85.100 Thunder Chops

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 85.100, Thunder Chops, is a 13 year old single cask single malt Scotch whisky from the Glen Elgin distillery in the Speyside region (SMWS distillery code 85). Distilled on 26 April 2011, it spent ten years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before finishing its maturation in a first-fill Pedro Ximenez ex-bodega barrique. It was bottled at cask strength, 57.2% ABV in a 700 ml bottle, with an outturn of 260 bottles, and the Society files it under its Deep, rich & dried fruits flavour profile. Deep and savoury-sweet, with red wine, figs, prunes and serrano ham on the nose and a fiery palate of chilli jam and PX-braised pork; water brings sangria, sherry and chocolate cake with blackberry jam. Like all Society bottlings, it is presented without chill filtration.

Nose: Rioja poured over figs, dark chocolate and prunes wrapped in serrano ham, with apricot schnapps and spicy chorizo; water adds orange sherbet, sangria, sherry, lemon chicken and five-spice

Palate: Chilli jam over pork cheeks braised in Pedro Ximenez sherry; water adds vanilla chocolate cake layered with lavender and blackberry jam

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