78.65 Garbanzos Cajun Train Ride

Garbanzo's Cajun Train Ride is Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 78.65, a single malt Scotch whisky from the Ben Nevis distillery (Society distillery code 78) in the Scottish Highlands. Distilled on 5 November 2013 and bottled at 9 years old, it matured in a second-fill oloroso butt. Like every Society release it was bottled at natural cask strength, in this case 67.7% ABV, with no chill filtration, and the cask yielded 529 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: Sooty treacle, worn leather and corduroy; water brings Cajun-seasoned fries, almonds and sweet Spanish onion.

Palate: A mild chilli heat that gives way to grape and black cherry juice; with water, wintergreen and peppermint, then turmeric-roasted chickpeas, dried mango, apple and cinnamon.

Serve: Taste it neat first, then add a few drops of water; at 67.7% ABV a little dilution opens up further aromas, as the Society's panel found.