Review #824 - SMWS 16.97 'Smoky Hanky Panky' - Glenturret 13 Year
Peated distillate from Glenturret, often called Ruadh Mhor, isn't always easy to find, but there are some independent bottlers that sell it. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society actually seems to put out far more peated Glenturret as opposed to unpeated Glenturret, and we really don't mind - it can be amazing liquid with the right specifications. Actually, Glenturret has supposedly ceased production of peated whisky at this point, so this sort of whisky will be increasingly rare in coming years.
This peated Glenturret single malt from SMWS is named 'Smoky Hanky Panky,' and it was aged for a total of 13 years. The first 11 of those years were spent in a recharred hogshead, but after that, another 2 years or so were spent in a first fill heavily charred hogshead - specifically a char level of #4 or stronger. Because of that, we're expecting some strong oak and wood smoke notes to accent the already peaty distillate, so this could be an intense whisky.
The cask strength sits at 57.8% ABV for this bottling, and as always with SMWS, there's no worry of added color or chill filtration.
SMWS 16.97 'Smoky Hanky Panky' - Glenturret 13 Year
Scotland/Highland - Single Malt
Price: USD 150 (2025)
Age Statement: 13 Years
Strength: 57.8% ABV
Cask Makeup: Recharred hogshead, finished in a first fill #4+ char hogshead
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; distilled November 25, 2010; 299 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times (once blind) over 11 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Very heavy peat and wood smoke - dense and intense, and it takes a little while to open up. Herbal notes like sage and rosemary arrive, and we get some floral scents and a bit of sharp fruit like orange peel. Fennel, wood spice, and white pepper also arrive; there's a subtle sweet side with honey and buttery malt.
Palate: Sweet caramel followed by strong peat and wood smoke. It's a bit spicy at times, and we get some coffee and hints of medicinal qualities - almost cough medicine. Nectarine and orange bring a fruit side, and we get lighter flavors like linen and oats; the mouthfeel is thick.
Finish: Lots of peat and smoke linger, along with tiramisu, ash, and some malty character. It's still quite rich, and we get accents of chocolate-orange and a light, bright fruit like honeydew melon. This has a very long finish.
Final Note: Like many of these peated Glenturret whiskies from SMWS, this is a powerful, punchy single malt: strong peat and smoky notes which are dominant, but behind that, there are lots of layers and complexity that open up over time. We especially like the spicy and herbal notes on the nose of this one, as well as the coffee in the palate and finish. Great whisky, a bottle that we'll be savoring for a long time.
Value here is just a little below average due to the pricing, which, as usual with SMWS, is a little bit high. Still, many of these peated Glenturret whiskies come in on the lower end of the Society's pricing scale, so some of these single casks can provide very good value.
Our Rating: 7.8 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.83
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
Check out our other Glenturret reviews:
Review #432 - SMWS 16.67 'A Study in Sepia and Umber' - Glenturret 8 Year
Review #294 - SMWS 16.56 'Distill My Peating Heart' - Glenturret 12 Year
