The Saloon of a Classic Yacht

A couple of years back, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society changed their bottles from simply having the distillery and cask number, to include a rather fanciful title, supposedly suggestive of something almost indefinable that each whisky conjures up. A bit of a marketing ploy, of course. You wouldn't catch me falling for an old Cragganmore just because they slapped a silly name on it would you? It's the tasting notes that have sold me it, honestly. Cask No. 37.51, btw

Gorgeous colour and an immediate impact of sherry-related aromas: dried fruits, figs macerated in dark rum, strong black tea, crème caramel, polished oak and waxed leather - the image of a classic yacht sprang to mind. The taste is bitter-sweet, with burnt salt taffy and ginger cake, but also herbal and spicy notes (tarragon and mouth snuff) and chilli chocolate in the long finish. Immediate sulphur notes with water, but these soon give way to crème brulée, fruit cake, dried figs and old furniture. Still bitter-sweet to taste (burnt raisins, caramel); at once cooling and warming, with a hint of blackcurrant in the finish.