9.278 Breakfast But Mostly Dessert

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 9.278, Breakfast, But Mostly Dessert, is a 19 year old single cask single malt Scotch whisky from the Glen Grant distillery in the Speyside region (SMWS distillery code 9). Distilled on 11 September 2003, it was matured in a first-fill ex-bourbon barrel. It was bottled at cask strength, 54.3% ABV in a 700 ml bottle, with an outturn of 192 bottles, and the Society files it under its Juicy, oak & vanilla flavour profile. Bacon rolls, amber ale and beeswax open the nose before a dessert-trolley palate of choux pastry, chantilly cream and bananas foster, finishing with light spice; water brings floral lemon sherbet and pistachio ice cream. Like all Society bottlings, it is presented without chill filtration.

Nose: Unsmoked bacon rolls on a mahogany board, amber ale and beeswax; water brings florals, lemon sherbets, linen, new leather, lychee and peach

Palate: Choux pastry, chantilly cream, chocolate-coated Turkish delight and bananas foster; water adds pistachio ice cream on strawberries and mascarpone

Finish: Lightly spiced

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