The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 127.44 Cantina Mexicana 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Feis Ile 2016 Bottling

Feis Ile, a festival of music and malt held on Islay each year, is an opportunity for each local distillery to showcase something truly remarkable as a once-off annual release. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society decided to do the same, bottling 127.44 ‘Cantina Mexicana’ - a remarkable twelve year old Port Charlotte from the Bruichladdich distillery. This Australian Exclusive showcases Laddie's heavily peated spirit matured in a second fill ex-Oloroso sherry butt. Bottled at natural cask strength and limited to 588 bottles, we have one only from a private collection.

The SMWS UK tasting panel said of this release: "The powerful nose transports us to the ‘The Great Outdoors’ – campfires and their dying embers on an autumnal evening – commingling with fresh pine needles on a warm breeze. Campfires became BBQ’s – smoked pork, Manzanilla olives and a leafy rocket side salad with a balsamic dressing. cantina_mexicana_label Patience before feasting eventually reveals a clandestine sweetness – toasted almonds, rock candy and salted Moffatt toffee reveal the cask’s heritage. On the palate it was smoke pork, especially pork scratchings – initially crisp, salty and dry. The BBQ smoke and nutty sweetness of the nose is mirrored in the palate though tasting transforms the nose into a more perfumed, floral, sherried character. It becomes incredibly salty and maritime – smoked salmon and rock salt on board an old trawler. Despite the hubbub of the fireside camp found in the nose, the palate is deceptively mild-mannered and like the perfect dinner guest, regales and entertains without overstaying its welcome. The finish is peppery and rich, with cinder toffee, chocolate, liquorice and peppered steak. If you weren’t able to make it to this year’s Feis Ile, then one sip of this whisky does a very good job of transporting you there." 65.9% Alc./Vol.