March is all about the new-wave and new-world whisky that we’re lucky enough to be able to explore in natural, full-flavoured single-cask and cask-strength form as the most colourful whisky club in the world! SMWS Australia is proud to offer up some new and exciting codes in this month’s Outturn including some releases from Denmark and Sweden.
If you’ve been a bit too busy to check out our full March Outturn online (which you can read here), do not fret, because our team have once again put together their top five picks from this Outturn for those looking for some cask-buying guidance.
1. Cask 151.4 From Sweden with love
Matt Bailey’s pick of the month, this 13yo Swedish single-cask release is more than half the age of the distillery it came from! With an astounding natural cask strength of 46.5% (keep in mind that the barrels were filled at 63%), this is a really fun whisky from a pretty incredible new-world whisky distillery that has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world thanks to their unique gravity-fed silos. You can expect notes of peach stones, tropical bubblegum, and a heavy drizzle of maple syrup; on the palate: pineapple crisps, orange blossom, candied pistachios, and tropical fruit syrups. Check out the full tasting walkthrough of this cask on our YouTube channel here.
Shop Cask 151.4
2. Cask 85.68 GTR — Ginger, tobacco and rum
A rich and tasty dram that caught the attention of Adam Ioannidis, this 13yo Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits release saw a one-year extra maturation in a 1st fill #3 char hogshead after spending 12 years in a 1st fill ex-bourbon hogshead. Sweet and spicy jerk ham with a sticky rum and marmalade glaze on the palate. If you enjoy “tobacco” fragrances, then this dram will delight your senses! This was featured in our January virtual tasting pack where it was a huge success — now you can grab a bottle of the full release.
Shop Cask 85.68
3. Cask 66.212 Dogs, tigers and crabs
Suzy Tawse’s pick from March — the no-nonsense barbecue 66. The liquid was matured for 12 years in a 2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel and has notes of lime seafood barbecue, blue cheese and seafood sticks on the nose. On the palate: hickory-smoked hot dogs, liquorice, tobacco strands, char-grilled peppers and roasted chestnuts. A great smoky and sweet combo dram for any peat-heads out there. We’ve been getting some cracking-good 66s in lately and this release is no exception.
Shop Cask 66.212
4. Cask 141.2 Prowling the undergrowth
Vic Ambassador Mooresy’s pick — a strange and wonderful cask from new code (to our branch, at least) 141 — the Danish cask! Initial palate notes of spicy carrot cake, oak shavings and coriander marmalade, before following with cinnamon and rye spice — a definite must for anyone looking to embark on a flavour odyssey off the beaten path. This single-cask Danish release was bottled at a natural cask strength of 60.6% and matured for six years in a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel. There are few opportunities to grab a bottle of something quite as unique as this, we also recommend checking out the tasting walkthrough of this cask on our YouTube channel here for the interesting story behind the distillery.
Shop Cask 141.2
5. Cask 26.193 Silky, milky, fruity booty
Distillery 26 is a bit of a cult favourite, and Cask 26.193 is certainly a favourite of SMWS Ambassador Matt Wooler; it features an incredibly juicy palate and is an all-around pleasant drinker. Notes of soor plooms, green apples, lime, quince, melon, cherry and strawberry laces — but also flumps and cookie dough sweetness and ginger to finish. Matured for 10 years in a 1st fill ex-bourbon barrel — this cask is just bursting with juicy flavours and is well deserving of the flavour profile it was assigned.
Shop Cask 26.193
Be sure to head over to the shop to pick up these casks (and over 60 other amazing bottlings) from March Outturn; if you’re still looking for a more personalised recommendation, then you can get in touch with our Dram-cierge team at [email protected] or 02 9974 3046.
Don’t forget to dive into March Outturn below if you haven’t already and check out the other casks available (plus some cool reads).
