Sarah Baker Perfumes Tartan Cask, photo by Nicoleta ©

This year, for reasons I didn’t quite expect, has turned into my personal Year of Whiskey. And no, it’s not because I’ve suddenly developed a newfound love for the drink itself. Since quitting smoking, bourbon just doesn’t feel complete without its old, familiar complementary vice. I remain an occasional, social sipper of a robust, dry red wine, my palate having long forgotten the subtle complexities of whiskey’s divine character.

Whiskey mood photo via pexels

Thankfully, fragrances have kept the flame alive. Deep, warm, and endlessly complex, whiskey-inspired scents continue to capture its essence, offering layers of depth reminiscent of the drink itself. From cozy, sweet nuances to smoky, dangerous undertones, these fragrances embody the deeply gratifying warmth and richness that whiskey has always held for me. Starting from Mugler’s Amen Malt to Nasomatto’s Baraonda, and from Penhaligon’s Lord George to the ever-popular By Kilian’s The Liquors collection, whiskey-inspired fragrances have long held a steady spot in my rotation. I start to crave their smokiness and boozy richness as soon as autumn deepens and winter begins to bear its icy teeth – as they swirl around me like the warming amber glow of aged whiskey in a cut crystal glass. This year, however, for the first time, I found myself indulging in whiskey-inspired scents year-round, discovering and savoring the full spectrum of their charm, in different temperatures, and bringing new facets and moods. So, this year, I went from the delicious apple-pie smokiness of Hez Parfums’ Bourbon Street, which became my early spring love, to the warm, sweet, and addictive blend of boozy and gourmand notes in Manos Gerakinis’ Imperial Malt, which perfectly ushered in the first crisp days of sunny autumn.

Sarah McCartney and Sarah Baker

Come the rugged cold of November, I am ready for the smoky, rugged charm of some robust Scottish variety – and just in time, here enters the beautiful Tartan Cask, courtesy of Sarah Baker and independent perfumer Sarah McCartney.

Detail of the cap, photo by Nicoleta©

Sarah Baker perfumes are a real treat, starting with the packaging –  and the new 50ml bottles are an absolute joy to hold, fitting perfectly, rounded, and smooth in the palm of your hand. The heavy vibrant orange cap, inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge, pays homage to Sarah’s hometown of San Francisco and the sun logo engraved on top is a nod to a 1980s amusement park logo that she loved as a child. The unboxing experience overall is sheer tactile joy – so satisfying, it almost makes me want to go and put on some black pointy long acrylic nails and dive headfirst into a TikTok-inspired ASMR unboxing session.

Skyfall 2012 movie stills IMDb

It’s not often that my inner Adele kicks in to soundtrack my life, but this time, the first whiff had me humming Skyfall before I even realized it. Instantly, I was back at the premiere of one of my favorite Bond movies, twelve years ago – all moody feels and brooding intensity.

“Skyfall is where we start
A thousand miles and poles apart
Where worlds collide and days are dark”

 photo by Nicoleta AI

Imagine yourself as Bond returning to your ancestral home in the Scottish Highlands. What smells would greet you? Enter the house, your steps echoing on the weathered stone walls of the hallways, fingers touching the thin layer of dust on the wood paneling, as you climb the steep stairs. Clear your voice before entering the room, and the thick warmth of the air envelops you like an orange, thick, and fuzzy childhood fever dream. In the stone fireplace the fire crackles and dimly lits the library, with the leather armchair welcoming you in the old, familiar embrace. The old clock is stuck in a world where is always 23.23, lights dancing on golden accents of the leather-bounds books that fill the antique bookshelves covering the walls all the way up to the peeled-off ceiling decorations.

“For this is the end
I’ve drowned and dreamt this moment
So overdue, I owe them
Swept away, I’m stolen”

Zoom in to the rough texture of the tartan wool blanket, the half-full glass of peaty whiskey, and dark burgundy lipstick marks on the edge. Zoom out through the wafts of tobacco smoke in the room, draw out the thick curtains. Breathe and take in the untamed beauty of the brooding landscapes of moss-covered ruins, rustling heather, and rugged coastlines.

“Hold your breath and count to ten.
Feel the Earth move and then
Hear my heart burst again”

Sarah Baker Perfumes Tartan Cask is raw, unapologetic, and deeply evocative. Starting off smoky, almost bitter, like the cask-strength whisky, with earthy damp moss, hints of iodine, and – with taste-bud-awakening-realistic whiskey taste, carrying all the depth and undertones of peat smoke used during the malting of barley. Surrounded by tobacco, leather, and lacquered polished wood – it turns into a 3D evocative experience that has become my addiction of choice, during these cold November evenings out on the town. Side effects warning: it made me binge-watch old Bond movies, buy new fluffy blankets  and it raised Adele (way too) high up on my Spotify chart.

In three words: warming, autumnal, smoky

Notes: Peaty whisky, smoke, cedar, moss, bread, leather accord, hops, tobacco, Buddha wood, labdanum, heather

Nicoleta Tomsa, Senior Editor

Disclosure: A bottle of Sarah Baker Perfumes Tartan Cask was kindly offered by the brand, opinions are my own.

Also, check the reviews for: Peach’s Revenge, Riders, Flame and Fortune Extrait,  Gold Spot, Loudo, Rules of Attraction and the initial Tartan.

Sarah Baker Perfumes Tartan Cask, photo via the brand

Thanks to the generosity of Sarah Baker Perfumes we have a 50ml bottle of Tartan Cask Limited Edition Extrait for one registered reader in the EU, US or UK. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on Nicoleta’s review and where you live. Draw closes 11/27/2024

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