Hidden Gems of May

This month there has been no shortage of whiskies released in celebration of the Scottish festivals. But of all the whiskies available to members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society today, which are the real hidden gems? Here are three whiskies you don’t want to miss:

Distillery 5 Rare Release
Released this month in celebration of the Lowland region of Scotland, this unique small batch was created by blending a selection of 18-year-old first-fill bourbon barrels from Distillery No. 5. Maturing the distillery’s bright yet elegant spirit for nearly two decades in fresh wood has produced an absolute flavour bomb of a whisky.

Cask 13.91 A Colorful Companion
By now you might have heard the saying, “Age is just a number”. That couldn’t be more true here with this vividly complex and evocative whisky matured for just nine years in a second-fill bourbon barrel. I was blown away by the depth and character of this Highland spirit and the multitude of flavours ready to be discovered. So much for young whiskies being one-dimensional. This is a true joy.

Cask 73.125 A Multiplex of Lush
Released in celebration of Speyside, this Juicy, oak & vanilla cask represents everything I love about the region. It’s a big, bold, fruity spirit with layers of toffee, ginger cookies and dry wood. The spirit is thick and luscious and t’s shockingly approachable at 62.5% ABV. All signs point to a very high-quality cask.

Slàinte mhath!
Ben Diedrich