Each month we have a Monthly Pick to highlight an available SMWS release that we think deserves some extra attention, which comes with a promotional price. This month it is Orangey-Tang In The Forest, a 16yo single malt Scotch from the Highlands.

SPIRIT NOTES

After 14 years in ex-bourbon wood, we transferred this into a refill toasted French oak barrique. The nose wafted floral and sylvan impressions (orange blossom, jasmine, heather and forest walks) but the main thrust was fruity (an orange ice lolly, stewed plums, warm apple cake and grenadine). Delicious fruits also dominated the palate as we had orange jelly, red apples, strawberries, apricot and pear, but we found something deeper – a lovely mouth provocation of warm pepper, garam masala and the gum-tingling zing of old, maybe even maritime, oak. Adding water, the fruity character, on both nose and palate, definitely became more tropical, revealing mango, melon, pineapple, papaya and lychee.