SMWS 29.211 Jazzy jousting hastlitude

SMWS 29.211 Jazzy jousting hastlitude, 21 YO, 51,6 %

For the Feis Ile 2017 festival the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) released three exclusive bottlings. One of which was the SMWS 29.211 Jazzy jousting hastlitude. This is a Laphroaig whisky, distilled on 1995-04-04. It was matured for 20 years in ex-bourbon oak, then finished for one year in a 1st fill PX hogshead. The release this year saw a total outturn of 288 bottles.

The name of this release is, as always with SMWS, fairly exotic. I had to look up the word 'hastlitude', and found that it is "literally a spear game referring to any chivalric sport involving the use of the lance - often used as a generic term for tourneying". So there you go. A funny, funky, piercing experience then?

Here is a short blurb from the SMWS website:

"The oldest of the three, Cask No. 29.211: Jazzy jousting hastlitude, is 21-years-old and matured in a first-fill American oak Pedro Ximenez hogshead. Again from the Peated profile, the Tasting Notes describe this whisky as having hints of “tarte tatin, treacle toffee, herbal smoke”. From one of the whisky world’s most iconic distilleries, only 228 bottles are available."

The SMWS 29.211 Jazzy jousting hastlitude sold out very quickly, at a fairly OK price of GBP 180.

Nose: Super approachable and appealing nose. This is a classic, creamy and rich Laphroaig. A bit medicinal, but we are not inside the medicine cupboard this time. Rich sweetness, caramel, and dried fruits. A touch of sea salt and wood smoke.

Taste: Rich, sweet and creamy. Yes! Vanilla, ashes, wood smoke and hints of barbecue and salty sea spray. Very much full-bodied, this one.

Finish: Looong finish. Deep and rich sweetness. Dried fruits. Thick, syrupy sherry. Rich spices.

Comments: Yowza! This is one for special occasions, and I can feel one coming on right now...

Score (91/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas