19th January, 2017 by Kristiane Sherry

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has released what’s thought to be the first Scotch whisky aged in an ex-gin cask – The Dunnage Bakehouse.

Available in its January 2017 out-turn, the unusual 13-year-old single cask whisky, numbered 35.178 in the independent bottler’s system, has spent an undisclosed amount of time in a first-fill ex-gin hogshead.

According to SMWS tasting notes, the expression is reminiscent of an “old dunnage warehouse had been converted, in this instance, into a makeshift bakery”.

Other aroma and tasting notes include dried figs, raisins, sultanas, rooibos and peppermint tea, ginger, butterscotch, giant pretzels and “the greenness of a Christmas wreath”.

SMWS does not officially disclose the source of its whiskies, but it is understood expressions numbered 35 are distilled at Glen Moray in Speyside.

The Dunnage Bakehouse is bottled at 58.3% abv and is available to SMWS members for £59.00 per 70cl bottle, and for tasting at its network of venues. A total of 294 bottles have been released.

In October, SMWS recruited whisky expert Charles MacLean to curate a list of 30 discontinued whiskies for its new Kaleidoscope bar in Edinburgh.