SMWS 59.51 - A refined cocktail

At Maltstock John McCheyne, of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, did a master class and treated us to some lovely expressions that the society has to offer. This 30 year old Teaninich bottling is one of them and named 59.51 - A refined cocktail. Distilled on the 8th of November 1983 and matured in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead. Bottled at 51,5% and in total 140 bottles produced. So, what can the SMWS tell us about this dram?

A dusty desk drawer to start with, delicate and fragile, then complex notes of frangipane with apricots, stewed apples and Calvados (the latter lending a slight prickle) – all refined and subdued. The taste at natural strength is soft and sweet; creamy (walnut oil, linseed oil) with some pepper in the finish. Water opens it somewhat, introducing burnt orange peel, snuffed candles, a hint of cloves and maraschino cherries. The taste is now sweet (orange icing sugar), mouth cooling (eucalyptus) and perfumed (rose petals, Turkish Delight), with pistachio nuts in the medium-length finish. Aristocratic and stylish; might replace a cocktail in the American Bar at the Savoy.

It was difficult to make full notes being at a festival but I can tell you that this is a lovely balanced dram that shows some soft notes of custard, mango, pineapple, light coconut and liquerish. Fresh and sweet dram with soft notes of citrus between the sweetness and some creamy toffee notes that keep playing around in it. Enjoyed this one very much and scored it an 8,5 out of 10.