Join four experts in rum, gin, cognac and bourbon for an insight into the unique flavours of single cask spirits

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has teamed up with four experts from the rum, gin, bourbon and cognac fields to stage a special tasting event that celebrates the joys of single cask spirits.

Spirits specialists Ian Burrell, Geraldine Coates, Michelle Brachet and Matt Hastings will join the SMWS for ‘The Single Cask Session’ which will take place on Thursday 3^rd August at the Society’s recently opened Kaleidoscope Bar, in London’s Devonshire Square.

The event will explore the unique flavour and taste of spirits bottled direct from single casks and how they differ dramatically from everyday off-the-shelf spirits.

Michael Cook, manager at Kaleidoscope Bar will host the event, with the four experts giving a guest talk about their specialist spirit along with a tasting.

The SMWS specialises in bottling single cask whisky but also bottles other spirits from single casks, which will now be released under a newly created Single Cask Spirits brand.

The first batch of these Single Cask Spirits, featuring limited edition rum, gin, and cognac, will be released in August. The above-mentioned spirits experts have been appointed as spirits ambassadors to help the Society launch the range.

The rum being tasted at the event will be Cask No. R8.3: Fruit and nutcase, a 12-year-old Nicaraguan rum, which Ian described as having a “medium-bodied fruitness, with dark stoned fruits and cocoa waiting to erupt… butterscotch and marzipan on the palate with a long, dry finish”.

Guests will also taste a 50% proof gin from Glasgow called Cask No. GN1.1: Gee-Whiz, which has a “fresh aroma of juniper and lime juice, eucalyptus syrup and lemon drops… sweet perfumed flavours balanced by a sprinkling of Herbs de Provence”.

The cognac will be a special bottle of Cask No. C5.2: Herby goes bananas, an XO (extra old) cognac which has notes of “freshly cut grass, dandelion, carnations and salted butter with lemon balm… crispy rye bread with a satisfying woody finish”.

Finally, guests will taste Cask No. B5.1: Sheer Brilliance, a Tennessee bourbon which has “an oily/silky mouth feel and an explosion of flavours; glace cherries, marzipan, chocolate coconut and Turkish delight truffles.”

After the talks, Kaleidoscope Bar will offer special serves created by the spirits experts, such as the gin-spired The Society Martini, which combines the Gee-Whiz gin and a smoky Society whisky. Also available will be the Society’s in-house whisky cocktails and its ever-changing selection of single cask whiskies.