SMWS 2013 16.70 The Green-Fingered Blacksmith 8 yo

 

 

 

63,5°

Distillery : The Glenturret - Highlands

Refill Re-Charred Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated from 80 to 120 ppm

What they like to do at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, a trading company founded in 1983 by Pip Hills, is experimenting. For example, here we have a heavily peated Glenturret aged for only 8 years in a Re-Charred cask, that is to say passed a second time to the blowtorch before receiving the liquid. The peated Glenturret exists, it is even part of their Core Range. But it only claims 20 ppm at most. It was in 2009 that the very peaty experience was launched at Glenturret. They dry the barley with peat for three days, which gives a result that ranges from 80 to 120 ppm. The first bottlings of this nectar came out around 2018, but only independently, under the name Ruadh Maor, which would mean Red House in Gaelic. This is the secret of this 16.70, it should not be called Glenturret, but Ruadh Maor. I do not know the number of bottles put on sale.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Nose where charcoal takes a large part, it is significant but does not mask a certain sweetness, cream, genoise and braised blood oranges. Fruits from the orchard, green apples, Comice pears, on a cereal and earthy layer that is quite rustic. Lime, plastic, and some medicinal fragrances. In the mouth, it's successful, on grilled meat, with tomato sauce, the spices are rather strong, curry, black pepper, cumin, cloves. Once again, it's earthy and almost astringent. Long, thick, robust finish, it's like biting into lignite, pencil lead, mushrooms, loam.

 

In Short, 

Typical of the Highlands, very earthy and rural, and heavily peated, it reminds me a bit of Benriach, but bolder and more successful. It's all very interesting. This bottling is of course nowhere to be found, sold out a few days after its release, but I will be watching Ruadh Maor more closely from now on.

Score: 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Samantha Fish - Shake'em on Down