Glen Grant 2003 SMWS 9.292 20, WB: 247301

Getting used to those bottlings. Can result in an addiction. However, Glen Grant was a must have for me. Very interesting distillery with a curious tour and lots of anecdotes. Still seems to be Murray's favourite.

Nose: Outdoors, rain after a hot summer's day, light breeze, the delivery service races past, his takeaway from the Chinese, lots of soya, some sweet and sour duck, mainly Szechuan sauce, a hint of freshly cooked rice, and he's gone... screaming cats, wet dogs, a Turkish ice cream seller, constantly teasing his customers, exuding a sweet vanilla scent, confectionery seller's appointment. Candyfloss by the tons on this corner, fairground paradise apples on that, fresh Berliners on that. What country could we be in? Mass pile-up of different types of sweets. Apples are being bitten into, summer is back, the vendors are sweating, global warming is unstoppable, we are so screwed...
Mouth: Brandy, matured grappa.  A journey in effetti through Italy. We try some astringent Chianti, in between an espresso ristretto, extra ristrettissimo. Tiramisu with chilli powder, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. Marvellous sunsets, Tuscany, San Quirico in Val d'Orcia, Amalfi Coast, etc... Halloumi fried a little too spicy, is that Italy too? 

Finsh: Ruccola, raddicio, Chinese cabbage, ginger, orange zest crossed with lime. Spicy and oily. Spiciness could be black pepper on a pasta arrabbiata. Looong.

With water I’m getting more like grappa, unripe apples, grass, if I were a cow. Gin and tonic with a grapefruit apple juice and honeydew melon smoothie.

Ready for the summer.
89/100

Mannochmore 2006 SMWS 64.149 17, WB: 243252

Second SMWS bottle. Alliances shift. One has to be... flexible in this world.
Nose: Heavy ecclesiastic scent of old, varnish, dry rot, prayer cushions, hymn books, paraffin lamps, flowers and candles, all baking away peacefully in the warmth of the slow-burning ovens. Baked apples with a muscovado topping. A bag full of chocolate shavings. I admit: Black Forest gateau smashing in the face. It's all about the book. It begins and ends with the book. When can I get a copy? Mouth: Chocolate cake with lots of cream. Pickeled cherries, rummy, cherry watery, refreshing, a hint of menthol, lots of fudge, dates and stewed plums, marmelading.
Finish: Small espresso. Milk chocolate, Cognac XO oiling down, with a mouthful of mountain herbs.

Everybody counts or nobody counts. – Bosch

91/100

Mortlach 2004 SMWS 76.152 19, WB: 243255

SMWS, what a strange club, instead of names, numerical codes (which you look up anyway) and predetermined flavours, quasi incapacitating, elitist and somehow ... not. Anyway.
Mortlach, the name sounds like a war cry. "But Enough Talking, I Challenge You."
Nose: Ground in a mixed forest. Moss and all kinds of elf dung. Old library with wise books. Sawmill. Fruit stall next to dried fruits. Sunday roast with grilled pineapple slices.
Mouth: Sweet, pineapple juice, apricot juice, apple juice, sherbet, doughnuts in lots of oil, crêpes.

Finish: Mouth-filling, coating, waxy, oily, blunt teeth. Dental floss, a hint of mint. Sticky, dry.
With ¼ teaspoon of water, the nose loses intensity. Herbs and dusty spices dominate in the mouth. Some cinnamon spiciness is noticeable in the finish. Why continue to buy from SMWS?
“To Be The Best; Isn’t That A Good Enough Reason?” Kojiro.
93/100