66.260 Bath Bomb After A Bonfire

Bath Bomb After A Bonfire is Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 66.260, a single malt Scotch whisky from the Ardmore distillery (Society distillery code 66) in the Scottish Highlands. Distilled on 27 May 1998 and bottled at 27 years old, it spent 24 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before being moved into a second-fill 300-litre ex-cabernet sauvignon cask. Like every Society release it was bottled at natural cask strength, in this case 51.3% ABV, with no chill filtration. 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: Pick 'n' mix on bonfire night and a citrus-apple bath bomb in an antique-filled house; water adds chinotto, apple, pineapple, melon, lavender honey, shortbread and cigar box.

Palate: Gentle smoke over barbecued fish with watermelon salsa, grilled peach and berry panettone; with water, coconut, stewed plums and rosemary flowers.

Serve: Taste it neat first, then add a few drops of water; at 51.3% ABV a little dilution opens up further aromas, as the Society's panel found.