TASTING: #SMWS “Sensory Adventure Tweet Tasting”

let’s begin

Having been a member of SMWS (Scotch Malt Whisky Society) for years, I jumped at the chance to be involved with a live, interactive tweet tasting to celebrate the public beta of GreatDrams.com on March 13th (lucky for some?)

Three days before the great event each of the ‘hoocherati’ received a care package in the form of a very well designed and thought through box that signals our embarkation on ‘an ever-changing sensory adventure’ with the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

And wow was this truer than I could have imagined.

Opening the box, much like their fantastically well designed membership pack, was an event in itself. First the shirt box-esque outer pack, then you are greeted with SMWS branded tissue paper sealed with a sticker that once opened welcomes you into an ingenious way to pack a bunch of whisky samples; with popcorn.

Inside I found six 60ml samples from single cask Scotch grain whisky and single malt Japanese whisky from these distilleries:

Cameronbridge

Strathclyde

Caledonian

Chichibu

Karuizawa

Hanyu

The pack sat on my desk in my office for two anxious days as I waited, anticipating, eager to jump in to the samples of both whisky and incredible chocolates made by William Curley of London.

Finally the tasting day arrived, I exchanged excitable tweets with John McCheyne, SMWS Brand Ambassador at large, and Joe McGirr, manager of The London Members Rooms of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and once I had gotten ‘far enough’ with the development work for GreatDrams for one day I set up my ‘tasting space’.

Now, the main event.

A gathering of whisky bloggers and enthusiasts collectively logged in to Twitter to congregate around the #SMWS hashtag as be began our six-part quest on this fine evening.

First up was the 130.1 titled Dynamic and attractive, which is no longer available through the society, only through auction sites (as most of their xxx.1 releases are nowadays) but here is the product detail:

Cask No. 130.1 (Chichibu)

130.1 Dynamic and attractive

Retail price: £123.40

Cask type: First fill ex-bourbon barrel

Age: 4 years

Here’s a selection of what we had to say:

@SMWSLondon Definately Joe…PVA all the way!
— SMWS UK (@SMWSUK) March 13, 2014

130.1 ‘Dynamic and Attractive’ pairs delightfully with @team_curley Piedmont Hazelnut – choc douses the spice for a mellow mix #smws #yum
— Steely Fox (@SteelyFox) March 13, 2014

130.1 I prefer this neat but this wee dram has a warming finish and the pears and wood lingers#smws
— WhiskyBoys.com (@TheWhiskyBoys) March 13, 2014

Gotta love being a part of something irresistibly brilliant like the “Sensory Adventure Tweet Tasting” from #smws
— Greg – Great Drams (@GreatDrams) March 13, 2014

The 130.1 only gets better with the chocolate – gorgeous, the fire almost softens to a muted warmth #smws @SMWSLondon @SMWSambassador
— Greg – Great Drams (@GreatDrams) March 13, 2014

The 130.1 really is fierce for its age – loving it, my kinda dram this one… #smws
— Greg – Great Drams (@GreatDrams) March 13, 2014

Second up was… G4.6 ‘Ray Mears Digestif’ – 55.4% ABV – Single Cask Scotch Grain Whisky from the Cameronbridge Distillery. Date Distilled: 23 February 1988 Colour: 18 carat gold Age: 18 years Flavour : Spicy & sweet Cask Type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead Whisky Region: Single Cask Grain Whisky

Here’s a selection of what we had to say:

Nose 2: Beeswax (Pledge original) & butly-acetate and knife draw @SMWSUK @TheWhiskyWire #smws
— Simon (@thicker_thanH2O) March 13, 2014

There is an orangey zest to the whisky, occasional sips turn floral for me, all the while maintaining warmth #smws @SMWSLondon
— Greg – Great Drams (@GreatDrams) March 13, 2014

#SMWS sipping the whisky after having the chocolate gives emphasis to the orange zest and leaves a marzipan like finish
— Kieran Smyth (@kizzsmyth) March 13, 2014

Third up was… G10.2 Sweet and substantial. Date Distilled: 23 Nov 1977 Colour: Thin marmalade Age: 35 years Flavour : Old & dignified Cask Type: Refill ex-bourbon barrel Whisky Region: Grain

Here’s a selection of what we had to say:

#smws Definitely best Japanese today . No,wait a minute ,was it better than 130.1 . Ach , never mind , there might be another along shortly
— john mccheyne (@SMWSambassador) March 13, 2014

g10.2 on nose very buttery any Aberdonians in the house remind them of these? #smws pic.twitter.com/aF7FcZu6AE
— A Whet For Whisky (@AWhetForWhisky) March 13, 2014

g10.2 warming but sooo smooth, 35 years young! keep plenty of this for pudding #smws
— A Whet For Whisky (@AWhetForWhisky) March 13, 2014

g10.2 okay who opened the sweet shop? a little wood then you get cinder toffee, spangels, curely wurly’s, home made tablet it goes on. #smws
— WhiskyBoys.com (@TheWhiskyBoys) March 13, 2014

Fourth up was… G3.7 Sailing home under a smiling sun. Date Distilled: 17 November 1982 Colour: Apricot mist Age: 30 years years Cask Type: Refill ex bourbon barrel Whisky Region: Single Cask Grain Whisky

Here’s a selection of what we had to say:

SMWS G3.7 A typical shy grain nose to start with, 30 years slumbering, need to wake this one up too! #smws
— Dave Worthington (@WhiskyDiscovery) March 13, 2014

#smws G3.7 Smells like sherry trifle in custard. Hated it at school. Would have like it in this form
— john mccheyne (@SMWSambassador) March 13, 2014

G3.7 – just the 30 years young – has something devilishly sweet about it, with a jab of cheekiness… #smws @SMWSambassador
— Greg – Great Drams (@GreatDrams) March 13, 2014

@SMWSambassador #smws There’s a “Kiss me quick” element to this dram. A moment of passion followed by 15 seconds of regret!
— Dave Alcock (@whiskyrepublic) March 13, 2014

This is why I love grain whisky, 35 yrs in the cask luscious, apple crumble, toffee, roast parsnip. WOOF #smws pic.twitter.com/ZOhrXttaa3
— Manchester Whisky (@MCRWhiskyClub) March 13, 2014

Fifth up was… 132.6 Nite Nurse nipped by piranhas. Date Distilled: 31 December 2000 Colour: Deep ginger gold Age: 12 years years Flavour : Deep, rich & fruity Cask Type: Refill ex-sherry butt Whisky Region: Japan

Here’s a selection of what we had to say:

132.6 now with this chocolate we have a winner a delightful match. #smws
— WhiskyBoys.com (@TheWhiskyBoys) March 13, 2014

Anyone else getting a hint of menthol on the 132.6? That and Barbour jackets… #SMWS
— Greg – Great Drams (@GreatDrams) March 13, 2014

Finally we tasted… 131.2 Magic carpet in a sweetie shop. Date Distilled: 30 June 2000 Colour: Auburn fox tail with crimson lights Age: 13 years years Flavour : Deep, rich & fruity Cask Type: First fill ex-sherry butt Whisky Region: Japan.

Here’s a selection of what we had to say:

Look closely @SMWSambassador you’ll see the previously unseen beta version of the http://t.co/dL6qPrZwrX site…#smws pic.twitter.com/sj0xVJFTWi
— Greg – Great Drams (@GreatDrams) March 13, 2014

GreatDrams even had a chance to tease our site pre-launch…

Tags: SMWSTweet TastingWhisky

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.