Review #825 - SMWS 16.50 'Tar in the Night' - Glenturret 6 Year
This is one of the youngest whiskies that we've tried from independent bottler the Scotch Malt Whisky Society; this heavily peated Glenturret is just 6 years old, and all of that time was spent in a recharred hogshead, which is the Society's favorite treatment for Glenturret whisky. They named this single cask 'Tar in the Night,' and their tasting notes suggest flavors treacle, meats, and baking spices.
As this whisky is still young, it also comes with a blistering strength of 64.1% ABV; considering the fact that it was placed in the Society's 'peated' flavor profile, this is shaping up to be an intense experience.
SMWS 16.50 'Tar in the Night' - Glenturret 6 Year
Scotland/Highland - Single Malt
Price: USD 100 (2020)
Age Statement: 6 Years
Strength: 64.1% ABV
Cask Makeup: Recharred hogshead
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; distilled October 1, 2013; 306 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times (once blind) over 15 months from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: Sweet at first - cookie dough, buttery malt, quite creamy with lots of vanilla. Briny notes and peat build to a medium influence; it's both phenolic and coastal at times. Light fruits like lemon and orange arrive, and we get a hint of savory mushrooms and musty perfume. Nice details here, good complexity.
Palate: Texture is great and oily, and the mouthfeel is medium-thick, but it's also quite a hot whisky. A little prickly and young with strong peat, tangy fruits of nectarine and lemon and orange... there's a bit of wood smoke, followed by hints of vanilla and some wood tannins. Accents include brown sugar and more juicy fruits.
Finish: Warming and very long, with strong lingering peat that has wood smoke accents. Hints of cigarettes and ash combine with fresh bread, malt, vanilla, and bright lemon.
Final Note: This is a punchy, fun whisky, but it does absolutely take some getting used to because of that heat. The level of peat smoke on the nose was actually a bit more reserved than we expected, but the palate and finish bring lots of smoke, and it mixes with an interesting variety of fruits and baking notes. Good whisky overall, just a bit fiery and youthful.
Value is above average, maybe a little above, as this bottle came at a time when SMWS prices were a little more reasonable. It won't be easy to find this specific single cask these days, as it was released several years ago, but this is a good indicator of how high the quality can be with peated Glenturret whisky, even at such a young age.
Our Rating: 7.3 / 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: 6.25
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.
