Marketing Malt - "Deployment 8"

"Marketing Malt" 2008 15 Year Old Whisky Sponge

SBWAS Exclusive collaboration with Whisky Sponge 57.1%

The eighth release for the SBWAS (SherryBomb Whisky Appreciation Society)

To say this was a bit of a jewel in the crown moment would be an understatement. First of all, I'm not allowed to say what the distillery is, but those in the know will know that if you know that we know you know that you will be able to figure out that it's probably one of the most famous distilleries on the face of the planet (and possibly a few other outlying planets). It's based in Speyside, so think Think Telly Tubby land, Harvey Spectre, a very famous house, and a core range that costs enough to bring a tear to the eye. You know?

Secondly, it was a chance opportunity to collaborate with Angus MacRaild and the Whisky Sponge brand. I mean, who wouldn't?! Look at the label - it's dangerously cute.

The final release for the group for 2024, this one is a short out-turn of just 346 bottles, as it's from a ridiculously rich & dark first fill sherry-soaked Hogshead.

Appearance: Deep, rich polished walnut with flashes of ruby. It’s dark enough to fake its own identity as a bottle of maple syrup in a cupboard.

Nose: Aromatic & ripe stone fruit (plums & squishy dark cherries), mixed with notes of beeswax furniture polish. Cola bottles, sour jelly sweets, blackcurrant jelly and some dried wood. A distant hint of mint lurks in the background.

Palate: Big waves of rich sweetness that are underpinned by a pleasantly drying fibrous oakiness. Bags of fruit appear to coat the tongue with a buttery element that adds to the body. Notes of dark cherry and preserved orange rind. It's a slow & contemplative dram for sure.

Finish: As you’d hope and expect from this rather famous distillery, it’s long & refined with sweetness merging into gentle sour notes that play on the palate and just sit there for a very long time.

Water adds: Personally, I wouldn't bother as this drinks beautifully au naturel. But if you do add a few drops, there's a touch more wax polish on the nose, with additional fruit, toffee, and brown sugar. On the palate there’s a little more oak & pepper with a savoury note.

Conclusion: Flipping gawjuss. Drink it slowly, be selfish with it and have something else to offer your guests - unless you really like them.

Available from October 2024 exclusively through Royal Mile Whiskies for £189.95 (at the time of writing)

More about Decadent Drinks and their other Sponge releases can be found here

Buckets of humour and unadulterated sarcasm can be found here