The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, or SMWS for short. Those of you who’ve been following my blog and/or socials now by now that I’m both a member and big fan of the world’s largest whisky club! With over 40.000 members worldwide they give whiskyfans all over the world the chance to purchase independently bottled single cask whiskies from both famous and lesser-known distilleries alike. Sometimes they also release small-batches though, of which the Dunnage Nougat is one.
One of the beautiful things about the society is that they are free to experiment with flavours in a way that named brands just can’t. Big brands want a recognisable flavour profile for their customers, SMWS just wants the best possible liquid from a cask. Through my membership I’ve been able to try some absolute gems and this Dunnage Nougat proved no exception. Which means I was thrilled to add it to the Winter’s Edition of my Explorers Pack!
Tasting Notes: SMWS – Dunnage Nougat
Stats:
ABV: 50% (100 proof)
Age: 9 years old
Distillery: Unknown
Bottled by: Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Cask: Refill hogsheads & First Fill Barriques
Category: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Chill-Filtered: No
Natural Colour: Yes
Nose:
Lovely, sweet notes of vanilla custard and wild blossom honey appear as soon as you approach the glass. Fruity elements such as cassis, and stewed pears are abundantly available and there’s a potpourri of floral elements going on as well, paired with a generous sprinkling of powdered sugar. Complex yet delicate, the nose of this dram is a stunner!
Palate:
Fresh rolled cigars, with some orange zest, and a hint of kir royale. A slightly waxy mouthfeel pairs wonderful with this pairing of dark and bright favours. The contrast between flavours is wonderful, with on the one hand dark notes of cacao, espresso and cigars, and on the other fruity elements such as citrus, grapes, and berries. Lovely stuff!
Finish:
This dram has a medium long finish, which shows a bit of teeth with some tannins on the sides of the tongue. Albeit not overwhelmingly so. The fruity flavours become a bit syrupy, like distilled blackberry juice. This would be the perfect accompaniment to a nice cheese platter!
Verdict:
This is lovely stuff from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. And even though I didn’t quite get the notes on the label of the bottle (neither nougat, nor damp dunnage floors came to mind while sipping this dram) it doesn’t make it any less of a stunner. This is one that I’d love to sip time and time again, and one that would fit perfectly at the start of a whisky flight!
