94.41 Rich As Cake A Little Sourdough

Scotch Malt Whisky Society cask 94.41, Rich As Cake, A Little Sourdough, is a 14 year old single cask single malt Scotch whisky from the Fettercairn distillery in the Highland region (SMWS distillery code 94). Distilled on 9 January 2009, it spent ten years in an ex-bourbon barrel before transfer to a first-fill Pedro Ximenez barrique from the Ximenez-Spinola bodega. It was bottled at cask strength, 48.6% ABV, with an outturn of 164 bottles, and the Society files it under its Deep, rich & dried fruits flavour profile. The Panel found enriched rye sourdough studded with figs and dates, tropical fruit and balsamic on the nose, and a rich palate of dried fruit, papaya jam and cocoa; water brings out cake-like dark chocolate, poached pear and plum butter. Like all Society bottlings, it is presented without chill filtration.

Nose: Enriched sourdough, rye bread with figs and dates, tropical fruit salad, green banana with aged balsamic and cocoa; water adds olive oil, mulled cider and orange-scented oloroso

Palate: Rich rye sourdough with menthol, dried fruits, papaya jam, pineapple and cantaloupe, apple-cinnamon tea and cocoa; water brings dark chocolate, pears poached in Sauternes, candied orange zest and plum butter

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