The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has recently launched a Scotch & Sherry campaign. In fact they’ll put a focus on sherry maturation during the entire year 2024. They will organize several events around this subject, including at the upcoming Islay Whisky Festival.
In an amazing documentary they head over to Galicia and Andalucia to explore sherry casks used for SMWS bottlings. Essential viewing, with stunning footage shot at Tevasa, Bodegas Barón and Ximénez-Spínola.
For more background information on their sherry casks, head over to the SMWS & Sherry pages. They have also created a Scotch & Sherry tasting pack with three 50ml miniatures of different sherry styles.
What better way to enjoy this documentary than with a sherry cask matured whisky? I’ll have SMWS 95.95, which refers to an Auchroisk single malt from 2012. Following seven years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, the whisky moved into a second fill oloroso hogshead.
Check out other SMWS bottlings I’ve reviewed in the past.
Auchroisk 10 yo 2012 (60,5%, SMWS 95.95, refill Oloroso hogshead finish, 277 btl.)
Nose: Dutch stroopwafel along with ice cream and a serious dash of boozy brandy. Quite a lot of pepper and ginger, with hints of brown bread and peanuts underneath. Then some pencil shavings and floral hints – probably a very newish hogshead. Also whiffs of molasses. Not bad but quite fierce at full strength. Water brings out a little cellulosic varnish and more roasted nuts.
Mouth: as expected, quite raw again at cask strength. It highlights the oak spice – lots of white pepper, ginger and nutmeg. As soon as the heat passes, nice flavours come out. In the background we find latte and milk chocolate, as well as caramelized nuts. It takes water quite well, bringing out walnut brownie, toast, herbal honey and toffee.
Finish: quite long, with sultanas, chocolate and wood spice.
The wood is a tad loud, making this a typical modern, seasoned sherry cask in my opinion. It may simply have been a very active bourbon cask as well. That said, the sherry is clean and richly flavoured. The end result feels youngish but it’s certainly enjoyable. Available from the SMWS website. Obviously you’ll have to become a member first.