85.78 A Real Tonic

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 85.78, A Real Tonic, is a 14 year old single cask single malt Scotch whisky from the Glen Elgin distillery in the Speyside region (SMWS distillery code 85). Distilled on 13 December 2007, it spent 11 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before transfer to a first-fill Spanish oak oloroso hogshead. It was bottled at cask strength, 57.6% ABV, with an outturn of 284 bottles, and the Society files it under its Deep, rich & dried fruits flavour profile. Parkin, golden syrup flapjacks and pine lead on the nose, and the palate is rich with cherry chocolates, maple pecan pie and cinnamon butter; water adds herbal fennel and cocoa, rum and raisin fudge and a fresh ginger finish. Like all Society bottlings, it is presented without chill filtration.

Nose: Pine forest, parkin and golden syrup flapjacks, then barbecued baked beans and sausages; water adds candied fennel seed, coriander, cocoa and sweet mint

Palate: Richly textured, with cherry fondant chocolates, maple pecan pie and cinnamon butter; water adds rum and raisin fudge and toasted coconut

Finish: Refreshing fresh ginger juice

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