79.10 A Breakfast Like No Other

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 79.10, A Breakfast Like No Other, is an 11 year old single cask single malt Scotch whisky from the Deanston distillery in the Highland region (SMWS distillery code 79). Distilled on 2 April 2012, it was matured throughout in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel. It was bottled at cask strength, 60.8% ABV, with an outturn of 215 bottles, and the Society files it under its Spicy & sweet flavour profile. The Panel described a breakfast spread on the nose, with apple juice, clotted cream and lemon icing, followed by cinnamon buns and bramble jelly on the palate; water draws out wild berries and fresh lemon zest. Like all Society bottlings, it is presented without chill filtration.

Nose: Apple juice over clotted cream, lemon icing, lavender and toast; water brings wild strawberries, blueberry compote, redcurrants and damp earth

Palate: Cinnamon buns with a dusting of teak shavings, dipped in bramble jelly; water adds lemon zest, creamy vanilla, star anise and fennel

Serve: Neat at first, then with a few drops of water to open it up; at full cask strength it rewards a little patience.