53.415 Cosmic collision of sherry and peat

Description

The SMWS has a special relationship with Distillery 53. We get everything from young (5–9yo) casks, incredible Vaults Collection casks that edge over 30+ years in wood, and then casks like this 53.415 which is right in the middle at 15 years old and utilises just phenomenal sherry wood usage from our SMWS team. Rich treacly sherry, a clean whiff of smoke — like a sherried smoky stream of silk in each glass. This is in our top 10 sherried whiskies of 2024 and we’re not even halfway through the year. Islay whisky as it should be.

The nose is a cosmic collision of sherry and peat – treacle, fudge, raisins, lapsang souchong, carbolic, balsamic and seaweed drying on the Islay shore. The palate combines prunes and plum pudding with burnt heather and Big Red gum – the finish a swirling sensation of anise, white pepper, chilli oil and muscle rub. The reduced nose evokes sherry, jamon, truffles and a seafood platter, smoked almonds, tarred ropes and rock-pools. The palate now adds toasted malt loaf, smoke from a smouldering heather moor, cask char and devouring grilled langoustines. After 13 years in ex-bourbon wood, we transferred this into an American oak PX hogshead.