A single grain bottling from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has been named the most outstanding luxury spirit in the Luxury Masters 2019, along with three Master and three Gold medals in a competition dedicated to super and ultra-premium expressions
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s year of awards success has continued with our single grain Cask No. G6.9: Listening to the frog chorus winning the ‘Best in Show’ title of Taste Master, as well as a Master award, in the Luxury Masters competition for 2019.
The Taste Master award was the ultimate prize across all spirit categories in the competition, which also saw the SMWS pick up three Master and three Gold medals.
The Luxury Masters is a blind-tasting competition organised by The Spirits Business, with judges assessing only super-premium-plus spirits. Judges awarded eight Master medals, with a score of 90 per cent or more, three of which went to SMWS whiskies.
Cask No. G6.9: Listening to the frog chorus is a 38-year-old single grain whisky that spent 36 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead before we transferred it into a second-fill toasted oak hogshead. It impressed the judges with its “butterscotch, pear and gorse blossom” aroma and its “open, fresh pear” flavour.
“Listening to the frog chorus from the SMWS perfectly captured what our judges were looking for in a luxury spirit: exceptional balance, textural elegance and a full flavour that exceeded expectations,” said Amy Hopkins, editor of The Spirits Business and chair of judging panel. “The whisky was a deserving recipient of the Taste Master title in a competition that was full of excellent products. From gin and Irish whiskey to Scotch and rum, it’s clear producers are upping their games when it comes to high-end liquid.”
Cask No. 97.22: Emerald-masked triple thrill also won a Master medal, in the Single Malt – Ultra Premium category. Judges said: “The aroma of this whisky was just superb – it was like sticking your nose in a coconut. It took nicely to a little touch of water and really gave you something back.”
Cask Nos. 24.139: Beauty beyond skin deep, 53.308: Let the Tempest tout an’ blaw and 72.78: Double plus good rounded out the Society’s success with Gold medals for each.
“Apart from demonstrating the quality of bottlings that we offer our members, these awards are a huge endorsement of what the Society has been doing to actively manage the maturation of our whiskies,” said SMWS spirits director Kai Ivalo. “With Cask No. G6.9: Listening to the frog chorus, we took a 36-year-old single grain whisky and decided to move it into a second-fill toasted oak hogshead for a further two years – and the resulting whisky was then judged to be the single best bottling in the whole competition, across all of its categories.
“We’re delighted by the accolades and members should look forward to these and many more outstanding whiskies coming their way soon, to share and savour.”
Taste Master ‘Best in Show’– Cask No. G6.9: Listening to the frog chorus (available now)
Scotch Whisky: Single Grain – Ultra Premium
Master Medal – Cask No. G6.9: Listening to the frog chorus (available now)
Scotch Whisky: Single Malt – Ultra Premium
Master medal – Cask No. 97.22: Emerald-masked triple thrill (coming soon)
Gold medal – Cask No. 24.139: Beauty beyond skin deep (coming soon)
Gold medal – Cask No. 53.308: Let the Tempest tout an’ blaw (coming soon)
Gold medal – Cask No. 72.78: Double plus good (coming soon)
