Bottle Details
SMWS Code
100.40
Distillery
Strathmill
ABV
62.1%
Age
10 Years
Cask
Ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 1st Fill Shiraz Barrique
Distilled
June 2012
Region
Speyside
Flavor Profile
Spicy & Sweet
Category
Scotch
The whisky presents an immediately sticky and syrupy character, with prominent red fruit notes including cassis, jammy sponge cake, candied rose petals, and young port wine. Water addition reveals cranberries, fruit loaf, blackcurrant syrup, and doughnut jam cores alongside subtle toothpaste-like fruitiness.
The neat palate is surprisingly rounded, offering kirsch water, unlit cigars, hard toffee, and red fruit cider notes alongside firmer plasticine and peppercorn characteristics. With water, the profile opens to reveal roasted almonds, fruit liqueurs, red liquorice, paprika spice, and red fruit fizzy pop with citrus elements.
The finish displays the influence of its seven-year bourbon hogshead maturation followed by first-fill Australian Shiraz barrique finishing, leaving lingering sweetness and oak-derived spice.
The initial nose gave the immediate and resounding impression of stickiness! Red fruit syrups, rose wine dregs, jammy sponge cake, candied rose petals and lashings of cassis and young, sweet port wines were all detected and discussed. A splash of water revealed cranberries, classic fruit loaf, doughnut jam cores, fruity children's toothpaste and concentrated blackcurrant syrup. The neat palate was surprisingly rounded, with kirsch water, unlit cigars, hard toffee and red fruit cider. We also found firmer notes of plasticine and peppercorns. With water we got roasted almonds, fruit liqueurs, red liquorice, some paprika heat, raspberry ripple ice cream, and citrus and red fruit fizzy pop. Matured for seven years in a bourbon hogshead, this was then transferred to a first fill d'Arenberg Australian shiraz barrique.