SMWS 6.56 Tea tree tobacco leaves

Posted 03 March 2022 by Matt / In Macduff
The Dramble reviews SMWS 6.56 Tea tree tobacco leaves

Bottle Name: 6.56 Tea tree tobacco leaves

ABV: 66.1%
Distillery: Macduff
Bottler: Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Flavour Profile: Spicy & dry
Region: Speyside Age: 8

Super interesting casking for this 8 year old Macduff – 3 years in an ex-bourbon barrel and then another 5 in a 2nd fill ex-Islay barrel. You really don’t see that every day from this distillery.

Nose: Burnt toffee and espresso beans join golden rolling tobacco (almost with a hint of being spent in an ashtray, but not quite), chocolate, and wet soils. In time there’s an interest cave-aged cheese note – something like a fusty, nutty Gruyere – or a glass of milk left out in the sun for an afternoon. Not in anyway unpleasant I’ll add. Dilution offers pear juice, ferns and winter mint alongside eucalyptus.

Taste: Earthy tobacco opens before heading into Terry’s Chocolate Orange, resinous oak and citrus oils. Dry soils and shaved chocolate lead to touches of pineapple juice whilst ginger spice provides a perky lift. Reduction here results in an explosion of fruity qualities – orange gel, tangerine peels and poached pear – tempered by some savouriness from green bell peppers and wisps of ethereal smoking pan oils.

Finish: Medium with tangy orange, char and persistent tobacco.

Highly thought-provoking Macduff where the secondary cask has arguably had a big influence, but not necessarily in the manner which is as simple as reading the bottle label. Here there’s a ton of the promised tobacco and otherworldly hints towards smokiness that don’t quite go the whole hog – and they marry very nicely with the underlying distillate. Experimental but well worth checking out.

Score: 86/100


Thank you for adding your link. We will review your link within 48 hours.

Distilleries

Bottlers

Scotland (1209)
Aberfeldy (9)
Aberlour (14)
Ailsa Bay (3)
Ardbeg (19)
Ardmore (22)
Arran (29)
Auchroisk (10)
Aultmore (10)
Balblair (17)
Balmenach (7)
Balvenie (11)
Ben Nevis (11)
Benriach (11)
Benrinnes (15)
Benromach (9)
Bladnoch (5)
Bowmore (20)
Braeval (7)
Cambus (4)
Caol Ila (48)
Cardhu (1)
Clynelish (22)
Daftmill (4)
Dailuaine (11)
Dalmore (17)
Dalmunach (1)
Deanston (7)
Dufftown (4)
Dumbarton (2)
Edenmill (1)
Edradour (19)
Girvan (3)
Glen Grant (17)
Glen Moray (26)
Glen Ord (4)
Glen Spey (8)
Glengoyne (14)
Glengyle (6)
Glenlivet (16)
Glenlossie (11)
Glenrothes (14)
Glenturret (10)
Hazelburn (2)
Imperial (5)
Inchgower (2)
Kilchoman (9)
Knockando (1)
Knockdhu (7)
Lagavulin (3)
Laphroaig (32)
Linkwood (14)
Lochnagar (1)
Longmorn (13)
Longrow (4)
Macallan (12)
Macduff (7)
Mortlach (12)
Oban (3)
Scapa (1)
Speyburn (9)
Speyside (1)
Springbank (15)
Talisker (8)
Tamdhu (3)
Teaninich (6)
Tobermory (38)
Tomatin (13)
Tomintoul (6)
Tormore (8)
Wolfburn (3)
Canada (3)
Europe (42)
Cotswolds (3)
Langatun (6)
Locher (1)
Mackmyra (15)
Penderyn (3)
Smogen (4)
Zuidam (1)
Ireland (64)
Bushmills (8)
Dingle (1)
Midleton (33)
Teeling (6)
Tullamore (1)
Japan (42)
Chichibu (14)
Chita (1)
Eigashima (1)
Hakushu (2)
Yamazaki (2)
Yoichi (2)
Rest of the World (10)
Dunedin (1)
Indri (1)
Starward (1)
Taiwan (8)
King Car (6)
Nantou (2)
USA (41)
Balcones (1)
Bernheim (2)
Jim Beam (1)
Lux Row (4)