SMWS 77.55 Sharp and tart

Posted 31 October 2019 by Matt / In Glen Ord
The Dramble reviews SMWS 77.55 Sharp and tart

Bottle Name: 77.55 Sharp and tart

ABV: 60.9%
Distillery: Glen Ord
Bottler: Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Flavour Profile: Spicy & dry
Region: Speyside Age: 10

A straight down the line Glen Ord – 10 years in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead.

View on SMWS

Nose: Opening on fresh fields – bright hay, sundried grass and stringy reeds. White grapes and gooseberries are joined by melon and lime zest, whilst rich double cream is tempered by damp ferns and petrichor. Running throughout – golden syrup laced gingerbread and a well honeyed cup of black tea. Water unlocks singed digestive biscuits and freshly picked green apples alongside sage seasoning and slightly brackish water.

Taste: Soft, juicy and a little bit different. Forest pine, fallen leaves, sage stuffing and dry cracked earthiness are sweetened by grapes, gooseberries and balled melon. The mid-palate is all alluvial with dried soils, graphite and pronounced musty oak. Reduction is rather transformative, and certainly takes things sharper and tarter – lemon and lime peels – sweet, but acerbic at the same time, with developing white pepperiness.

Finish: Medium, somewhat forest-led with soils and leaves alongside lime zest and continuing white pepper.

A shapeshifting Glen Ord that’s thought-provoking….and a little bit random. The flavours here work – but are often unexpected in their combinations. Well named, and with an attention-grabbing earthiness – certainly worth an exploratory dram.

Score: 84/100


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