tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31749724663717449702024-02-21T18:05:41.121+00:00Whisky and WritingA blog about scotch whisky and occasionally about writing.Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-82125068166358029662016-03-14T17:01:00.000+00:002016-03-14T17:01:04.723+00:00Auchroisk Singleton 1975<div class="MsoNormal">
Aroisk? Auchusk? Arusk?</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another mini from auction and another bit of digging around
to get more information. This bottle was a new one on me but it didn’t take much
sleuthing before I stumbled across this… <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/auchroisk/the-singleton-of-auchroisk-1975-circa-1990-whisky/">https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/auchroisk/the-singleton-of-auchroisk-1975-circa-1990-whisky/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn1.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-2813/auchroisk/the-singleton-of-auchroisk-1975-circa-1990-whisky.jpg?ss=2.0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Singleton of Auchroisk 1975 - circa 1990" border="0" height="320" src="https://cdn1.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-2813/auchroisk/the-singleton-of-auchroisk-1975-circa-1990-whisky.jpg?ss=2.0" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bigger than a miniature</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So – it’s pronounced “OH-thrusk” (well, of course). Distilled in 1975 and
bottled around 1990 and apparently a “very rare collectors dram”. It seems I’ve
inadvertently been very discerning with my choice of random minis. And I’ve accidently
popped open a mini-goldmine . Ah well, that’s what it’s there for.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Giving this a try I got lots of sherry right away. No sign
of the “old smell” or mustiness I’ve had
previously with old bottles. There’s not loads else on the nose but very mild
and clean. No burn, easy-going.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tasting it there is a nice coating. Very oily and slightly
carbony, almost gritty. Going in again it is literally like eating chocolate raisins.
It has the dried fruit richness and intensity you can get with sherry casks.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Looks fantastic too - a thoroughly appealing deep reddy
colour.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A drop of water brought out the more floral notes on the nose
as well as a bit of menthol. A bit of treacle toffee towards the end. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s
mellow and relaxing. An unobtrusive wee dram. I think it could have benefited
from being bottled a higher strength but I guess that ship sailed 25 years ago.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It seems full bottles of this go for about £200 and minis
for £20 which is pretty steep. Glad I didn’t know that before opening it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m enjoying trying out old bottles of whisky, they are exciting to
explore but couldn’t recommend this at
that price. But it is very nice and worth trying if you get the chance (in a bundle of minis at auction for
example).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
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WW<o:p></o:p></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-73032595140939928012016-01-21T11:18:00.004+00:002016-01-21T11:21:19.977+00:00Glenfarclas and Highland Park 25s<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So a couple of 25 year old belters here. I’m going to avoid
piddling into the torrent of opinion that sprays forth about No Age Statement
whisky (for now at least), sufficed to say that even the most ardent advocate/apologist
of NAS would surely go weak at the knees at tasting the couple of oldies that
I’m reviewing here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here I have two miniatures from two distilleries I have a
lot of time for. They are both 25 years old and I thought I’d try them side by
side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://cdn3.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-2813/glenfarclas-25-year-old-whisky.jpg?ss=2.0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a><br /><a href="https://cdn3.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-2813/glenfarclas-25-year-old-whisky.jpg?ss=2.0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://cdn3.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-2813/glenfarclas-25-year-old-whisky.jpg?ss=2.0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Starting with the <b>Glenfarclas
25<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Glenfarclas 25 Year Old" border="0" height="320" src="https://cdn3.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-2813/glenfarclas-25-year-old-whisky.jpg?ss=2.0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="199" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is lighter in colour than the Highland Park, a kind of shining gold. There’s a bit of sweetness and sherry on the nose. Surprisingly light to
taste too for it's age. Refreshing and spritely but still smooth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was a little fruity but more citrus-y than the the chewy raisin you sometimes get with older whisky. I got a bit of grapefruit
in there - Opal Fruits (Starburst I
guess now). Surprised how young it seemed but still very rounded. Not feisty
like a Kilchoman. I also got a bit of pitta bread dryness, oakiness I suppose if you wanted it in whiski-ese<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Going back to it after trying the Highland I got flowers, light
and fragrant. It was like stepping into the entrance hall of a country house on a cool
spring day. Woody, fresh and fragrant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Highland Park 25<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Quite different this. Smooth and sherried – a big taste to match it’s deep dark
colouring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/900/hlpob.25yov3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Highland Park 25 Year Old" border="0" height="320" src="https://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/900/hlpob.25yov3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HP Sauce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This was much like the 30 year old (also like an old 8yo I once tasted). Wonderful brown sugar smell
like a burnt crème brulee. A lingering warmth after tasting. It opens up
deliciously there’s a heavy cask influence I think. It’s so deeply flavoured with wood, smoke and fruit. There were buttery crumpets too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Going back to the Highland Park after the Glenfarlas it made
me think of a ship’s trunk or an old library. Very Leathery and refined. And so
rich. I also got the bit of peat in there. Smouldering ashes lingering in the
middle of cold damp night. Just sublime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Overall a highly classy affair. A couple of old boys ready to
kick arse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Pricing-wise I've seen the Glenfarclas at £110 which surely
makes it one of the best value oldies out there. Generally speaking I think
Glenfarclas are to be applauded for their reasonable pricing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Highland Park I preferred of the two. But the cheapest I’ve
seen it is £270. I’d really struggle to recommend that for any bottle but this is definitely worth
trying should you get the chance. Old Highland Park (or old bottles) might
become a bit of a thing to explore I think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">WW</span></div>
<br />
<br />Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-64362375573732726032015-04-15T13:59:00.001+01:002015-04-15T13:59:48.921+01:00Mortlach 16 Year Old - Flora and Fauna<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a lovely whisky. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But it’s one that’s
difficult to get hold of now the Flora and Fauna range is discontinued. So the
story of getting a bottle to review is perhaps worth more of a mention than
usual. It started with mild curiosity and ended with me searching the websites
of what seemed like every wine and spirit merchant in the UK. Via a spot of
righteous indignation in the middle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/900/mtlff.16yo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mortlach 16 Year Old" border="0" height="320" src="https://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/900/mtlff.16yo.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare sight...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There’s been so much written about the new official Mortlach
range I can only be bothered to mentioned 3 things of note;<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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1 - Mortlach is a very well regarded distillery that has not
previously had an official bottlings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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2 - A new official range
of Mortlachs has been launched but they are unfathomably overpriced.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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3 - The sort-of-official Flora and Fauna Bottling was much
loved by whisky enthusiasts and it seemed like a good idea to get some
especially given the price compare to the new official range.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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With those three things in mind I tried to get hold of a
couple of bottles. Obviously everybody in the world was pretty much ahead of me
on this – everywhere I checked it was
either sold out (on all the sites you’d expect, Master of Malt, TWE etc) or suffering
a massive price hike on the £40-odd you might have expected to pay a couple of
years ago.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But once I had the idea I was determined to find some. Google
searches for “Mortlach 16” returned endless websites that had no stock. I tried
a variety of things but eventually I
took to getting a list of wine and spirit merchants in the UK and checking
their websites individually on the off chance they had some. Time consuming and a few dead ends with ghost
stock that wasn’t really there. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But eventually, after much searching, I came to Gauntley’s
in Nottingham. Their last two bottles - £50 each. Not cheap but better than
nothing and it felt like a victory nonetheless.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So anyway – enough about exciting tales of buying stuff
online how does it taste?<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s good. Almost annoyingly so considering the ball-ache to
get these bottles and the current hype around the new range. But no doubt less
annoying than spending £50 and having it taste awful.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I didn’t find it hugely complex - one flavour note kind of
dominates, but a very nice flavour. It’s big on the sherry and wood but it has
nice smooth edges. Some nice plum sauce notes. I had been informed it was a meaty dram (whatever
that meant) – and there’s is a bit of cured meat, a bit of charcuiterie. But not
the plate of sausages I’d been led to expect. But a nice bit of spice too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It has a lovely tingling aftertaste. Not burn, but a bit of
heat. I’m coming to realise that nasty whisky burns, but good whisky warms. This
is more like a bit like a drop of tabasco. I might have got a tiny bit of Bailey’s
in there too.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Certainly this is one of the most drinkable whiskies I’ve
come across. Lovely colour too - very dark, russet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In summary it’s just lovely. It’s quite reassuring that some
many whisky nerds on forums can’t be
wrong. It’s good and it’s different. To get hold of any… well you’ll really
struggle to find some now, certainly for less than £80+. You could pay that if
you were curious. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As for the new range – I haven’t tasted it and apparently
it’s even nicer than this - although I wonder how much of that is blogger
bluster from grateful sample recipients. Honestly, I simply cannot conceive of
how it would be worth splashing that kind of dough on a standard bottling. The
18 year old is £174 for 50cl (£243 p/r for 70cl). Their NAS entry bottle is £54
(pro rata £75). I think Diageo have got their thinking all wrong (I’ll be sure
to mention it to the bosses as they heave sackfulls of cash into their Range
Rovers).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the future I would try some of the Indy bottles – there
seems to be plenty of the 15yo and 21yo Gordon & McPhail about for a price
that puts Diageo to shame – (15yo around £45 and 21yo around £60).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally I have also heard very good things of Dailuaine Flora
and Fauna 16 that is supposedly very similar to Mortlach and goes for about £50.
And seems plenty of stock for the time being.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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So more bottles to try out, maybe I should park my curiosity.
It is proving an expensive business….<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
WW</div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-42059111590228344102015-03-23T23:11:00.001+00:002015-03-26T13:58:10.272+00:00Scotia Royale 12 (and auctions again)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So this is something that I picked up at an auction a while
back. I know my last post but one was about auctions so I’m probably sounding
like some auction crazed lunatic right now. But before talking about this
whisky I thought I’d mention that a aspect of auctions that I like and that is
the opportunity to pick up miniatures.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Scotch Whisky Auctions (and others probably) seem to
regularly bundle together miniatures to sell off and they seem to go for pretty
reasonable prices. For example, I got 10
assorted minis for £25 and it included some cool stuff - an old Bunnhabhain
(possibly one of their first miniatures produced after checking on Twitter) and
a lovely old Signatory Strathmill that’s got me interested in that distillery. It was a random selection with some stuff
better than others. But whilst certain minis are highly sought after (mainly silent stills) they generally don’t seem to be that collectable. So they’re
great for picking up for that other reason to buy whisky – i.e. to drink.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ralfy, as ever, does a great bit about <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBtGfP6m84k">miniatures</a>. One thing he
mentions in there is you can pick up minis of different ages of the same
bottling (e.g. an Ardbeg 10 from 90s or 2000s) and compare them with their latest
incarnation to see how consistent it is. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.whiskyonline-shop.com/images/products/file_222_166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.whiskyonline-shop.com/images/products/file_222_166.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo not stolen from Master of Malt for once</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A note of caution though is that neck fill levels are
often lower than full-size bottles so I assume they’re more susceptible to air getting in. As ever
always study the pictures carefully.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, anyway, Scotia
Royale is not something I’d ever come across and I thought it might be just a
weird wee blend that you often see (a lot of these on auction sites – and obscure
doesn’t necessarily mean valuable or quality either). Certainly it was obscure enough that
I struggled to find a stock photo online anywhere.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A bit of label reading and googling told me that it was
bottled by A Gillies and produced by Glen Scotia. Reading up a bit more on this
it seems that this company is dormant and the distillery shut in 1982 and lay
silent until 2000. Another good thing about picking up random bottles is the chance to
do some amateur sleuthing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So this wee bottle is probably quite old depending on when they actually bottled it. It still had a decent neck fill. If it was produced at Glen Scotia I’m not sure how much is grain and whether the malt is Glen Scotia. Certainly the label doesn’t give too much away – even the alcohol % is a mystery.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On to the tasting. First things first; it had that certain
mustiness to it that some old bottles have, that it needed to shake off – a kind of carboard/cupboard feeling. But
I found it dissipated as a bit more air got to it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Colour wise it was quite golden syrupy. Smooth on the nose with some gentle sweetness, not too
much of that candy sweetness you get with grain. More like sultanas in an old
jar.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It reminded me of Chivas 12 with its lighter style. There’s
a bit of butter and vanilla in there like Chivas. But there’s a bit more to
chew on, more of a battered leather feel to it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It opened up nicely – really smooth and creamy with a nice
mouthfeel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s was a nice long aftertaste too. Not hugely complex
but tasty. It had that dry Campbeltown style you might get with Springbank. Not
peaty like Glen Scotia is now but perhaps its origins might explain the earthy
quality that made it a bit different to the Chivas.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It looks like it’s seldom seen these days so maybe I’ll
never see this stuff again. It’s nice to have that little connection with the
past though. I wouldn’t bust a gut to
get a full bottle of this. But I know that this isn’t just some random awful
blend but a decent quality whisky.<o:p></o:p></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-75218947135755835212015-03-16T22:53:00.000+00:002015-03-16T22:53:26.278+00:00Kilchoman 2007 VintageThis is my second Kilchoman review. A while back I reviewed the
2<sup>nd</sup> edition 100% Islay. And I really liked it. This time around I’m
looking at the 2007 vintage which at the time of purchase was their oldest
whisky clocking in at a positively ancient 6 years.<br />
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/900/kilob.2007v3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Kilchoman 2007 Vintage / Bot.2013" border="0" height="320" src="https://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/900/kilob.2007v3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I've just finished this bottle, and guess what? I really like this one too. I’d written
previously that there was a vibrancy about Kilchoman that came through with the 100% Islay. And it’s still there
with this one albeit a touch more refined.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To look at it has a pale straw colour which gives a rather
false impression of being weedy. It has a big medicinal nose, but also creamy with a bit of butterscotch. I got citrus notes - grapefruit or apple; fruity but without being sickly sweet. It's smoky but not damp smoke like Laphroaig. Lighter and more floral. Like a forest fire or an arson attempt on a barn. You know - Summer-y smoke </div>
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<br /></div>
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To taste it was smoother than the previous Kilchoman I've had, perhaps unsurprising given the extra time it has sat in a cask. It’s buttery and there's a pleasant, lasting
finish. I was getting a lip-smacking BBQ sauce aftertaste and a satisfying burnt sausage repeat. In some ways there was more on the
finish than the taste. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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It put me in mind of a barbeque on a summer’s day - there’s the a sort of giddy, fresh excitement you get at the start of a BBQ, anticipation of what is to come mixed with smokey getting everywhere. And then afterwards after it all settles down, there is a warming, fulfilling, contented finish. Imagine sitting on the grass at the top of sand dune, catching the scent of the nearby fire on the wind.</div>
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It’s still not hugely complex but very pleasing. It’s nicely different
to other Islays, which it needs to be to stride into that marketplace. The direction of travel is that it’s getting tamed in the
barrel but this still retains its exuberance.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just another fantastic whisky. I don't know if it's just me - I have a friend that is far from convinced but I'm becoming a big fan.<o:p></o:p></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-10541048708217590432015-02-12T15:51:00.001+00:002015-02-12T15:51:21.466+00:00Flora, Fauna and Auctions (but not Merryweather)<div class="MsoNormal">
Rather than a review this is fairly random post about auctions and the Flora & Fauna range.</div>
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I was browsing some whisky auction sites the other night. These sites themselves are quite an interesting phenomena and I might write
something about them soon (read: months away). Sufficed to say that I find them quite interesting to browse even when I’m not looking for anything - particularly older bottles and old labels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, a week or so ago I noticed that a complete set of
Flora and Fauna whiskies had been sold for £4,000 on whiskyauctioneer.com<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s 26 bottles from different United/Diageo distilleries all released under the Flora and Fauna label. I won’t go into detail about this range here because other people have covered it, but basically these bottles were limited releases from various distilleries under the same ownership, including some from distilleries that don't have an official bottling. They also have rather nice labels featuring, guess what, flora and fauna.</div>
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I wasn't aware of the Flora and Fauna range until early last year when the news of the new Mortlach range emerged. Long story short: I heard about this great whisky
called Mortlach, then was excited to hear about a new range being launched, then flabbergasted to hear how much they would cost and
then spent a lot of time trying to get hold of a couple of bottles of the highly rated
Flora and Fauna 16 year old. And get hold of them I did.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Since then I've seen other F&F bottles popping up on retail and auctions
sites. So seeing the whole lot together being sold I wondered if £4,000 represented good value. I knew that Mortlach F&F was
more difficult to get hold nowadays but paying an average of £150 per bottle seemed a bit steep. Then
again a few months ago another complete collection of F&F went for £4,900 on the same auction site so maybe this person had snagged a bargain.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Being that kind of person I suddenly wanted to look at this in a bit more depth and satisfy my
curiosity so I looked through auction data from all the auctions run by <a href="http://scotchwhiskyauctions.com/">Scotch Whisky Auctions </a> (mainly because I find their site most user-friendly and they have a
lot of data). I copied, pasted and tidied up the data and attempted to compare the prices of bottles in the range over the last 4 years. I excluded bottles with wooden boxes and 1<sup>st</sup>
editions – these are more sought after and skew the average price. <o:p></o:p></div>
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What did I find out? Are you still interested?</div>
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The first thing say is that pricing across the Flora and Fauna range is not uniform. At all. The availability, age statements and release dates vary between the distilleries so there are huge differences in the prices paid for the bottles but I'll come on to that.</div>
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If you look at the average price paid for each bottle across
auctions in the last 4 years and added it together it would come out at £3400 in
total. So £4000 might seem a bit over the odds but not outrageous considering you're getting all the bottles at once.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then again if you took the most paid each bottle at auction (standard versions not boxed remember) you might have ended up paying £6180. </div>
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Then
again had you been lucky enough to get them at their cheapest you could have had all the bottles for £2150. </div>
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Perhaps a more useful comparison would be the most recent prices paid for each, which would total £3270 which isn't far off the average.</div>
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Looking in more detail at individual whiskies in the range revealed more volatility. The key thing for me was that there wasn't a steady climb
of the prices of each whisky over time. The highest prices paid for bottles were rarely in the last few auctions. It can be very erratic. Notable variations for me included;</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Balemenach: averaging around £190 with a peak of £320<o:p></o:p></div>
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Craigllachie averaging around £210 with a peak of £410<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dufftown averaging around £60 with a peak of £290<o:p></o:p></div>
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Glen Elgin averaging around £150 with a peak of £520<o:p></o:p></div>
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Royal Brackley with an average £274 with a peak of £500<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally Speyburn averaging about £1000 (!) with a peak of
£1800 (Somewhere Whiskysponge is dying with laughter.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="proddesc" style="border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px 5px;"><span class="prodtitle" style="border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 3px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Flora & Fauna Speyburn 12 Year Old" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/scotchwhiskyauctions/products/42833-med.jpg" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto; outline: none; padding: 0px; width: 224px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">£1800 - Srsly?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Only one of those (Dufftown) hit their peak in the last
5 auctions with all of them recently falling quite a long way short of their peak. In fact a more sought after boxed version of the Speyburn could be nabbed for less than £1000 around 12 months after the £1800 peak for the non-boxed version. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Most other whiskies in the range were steady throughout the auctions with smaller peaks and
troughs. The brands that rose most steadily were Rosebank, Pittyveach and
Mortlach which showed a clear rise over time. Unsurprisingly 2 of those are from silent distilleries and the Mortlach has had greater exposure recently and still represents better value than its latest incarnation. So this tells us more about the value of whiskies from closed distilleries than it
does about collecting Flora and Fauna.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think I'm right in say the range is discontinued now so they are
collectible if you're into that kind of thing. And its within reach of the casual collector since most of the range is
still available for £40-80. Completing it might prove tricky though - and it
might be somewhat galling to eventually shell out £1500 for a 12yo Speyburn to complete the set.
Patience would appear to be the key and not getting dragged into a bidding war.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Obviously this is just a snapshot in time, if I'd looked into this 18 months ago I might have been telling you to sell everything and buy Speyburn but I'd say unless you're interested in having this collection for it's own virtues (i.e. drinking, although those labels are pretty) I wouldn't stick bet the farm on it.</div>
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Look out for future in depth analysis on obscure mid-range whisky collections.</div>
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WW</div>
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Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-21371444857392700512014-10-08T20:42:00.002+01:002014-10-08T20:48:07.343+01:00Grain grain grain grain grain.<br />
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Here’s comes the grain again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m only happy when it grains.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Um… it’s graining men...<o:p></o:p></div>
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So single grain whisky then. If you pay attention to Whisky
blogs or anything to do with whisky for long enough even now and again the issue of single grain
whisky comes up.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A typical blog post on single grain will proceed thusly;<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Hold up. Wait. What? Single <i>grain</i> whisky? What’s that?!” Followed by an explanation, followed
by something about how it’s unfairly seen as a poor cousin to single malt
whisky, followed by a review of a single grain and a recommendation to try it
and widen your whisky experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Although I confess that whenever I see someone covering single grain this
whiskysponge article usually comes to mind…<a href="http://whiskysponge.com/2014/02/09/people-still-pretending-to-enjoy-grain-whiskies/">http://whiskysponge.com/2014/02/09/people-still-pretending-to-enjoy-grain-whiskies/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m not going to give you a definition or explanation of Single Grain
because Google. I just wanted to talk about my recent grain whisky experience. My sole experience of grain whisky had been trying a 25+ year old one at
the Malt Whisky Society that had tasted like Whethers Originals (in a good way). </div>
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That was until a couple of weeks ago when I took part in the Girvan
Patent Still Tweet Taste.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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These are my notes;<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a 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" 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" width="320" /></a><b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Girvan New Make
Spirit (42% abv)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unsurprisingly very light on the nose. A bit of vanilla and
a bit of cereal. This was the first time I’d ever tried new make grain
whisky before. It seems like a little like a decent vodka. Maybe good for
cocktail making. Not that it's for sale anyway but it was interesting to taste.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Girvan No. 4 Apps NAS
(42% abv)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was the same stuff aged a few years. There was more
vanilla and now a bit more fruity. It had a comforting apple pie
and custard smell, with a syrup sponge taste. Fruity but in a more confectionery
way, like rosy apples.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At £44 it was quite drinkable but in all honesty I could
recommend other whiskies to spend £44 on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Girvan 25 Year Old
(42% abv)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was one where the sweetness of grain really came into
play, combining with the wood to give a more complex nose. My notes on the night
said “Smells like a galleon at sea transporting sugar cane from the West
Indies... probably” (bear in mind I was 3 drams in by this point).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got banana, burnt sugar and dark chocolate on the
palate. Creme Brulee on to taste – in fact generally desserts were a theme during the
tasting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was a lovely whisky – certainly this is where I can see
people saying grain is the equal of malt but at £270… it’s pretty far down the
list of bottles I'd be buying if I had that kind of money burning a hole in my pocket.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Girvan 30 Year Old
(42% abv)<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For me the winner on the night. An Eton Mess with a little
slosh of rum over it. Rich and creamy with berries and some nice warming rum
notes. For me it was more subtle than the 25 and more rewarding, nicely
balancing the flavours. A bit of lemon sponge in there, just very light and not overpowering.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again whilst this was the equal of many single malts the £375
price tag is just too prohibitive.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Conclusion<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If there is anything one can draw from this it’s that purely from a taste point of view, single grain whisky can be
as well regarded as single malt. However it seems that
it takes a long time in the barrel for that too happen. And it’s going to set
you back a few quid too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Otherwise it seems to me that younger single grain can just feel a little
too synthetic and sweet. But I'm very glad to have been given such an education in single grain.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many thanks again to The Whisky Wire and William Grant and
Son for arranging the Tweet Tasting<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
WW<o:p></o:p></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-14970628885428871002014-07-16T16:45:00.001+01:002014-07-16T16:46:54.620+01:00Wemyss Tweet Tasting<div class="MsoNormal">
Occasionally when I log on to Twitter I’ll find my timeline suddenly
flooded with unanchored adjectives and random exclamations of joy from the
various whisky-type folk that I follow. Cries of “Summery!” or a thoughtful “Smoky, Ashy, Peaty” will pop up. And I before I spot the #TT
hashtag I’ll know it’s another Tweet Tasting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was a bit bamboozled the first time I saw it but I’m used to it now. As the name suggested a it's a whisky
tasting that takes place on live on Twitter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.wemyssmalts.com/images/logos/wemyss-malts-large.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Wemyss Malts" border="0" src="http://www.wemyssmalts.com/images/logos/wemyss-malts-large.gif" height="320" width="282" /></a>I got the chance to partake in one a couple of weeks ago <span style="color: magenta;">(NB
– actually a couple of months ago now)</span> and I thought I’d write about it for
those interested in how it works. The first thing to note is that, sadly, my
participation wasn’t due to my prominence as an influential zeitgeist nailing
blogger – but rather because I’d replied to a tweet from Steve at the Whisky Wire
about a Wemyss Malt Tweet Tasting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So after having been picked as one of the lucky 20-odd, I
received a lovely little parcel with 4 whiskies from indy bottlers (and soon to
be distillers) Wemyss Malts. And when the 15<sup>th</sup> May <span style="color: magenta;">(see?)</span> came around I got in from work fired up
the laptop, poured the drams and waited…<o:p></o:p></div>
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I found it was useful to utilise Tweetdeck for the purpose
so that I could have specific feeds set up for the Wemyss Hashtag and also a
separate feed for Steve at the Whisky Wire so I could follow his instructions – after all I wanted to make sure I was doing it right on my first go.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We kicked off with
the Lord Elcho Blend. It took a while for the descriptions to start coming in
but when they did come it was an avalanche. It was lovely seeing the other
descriptions floating past – generally there was agreement about the style but every
now and again someone just <i>nailed</i> it. It was a great way to crowdsource (crowbarred
modern reference) descriptions. A bit like the 1000 monkeys in a room with typewriters; with that many whisky enthusiasts tasting at the same time some-one
was bound to get it dead right.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One concern I did have beforehand was what to do if I didn’t like
the samples sent through – on the one hand I usually only review whisky that
I’ve bought and so I didn’t want to become a sell-out on the very first freebie
that I got. But on the other hand I didn’t want to lose my chance of ever
getting a invited to do a tasting again. Thankfully this wasn’t an issue as the
whiskies genuinely were very good and interesting (I’ll pop notes below).
Speaking of selling out there was a Mortlach in the mix –something that's been a topic of much debate among bloggers (including my own post elsewhere).<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’d never done a social event online before, it was a bit
weird sitting alone at the kitchen table supping whisky whilst my wife was in
the other room. Anyone watching may have been concerned for the state of the
marriage... but in the virtual world it was all very convivial and surprisingly entertaining. It was nice connecting with other people and I got the sense people were getting a
little looser as it went on, there were more interactions as the whisky flowed
– and definitely a few more spelling mistakes appearing by whisky number 4 too.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway my thoughts on the 4 whiskies are below. Thanks again
to The Whisky Wire and Wemyss Malts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Lord Elcho </b>– Vanilla on the nose. Sweet pastry apple pie. Like biting into a
toffee apple. Smooth and not too grainy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Pastille Bouquet (Mortlach)</b> – Fruit pastilles and rhubarb dipped
in sugar. Fresh and fruity taste, peardrops. Citrus and pepper.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Merchant’s Mahogany Chest (Glen Scotia) </b>– The best of the night. I had it down as an old
stone built church on a rainy day, heavy damp and woody. Rich dried fruit.
Subtle flavour. Loved it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<b>Peat Chimney</b> – Decided this was my Most Likely to Buy.
Strong peaty/smoke smell (as you might imagine). Tasted like all the Islays at
once.TCP, Iodine and Smoke. Cream and seaside.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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WW</div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-45814853073318466102014-04-23T16:04:00.002+01:002014-10-08T10:51:08.762+01:00Comparison Tasting: Highland Park - 70s v Today<br />
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Hello, Hello,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Lots to get through on this post so settle down please.
Today we’re looking at a comparative tasting. First up look at this picture;<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQivBbeIRgMvbBohjX3zHv9ZGae7Eb8tkhsrmvQNxw5eWeWEWdNlWRasl2dyjDMIznfbNq1GS_3wjJG1JOE8flt4qvjItSAKjX4csfFBxEbeAolYUPafp_1xpsyvGqqaki8oWx8GF9S91h/s1600/WP_000085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQivBbeIRgMvbBohjX3zHv9ZGae7Eb8tkhsrmvQNxw5eWeWEWdNlWRasl2dyjDMIznfbNq1GS_3wjJG1JOE8flt4qvjItSAKjX4csfFBxEbeAolYUPafp_1xpsyvGqqaki8oWx8GF9S91h/s1600/WP_000085.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The 12 yo is from a tasting pack that I was given as a
present recently. But the other one... just look at that. I picked up that bottle of
Highland Park from an “antique” fair for £2 (along with some other gems –
including an old bottling Bruichladdich mini - I couldn’t believe my luck).</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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To me there are 3 things of interest here;<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 – A old bottle gives the chance to compare to more
recent whisky from the same distillery (albeit not the same standard
bottling)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2 - A bit of detective work (well, googling) required to establish
how old the whisky is.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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3 – You will have spotted that the old HP bottle has a lower
neck-fill, so it’s interesting to see what effect that has. Although that does
mean that the comparison isn’t totally fair.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Taking the 2<sup>nd</sup> point first. How old is the old
bottling? Well by my reckoning I think it must be pre-1980 given that it’s
listed as 70 Proof rather than 40% ABV (when that change in labeling took place). It has a 70s styling and it seems to be an
imperial measure (i.e. I couldn’t see 5cl). Plus looking on google images other
whisky sites seem to place this in the 1970s. So this is probably pushing 35 at
least since it was bottled and may have been distilled at the end of the 60s. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So how will it compare against a modern Highland Park. I poured out the two HPs side by side. Here are my notes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Highland Park 8 Year
Old (Gordon & McPhail 70s Bottle)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The 8 year old is much darker, more orange-y looking. It seems
a bit odd at first but definitely whisky - sweet but damp to smell. At this point I was wondering what effect the low-level fill
had. It seemed a tiny bit flat – not too much coming off the nose.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Giving it a few minutes before going in for a second sniff it certainly seemed old-fashioned –
I was getting a strong smell of sherry or even navy rum. Basically it smells a bit like your Nan’s
house. Or an old hotel. Or maybe a church. There was damp, stone and wood. But
at the same time it was a comforting smell, from a place where people have enjoyed themselves
in the past.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Other thoughts scribbled down - Christmas Pudding. Cold Ash. Old leather.
A stone room on a winters night.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There was so much going on. It’s difficult to tell now how
the aeration (leakage?) has affected it. I noticed the finish was a little… fuzzy. I mean
that as opposed to definable as crisp or lingering. There was all this woody-Christmas cake
going on but then it kind of turned a bit funny and died (sorry I'm not exactly painting tastes with words). The feeling I was left with was it was like watching a classic black and white
film but a poor recording of it. The tracking goes a bit off now and again or you lose the sound ocassionally but there is still
plenty to enjoy. The essence still seemed to remain.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Highland Park 12 Year
Old (recent distillery bottling)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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So how does it compare to Highland Park of today? This is
hardly a direct comparison since it’s not the same distillery bottling. </div>
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Just as
well since this is really different. I found it difficult to draw a direct line between the two. Now, as far as I’m concerned HP12 is a great bottle. It’s
difficult to beat as an all-rounder and I’m A Fan. Side by side though these two are totally
different. </div>
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The colour is much lighter and straw-like. And the smell
is a bit of sweet vegetation and rubbery. I got a little
bit of sweet grain smell (I know it doesn’t have grain in it obviously). Egg
noodles on the nose too, strangely.</div>
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It’s much lighter than the old HP and more zesty. It seems
younger even though it’s the older of the two in terms of years (if you get what I mean). Tiny bit
of smoke. Smooth and toasty. </div>
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But it didn’t seem quite the whisky of my memory
when up against this old bottle. <o:p></o:p>I think in the interests of balance that I should have tried this one first since it is much lighter.</div>
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<b>Conclusion<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Well, using this slightly indirect comparison it seems that
the signature taste of HP has definitely changed. It’s gone from stodgy 70s trifle to a light
salad. Both have their merits and I found it very interesting to see the difference
between eras. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was also interesting to see what possible effect the
low-fill level has. To explore that properly I guess I’d need to two bottles
from the same era – one with a low-fill and one without. But from this tasting the low-fill wasn't the total ruination I had feared.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Happily for my interest in whisky (but sadly for my wallet) this now means that my interest has been piqued not just far and wide but also
back in time. </div>
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Look out for future comparative tastings to come – 90s Bruichladdich
10, 90s Glenliet 12 and 90s Chivas 12.<o:p></o:p></div>
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WW<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br />
08/10/14 - Just a note to add that I recently tried a distillery bottling of Highland Park 30, presumably going back to the early 80s. It tasted very much like the G&M reviewed above. I also tried a 25 year old Highland Park and it was quite different to the 30yo, more akin to the rest of the HP range. Can we deduce from that at some point in the last 30 years Highland Park has changed its signature style?<br />
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Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-59189066714913035692014-04-11T13:09:00.000+01:002014-04-11T13:09:05.883+01:00Glenlivet 16 Year Old Nadurra<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/270/glvob.16yov1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="360" itemprop="image" src="http://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/270/glvob.16yov1.jpg" style="background-color: white; border: none; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" title="Glenlivet 16 Year Old Nadurra" width="270" /></a>Glenlivet strikes me as being a bit like Starbucks coffee. The quality of the core product is decent enough (for arguments sake) but it's that most unacceptable of things for foodie (or any) snobs - popular. </div>
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And in much the same way lots of coffee
aficionados wouldn’t go in to a Starbucks, likewise a lot of whisky bores aren’t
too interested in Glenlivet. They’ll drink it if no other single malt/coffee is
available but otherwise they’re more engaged in trying cask-strength, limited
editions of Dailuaine or whatever. Not that it’s bad - the 15 in particular I
seem to recall is rather nice – but no-one is going boast on Twitter about
uncorking a bottle of Glenlivet 12 Year Old.</div>
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But this Nadurra edition is a bit more unusual. It strikes
me that this is Glenlivet flexing their purist muscle. It has geek credentials,
hence you’ve got this well-aged, non-chill filtered (by implication the
standard bottles are chill filtered?) edition. Plus it’s bottled at cask
strength. It’s big on provenance all numbered casks and traceability etc. Catnip to
whisky bloggers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But let’s not get caught up in perceptions and pour a glass.
It certainly seems a bit lighter in colour which suggests it has been
untouched. Taking a niff I had roses and syrup sponge pudding. Make that a rose
infused syrup sponge. Very pleasant. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It wasn’t as sweet to taste. A bit of heat (understandable
given the high ABV) but generally flowery and sweet maybe a bit of bubblegum,
all tempered with wood to stop it getting too cloying. Obviously I’ve been lead
to this word from the bottle but it seemed “natural” (again, wood and flowers).
It’s stripped down and unfussy with a nice subtlety to it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In addition to all that it’s very nicely priced for a 16yo cask
strength whisky - around £45-50. Generally the Glenlivet range is pretty well
priced given that you’re getting an age-statement with it (but let’s not get
into that just now).<o:p></o:p></div>
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So if you’re interested in trying out older or cask strength
whisky this is an excellent choice and good value. And if you’re at all snobbish about it being Glenlivet… well, don’t be. <o:p></o:p></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-80487365529024013222014-04-02T13:46:00.000+01:002014-04-02T13:49:30.578+01:00Mortlach Draft Review<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>*********<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>From: <<a href="mailto:whiskyandwrite@gmail.com">whiskyandwrite@gmail.com</a>>
to <<a href="mailto:admin@diageo.com">admin@diageo.com</a>><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Subject: Mortlach
Tasting and Review<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Hi guys - I noticed some other bloggers have posted reviews
of the new Mortlachs?! I emailed and tweeted you about the invite to the
tasting but didn't get a heads up - suggest someone in admin gets their arse kicked! Anyway, didn’t want
to miss out on being one of the first reviews so I’ve pieced together a review
from what seen from other blogs. Hopefully the seams won’t show… <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Mortlach is the oldest distillery in Dufftown <i><note - copy and paste details from whiskyportal.com ideally 2 or 3 paras>.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Mortlach is well loved amongst the whisky fraternity (or geeks
if I may be so bold! LOL!!). However the
much loved and now much discontinued Flora and Fauna bottling was produced in
such tiny quantities that prior to being discontinued it could only be found by
visiting the obscure websites, like Master of Malt and Whisky Exchange, that might
only have stock in the low hundreds of bottles at any one time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway nobody ever drank the old Mortlach but we're all agreed it deserved wider recognition so now, thankfully, Diageo is breathing new life into this much
loved whisky. They are now making this more available to the mass market by
launching the entry level “Old and Rare” bottling. The name might seem
confusing at first but that’s fine though - things can actually become more rare
the more widely available they become. <<i>citation needed>. </i>And I’m pretty sure it’s really Old too I think
maybe there wasn’t enough room for the age statement on the bottle <i><check this>.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a 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" 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" width="320" /></a>By the way the bottles look great don’t they? It’s like a
proper glass decanter – and you were probably thinking of buying one of those
anyway right? Well here’s one for you. And it has Mortlach written across the
front. So there’s that. And after the whisky is finished you might use it for everyday things like
putting 2/3rds of a bottle of wine in or 5/7ths of another bottle of whisky. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What I like about it also is that 50cl feels just the right
size doesn’t it? I don’t know about you but I’ve always felt 70cl a bit unwieldy
for a bottle size – it’s just too much! Besides, by reducing the bottle size
more people can get their hands on this very rare and commercially available drop.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway enough about all that. Let get onto the whisky itself,
that’s what really matters. As a whisky aficionado I only really care about
taste, price just shouldn’t be factor. After all if something tastes good enough
it is worth literally any amount someone wants to charge, regardless of any
costs related to production. What’s more it’s clear that Mortlach has been
undervalued for a long time – probably by a factor of about 7. It’s a wonder
other distilleries manage to keep afloat – but then they don’t have the special
distillation process <<i>insert details</i>>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, I’m getting distracted by the pricing fuss again. So
here we go. The Whisky Writer verdict;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Old and Rare<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s great<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Old and Rare Special
Strength</b> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I wasn’t too sure
whether to risk being slightly dissenting on this one to show a bit of
impartiality. But decided to go with below- what do you think?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Really, really great.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>18 Year Old</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just awesome. Totally better and different to 16yo F&F
bottling which now seems like fucking dog’s piss by comparison (<i>too far?)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>25 Year Old<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just perfection. £600 might seem like a lot of money but
believe me you won’t be thinking about how much each dram is costing you as you
sip this stuff!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Conclusion: I don’t know what the fuss is about for pricing –
this stuff is a bargain. Furthermore just show I’m totally genuine I’m going to
forgo our family holiday this year and buy one bottle of each.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Let me know what you
think – PS any chance of a sample? Cheers WW<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>**************************</i></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-60012813476220627732014-03-25T14:07:00.001+00:002014-03-25T14:09:39.549+00:00Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old<div class="MsoNormal">
<a 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" 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" 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It’s taken me a while to get round to Bunnahabhain, I've previously given it a miss with my attention has being drawn to the more peaty/smoky whiskies from elsewhere on Islay. But now, thankfully, I've got around to picking up a bottle. </div>
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And I'm glad I did as this stuff is very good. Three words came immediately
to mind as I tried it – dry, spicy and full. As those words suggest it’s very tasty, almost savoury in a way. It has a sort of unsweet sherry flavour to it - by which I mean it has the fullness of flavour that sherried whisky has but without the sweetened taste.</div>
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There were oranges there too. But not like orange juice orange, this was more like opening
a wooden crate that has whole oranges stored inside, but a crate that’s been at sea for a while. It has
the promise of orange mingled with wood and salt. Also lurking in there was a touch of cigar and of leather.
Very refined and very savoury.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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This really strikes me as a very unique whisky. Very singular, a bit like Old Pulteney in the sense that it serves up something I've not really found elsewhere.</div>
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It looks wonderful in the glass too – dark caramel, it's the same colour as the singed top of a crème brulee. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It has a kind of dignified air about it. The packaging is not showy or shouty and I like that. The whisky generally is like the quiet guy that sits in the corner at a party rather than clamouring to be the centre of attention. But when you actually get around to speaking to them you find they actually have the most interesting things to say. Or maybe I'm getting carried away looking at the old fella on the bottle...</div>
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So, where was I? This is not a typical Islay, it’s not a typical anything. Pricing-wise
it’s a slightly more expensive entry level bottle going for about £35. But it's worth picking up. For me personally getting this bottle was partly about completing an Islay set (i.e. a bottle from every (working) distillery on the island) but it's without doubt worth picking up on its own merits.</div>
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WW</div>
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Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-23893386752094408212014-03-14T11:24:00.002+00:002014-03-14T11:28:23.104+00:00An Irish Trio<div class="MsoNormal">
Well it’s nearly St. Patricks day and here are my thoughts
on three random Irish Whiskies that happen to be in my possession; because that’s
about as close to a coherent theme as I’m going to get.<o:p></o:p></div>
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First up the<b> Clontarf
Classic Blend</b> – I happened to have this after a friend gave me half a bottle he had
left over. It’s a blend and it looks very stylish with its black label. But I’m
sorry to say that I thought this was pretty poor. I really struggled to get
anything out of it beyond the sharp alchohol taste. There was a tiny hint of
vanilla (subtle if you were being kind) but beyond that it was very spirity. Water
just seemed to make it flatter. I don’t know – not the one for me I’m afraid. Also I don't know how my mate came by it because it seems tricky to get hold of.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Jameson </b>– ah, now
I’ve heard of this one. This was a little half bottle knocking about the
cupboard. Darker than the Clontarf, certainly sweeter on the nose. Very
pleasant nose, I was getting Rhubarb and
Custard. It was nicely smooth – albeit
with a bit of grain spirit edge, I wrote down burnt grass which represented a
little bitterness. Not a long finish but pretty good all in. Plenty to
recommend it, goes for about £21/bottle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally <b>Cassidy 5
year old</b>. I have no idea if this exists outside of a M&S tasting pack –
I’ve not found it for sale any other way. So I don’t know anything this
distillery but there it is, I hope you weren’t coming here to be enlightened.
To taste, less sweet than the Jameson but more buttery with a bit of vanilla –
which I think is imparted by grain. A bit of alcohol burn but not bad. In my unscientific
opinion it seemed like the edge was taken off with the aging. The best of the three.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So there you have it - 3 whiskies brought together for
comparison for no other reason than the fact that they are Irish and it’s
mid-March. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know if there’s much to conclude except that I won’t
be buying another Clontarf, (even if I could find the stuff) I wouldn’t be averse to picking up a Jameson (although I have other blends to explore first). And I’ll probably never see another bottle of
Cassidy again (unless it’s another M&S stocking filler).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
WW</div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-79904596321034074602014-03-04T12:41:00.000+00:002014-03-25T14:10:48.752+00:00Daldurrahabhain<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Or,
fun with home blending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
went to pour myself a drink a couple of weeks ago, whilst perusing the options I noticed my almost entirely empty bottle of Dalmore Dee standing there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">It
was a nice whisky but for whatever reason I’d never quite got round to
finishing it off, nor was I in the mood for it right then. And finishing off
whisky should never be a chore, so what to do? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
remembered something I’d seen watching <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATdUbox20q8">this video</a> from the
excellent Ralfy. The video is mainly about keeping whisky fresh but towards the
end of the video he blends together 3 whiskies from the Springbank distillery (Springbank,
Hazelburn and Longrow) – I forget why but it seemed an interesting thing to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Since
there was only a drop left I thought I’d give it a go with the end of my Dee
bottle… pouring it out there was 60ml left. Based on Ralfy’s advice I needed
another 2 whiskies to be added in equal measure. What to choose? I looked
around at what else was open - a newly topped bottle of Bunnahabhain? Yeah - I
could spare 60ml of that. A fancy bottle of SMWS … hmm… that seemed a touch
extravagant so I settled on the some Glenlivet Nadurra. Three nice whiskies all
of a similar value (£35-45). I mixed them together then poured the concoction into
couple of empty miniature bottles and left them for a week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Fast
forward a week and I poured myself a drop of the newly created world’s first
Daldurrahabin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Well,
the first whiff was alcohol and not much else. Disappointing - had I flattened
the whole thing and killed the flavours? I gave it another minute before trying
again. This time it was much sweeter, much more like the Nadurra in fact.<br />
So now I worried the Nadurra was dominated proceedings. But then that sweetness
started to be tempered that distinct Bunnahabhain spiciness, which worked nicely.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">What
about the Dalmore that prompted this in the first place? I wondered if the
Dalmore had been a bit lost but it kind of sits in the middle of those two
whiskies anyway. Certainly this was smooth like the Dee – it didn’t need water.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Anyway,
there’s little point going into the tasting too much since I can pretty much
guarantee no one else will ever make this blended malt (?).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">The
verdict on home blending generally: I </span>wouldn't<span style="font-size: small;"> for one second say I had
improved on the whiskies but it was good fun to test the theory out and I was
pleased that I hadn't created a total abomination. I had created something new
and interesting, but that could also be traced back to its roots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I
doubt I’ll be risking any serious quantities on this type of venture, but I do think it could
be a fun way of throwing together ends of bottles in the future. It was
genuinely quite exciting to test what had been produced. One last thought is
that I’m glad I kept the standard of whisky roughly similar. Not point slinging
a rough blend in with a 50yo MacCallan, you're only going to ruin a good whisky rather than improve a bad one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Back
to proper reviews for the next post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-14195385663439823412014-02-19T16:48:00.003+00:002014-02-19T16:49:11.023+00:00Ardbeg 10 Year Old<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://cdn4.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-1987/ardbeg-10-year-old-whisky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ardbeg 10 Year Old" border="0" class="p-1987" src="http://cdn4.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-1987/ardbeg-10-year-old-whisky.jpg" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ctl01_imgProductBig" itemprop="image" style="background-color: #f2f1e6; border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; max-height: 500px; max-width: 300px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Ardbeg 10 Year Old" /></a>Let’s face it, there are surely only two possible reasons
that you might be reading this review. Either you’ve never tried Ardbeg 10 year
old whisky before and you’ve decided to find the most obscure review possible
before committing to buy it or not. Or else you already know the drink and are
looking at this to reinforce your opinion that you love or hate Ardbeg.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I suppose a third option would be that you’ve stumbled
across this by accident and haven’t made it past the first sentence before
clicking away. So well done for making it this far.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ardbeg – it clearly a manly drink for manly men. I mean just look
at that bottle for a start – so dark, so brooding, they could slap a label on
there saying ‘It’s not for girls’ if it weren’t a direct breach of copyright to
do so. But you’ll probably know Ardbeg, like Laiphroaig and most of the other
Islay are the Peaty Beasts. Strongly flavoured, medicinal and often seen as an
acquired taste.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking at reviews and comments online you see the same phrases
coming up – it's all "blasts of peat smoke" this, "full flavoured" that and "monster" the other. Everything is very
big and aggressive. There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of subtlety but it
clearly inspires some serious dedication.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do like a peaty whisky and I’m pretty familiar with Ardbeg
but this is the first time I’ve thought to compile any notes on a bottle. So
here goes;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s no doubting is a serious no-nonsense whisky. I think
it keeps things simple and plays to its not inconsiderable strengths. It’s too brawny to be considered smooth but it’s
not harsh. A bit of burn so it’s worth a little dash of water. As you’re drinking
it you realise it’s a little lighter than you might expect with a bit of
sweetness - citrusy fruit rather than sherry. Also, it looks paler than you
might expect given the expectation of full-on monster flavour.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Obviously the smoke is there there’s no getting around it
but there’s more to it than just a face full of peat. It’s not the same
sledgehammer that you get with Laphroaig. It’s more of a fire in the hearth
rather than the house being on fire.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So it’s pale, it’s smokey, it’s a little bit sweet. It’s
just good stuff but you probably knew that already. Or else you hate the stuff
because you don’t like smokey whisky, in which case I can’t really help you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
WW <o:p></o:p></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-66989368147626452512014-01-31T15:26:00.002+00:002014-01-31T15:27:11.334+00:00Jura Superstition<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
My review of Jura Superstition <span style="color: #7030a0;">(with added commentary) </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/l/iojob.non.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/l/iojob.non.jpg" height="320" style="border: none; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;" title="Click image to close view" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>I </o:p>didn’t really know what to say about this whisky <span style="color: #7030a0;">(an inspired start!). </span>Jura added this to their
standard range a couple of years ago on the back of a load publicity <span style="color: #7030a0;">(topical, still at least you avoided going for a spoooky or supernatural Themed Review).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I worked my way through the bottle over a number of weeks I scribbled a few notes. But ultimately the conclusion I was coming to was that that this was a solid
if slightly unexceptional dram <span style="color: #7030a0;">(*round of applause,
garlands thrown, phones Nobel literature prize judges*).</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then something struck me <span style="color: #7030a0;">(*sits
forward, intrigued* Do go on). </span>The bottle I’d just finished seemed to have
disappeared much faster than the others that I had on the shelf <span style="color: #7030a0;">(so, you’ve gone for the spooky angle after all?) </span>The last thing I had written down was “very suppable” <span style="color: #7030a0;">(the
last thing before you passed out?).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So on reflection I came to realise that this is actually a very good whisky. I found I kept turning to it when I couldn’t decide what to
have – the times where I didn’t fancy anything too peaty or sweet
or too expensive this was the one to go for. <span style="color: #7030a0;">(That
sounds like you’re damning it with faint praise).</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That sound as if I’m not damning it with faint praise <span style="color: #7030a0;">(See!) </span>but at the same time that’s quite an
achievement to produce such a crowd-pleaser, something you know you'll be happy with. I found it also went down well
amongst friends. This is the whisky you can pour out and say “Try this, you’ll like it”. It became something of a go-to <span style="color: #7030a0;">(or standby?)</span>
whisky during its short life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What else to say? <span style="color: #7030a0;">(How about some
normal tasting notes?). </span>The smell is sweet and pine-y. The colour is a dark treacle
toffee. It’s very smooth, no water required at all<span style="color: #7030a0;"> (If I might interject. Personally, I
think the smoothness is the biggest strength)</span>. It's got a nice bit of smoke, sweet and
woody rather than damp and peaty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Value wise, it’s good, £30+ which is not exorbitant <span style="color: #7030a0;">(although is it just me or have Jura pushed their prices
up recently?). </span>As ever the No Age Statement makes judging the value a little opaque but
at least they’re not asking £40+ like so many other NAS whiskies. The debate on No Age Statements has been
raging on amongst whisky nerds for a while especially since <span style="color: #7030a0;">(Blah blah – skip to the end).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The End<o:p></o:p></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-65565339010200079012014-01-14T15:24:00.000+00:002014-01-14T15:24:11.469+00:00Kilchoman 100% Islay (2nd Edition)<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://cdn3.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-1987/kilchoman/kilchoman-100-per-cent-islay-second-edition-whisky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Kilchoman 100% Islay - 2nd Edition" border="0" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ctl01_imgProductBig" itemprop="image" src="http://cdn3.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-1987/kilchoman/kilchoman-100-per-cent-islay-second-edition-whisky.jpg" style="background-color: #f2f1e6; border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Kilchoman 100% Islay - 2nd Edition" /></a>I love this whisky. I really do. I love it in a way that's difficult to articulate. This isn't The Best Whisky I've Ever Had - although up against objective measures it stands up as a very fine whisky. But I can't quite put my finger on why I'm so enamoured with it. To draw an analogy I feel like Kilchoman is a new band and I have
just heard their awesome debut album.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The good things about it – the smell is
amazing, it gets off to a good start with a massive blast of sweet smoke, I confess I couldn’t stop taking the top off it for a niff.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The taste is lovely. Maybe it’s the youthfulness but it comes across as very fresh. It’s a little bit like the Caol Ila I’ve described elsewhere
but with a more creamy edge like the Laddie 10. It has a very appealing straw colour that
might make you think it was a bit weedy if you didn’t know better.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I say, this isn't the perfect whisky; it’s very smooth for its age but still a tiny bit jagged on the edges and the finish
isn’t the longest. But it’s exciting, it leaves you wanting more. It’s the
unpolished 30 minute album that doesn’t outstay its welcome. I can’t guarantee
that other people would love this whisky - in the same way that your best friend might be utterly non-plussed when you introduce them to you new favourite band - but
I’ll be proselyting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What else is there to say? Well I’m clearly not the only one
getting excited by Kilchoman, their various expressions have been getting some
good reviews. The Kilchoman Distillery itself is a very interesting operation, Islay's newest distillery in 100 years, very small output, big on provenance etc but you can look all that up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some might take issue with the price and might balk at the idea of paying £60+ for this expression or others (£40 for their standard Machir Bay bottling) considering none of their whisky is even 10 years old yet. But considering the entire operation takes place on
one farm (including growing the grain) the price does seem to reflect the input. Plus there
is a scarcity vale due to the size of the operation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As you might guess I'll be trying more.<o:p></o:p></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-35506026357021690652013-11-25T14:11:00.001+00:002013-12-12T14:27:33.016+00:00Glenfarclas 15 Year Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cdn4.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-1987/glenfarclas-15-year-old-whisky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img alt="Glenfarclas 15 Year Old" border="0" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ctl01_imgProductBig" itemprop="image" src="http://cdn4.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-1987/glenfarclas-15-year-old-whisky.jpg" title="Glenfarclas 15 Year Old" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Well, it’s been a long time since I last
posted… I’m probably going to stop mentioning that since it’s how so many posts
start. From now on in this has blog has moved from regular series of reviews to
an occasional series. A very occasional series...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Mind you, in whisky terms these gaps are
mere blips in the long maturation of this blog. The only difference is that in the case of whisky
things tend to get better with age, whereas this blog maintains a steady
standard (of unexpurgated dreck).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So Glenfarclas 15 year old. An exellent
whisky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I was desperate to love this whisky. Even
without trying it I have always had peculiar soft spot for Glenfarclas, I think
mainly due to its amazing 1950s styling. The label oozes a kind old-fashioned
classiness and distinction… like a grand old victorian theatre. So on a recent(ish) trip
to Speyside I picked up this bottle following a tour of the distillery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As an aside, having done the tour there was
nothing there to dampen my ardour for Glenfarclas – it’s a very nice, friendly
operation and wholly independent. It looks surprisingly industrial in its
process – for example they have massive steel washbacks instead of wooden
ones. But then sometime I need to remind
myself that they are operating within an industry and not running a whimsy factory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">A few days after getting home I popped
the top off the bottle poured a glass of the dark sweet 15yo, took a nosing… and
got blasted by a painful whiff of alcohol. I tamed it with a bit of water but
something wasn’t quite right. It almost seemed a touch stale. Maybe I was
wanting to like it too much and it wasn’t living up to my expectations but I
couldn’t quite get a handle on the taste of it. It just seemed to burn and a be
bit flat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But fear not, I left it a few more days
before trying again, at the second time
of asking it well and truly came through and every time since it’s proved
itself to be a beautiful wee drop. I got a pleasant caramelised orange on the nose. It
still looks the part that dark rich syrup colour but it’s so pleasantly sweet
to the taste, like drinking water that
has been running over a tray of molten toffee. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It lingers for so long too, like having
something stuck in your teeth that you keep catching – but, you know, in a good
way. The whole mouth feel is amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What to make of the first try I’m not sure
– either there was something that needed to happen within the bottle or, more
likely, my tastebuds were having an off-day. I think it’s a salutatory lesson
not to make any lasting judgments on just one taste. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Anyway I’m so glad it proved to be a winner
- not least because it cost me £40. One of the best things I can say about it
is that it’s distinctive too, it has a signature taste to it. The kind of whisky you could pick out of a line-up. What’s more I’ve got the 21 and 25 yo to try
as well since they came in a tasting pack. Watch this space – I’m sure to have
them reviewed this side of the heat-death of the universe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-67017217971798889332013-04-26T20:21:00.000+01:002013-04-26T20:21:07.772+01:00Macallan Select Oak<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
</div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="The Macallan Select Oak 1l" height="400" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_ctl01_imgProductBig" itemprop="image" src="http://cdn4.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/p-1987/the-macallan-select-oak-1l-whisky.jpg" style="background-color: #f2f1e6; border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Verdana, serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;" title="The Macallan Select Oak 1l" width="201" /></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
What am I trying to describe when I talk about whisky?</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
When you read tasting notes or reviews people are always talking about particular flavours coming through. Take sherry. It’s one of the most common descriptors you see (naturally considering what's been in many of the whisky casks previously). And I do understand what that means. But then again, I don’t really drink sherry. I’ve tried it but probably only once or twice. But if I’m talking to someone that hasn’t had sherry before then it’s not that useful for short-hand. Which ultimately it led me to wonder if you could ever accurately describe what whisky tastes like to somebody that has never tasted whisky before. But that made my head hurt. I’ll leave that question for if I ever start up a Whisky and Metaphysics blog.</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
Anyway, from there I started to have a bit more sympathy with the Malt Whisky Society descriptions. Their highly esoteric descriptions are something I was mildly critical of a couple of posts ago - I’m nothing if not inconsistent. But I can see the value in linking whisky to time or place. Basically all of this preamble is a preface to what I’m about to write;</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
this whisky reminded me of Saturday evenings as a child.</div>
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I don’t quite know why. It's not like I was knocking back single malt as 10 year old. But it’s a highly evocative mix and it took me to a place that I’m not even sure existed. But it reminded me of being young on a Saturday tea-time. Maybe it’s something to do with the rich sweetness reminding me of old fashioned desserts. It also feels a bit stuffy, a bit musty. Not in a bad way, in fact it lends it a certain grandeur - the kind of smell you might expect to in the library of a stately home. Not that I lived in a stately home either, maybe just a badly ventilated one.</div>
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Imagine reading an old book and eating hot syrup sponge. That’s this whisky. I don’t remember ever doing those things together as a child but now I wish I had done.</div>
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I can give you the bits and bobs I wrote down – deep dark colour, treacle and toffee smell with a hint of old damp wood. Sweet orange peel. That’s what I got but I can’t put my finger why it feels so… retro. There’s something distinctly old-fashioned about this.</div>
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To be honest this trip down False Memory Syndrome Lane is a bit much for me. The sweetness is a little stifling, somehow constricting. I much prefer the Macallan 10 which from memory (clearly not that reliable) is a lot lighter and fresher. But it's still a good 'un.</div>
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Pricewise – it’s £40+ and only available to travel (I picked this up at the airport pretty much at random before an internal flight). It's a 1 Litre bottle so that’s good value, but then again you can pick up the 10 year old for a similar price. This is a No Age Statement - no bad thing in and of itself but it does obfuscate things a little. There is an interesting article about NAS whisky here;</div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
http://www.whiskyadvocateblog.com/2013/04/09/age-statements-how-important-are-they/</div>
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I might expand on that in the future but I’ll leave you with that link for now. </div>
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Next time: more whisky, I should expect.</div>
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WW</div>
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Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-76956603787935755352013-04-03T23:36:00.000+01:002013-04-03T23:36:14.121+01:00My first bottle...<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I started writing this blog post a couple of weeks ago around about St. Patricks Day - I had the canny idea of reviewing some Irish whiskey that I had lurking in the cupboard to tie in with the ocassion. But then I realised that pretty much every single whisky blogger on the internet was doing the same thing. So maybe I'll leave that review for another day - June 27th perhaps.</span><br />
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Instead I thought I'd write something about the bottle that first got me into appreciating whisky. What was that 'gateway' drink that meant a few years later I would end up spending significant sums of money on more bottles, keeping a shoddily maintained blog and just generally becoming a whisky bore? I think that in some ways a first bottle is like a first record for a music buff. There's something there that makes some people want to keep exploring and seeking out new things.</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I didn't just grab a bottle having randomly decided to try out single malt whisky. M</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">oving to Edinburgh was no doubt a factor, when you see so many bottles behind the bar in pubs you start to wonder if there might be something to it.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I'm not sure exactly which single malt proved to be the turning point but o</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">n trying some 'decent' whisky</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I do remember the revelation that you could drink it neat without feeling like your throat was being sandpapered.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Most</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> previous encounters with whisky had been cheap blends mixed with coke, that could be generously described as rough. Apart from the cheap stuff</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> there was a brief period at university when Jack Daniels and coke was my vain attempt at something approaching... sophistication? Asking for a 'jack and coke' seemed like something a urbane person would do (never mind the fact you had to explain what that meant to the bar staff). </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As a side note - It seems outrageous to see Jack Daniels sitting on the shelf in the supermarket costing as much as a decent single malt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Anyway, I just couldn't get used to the super sweetness of drinking whisky (or bourbon) and coke. As for drinking whisky it neat - it burned. The only spirits to drink neat were Tequila or Vodka and even then it had to be shot down in a drunken stupor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">But now I'd tried a bit single malt and I'd liked it. So then it was a case of actually getting a bottle of my own. It might seem silly but it felt like a big step for me, an initial hurdle of 'is this really for someone like me?'. As if somebody was going to tap me on the shoulder and ask 'who are you trying to kid?'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Without trying to get too deep into it, it also probably marked the start of a time where I cared more about the </span>quality than the quantity of alcohol. After all if you're going to drop £25 on something you better do your best to enjoy it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And so to Glenmorangie Sherry Wood Finish - the first of my collection. I don't know why. It was available in the supermarket and I'd heard of the brand. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It was the start. My own drink to dip into, to try to appreciate and to try to convert others. I don't remember too much about it but I must have enjoyed it. What really made the difference was trying</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Laphroaig soon afterwards, it was so completely different in character and what's more<i> I </i>could tell the difference. Before that point all whisky seemed to taste the same. Now I'd tried a few distinctive whiskies that I could tell </span>apart - was I<span style="font-size: small;"> starting to develop a taste for it? It was just the start.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I don't know many people really read these blog posts but please feel free to tell me your the first bottle you owned and how it got you started. All the best.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">WW</span></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-79693093334898623582013-03-13T17:37:00.002+00:002013-03-13T17:37:49.639+00:00The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=do6jLu6k3eXn4M&tbnid=3YbD3ir0OaQMCM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.whiskyboys.com%2F2010%2F06%2F28%2Fbowmore-whisky-a-scotch-malt-whisky-society-smws-single-malt-scotch-whisky-from-a-single-cask%2F&ei=x7JAUZSrOIeP0AWNtYCIBw&bvm=bv.43287494,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNHhityNNwMPh6DghgQgDHpVCnGg3g&ust=1363280965763617" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="175" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.whiskyboys.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/scottish-malt-whisky-society3.bmp" style="margin-top: 193px;" width="175" /></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">A
letter flopped down onto my doormat last week (probably - I didn’t actually see
it happen). It was the renewal notice for membership of the Scotch Malt Whisky
Society. Already my first 12 months are nearly up and this letter has caused me
to reflect on being a member of the society and whether I should renew for
another year.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Where
to start. I don’t want to regurgitate the history and the ethos of the SMWS,
you can get all that from their website so I won't bother repeating it. In it's
most basic terms they are independent bottlers. They get single malt whisky
direct from distilleries, buying up individual casks and bottling them directly
at that strength (about 50-60%). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">What’s
interesting is that they don’t name the distillery on the bottle,
instead relying only on a numbering system and tasting notes (plus the details of
the region, age and finish). I like this a lot. When you are looking to try a
dram or a buy a bottle it encourages you to try a whisky based on its
description (OK, and price), rather than looking for a familiar handle. Which is
just as well because often these whiskies can differ greatly from the
established 'taste' of a distillery (e.g. casks of unpeated Islay or unusual
finishes).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Of
course once you're actually drinking the stuff you can’t help but wonder
where it's from. And with smartphones and the internet being things that exist
you can find out what the distillery numbers mean right there and then. </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">But
the crucial thing is that I like to find out afterwards. As such I’ve
tried some gems from distilleries I wouldn’t have thought of trying otherwise
(or even heard of) Glenburgie, Miltonduff, Benrinnies. I've never had a
bad whisky from SMWS and there is always something new to taste because the
bottles don't stick around too long (a cask might only provide 200 bottles).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">A
quick word on the descriptions. All the whiskies go by a number and a
description, these are quite esoteric ('BBQ on the Beach', 'Magic Carpet Ride'
- that sort of thing) – they're quite amusing, although personally I find it becomes a
borderline cutesy after a while. Not that I’d want to see that changed, it's fair
enough - that's their thing. Even if they are a bit 'wacky' they're preferable to dry tasting notes or – god
forbid - a score. </span>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">But
generally I love their approach to whisky. It is there to be drunk. That might sounds
obvious but there are no special edition bottlings or presentation cases here.
Bottles that might cost £60 look exactly the same as those at £300. And although they turn up some rarities or unusual casks the
emphasis is always on enjoying them. I find that helps to get over the mental
hurdle of holding on to whisky too long because it's too special or precious to
be drunk. And when there are so few bottles in the first place there’s almost no point
getting too precious about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">So
that's the whisky but I have to talk about the tasting rooms. I think that’s
the main value I get out of being a member. I’m lucky enough to live in
Edinburgh and there are two venues here. One on Queen St. near the city centre.
It's nice, spread over several floors in a traditional grand Edinburgh building.
It has great views into Queen St gardens, down towards the shore and over the
Firth of Forth and into Fife. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">But
it’s the Vaults down in Leith that truly wins out. It’s this venue that makes
it feel like a club. It has wood-panelling, leather sofas and chairs, open
fires (well, convincing gas versions). It feels… exclusive, but thankfully
neither the venue or the staff take itself too seriously so you can enjoy the
rarefied surroundings without it feeling at all stuffy. This is a wonderful
place to bring friends and family. Nice and lively on a weekend, serenely
peaceful at other times. Visiting either of the venues adds a little joy to any
day. Either popping into George St on a Saturday afternoon to avoid the
shoppers. Or topping and tailing a night in one of Leith's many fine
restaurants with a visit to the Vaults. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">So
what are the drawbacks? Well, there's the cost. There’s no getting away the
fact that this is a luxury. The initial joining fee was relatively steep – over
£100. This comes with a 4x10cl bottle taster pack plus some other knick-knacks.
I have to say this fiduciary blow was soften immensely by a ‘free’ bottle on
offer for new members, but I don’t know how often such promotions are run.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Of
the 4 taster bottles there was a great selection. One of the bottles was an
amazing 20yo Rosebank – old and rare so that had to be worth a few quid. And
tasting it was something that has prompted me to find out more about this
defunct distillery and other lowland whiskies in general. It was one of the
finest whiskies I've had and it came out of nowhere in terms of where my
interests lay. A new discovery which is what the SMWS is all about really.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">I
still don’t know whether it’s a cost effective way to buy whisky. You’ll
struggle to find a bottle for less than £50. Most seem to be £50-70 with no
upper limit. It puts me off picking up a bottle for casual supping. But then
again it is single cask which tends to be more expensive even when it’s a
distillery bottling. But you could also argue that the extra cost is the
expertise required to taste and track down the whisky in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The
venues aren’t too cheap either - most of the dram prices are about £5 and going
up to £25. Everything else (wine, beer, food) is slightly uplifted from normal
pub prices. So there's that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Another
drawback - much as I’ve espoused the virtues I’ve still only made it to the
venues 7 or 8 times in 12 months. Other friends that are members regularly
lament the fact that they don't get down to the venues more often. Which isn't a
reflection on the SMWS but it just illustrates the fact that it often feels
like a luxury. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">But,
as I look again at the renewal notice (well not literally, it's in the other room) I
can't help but think I have to renew. I'm still in the thrall of the SMWS, I
still love the venues, I still love trying the whiskies, I love the quarterly
magazine, I get excited even just reading the monthly outturn offers - even when
I know I won't be buying bottle this month. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">So, I’ll
will be renewing once more. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">Update in 12 months time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-36108434347944944882013-03-01T17:04:00.000+00:002013-03-01T17:05:11.923+00:00Marks and Spencer Islay Single Malt<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=KIc_XGLZlYnhiM&tbnid=Mp50qKOIog9GsM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marksandspencer.com%2FSingle-Bottle-Gifts-Wine-Food-Wine%2Fb%2F405083031&ei=TNowUdbgDcrlswafmIDwBw&bvm=bv.43148975,d.Yms&psig=AFQjCNFtyw255NYRgb4D0VE5aghJ5gTRqg&ust=1362242454394624" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="320" id="irc_mi" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zSKJHHobL._SX182_SH35_.jpg" style="cursor: move; margin-top: 144px;" unselectable="on" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">So then, supermarket </span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">own-</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">brand
</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">12yo Islay</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> single malt</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> whisky</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">...</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">OK, so this is not just any supermarket
own brand 12yo Islay Single Malt, this is Marks and Spencer etc etc… But still,
what’s going on here?</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: dark2;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">In my experience,</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> supermarket</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> own-brand whisky i</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">s usually </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">just cheap</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">(and
nasty) blends. Stuff that me</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">e</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">t</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">s</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> the bare minimum
requirement to be called whisky and</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> then</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">is </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">served
up</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> in</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> plain label bottles that look as if they have been issued by
</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">a totalitarian state of a
</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">dystopian</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> future</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">. </span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">Having tried Sainsburys value whisky
once (and never again) I assumed they buy up spirit from a range of distilleries,
mix it together and put it out without any real concern for taste, consistency or
reputation.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">But recently I’ve noticed a
number of own brand single-malt whiskies cropping up. The main supermarket
chains seem to be doing them,</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> typically</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> offering ranges split
geographically (Islay, Speyside, Highland etc). </span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">And t</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">hey all seem to
be over 10 years old too. </span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">In theory it should be good stuff.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">The thing that intrigues me the
most is that the distilleries are anonymous – it’s not like supermarkets are
acting like independent bottlers such as Gordon and McPhail.</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> And obviously they aren’t building
their own distilleries.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> But on this M&S bottle t</span></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">here is no
indication of which distillery it has come from.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> In order for it to be
classed as Single Malt what’s in the bottle must be just from one distillery
(although it can be from a variety of casks of the stated age or older).</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> </span>So it’s an interesting one. <span style="color: #1f497d;">OK interesting might be pushing it</span>
but it's intriguing to consider that distilleries, usually very keen to protect their brand are also anonymously putting these on to the market. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: dark2;"><o:p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">A</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">nyway, what’s it like? I can only talk about this one from Marks and Spencer but</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">I’ve said previously
that seemingly there’s no such thing as bad single malt and that still seems to hold true
here. It’s got a nice dark colour and a sweet, ash smell to it. It’s quite
smooth</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> and smoky.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;">N</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">ot the longest finish in the world. It reminded me of a darker coloured
Benromach (it’s not – that’s a Speyside albeit a peaty one).</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: dark2;"> It’s certainly drinkable and I don’t
know if I’d be able to pick it out as the poor cousin in a line-up. It’s
decent, it’s solid, I have no complaints.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: dark2;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Would I buy it? To be honest I’m not sure. It’s
relatively cheap at £29 and it’s a decent quality so I’d have no problem
enjoying a dram of it. I’m not sure I could bring myself to proudly serve it to guest
though – pure snobbery I’m sure, but as a whole it’s lacking a bit of love. I want to
try out whisky from different distilleries not a generic Highland or Islay malt bought up by the big supermarket chains on the lowest margin possible.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: dark2;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">You could argue that the whisky should speak
for itself, but I’d counter the own brand stuff probably has less
character as it tries for wider appeal – and surely it can’t be the best stuff
the distilleries flog off to the likes of Tesco can it? </span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: dark2;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Maybe if you worked out which distillery it
was (which I suppose wouldn’t be too difficult given the small number on Islay)
and this was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>few pounds cheaper than their standard bottling you
could console yourself with the thought you were getting it cheaper than the
branded stuff. A bit like buying a SEAT because it’s got a VW engine in it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: dark2;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Then again if the distillery is anonymous then surely the supermarket can change supplier when they like.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: dark2;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Overall I would say this would be good for people looking
to move into the world of single malt, it’s definitely a step up from a bog
standard blend for not too much more cash. This stuff is £29 but I notice
that Tesco Islay Single Malt is less than £20 (how can that be? - and it has won awards too). But personally I like a bit more personality with my whisky both in the glass and on the bottle.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<img height="96" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41zSKJHHobL._SX182_SH35_.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 524px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 60px;" width="64" /></span>Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-36107827137300005042013-01-24T13:33:00.001+00:002013-01-24T13:40:22.952+00:00Bruichladdich 10 Year Old<a href="http://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/270/bruob.10yov10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" itemprop="image" src="http://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/270/bruob.10yov10.jpg" title="Bruichladdich 10 Year Old / The Laddie Ten" width="270" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Laddie Ten – there has been plenty written about this
whisky already. It is the long-awaited standard bottling from the resurrected Bruichladdich
distillery on Islay. Obviously lots of people were keen to taste and review this when it
first appeared but I’m going to add my thoughts anyway, mainly because I’ve just
polished off a wee 20cl bottle that I picked up recently.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is really good stuff. I tried it once at the Bruichladdich distillery
and kind of dismissed it. At the time, I was on Islay to drink peaty whisky so didn't pay this much mind. Also, I was giddy at the prospect of trying the Octomore 4.2.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But more recently I’ve had the opportunity to try the Laddie
Ten in isolation. And taken on its own, away from the smoke monsters from the rest
of Islay you can appreciate how good this is. It’s creamy - that’s the main
thing that I’ve got from it. It reminded me strongly of Ice-Cream soda –
vanilla flavour, dairy richness with a bit of lemonade sweetness. But it’s not
sickly sweet - it's just like a lightly creamed and sweetened water (you can have that
slogan for free Bruichladdich). I'd even go as far as to say delicately flavoured, it's easy to see how this might get a little lost up against a Laphraoig or an Ardbeg. But this is easy-drinking and very moreish. And creamy - did I mention that?</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In terms of smell (sorry, nose) – I got butter mixed with a bit of burnt sugar. Strangely, a
bit of balsa wood and woodglue. It looks nice
too, pale with a nice oiliness to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The bottle and packaging are nicely stylish – very clean and bold. As I’ve said
before, thankfully Bruichladdich manage to back-up their eye-catching packaging with
excellent whisky.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not the cheapest – at least £30 for a bottle, although that said
it is bottled at a slightly higher than average 46%. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are many whiskies I’ve tasted and enjoyed thoroughly but usually after finishing a bottle I'm keen to try something else. The Laddie Ten has joined the small list of ‘I’d
buy another bottle’ which to be honest is about as strong an endorsement as I can give.</span></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-6614945116355418372013-01-14T15:57:00.003+00:002013-01-14T16:03:06.525+00:00Arran 12 year old - Cask strength<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t know if there is such a thing as a bad single malt
whisky. There is plenty of stuff that’s hugely overpriced or blandly uninspiring.
But so far almost everything I’ve tasted has something to recommend it. I
suppose it helps if you like peaty whisky- the only thing I’ve seen that really
divides whisky enthusiasts.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One day maybe I’ll come across something that makes turn up my nose, but until then it feels like everything is on the
spectrum between ‘Like’ and ‘Love’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And so to the Arran 12yo Cask Strength. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I like it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Review
over… </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/270/arrob.12yov1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" itemprop="image" src="http://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/270/arrob.12yov1.jpg" title="Arran 12 Year Old / Cask Strength" width="270" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To elaborate a touch - I like it because it reminds me of
Christmas Cake. Sticking my nose in the glass I picked up rum and dried fruit
with a bit of spice. A very comforting and evocative smell for mid-winter. It’s
sweet to the taste and I got a little bit of orange liquer when I took a sip.
It looks rich and warming too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It feels like an wintery afternoon indulgence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But I
didn’t quite fall in love with it </span>- it’s cask strength and I found the
alcohol a bit overwhelming. A bit of burn when I gave it a sniff, a bit of
tingle on the tongue as I worked it around my mouth. Yes, it’s stronger but you
don’t always get that burn with cask strength bottlings and I found this needed more than
a drop of water to calm it down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once you get past that it’s quite aggressively flavoured -
very full on. The same kind of burst of flavour you get with full-bodied Aussie
wine. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s great if you’re in the mood. It is something a bit different and I’d
rather be trying something like this - packed with flavour - than some of the more bland offerings out there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in the same way you don’t
want to eat Christmas Cake every day, this isn’t a bottle I’d reach for too
often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What else? The price is around £40-odd which isn’t bad for a
special edition, especially when it’s at ‘diluting juice’ strength. The Arran
distillery is relatively new and it is an independent so there that in its favour.
Always good to see an independent succeeding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In conclusion: a whisky for Christmas, but maybe not for
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3174972466371744970.post-57481506605630817082013-01-08T14:26:00.001+00:002013-03-06T10:49:41.169+00:00Glenfiddich 15 Year Old<br />
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Calibri; height: 360px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 284px;"><img height="320" itemprop="image" src="http://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/270/gfdob.15yo.jpg" title="Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera" width="240" /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As it’s the New Year, a time for good intentions and short-lived
resolutions, I’ve decided to blow off the electronic cobwebs of this blog and
start posting a few more thoughts about whisky. And I’m going to start with a
wee bottle of Glenfiddich 15yo that I found in cupboard from last Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two things that I wrote down - and then underlined - when
drinking this were <u>Smooth</u> and <u>Chocolate</u>. This is a really lovely
whisky to drink. Easy-going, sweet - I was getting a bit of honey on the
finish. It’s richly flavoured, hence the chocolate, but not overwhelming and not at all thin and weedy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It smells great and looks great too. A lovely sweet smell on
the nose, a little bit of brandy, very little alcohol burn and a nice warm
caramel colour to it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All in all there’s very little to fault it. Even the price is
very reasonable – about £30-35 for a 15yo when you could pay the same for a 10/12
from other distilleries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I just couldn’t fall in love with this whisky. It just
seemed a little lacking in something and the closest I can come to is ‘character’.
It feels a little bit like some of the more interesting components might have
been sacrificed for the sake of tidiness in the end product. The closest analogy
I could think of was when you hear a record that has been over-produced. Everything
is there that should be there, every note is pitch perfect with each instrument
in its right place but overall it feels it’s lacking a little – dare I say –
heart.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe it’s just the whisky snob in me coming out –
Glenfiddich is as a ‘mainstream’ a brand that exists in the single malt world and therefore
aficionados/whisky bores would feel compelled to look down on it. But then
again maybe their mainstream appeal comes from making something that, whilst
very good, is designed to be palatable to a wide range of people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All I can say is that whilst I thoroughly enjoyed this
whisky it felt a little too eager to please. It’s in no way a bad drop and
would be an excellent drink to convert a whisky sceptic. I just can’t see
myself buying a bottle where there are some many others out there to try.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy New Year everyone (anyone?)- and hope to post a few more reviews in the near future...</span>Whisky Writerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05077375585008518387noreply@blogger.com0