79.13 Honey I'Ve Made Toast

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 79.13, Honey I've Made Toast, is a 15 year old single cask single malt Scotch whisky from the Deanston distillery in the Highland region (SMWS distillery code 79). Distilled on 31 March 2009, it was matured in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead. It was bottled at cask strength, 62.3% ABV in a 700 ml bottle, with an outturn of 261 bottles, and the Society files it under its Juicy, oak & vanilla flavour profile. SMWS Canada selected this cask as a joint release shared only with the South African, Danish and Swiss SMWS chapters, and the label carries the flags of all four countries. The nose shows hedgerow berries, pears and red grapes and the palate sandalwood, honey, apricot and thick-cut marmalade, with water bringing out buttered toast, figs and vanilla toffee. Like all Society bottlings, it is presented without chill filtration.

Nose: A wet gravel path past hedgerows heavy with berries, pears and red grapes; water serves it all on buttered toast with breakfast cereal

Palate: Sandalwood and honey up front, then apricot, thick-cut marmalade and rye bread; water adds bubble gum, ginger, figs and vanilla toffee

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