in this case 57.6% ABV in 700ml bottles, with no chill filtration, and the cask yielded 244 bottles. The Society's tasting panel places it in the "Ripe fruits & honey" flavour profile. SMWS labels carry a number rather than the distillery's name, because a single cask often tastes quite unlike the distillery's usual house style.

Nose: A spice bazaar of Turkish delight, baklava and date halva.

Palate: Bright and lively, with exotic spices, heather honey and dark treacle; water brings oriental-rug notes, Turkish coffee and a negroni-like bittersweet edge.

Serve: Taste it neat first, then add a few drops of water; at 57.6% ABV a little dilution opens up further aromas, as the Society's panel found.