In the summer of 2023, my pal and namesake Tobi formed a heavy metal band called Alatar together with my twin-brother Flo. The first song they ever did together was a catchy old-school banger called “Spellbound”, which instantly – pun intended – put me under its spell. So when I recently saw that The Scotch Malt Whisky Society had launched a new whisky by the name of “Spellbound!”, I couldn’t help but order it in a flash. It was almost as if a magical voice had whispered the instruction to purchase into my ear, making it unmistakenly clear to me that I needed this bottle come what may. Luckily for me, this wasn’t just any whisky, but one whose stats alone would make you drool just from reading them out loud: After all, we’re talking here about an 11-year-old Islay malt produced at Caol Ila Distillery and bottled at 56.5 per cent ABV after seven years in a hogshead plus another four years in a 1st-fill Spanish oak Oloroso butt. And what already reads wonderful on paper, becomes even better in the glass. The SMWS’s heavily peated “Spellbound!” malt is an absolute cracker that puts me in a state of euphoria everytime that I enjoy a glass of it. Check out my notes below to know why!

by Tobi

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Eye: Full, dark brown.
Nose: Let me put it plain and simple: This opulently sherried Islay malt smells finger-licking good! To the nostrils, the thick n’ heavy liquid offers honey-glazed duck breast, gooey chocolate sauce, dried orange slices, sugared mixed berries, allsorts of mild spices, smouldering bonfire wood, and cooled-off coals from the beach-side BBQ we had the night before.
Palate: When coating the tongue, “Spellbound!” creates a perfectly balanced interplay of meaty, peaty, maritime, and sweet flavors. I get grilled chicken stripes, candied ginger bites, soft marzipan cookies, tannin-heavy raisins, and big smoke clouds – enriched with underlying notes of moist stones and wet driftwood.
Finish: The ongoing aftertaste is pure magic! It emphasizes on sweetness, leaving behind the big tastes of honey cake, redcurrant marmalade, and licorice pastilles enshrouded in a black cloak of wood- and mineral-rich Islay puff. Besides the treats and the peat, one peculiar note stays behind, too: green and bitter-ish, it reminds me a little of artichoke relish. While this might sound a little wild, it actually fits in marvelously here!

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Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery: Caol Ila
Region: Scotland (Islay)
Age: 11 years
Alc. volume: 56.5 per cent
Cask type: 1st fill Oloroso sherry butt (Finish)
Code: 53.482
# of bottles: 570
Bottle size: 0.7 litres
Price: ~110.00 Euro
More info: https://www.smws.com/ (Bottler)

*** I bought the bottle myself as a regular customer. ***