Review #112 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 61.3% Comments: aged 7 years, bottled in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, matured in a 1st-fill American oak oloroso sherry butt Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Tawny color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, it starts to bead up quickly but legs are slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Gentle peat smoke, candied bacon, orange marmalade, brown sugar, a little maple syrup, and some salty ocean breeze. Palate: 36/40 Medium bodied mouthfeel. Dark chocolates filled with a semi-sweet orange cream is the oddly specific flavor that immediately comes to mind on my first sip. There’s campfire smoke as well, but it’s subtle and well integrated. Clover honey, salted caramel, and just enough lemon citrus to undercut the sweetness of all these flavors and round it out rather nicely. Finish: 33/40 Long long finish, though not overly complex. It starts with a puff of smoke, oak spice, and a drizzle of maple syrup. As the smoke and oak fade, they’re replaced by ash and smoked ham. Gradually it becomes increasingly salty until that drowns out the meaty flavor and becomes the sole remaining flavor. With Water: A few drops of water add some grassy notes to the nose, and on the palate there’s some black pepper and a sweet meaty flavor, similar to the crackly sugar glaze crust of a honey baked ham. The finish has a little less salt but is otherwise unchanged. Total: 86/100 Final thoughts: Despite having a higher ABV than 149.3 (Review #111) it doesn’t have the same alcohol punch and actually drinks quite a bit smoother. That said I’m trying these a day apart from one another, so it could just be my palate is in a better spot for the high-octane stuff tonight. I definitely enjoyed this bottle a bit more than its PX matured & non-peated counterpart, but I was a little disappointed in the mouthfeel and lack of complexity in the finish. Price: $155 Would recommend: yes Would buy: maybe Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.