68.128 Juicy And Deliciously Intense

Juicy And Deliciously Intense is Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 68.128, a single malt Scotch whisky from the Blair Athol distillery (Society distillery code 68) in the Scottish Highlands. Distilled on 18 August 2008 and bottled at 16 years old, it spent 11 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before transfer to a first-fill ex-bodega Pedro Ximenez barrique. Like every Society release it was bottled at natural cask strength, in this case 56.9% ABV in 700ml bottles, with no chill filtration, and the cask yielded 220 bottles. The Society's tasting panel places it in the "Deep, rich & dried fruits" 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: Redcurrant, dark chocolate, sultanas, dried mango, tobacco, leather and black pepper; water adds roasted mixed nuts, stewed apple, herb sausages and maple syrup.

Palate: Warm, thick and velvety, like lamb with a dark chocolate and port sauce; with water, dark berry compote, hot vanilla sauce and blaufränkisch wine.

Serve: Taste it neat first, then add a few drops of water; at 56.9% ABV a little dilution opens up further aromas, as the Society's panel found.