tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15777097442655087932024-03-13T20:07:57.913+00:00The Manchester Whisky ClubThe Manchester Whisky Club blog est. 2012Manchester Whisky Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03026356158120542405noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-43063028398949508712024-03-10T13:33:00.005+00:002024-03-10T13:33:29.250+00:00Raiding The Club's Cellar<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqIF3HAZH_344rnHH1TaSKD1o2pOkIsEmLli_B1PZIdcnmOa6kRPOLY50a8i9ZxxPNns2h-N3x67NW4vAv7ILlJ2R-zeDZqLWKzy6EXsRS8YMQisUbomgO_ZNq77XK-HLALtPl8y67FuP4VA7VvkobS9jnh_xuhgGIMuekrRDo9w7Pc9WKcnoRkJOyuoE/s4032/IMG_5174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqIF3HAZH_344rnHH1TaSKD1o2pOkIsEmLli_B1PZIdcnmOa6kRPOLY50a8i9ZxxPNns2h-N3x67NW4vAv7ILlJ2R-zeDZqLWKzy6EXsRS8YMQisUbomgO_ZNq77XK-HLALtPl8y67FuP4VA7VvkobS9jnh_xuhgGIMuekrRDo9w7Pc9WKcnoRkJOyuoE/s320/IMG_5174.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This month's line up<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>For the leap day tasting on February 29th, Martin went burrowing around club stocks and selected six bottles that have been sitting on the shelf for long enough. The extra part of the theme was that they were all from independent bottlers, too.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93UkkLSyrpLrhd9nmcejNWl7-1F8CBL17KuVeLrILPJHFylV563F2xucU3dyjuNIhBgqoCnf942UzaPWRn92P9bFSmCR156yqFIT9OUrECzT0VRQU6CfO-5k6YvHIdXpghd5l9rcFz3DhEnEE4C8g_pHe6_7Z1KPNo5uuW5CzISCDIXhCdqLxmKTha42i/s3024/IMG_5177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93UkkLSyrpLrhd9nmcejNWl7-1F8CBL17KuVeLrILPJHFylV563F2xucU3dyjuNIhBgqoCnf942UzaPWRn92P9bFSmCR156yqFIT9OUrECzT0VRQU6CfO-5k6YvHIdXpghd5l9rcFz3DhEnEE4C8g_pHe6_7Z1KPNo5uuW5CzISCDIXhCdqLxmKTha42i/w200-h200/IMG_5177.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glen Scotia 9yo</td></tr></tbody></table>We started off in Campbeltown with a 9yo Glen Scotia, bottled for the <a href="https://www.southportwhisky.co.uk/club/">Southport Whisky Club</a> having been picked out for them by the distillery's master distiller. This unpeated expression had the sort of spicy, peppery notes that are a theme of Glen Scotia whiskies. Adding a bit of water changed the game, and brought out a real creaminess too. Indeed, we felt as though it needed a bit of water.</p><p>A nice, long finish and hints of apples and pears as well. Mostly people really enjoyed this in the room. It was a chunky old thing first off at 57.1% and was £58.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoOwyGxy6jr_N9lkSnpRsAt-S8m5e9cVnjTyiddtOxz7SWWbHKBtPILfTBGArL_uWWKKB8sMh5QtfqRqB5nNnu3LV4SDFlp3TaRdb73nN-gPNVWyJGf8WiwU4agGOPgmuV1IrjswewHkwYsWQEz07JIyFY6GtN2GJXAPu2eb8H-bRU_Sl-fjTFFxsU2Eh/s3024/IMG_5178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoOwyGxy6jr_N9lkSnpRsAt-S8m5e9cVnjTyiddtOxz7SWWbHKBtPILfTBGArL_uWWKKB8sMh5QtfqRqB5nNnu3LV4SDFlp3TaRdb73nN-gPNVWyJGf8WiwU4agGOPgmuV1IrjswewHkwYsWQEz07JIyFY6GtN2GJXAPu2eb8H-bRU_Sl-fjTFFxsU2Eh/w200-h200/IMG_5178.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Star Dalmunach</td></tr></tbody></table>We went to Speyside next and a newer name on the whisky scene, Dalmunach. This began distillation in 2014 as Pernod Ricard's answer to Diageo's similarly big, shiny and new facility at Roseisle. The output mainly goes into the company's blends such as Chivas, so it's relatively rare to spot a bottling in the wild. The one we had was from independent bottler North Star. and was a 6yo fully matured in a ruby port cask.</p><p>That port maturation gave it a remarkable colour, almost like a glass of Ribena. It was big on the nose too with definite hints of cola, but on the palate arguably didn't even really taste much like whisky at all. Very spirity we felt, and more like a Cognac. Worth trying once but not everyone was convinced. It was 56.4% and cost £54.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrxPo2uEzViD6S4aFYqQn1o0k3yMr99pZD3wIsfV7elrzrOl5nWupMQy1YyU5jujV1RBVkhnmy8wIywPkkpbrI0zNIFA-I0HeHSE6KGyxbxCtnB3JzrT5qwRO9FwxiVYjKhLliz6EE-xYhgXxHsZEhxzRkENZJEz9ykkB1JeY_aYTJN68HA8EIQkwT1Ro/s3024/IMG_5179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrxPo2uEzViD6S4aFYqQn1o0k3yMr99pZD3wIsfV7elrzrOl5nWupMQy1YyU5jujV1RBVkhnmy8wIywPkkpbrI0zNIFA-I0HeHSE6KGyxbxCtnB3JzrT5qwRO9FwxiVYjKhLliz6EE-xYhgXxHsZEhxzRkENZJEz9ykkB1JeY_aYTJN68HA8EIQkwT1Ro/w200-h200/IMG_5179.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bunnahabhain 5yo</td></tr></tbody></table>Off to Islay for dram number three and a Bunnahabhain. This was a 5yo, bottled by the legendary Cadenhead's as part of their club membership scheme.</p><p>This was spicy! Very nice, you wouldn't peg it for a young, cask strength whisky (it was 59.6%), and it was much more drinkable than that. It was a bit "angry with water" but at the same time had a smoky finish, and had an element of being light at the same time. We paid £50 for this.</p><p>After a break for half-time and a chance to recharge our glasses downstairs at the bar of the Britons Protection, it was on to the second part of the tasting and dram number four.</p><p><table align="center" 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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggygxqfP5JM3zPNPPhurZsivof9qO9y0MEqa96itxYPXFShOkkQVQywUhCA83Vs-2quP4k5-D1MHmWNkPU7sg6Vq9ji8d6NcEGknjNiXqvupfm1VHnfebOoo4t-eSPGnGDp4DVvkpJPRnHRJauFBq8aXTtY00_sai5zZqm43Slc9CmPpmwip_nZZKTBnyq/s3024/IMG_5180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggygxqfP5JM3zPNPPhurZsivof9qO9y0MEqa96itxYPXFShOkkQVQywUhCA83Vs-2quP4k5-D1MHmWNkPU7sg6Vq9ji8d6NcEGknjNiXqvupfm1VHnfebOoo4t-eSPGnGDp4DVvkpJPRnHRJauFBq8aXTtY00_sai5zZqm43Slc9CmPpmwip_nZZKTBnyq/w200-h200/IMG_5180.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glentauchers 20yo</td></tr></tbody></table>We were back to Speyside for a Glentauchers, bottled by Bartels, known for their brands such as Highland Laird. At 20 years old we had high hopes for this one, Glentauchers being a favourite distillery of many club members, so much so that we even did one of our club bottlings of the stuff.</p><p>This was subtle and creamy at first, and for some it was maybe even - whisper it, softly - a little bit plain. But others thought it absolutely superb. As one member commented "if you don't like that, what on earth are you doing here?". So the room in general certainly gave it two thumbs up. It was 53.2% and cost us £62,</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRTxVRdWlX_-GjEfsUDRM0uAmhuYrAmG9NpNrzfarTyy_f0QNvFqwgJfhcY78VUsSUswtcOAk5hrG9HtoT8q0pjBn9xYWcN-LF0FL69orgtaUEv2lh1W3FogSv9r7l1WEK5l-4eWRhbt4eUFLa-JnGA9ro8P8-JoT6paC8k8FGjsgpwuT1mWroKujHj3E/s3024/IMG_5181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRTxVRdWlX_-GjEfsUDRM0uAmhuYrAmG9NpNrzfarTyy_f0QNvFqwgJfhcY78VUsSUswtcOAk5hrG9HtoT8q0pjBn9xYWcN-LF0FL69orgtaUEv2lh1W3FogSv9r7l1WEK5l-4eWRhbt4eUFLa-JnGA9ro8P8-JoT6paC8k8FGjsgpwuT1mWroKujHj3E/w200-h200/IMG_5181.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linkwood 13yo</td></tr></tbody></table>For number five we went to another distillery normally used in blends, this was a 13yo Linkwood, owned by Diageo and more often tasted as part of Johnnie Walker. We had a bottling from Thompson Bros, run by brothers Philip and Simon who are based in Dornoch in the Highlands, where they run their bottling brand along with a micro-distillery and bar.</p><p>This smelt terrific, like cream soda. It was light and floral and very drinkable. Others felt it had a little bit of artificial sweetener about it, almost reminiscent of aspartame. This cost £71.50 and was 54.6%.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_P62vMVtJ1Z2WKsO70uREFdY0MxjzJGj3U8pN40Tvh9aBduubMAm3t2GkLmPYOyGbSz4zLJcSg2_Y5TGz9hnmhYmkO3HEXqkmB3S4pLP6jraFRbVJIKkaMVeR2uTXROYt_bu_26H0poemRUcU062H7e0qjao1CbRYk6qy2GHQ8sIRvf6XsFlNkfdsIDk/s3024/IMG_5182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_P62vMVtJ1Z2WKsO70uREFdY0MxjzJGj3U8pN40Tvh9aBduubMAm3t2GkLmPYOyGbSz4zLJcSg2_Y5TGz9hnmhYmkO3HEXqkmB3S4pLP6jraFRbVJIKkaMVeR2uTXROYt_bu_26H0poemRUcU062H7e0qjao1CbRYk6qy2GHQ8sIRvf6XsFlNkfdsIDk/w200-h200/IMG_5182.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glen Elgin 11yo</td></tr></tbody></table>For the sixth and final dram of the evening, we stayed in Speyside once again for Glen Elgin and a bottling from James Eadie, an old brand that was revived by the family in 2015. </p><p>We had an 11yo matured in a first fill Madeira hogshead. It was 59.1% but if anything tasted even stronger. A bit spicy at the back, and certainly worked well with water. The finish lasted and lasted, and didn't fade. This cost £60.</p><p>Which brought us to the dram of the night voting. All the whiskies got at least one vote, a sign of a tasting of great strength in depth. But the clear winner was the Glentauchers, dram four, which picked up no fewer than 19 votes. Tied for second were drams one and three, the Glen Scotia and Bunnahabhain,</p><p>Thanks to Martin for putting on such a great tasting, all club members and those from the waiting list for joining us, and to the Britons for hosting us once again.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-46843841438422024512023-12-08T21:26:00.013+00:002023-12-29T12:39:04.183+00:00Christmas Party 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lHgBRJ5nZzs" width="320" youtube-src-id="lHgBRJ5nZzs"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Club members gathered at the Britons Protection in early December for one of the highlights of every year at MWC, the Christmas Party. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's the night where we bring back the last drops of the bottles from the tastings throughout the year, raid the club stocks for one or two bottles, and members bring in what they've been enjoying lately for everyone else to try. There's also a stack of homebaking to knock through, too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks to all who attended another great party and for supporting the club throughout the year. After more than a decade in action, the club goes from strength to strength!</div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-2677962291696171492023-11-30T21:36:00.094+00:002023-12-29T12:25:30.958+00:00The Lakes Distillery<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0-MBZaJ0NDahbJsM3k7APCdWNoO_Rne2zd-sgjNMkfavEYMojNF9sKpq3ForjLHqU_Tid8AgBJEoMycDqdqtjN0f3vDsNcfawKyJoHFfxjnr_QI_XzSHN0r9TayYvLgSPXwhiGa6m1aWGNeBv6rjoS3H60NZvAcrhh59xEgmfj_eouF5uDi7U-tA7-0l/s4032/IMG_4261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0-MBZaJ0NDahbJsM3k7APCdWNoO_Rne2zd-sgjNMkfavEYMojNF9sKpq3ForjLHqU_Tid8AgBJEoMycDqdqtjN0f3vDsNcfawKyJoHFfxjnr_QI_XzSHN0r9TayYvLgSPXwhiGa6m1aWGNeBv6rjoS3H60NZvAcrhh59xEgmfj_eouF5uDi7U-tA7-0l/s320/IMG_4261.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line-up<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It may have been St Andrew's Night but for our November tasting, we were able to enjoy a selection of drams courtesy of one of England's top distilleries, the Lakes.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-j8eVtOs5iNmLnBT1dg9jUKFSusqR7Ec2v_5jTZbDbl2zhQeF1521ftLqiZxSUAz_pnrr1T9R_wIHsYi538R0qrLh5WvCVKLs3iSRXWKhV4XfHyds9tDFzunVQUGIEQMjhEBH2HjpU7tQL0coiW2kgWjCjRpAJpsDxYGiQ-3lPWrEf9i9vMnusoT8f54/s4032/IMG_4264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-j8eVtOs5iNmLnBT1dg9jUKFSusqR7Ec2v_5jTZbDbl2zhQeF1521ftLqiZxSUAz_pnrr1T9R_wIHsYi538R0qrLh5WvCVKLs3iSRXWKhV4XfHyds9tDFzunVQUGIEQMjhEBH2HjpU7tQL0coiW2kgWjCjRpAJpsDxYGiQ-3lPWrEf9i9vMnusoT8f54/w150-h200/IMG_4264.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Equinox</td></tr></tbody></table>Established in 2012 and opened in 2014, the Lakes has gradually emerged as one of the leading new names in whisky especially for its Whiskymaker's Reserve range, of which more later. But first we had the chance to try some bottles from its Editions series.</p><p>But first we had our hands on glasses of Equinox. Light and delicate and showing the influence of both Calvados and oloroso sherry, this was a very fruity drink. It was a bit spicy at the end too, with white pepper notes and a bit of welcome dryness.</p><p>Good for all year round drinking we thought, light enough for summer but with a bit of spiciness that meant it wouldn't be out of place in colder weather either. It's 46.6% and a bottle is £90.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhCGSIlOds66SMCwZ8JeG3pk_Tf1uSOE5lMdWRUUVET7na2_QDyKJfVZQ8kOSwA2rcuNKODELPQx8K3bNpWAyIgBlMDV-1vb8W7JGSQYFhOBmoV7fjOErjHMOVfEgi-InKLuXRYC_yV8v6RjN6I7IJdhzLYc9rZ1MW7h0fzMtHVadWk11dTSs7ZvUcjpl/s4032/IMG_4265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhCGSIlOds66SMCwZ8JeG3pk_Tf1uSOE5lMdWRUUVET7na2_QDyKJfVZQ8kOSwA2rcuNKODELPQx8K3bNpWAyIgBlMDV-1vb8W7JGSQYFhOBmoV7fjOErjHMOVfEgi-InKLuXRYC_yV8v6RjN6I7IJdhzLYc9rZ1MW7h0fzMtHVadWk11dTSs7ZvUcjpl/w150-h200/IMG_4265.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iris</td></tr></tbody></table>Next it was Iris, more of a spring-summer dram according to the distillery, but even so it packs a punch at 56%. Floral and fruity, and spicy again. Very powerful all round in fact.</p><p>Once that spice dies down the flavour gets more of a chnace to come through, and the main note we had was crisp red apple. It's £85.</p><p>For dram three, a collaboration with Simon Rogan, the chef behind Cartmel's multi-Michelin starred L'Enclume and pioneer of sustainability in the food industry.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1BGpg5KmY0liFFQW_a-LTMljCHBv5vaceUBVsCmtiwFZIeOXiias3ScpqPnzuUUbTKujyE4E4wGkXqw6v9bFGe6bqK9pEQFeyskFXL-lOutQaIFL0Ch1sp-h3Qw6PsWcxclXJ1MBjCupvr3LheqHC-frgKQ4Uq2ve84vBM2hsdB_biZOsuKDkpRieADM/s4032/IMG_4266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1BGpg5KmY0liFFQW_a-LTMljCHBv5vaceUBVsCmtiwFZIeOXiias3ScpqPnzuUUbTKujyE4E4wGkXqw6v9bFGe6bqK9pEQFeyskFXL-lOutQaIFL0Ch1sp-h3Qw6PsWcxclXJ1MBjCupvr3LheqHC-frgKQ4Uq2ve84vBM2hsdB_biZOsuKDkpRieADM/w150-h200/IMG_4266.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflections</td></tr></tbody></table>Called Reflections, this is a whisky aimed more at autumn and winter, and features locally sourced ingredients to pair with L'Enclume's autumn menu.<p></p><p>Lots of red wine barrels were involved here, and as such the key tasting notes we picked out were candied fruit, pumpkin spice and cinnamon. This was a very well-balanced dram to drink despite the strength at 54%. It was £85 as well, a price tag that was low enough to tempt a few of us to invest in a bottle from <a href="https://astonsofmanchester.co.uk/">Aston's of Manchester</a>, who were at the tasting too.</p><p><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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETAFPCA6SpRvsQU4AkdNubWD-xQCXT9cfpnqNWT2vRfV3BU6LhWDErwlgx0IIoPwoMlcLy8lKh8eTUMYRii0_gqjvQ1Fu4I9ZCzJyRdjdSQdWMahQKijH-IeUNKgMAQqux3bmMYl0XOmoxgM8-G6mcIKKcaqwUsqMSKzKFf0ybVyo0TOrCoSMQ666kkFU/s4032/IMG_4267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhETAFPCA6SpRvsQU4AkdNubWD-xQCXT9cfpnqNWT2vRfV3BU6LhWDErwlgx0IIoPwoMlcLy8lKh8eTUMYRii0_gqjvQ1Fu4I9ZCzJyRdjdSQdWMahQKijH-IeUNKgMAQqux3bmMYl0XOmoxgM8-G6mcIKKcaqwUsqMSKzKFf0ybVyo0TOrCoSMQ666kkFU/w150-h200/IMG_4267.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No 6</td></tr></tbody></table>After a half-time break to give us all a chance to recharge our glasses downstairs at the Britons Protection, it was on to part two of the evening and a chance to try three drams from the Reserve range.</p><p>Whisky four was No 6, which is matured in a mix of oloroso, Pedro Ximinez and red wine casks, and we thought the red wine barrel gave it a bit of a savoury note. Liquorice, perhaps. Overall, this was a meaty, almost brothy drink, with a big and long finish.</p><p>It was 52% but if anything tasted a touch stronger than that, and again you can pick it up for about £85.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfABdp0UMZyr9pJFQVkWSBvgPjotnYzxV4h1jDugcWOXL-pJbW2j2HlkRre_VoDlHZ8T_u24438st6DGGVio6Sfe9FUr86lAtWDGqr8HwM_EVjB8VHj7xJkmmo1BmAb-HRFaCbfSrDuuW-HNIJXUmzvdSpmeOKJvSiHSkEFKWG7UECO9KU01J5hdkHoovn/s4032/IMG_4268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfABdp0UMZyr9pJFQVkWSBvgPjotnYzxV4h1jDugcWOXL-pJbW2j2HlkRre_VoDlHZ8T_u24438st6DGGVio6Sfe9FUr86lAtWDGqr8HwM_EVjB8VHj7xJkmmo1BmAb-HRFaCbfSrDuuW-HNIJXUmzvdSpmeOKJvSiHSkEFKWG7UECO9KU01J5hdkHoovn/w150-h200/IMG_4268.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No 7</td></tr></tbody></table>The brand new Whiskymaker's Reserve No 7 was up next, what will be the last in this particular series, and this featured similar casks with a mixture of sherry and red wine again. Sherry-led as befits the Lakes general style, but with notable sandalwood on the nose. Sultanas, too, with a little bit of smoke on the aftertaste.</p><p>Adding water brought a bit more of the fruit and less of the spice. It's 52% and is a noble way to end what has been a hugely successful series of releases for The Lakes. Again, the price tag is £85.</p><p>Which brought us to the end of the evening and something a bit special to end on. Back to Editions we went for a bottle of Infinity. The recommended way to tackle this was through two sips: let the first one sit on the palate for a moment and then follow up with the second straight after.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfP70cIrxK3vEyN_C3IlaX5Eg4r9zv1ndB6kAxp53SId6toWtzT5FPA6S_yc-TK9S89HkAWFEIcAp6WTbH1xm7pg6kj8EEAC5q7ILPI6jXbOiZbs-7TasdZkCJ4zypA_BHP0vcPaUVMHqjKczJ3_bjfedZMzJvOnO0uXW8uTZiG0NzogUG6MKPImZZ94XD/s4032/IMG_4269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfP70cIrxK3vEyN_C3IlaX5Eg4r9zv1ndB6kAxp53SId6toWtzT5FPA6S_yc-TK9S89HkAWFEIcAp6WTbH1xm7pg6kj8EEAC5q7ILPI6jXbOiZbs-7TasdZkCJ4zypA_BHP0vcPaUVMHqjKczJ3_bjfedZMzJvOnO0uXW8uTZiG0NzogUG6MKPImZZ94XD/w150-h200/IMG_4269.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Infinity</td></tr></tbody></table>This gave us the experience of something spicy, then sweet, and then savoury. A sherry bomb, this was Christmas all round. It's 52% and £95.</p><p>All that remained was the dram of the night voting, and it was a thumbs up in the end for dram five - the Whiskymaker's Reserve No 7 - with 14 votes, just one ahead of the Reflections with 13. Infinity was third, but all the bottles got at least some support in the room, showing what a strong range of whiskies we had in front of us for this tasting.</p><p>Our thanks to everyone at The Lakes and Aston's for putting on the tasting and helping us buy some bottles afterwards. Thanks also to the Britons Protection for hosting us again, and to all club members who joined us for the tasting. Next: the annual Christmas Party!</p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-4263368404598329082023-10-26T21:31:00.000+00:002023-12-05T21:04:58.228+00:00Netflix and Distil 2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsV_yPnGdA4npw9UB-VJ7YDkIan_O9mmsZ91qfUld-FhOX4rYOK-Mj760BtJ71xhBaPcIDbx1q8Vy6BGwT0snilNYmTFBap6XgmQ8vlAis7v-vitSneJpJBqig2qrcvUBsQpm29G09iCb4Zjy-fupjzELecEvapmqBrNqagR32qUYN1AEHM1jziyFzNlj/s4032/IMG_3970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfsV_yPnGdA4npw9UB-VJ7YDkIan_O9mmsZ91qfUld-FhOX4rYOK-Mj760BtJ71xhBaPcIDbx1q8Vy6BGwT0snilNYmTFBap6XgmQ8vlAis7v-vitSneJpJBqig2qrcvUBsQpm29G09iCb4Zjy-fupjzELecEvapmqBrNqagR32qUYN1AEHM1jziyFzNlj/s320/IMG_3970.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line-up</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>For October's tasting club member Dan brought us a sequel to his <a href="https://manchesterwhiskyclub.blogspot.com/2019/12/netflix-and-distil.html">2019 event Netflix and Distil</a>, with another selection of drams connected to film and TV.</div><div><br /></div><div>It wasn't whisky in our glasses to start with. Accompanied by the snowbound opening sequence of A View To A Kill we had an old style 1980s bottle of Stolichnaya, as enjoyed by Roger Moore shortly after biffing some Bolsheviks in deepest Siberia. These days it's been rebranded as 'Stoli', presumably to play down its Russian origins. But there was no doubting the pedigree of this particular bottle, imported to Italy at 40%. We paid £23 but post-Brexit fees brought it up to about £50. Not being a group of vodka connoisseurs, the sole tasting notes for this were "it's nice" and "it's very nice" but it was a very enjoyable way to ease into the evening.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqeWZs6ctRLDi6mBlGC359N8bY25IIDUeRdo3p0sO0W1VD-rd7g77o4IFIaU7TIZHoLnu137a8kW7y-jjzCOPj9dHkmUY56cQTgE4cxE0_1ofnqBCYFBXDeXL3OLTwjp7cY9XZ3JMafXLqBXMcMv7d5raP76W-Zm8nyLTB-CVgmAVQLTeNpJO6V4jVCbY/s4032/IMG_3971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqeWZs6ctRLDi6mBlGC359N8bY25IIDUeRdo3p0sO0W1VD-rd7g77o4IFIaU7TIZHoLnu137a8kW7y-jjzCOPj9dHkmUY56cQTgE4cxE0_1ofnqBCYFBXDeXL3OLTwjp7cY9XZ3JMafXLqBXMcMv7d5raP76W-Zm8nyLTB-CVgmAVQLTeNpJO6V4jVCbY/s320/IMG_3971.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our six new friends (plus a vodka)</td></tr></tbody></table>Drink number two, and the first whisky, was an even bigger curveball. Having watched a clip of Rwanda-themed drama Black Earth Rising, Dan produced a bottle of - yes - Rwandan whisky. The bottle was from the extremely little known 1000 Hills distillery and was supposed to be a 3yo, although on tasting it we really couldn't be certain it was actually whisky at all. It smelt unpromising ("terrible") and tasted like schnapps. A bit of liqourice in there, and shoe leather, with trace notes of vomit (!).</div><div><br /></div><div>Things improved quickly with the next dram, a 3yo Old Overholt straight rye accompanied by a clip of James Cromwell playing that distillery's owner in Boardwalk Empire. Very pleasant, this, with pepper, cumin and aniseed all coming through on the nose. It was perhaps a little light on flavour on the palate, although it was definitely sweet. We picked out little bits of orange too. It was 40% and cost us £43.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the classic series The Wire, everyone's favourite Baltimore cop McNulty (improbably played by Old Etonian Dominic West, but that's acting for you) is a noted Jameson's drinker, and in one scene describes Bushmills as <a href="https://youtu.be/tjVzGYZLhvo?si=TswMc-7NrJgUirB1">"Protestant whiskey"</a>. Dan took us to one of the show's most memorable moments, the wake for officer Cole, when his colleagues <a href="https://youtu.be/JVznnoptsmM?si=gbvG_9HUHD7Ok2Os">toast him with a dram and a sing along to Body of an American by The Pogues</a>. For our own purposes, we had a glass of a Single Pot Still Jameson's. It was quite sweet, with toffee apples, vanilla, orange and ginger all coming through. At £49, this was 46%.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIMXvi8qqWeHMgoKtWpZRexMLSqkoG42UJCrf_d2cj9Zlj6kQwAkkeKmcZCKBa8jNpGpXXfxSrL8jrqfNs-_ZgRvtNVJfAiBOg6hMjifQks82pW09_irYzYrd_F3vYb0S4klWB-4LocNxTHihpKcKDAEIe272G7doaLebPE-FzuDenVhVXhu7yZ_dmLQG/s1170/IMG_4321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1170" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIMXvi8qqWeHMgoKtWpZRexMLSqkoG42UJCrf_d2cj9Zlj6kQwAkkeKmcZCKBa8jNpGpXXfxSrL8jrqfNs-_ZgRvtNVJfAiBOg6hMjifQks82pW09_irYzYrd_F3vYb0S4klWB-4LocNxTHihpKcKDAEIe272G7doaLebPE-FzuDenVhVXhu7yZ_dmLQG/s320/IMG_4321.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A packed crowd!</td></tr></tbody></table>The newest Batman film was the theme for the fifth drink. Lots of product placement in the movie for Dewar's, but instead we went to the sister distillery Craigellachie for a 13yo finished in Armagnac. It smelt absolutely great on the nose: we got nectarine, orange and toffee. Then it was waxy with a touch of smoke on the palate. A bit of heft to this one, we absolutely loved it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Think whisky movies and it won't be long before you come across The Angels' Share from veteran director Ken Loach. There's loads of the good stuff in the film of course, and Dan produced a 17yo Ledaig for us, produced at the Tobermory distillery on Mull. This was from a bourbon hogshead and independently bottled. Mango, pineapple and slightly smoky as befits a Ledaig, but there was a lot more than just peat to this one. Really good we thought! It was £105.</div><div><br /></div><div>We finished off the evening with a clip from the film Constantine and a drop of Ardbeg. They drink the 10yo in the film and we've had it before, so instead we had a bottle of Ardbeg Bizarre-bq, what I fear we are duty bound to call a 'collab' with someone called DJ Barbecue (presumably not his birth name). This was meaty and smoky with an undoubted barbecue flavour profile. Puffs of charcoal and soot supposedly, but we definitely got smoked ham, cinnamon and coffee. It smelt absolutely superb. This was 50.9% and it's available for £76.</div><div><br /></div><div>That brought us to the dram of the night voting, and it was an absolute triumph for the Ardbeg with 14 votes. In second was the Craigellachie with the Ledaig third.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to Dan for picking out such a great range of whiskies and sourcing some highly appropriate clips for us all to enjoy. Also thanks to all at the Britons Protection for hosting us once again, and to all club members for attending and making it such a successful evening.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-15127948944995207172023-09-28T21:00:00.000+00:002023-10-01T11:55:29.102+00:00Born in the USA<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNx5HleH8IYN4rIrtfch7APqCsmC0YLk1ypD8c3qjPdl9hu8Ez_9PUqogigMueVrWwp_Q5YM6sA_kYCwnX8vxm84D5r83I8EfgBPH9DT0MVdygx-4EsoItrg-4RKQfVFu3P19bRo93xI0dpWHr3ZMUprwvaTbOjHoeTU-aPgRMkPgY2VtsOEd0VazVaoGx/s4032/IMG_3780.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNx5HleH8IYN4rIrtfch7APqCsmC0YLk1ypD8c3qjPdl9hu8Ez_9PUqogigMueVrWwp_Q5YM6sA_kYCwnX8vxm84D5r83I8EfgBPH9DT0MVdygx-4EsoItrg-4RKQfVFu3P19bRo93xI0dpWHr3ZMUprwvaTbOjHoeTU-aPgRMkPgY2VtsOEd0VazVaoGx/s320/IMG_3780.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line-up</td></tr></tbody></table><br />September is designated Bourbon Heritage Month, but for our tasting this year we had half a dozen whiskeys from the US which failed one of bourbon's golden rules. Adding to the intrigue, we tried them al blind.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Everything tonight fails at least one of these criteria... <a href="https://t.co/uANc3rbNmS">pic.twitter.com/uANc3rbNmS</a></p>— David Reader (@davidareader) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidareader/status/1707467769053123041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2023</a></blockquote><p>The first dram tasted like a sweet, classic bourbon. Nutty, almondy, with a big dose of marzipan like a Bakewell tart. Strong and spicy, the fact this was in the low 50s for ABV (it was 51%) came as a bit of a surprise. It failed the 'barrel rule' to do with being aged in a new, charred oak barrel, and was from Heaven Hill, an 11yo from the Heroes and Heretics series available via Master of Malt. "Delicious" we thought. Decent value too, at £75.</p><p>The next dram was 50% so about the same in terms of strength. Vanilla on the nose in the typical bourbon style, with custard, banana and foam sweets as well. Spicy with a long finish. It failed the 'mashbill rule' because it wasn't majority corn, with rye in fact the dominant grain element at 43%. Tasting this blind we were surprised it was a Jack Daniel's. JD is known for its banana forward taste but this was more banoffee pie, especially with a drop of water. It's a Triple Mash, we paid £42 for it but it can sometimes be found cheaper.</p><p>Whiskey three was from Indiana, making its origin the MGP distillery although it was bottled by an independent from Baltimore. A glorious dark colour, this smelt like a sherry finish but could have been wine, but in fact it did indeed turn out to be Pedro Ximenez sherry. This failed the mashbill rule as it's mostly rye, so you get that spicy rye feeling but partly covered by the sweet sherry. The bottling was a Sagamore Spirit sherry finish, a 6yo at 53%. It arrived on these shores with a big reputation from the US but hasn't sold out, it is still available for £81.</p><p>We stayed with an MGP whiskey for number four, once again the work of a third party bottler. This gave us a real sweetie shop vibe. A blend of two whiskeys - rather like what we might call a vatted malt - this was a blend of a bourbon and a wheated whiskey meaning it failed the mashbill rule. Old Elk Double Wheat, bought by us in New York for $100, we felt the blend took the edge off this, as wheated whiskey can apparently be quite astringent. It was certainly cereal-y, like Shredded Wheat. Quite confusing really, a bit of a mixed bag, but worth trying.</p><p>Number five tasted strong! In the 60s we immediately felt, and it was, at 62.3%. This failed the distillation rule, having been distilled at no less than 90% ABV. This comes from a separate category called 'light whiskey' so named because it's normally proofed right down, but this particular bottle wasn't. It was called Barrel Dovetail and involved rum, port and wine casks. A bit all over the place we felt, with tasting notes including aniseed, liquorice, with a bit of cardamom or pepper. It cost us £94 and was a no age statement bottling.</p><p>We finished off with a peated whiskey, a blend of American malt and highly peated Scotch. We picked this one up at auction for £80 - but the retail price is more than double that! It's Westland Garryana 5th edition. The Garryana is the oak, and along with the fact it was a first fill bourbon cask it failed the rules all round. A 4-6yo, this used beer yeast as well so should have been a bit different (and was). Very nice, and didn't really feel like an American whiskey. Beautiful!</p><p>This brought us to the dram of the night voting, and all six of the whiskeys got at least two votes - the sign of a high quality line up. But it was whiskey three, the Sagamore Spirit, that came out on top with 12.</p><p>Thanks to all club members and those on the waiting list for joining us for the tasting, as well as everyone at the Britons Protection for hosting us once again.</p> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-17451229387308611642023-08-31T21:49:00.000+00:002023-09-24T15:36:09.191+00:00Organic Drams<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkWuERi8Pu3gTn4KajBuIur_RkUNTtjDtIQdJVZiTcmOUKzLSqW3-8T0EhZis4Tma4xNfzK_9Ha8lGrCZrxg9biDi5xnELf6Zbo-wkvUTlbKaB-T3W4tEEz347-qQfi1OvzXXAtzVjWKcUywY4JDBkcJkY4aJflCfBfT4enwWWwNxDtonevl6QiOcvqCx/s4032/IMG_3547.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkWuERi8Pu3gTn4KajBuIur_RkUNTtjDtIQdJVZiTcmOUKzLSqW3-8T0EhZis4Tma4xNfzK_9Ha8lGrCZrxg9biDi5xnELf6Zbo-wkvUTlbKaB-T3W4tEEz347-qQfi1OvzXXAtzVjWKcUywY4JDBkcJkY4aJflCfBfT4enwWWwNxDtonevl6QiOcvqCx/s320/IMG_3547.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half a dozen organic whiskies</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>For August's tasting, club member Rich had selected six whiskies on the theme of organic drams. Organic has become one of the key buzzwords in food and drink production, and whisky is no exception: we had a line-up of half a dozen drinks from distilleries using organic techniques.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwibM97loudfh-9NpAtbdjxHWENzvj4J_XMBizdxgNtV2xo-4G-zSKHg4WgQHjlbreRQJ0snhSk9EyKqtjuCOysB3cw8Am4kW_s0C0nBVjEztBhT7L1-r2_FYWz1NnteFMeGAc8MHhYRCiXQLidMrdu3najTklhJyU4CxielyjkDzqPufOf2OLo0KW_vtx/s4032/IMG_3550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwibM97loudfh-9NpAtbdjxHWENzvj4J_XMBizdxgNtV2xo-4G-zSKHg4WgQHjlbreRQJ0snhSk9EyKqtjuCOysB3cw8Am4kW_s0C0nBVjEztBhT7L1-r2_FYWz1NnteFMeGAc8MHhYRCiXQLidMrdu3najTklhJyU4CxielyjkDzqPufOf2OLo0KW_vtx/w150-h200/IMG_3550.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benromach Contrasts</td></tr></tbody></table>We started with Benromach and their Contrasts: Organic expression, an 8-year-old. A Speyside distillery that is nevertheless known for its range of smoky single malts, we had before us an unpeated bottling matured in virgin American oak.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was very nice both on the nose and the palate. Fruity was a key tasting note all round, with hints of banana and other tropical fruits. We liked it even more when Rich revealed the price tag of £47. This represented strong value, and the bottle was as a whole "surprisingly good". There are also some bottles of earlier versions of it around for cheaper if you look hard enough. It's 46%.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuyzOciwkv6DIMQrxc3CktPTv_CZidvCoZslKCDnsJQrabzSJ9JerIQ6Ru7RJK9BXQeYU23jB6BZjdIHpAup5CNYkmAGwgGSM2Ar8VJnFMnGSEXw19x1wEPZPSbUlERXTVeeLMmfQdC7hF9W14LqstuptQCtPRvc9jXj00H7g1Ih2Jd7JjY2f45aBpMCU/s4032/IMG_3552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuyzOciwkv6DIMQrxc3CktPTv_CZidvCoZslKCDnsJQrabzSJ9JerIQ6Ru7RJK9BXQeYU23jB6BZjdIHpAup5CNYkmAGwgGSM2Ar8VJnFMnGSEXw19x1wEPZPSbUlERXTVeeLMmfQdC7hF9W14LqstuptQCtPRvc9jXj00H7g1Ih2Jd7JjY2f45aBpMCU/w150-h200/IMG_3552.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nc'nean Organic</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The second dram was from Nc'nean, a relatively new distillery from the west Highlands based on the coast across from Mull. They have based the philosophy of the whisky around the concept of 'slow' and we had their Nc'nean Organic expression in our glasses.</div><div><br /></div><div>A mostly red wine cask aged 3-year-old, this was punchy on the nose. A little bit chocolatey too, and we got some ginger as well. A bit meh for some in the club, and a little harsh as befits a young whisky, but there was general agreement this stuff had some decent potential. It's £45 and is 46%.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhSwYt8PApodIZLPF0niGGLpfuufacEVaLGrAPYLVlXMP43-WihxJUHMdLko1KVyWa2t40Csso3B_Re_1XWFeJOlMhpNMPaI-D9ZzEFkF7-B5IGPAijJjMbkwIKbkVrV5lcVqNdTNW7AomsvRwpgiALVdZmYauCAMXaFEOpDcxPiEFYb4hHMJLBPt3z6C/s4032/IMG_3554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhSwYt8PApodIZLPF0niGGLpfuufacEVaLGrAPYLVlXMP43-WihxJUHMdLko1KVyWa2t40Csso3B_Re_1XWFeJOlMhpNMPaI-D9ZzEFkF7-B5IGPAijJjMbkwIKbkVrV5lcVqNdTNW7AomsvRwpgiALVdZmYauCAMXaFEOpDcxPiEFYb4hHMJLBPt3z6C/w150-h200/IMG_3554.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Da Mhile</td></tr></tbody></table>Next up we went to Wales and farm-based distillery Da Mhile. Also known for their organic cheese and a range of other spirits, Rich had dug out a bottle of organic single malt that was finished in first fill ex-Madeira casks. This was a new distillery on just about all of us - not often you can say that about something we try at the club.</div><div><br /></div><div>This certainly had some sweetness as you'd expect from something that is on nodding terms with Madeira. There were those tropical notes again and dried banana again prominent. There were mixed reviews around the room, though. We agreed it was a little unusual, almost like a liqueur in a way. Some liked it, others less so, making it a bit of a marmite dram. It was again 46% but despite the novelty factor, no sign of anyone rushing out to buy it at £93.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8KqPCStidwpJhUBn9wjXOnbpj4M1MQ4TI9KuYaNvFO2vOVm6mOf8UZXJddXKgyZrwu-6SkqU1L0Tt-prIcHhRBcdMTNOqX5AgRxxKYFoSJdKdHHB6sIVTlVyaIg5ssTMu8AnizV8iGvr5Hye7kHvzjFP3-OLx612K8z2gloKTQ0C5OAioYO4FLP-Ekko/s4032/IMG_3556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8KqPCStidwpJhUBn9wjXOnbpj4M1MQ4TI9KuYaNvFO2vOVm6mOf8UZXJddXKgyZrwu-6SkqU1L0Tt-prIcHhRBcdMTNOqX5AgRxxKYFoSJdKdHHB6sIVTlVyaIg5ssTMu8AnizV8iGvr5Hye7kHvzjFP3-OLx612K8z2gloKTQ0C5OAioYO4FLP-Ekko/w150-h200/IMG_3556.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deanston PX</td></tr></tbody></table>After a half-time break to fill up our beer glasses downstairs at the Britons Protection, the second half of the tasting began with a visit to the distillery perhaps most often associated with the 'organic' label, Deanston.</div><div><br /></div><div>It has been producing organic whisky for a lot longer than most - more than two decades - and so we were able to have a rather older organic expression. The Deanston we had was a 17-year-old distilled back in 2002, and ultimately finished in PX sherry casks for the last three of those years.</div><div><br /></div><div>This went down very well. Lots of club members really enjoyed it. Tasting notes included toasted marshmallows, and also a rich, lemony sort of flavour. It's 49.3% and cost £125.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTERQg3H3Uw1XETpIR9xWwyOhXt5S8TcwdTM5mQCdGlkZ--qGzpMvVwabSsn355Ys0tB1tq1831uJIv8ncHRQf6MKy51Eh3rF4jNO3d7aHA04gxoAbFtN4X4R0TJs9vi6lYmDJdX6YXpHY9p6CB4g-eYIEiNCJWBleuLhmjEt9IiSw9vJGeBiHorHUm05X/s4032/IMG_3558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTERQg3H3Uw1XETpIR9xWwyOhXt5S8TcwdTM5mQCdGlkZ--qGzpMvVwabSsn355Ys0tB1tq1831uJIv8ncHRQf6MKy51Eh3rF4jNO3d7aHA04gxoAbFtN4X4R0TJs9vi6lYmDJdX6YXpHY9p6CB4g-eYIEiNCJWBleuLhmjEt9IiSw9vJGeBiHorHUm05X/w150-h200/IMG_3558.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bruichladdich Organic</td></tr></tbody></table>Bruichladdich, the Islay distillery, is another one known for putting a focus on organic products since its revival in the early 2000s. They have a vineyard-style belief in terroir, and this particular bottling - The Organic 2011 - was part of their barley provenance series.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unusually unpeated, this had a big nose on it much like a wine. Satisfying on the palate, too. The central thought we had at the end of trying it was "luxurious". It's £75 and was 50%.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPOVvUmuJySpx7z7ksYYRkvHE5GgrxhRSEPcSoOMS34PmLGa0qv5wIuN6f2MKyNCSq_nrmrLzClnzJVsjGbdzyYmnJMxHOciFD8tXlvPJ1VzrqBfv3whVliSnX4avM9eRsPyvyYIVSl1AEfbzU7HQKWFqcdkkKa5z8gFeP0qyec3PbL6SCfoVJXoXZUgc/s4032/IMG_3560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPOVvUmuJySpx7z7ksYYRkvHE5GgrxhRSEPcSoOMS34PmLGa0qv5wIuN6f2MKyNCSq_nrmrLzClnzJVsjGbdzyYmnJMxHOciFD8tXlvPJ1VzrqBfv3whVliSnX4avM9eRsPyvyYIVSl1AEfbzU7HQKWFqcdkkKa5z8gFeP0qyec3PbL6SCfoVJXoXZUgc/w150-h200/IMG_3560.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hven Tyco's Star</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The last of our organic drams was from Sweden. Not club favourites Mackmyra though, but instead a bottling from Hven, a distillery based on a tiny island between Sweden and Denmark. Named Tyco's Star in honour of the island's association with its observatory and all things stargazing, we had a medium peated no age statement bottling to try (it was billed only as "well matured" so it's not clear exactly how old it was).</div><div><br /></div><div>An unusual one, the main tasting notes we got were leather and liqourice. Not bad, but coming after a couple of strong drams from top quality distilleries, it perhaps suffered a little by comparison. It was £52 for a 50cl bottle, and was 41.8%.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which brought us to the dram of the night voting, and unusually it was a win for the night's opener, the Benromach. In second was the Deanston with the Bruichladdich third.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to Rich for picking out the drams, to all at the Britons for hosting us and to club members and those on the waiting list for attending another successful tasting.</div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-26499417930058986862023-07-27T21:40:00.000+00:002023-09-23T13:40:50.217+00:00English Whisky<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Fvzxuzps8XcEILLh5bXcnijY1xBTx-ypUFdn4yF6uJ9WkIFeHqFpu1_K96lrQxlddppoF_ANhfLWdMOpAShn0aNoP0FCzenKlNYqBIhjbDjaRsySJRp9oyM5Hh2MSD2h4CS9IwqEpy586KMp_2mwZKwAdDuVglmOlO1jdSFWrXfRIuSWLgvIjNuUbLJl/s4032/IMG_2891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Fvzxuzps8XcEILLh5bXcnijY1xBTx-ypUFdn4yF6uJ9WkIFeHqFpu1_K96lrQxlddppoF_ANhfLWdMOpAShn0aNoP0FCzenKlNYqBIhjbDjaRsySJRp9oyM5Hh2MSD2h4CS9IwqEpy586KMp_2mwZKwAdDuVglmOlO1jdSFWrXfRIuSWLgvIjNuUbLJl/s320/IMG_2891.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line up</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>For July's meeting of the Manchester Whisky Club we had a great selection of whiskies from around England to try, as we visited a mixture of brand new names and some distilleries which have already become firm favourites.</p><p>A new one for most of us to start with though, Ludlow, which comes from, well, Ludlow. We had a bottle of the Batch 5 PX finish. Despite that advertised sherry hit, we didn't get much of it beyond the faintest of hints. The taste itself was a bit thin as well, but perhaps not unexpected for a 3yo at 42%. The price tag was off putting though: at £80 this was more than a bit steep, we felt.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHdcMYaU7-PBudXguQLJqIp6EVo7QlYq2RSU5jQniEYstpfkEYrIC0yVweqdxcFgC6aYKxn0_atu1Y5WRTZSs0on9EPFOSbvwVv3Ajextyjz-eEWZG7XV4c-slEmsyToETBxf6o10ZaAXP9AqAKO4KcDSH-xMPluaGJo1U3K4t025gA4864w7j1VPLt0G/s4032/IMG_2906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHdcMYaU7-PBudXguQLJqIp6EVo7QlYq2RSU5jQniEYstpfkEYrIC0yVweqdxcFgC6aYKxn0_atu1Y5WRTZSs0on9EPFOSbvwVv3Ajextyjz-eEWZG7XV4c-slEmsyToETBxf6o10ZaAXP9AqAKO4KcDSH-xMPluaGJo1U3K4t025gA4864w7j1VPLt0G/s320/IMG_2906.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dram of the night: Bimber!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We moved south and east next for a bottle of Oxford Rye. The purple label gave away the theme of this expression, in that after two years in American virgin oak it was finished in purple Moscatel. A 53.6% cask strength dram, this was great on the nose. Very sweet but overall it divided the room, some very much liked it but the bigger rye fans in the room weren't as thrilled. A last tasting note: buttered toast! It was £75.</p><p>The English Whisky Company from Norfolk kickstarted the resurgence in English whisky more than a decade ago, and we tipped our collective caps to them with dram three, a 9yo dating from 2018 released especially for friends of the club Aston's of Manchester. We weren't sure of the tasting notes as only 60 bottles were produced. But it was definitely citrussy, smooth, strong and tasty. There must have been some wine barrels involved somewhere, we felt. Committee member Martin, who raided his own stocks for this one, couldn't quite remember how much it cost, but it was £80 or thereabouts.</p><p>After a half-time break to recharge our glasses downstairs at the Britons Protection, we were back for the fourth whisky, from the Weetwood Distillery close to home in Cheshire. Only just over 3yo but, in contrast to the Ludlow, full of flavours such as foam bananas (!), this generated a lot of excitement in the room for what the spirit might turn into in years to come. This had more on the nose than the palate but was still great all round. It was 46% and £60.</p><p>Wire Works in the Peak District has already become a favourite with many club members after succcessful outings at previous tastings. We had in our hands a bottle of their latest collaboration with nearby craft brewer Thornbridge, Necessary Evil, where beer and whisky are swapped around before bottling (this expression involved stout). Absolutely delicious, this, there was an almost universal love for it. It was 51.3% and £65 (full disclosure: I went online and bought a bottle straight away).</p><p>The biggest name in English whisky is arguably Bimber from London, popular with hipster drinkers and savvy investors alike. We had a bottle from Martin's cask. At only just over 3yo this was another young one, but having been warehoused in a particularly hot location (it had lost ten litres) this really accelerated the maturation process. This had a hint of smoke and was absolutely lovely. It was no less than 58.9%.</p><p>This took us on to the dram of the night voting, and it was a win for Bimber with ten votes, just ahead of the Cheshire in second place and the Wire Works third.</p><p>Thanks to all in the club, those on the waiting list and everyone who hosted us at the Britons for another great evening.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy11v9L4P4VdjsX8kUAUHJQFM9NmqYquLuJhCsibuZmFOmkn6CJVYFwIcrr7c1z1ZaDmVyaDn3YmOsiR9NFXPZbivt3Q291h047vCjDvXzypnzM70kCLfC0tnr6B-RW_LT2KRjpvJy96Ra9Tj0ZWnoI7D_-Q0LshKF8SZjDPpDGeBRUgj_pYDhHamJ4GFF/s4032/IMG_2892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy11v9L4P4VdjsX8kUAUHJQFM9NmqYquLuJhCsibuZmFOmkn6CJVYFwIcrr7c1z1ZaDmVyaDn3YmOsiR9NFXPZbivt3Q291h047vCjDvXzypnzM70kCLfC0tnr6B-RW_LT2KRjpvJy96Ra9Tj0ZWnoI7D_-Q0LshKF8SZjDPpDGeBRUgj_pYDhHamJ4GFF/w320-h240/IMG_2892.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the drams</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-79575597445227017492023-06-29T20:29:00.001+00:002023-08-31T15:04:18.422+00:00Now vs Then<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWakvBt89wQOkqXElUPbyQE26MIGYE2gcs6ABJc8S6mfryCqe_RlKVW8NbVFmeZ_84O2RVz_YLm6fshYpxXsARPOtb-SsR66AkhLT8YrbOV7kqHfnT9DgBJEpVem2TmHnqBxVShgL-Yqu_gP8uXpweRmkzSMk6vAb4l-qRIo-00hL3khZTxhPcWUi7JQs/s4032/IMG_2722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWakvBt89wQOkqXElUPbyQE26MIGYE2gcs6ABJc8S6mfryCqe_RlKVW8NbVFmeZ_84O2RVz_YLm6fshYpxXsARPOtb-SsR66AkhLT8YrbOV7kqHfnT9DgBJEpVem2TmHnqBxVShgL-Yqu_gP8uXpweRmkzSMk6vAb4l-qRIo-00hL3khZTxhPcWUi7JQs/s320/IMG_2722.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line up<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>For June's tasting, Martin chose a theme of 'now versus then' with an opportunity to compare older style bottlings from three well-known whisky brands, with their modern equivalents, all tasted blind.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ07P89OP0U8JwyUrXavWcz74RQk0CkQukgDNs8WrJRp32DPg_GcNGInSpckb-l_M5PNoNVnGvtAVxW_ZU93z-NV7dVZjwrLvESiH2xRFb7uWQUi1XTQECOnv265vwzPzQJOIqgQStic_XlOv7qIQsGAKhG1h2H8skejJuQ7FD4PKsg-P8BjsAxDM0LCVy/s4032/IMG_2713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ07P89OP0U8JwyUrXavWcz74RQk0CkQukgDNs8WrJRp32DPg_GcNGInSpckb-l_M5PNoNVnGvtAVxW_ZU93z-NV7dVZjwrLvESiH2xRFb7uWQUi1XTQECOnv265vwzPzQJOIqgQStic_XlOv7qIQsGAKhG1h2H8skejJuQ7FD4PKsg-P8BjsAxDM0LCVy/w150-h200/IMG_2713.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auchentoshan</td></tr></tbody></table>With a crowd packed into one of the cosy downstairs rooms at the Britons, we got started with the opening duo. Number one initially came over as more savoury, with the second notably sweeter. The first dram gave us a strong breath of smoke, but two was more fruity. One certainly had stronger wood influences: floorboards, furniture polish, sawdust, even the very specific tasting note of chestnut furniture.</p><p>These two were from the Glasgow distillery of Auchentoshan. The older dram (two) was from sometime between 2002 and 2008 (judging by the packaging), while the new whisky (one) was the Auchentoshan Three Wood - widely available and often for a decent price on offer in your local supermarket. They cost us £75 and £40 respectively, both very good value.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85QVQ9FuNdS-gAq6rtqOCxuG36-hrvzWBRhz3D2iuda_WaQr-XOxTuw1dCOBXBs7pwVAzJcNnRcPfJogMXMmZVrBT5w3dSSTGOSj2F7R5LrD4YPbDRqSN0fPgUEapaqVWXQ_9klldaNV579IYchvqGkqhXiffZ1EOXMNsT2W0J78cH7FAqp8Q4PWDzeHp/s4032/IMG_2717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85QVQ9FuNdS-gAq6rtqOCxuG36-hrvzWBRhz3D2iuda_WaQr-XOxTuw1dCOBXBs7pwVAzJcNnRcPfJogMXMmZVrBT5w3dSSTGOSj2F7R5LrD4YPbDRqSN0fPgUEapaqVWXQ_9klldaNV579IYchvqGkqhXiffZ1EOXMNsT2W0J78cH7FAqp8Q4PWDzeHp/w150-h200/IMG_2717.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aberlour 12</td></tr></tbody></table>There was a definite change up for drams three and four. Three initially got us thinking of pear drops, bubblegum and cream soda, while its cousin dram four also smelt creamy. Both were very drinkable, with notes of custard and custard cream biscuits, bananas and even sticky cough syrup. Four was a little salty.</p><p>This time we were looking at - and drinking - two expressions of Aberlour 12. The older dram (four) was from quite some time ago - the early 1980s in fact. The newer version is again widely available for about the £30 mark, while the older bottle we secured for £150. As with the Auchentoshan, it was notable how well the new whisky went down in the room during this blind tasting, suggesting it's well worth taking a closer look at some of the more familiar drams on the shelves.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBLmJSbK1mQ-xnzVHIDJhvxOLJLd-ZMSaEefQ9Y3HOWkOebBz7GnXFrkr1lHa2CJROnnVkd5zPW0ObtZXtS3ighwjHK3eZrAet6U8GuEqKVlO3VQFyjNes7-6AVEmnPwMjjBfwo9s73uYBYN7bSTQvi8dUjEgbxbdaXfW4JZ5PNjvXX0OmancFR28jqXp/s4032/IMG_2720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBLmJSbK1mQ-xnzVHIDJhvxOLJLd-ZMSaEefQ9Y3HOWkOebBz7GnXFrkr1lHa2CJROnnVkd5zPW0ObtZXtS3ighwjHK3eZrAet6U8GuEqKVlO3VQFyjNes7-6AVEmnPwMjjBfwo9s73uYBYN7bSTQvi8dUjEgbxbdaXfW4JZ5PNjvXX0OmancFR28jqXp/w150-h200/IMG_2720.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glen Grant</td></tr></tbody></table>The final pairing of the evening featured something very old indeed: a bottling from 1973 (which, as it was a 12-year-old, featured spirit distilled back in 1961). That was dram number six, which on the nose was very citrussy: organic, grassy, even a bit of fruit salad in there. A really great, distinctive whisky, with juicy tangerines another tasting note thrown out there during our chat. The modern bottling, five, was also fruity, with lighter notes and apples too.</p><p>Speyside? Campbeltown? We had no idea, but it did turn out to be Speyside again, with Aberlour followed here by Glen Grant. The older one probably had some sherry influence in there but was mainly bourbon, and would also have been made using coal-fired stills. Despite the age, we got the older bottle for £180, while the modern Glen Grant retails for £35.</p><p>It came to the dram of the night voting, and it was very evenly split, with all whiskies getting at least three votes each. But the clear winner was the last of the night, the 1973-vintage Glen Grant 12yo, with nine votes.</p><p>Thanks to Martin for sourcing and then presenting such a great range of paired whiskies, to the Britons Protection for hosting us once again, and to all club members and guests for attending.</p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-7064409714076130132023-05-25T21:27:00.001+00:002023-07-08T13:29:20.595+00:00Cask Matters<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIWOCWDhderHXcq3fyL3R6T-KbWTKQHIG97grXSfagabCJTpKw8DR_pC8p0Ae86j0heweE1gvJI1LC3F8J2_JUefWbCQMk0lFiatg8iuDJrsxrkb6dvOHC_02JGd1qNYYbmqoMWSnr0AvkieEIyyEztpfMTz8WFIOUwHuuvyUZ1UWBUk3wnlDn_i-4jlk/s2016/IMG_2147.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTIWOCWDhderHXcq3fyL3R6T-KbWTKQHIG97grXSfagabCJTpKw8DR_pC8p0Ae86j0heweE1gvJI1LC3F8J2_JUefWbCQMk0lFiatg8iuDJrsxrkb6dvOHC_02JGd1qNYYbmqoMWSnr0AvkieEIyyEztpfMTz8WFIOUwHuuvyUZ1UWBUk3wnlDn_i-4jlk/s320/IMG_2147.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line-up</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For May's tasting, Anna took us through a range of whiskies with some interesting cask maturations and finishes. As she explained, about 60-80% of the taste of a whisky comes from the cask, and so factors including the type of wood used, the size of the barrel and the liquid the cask previously held are all critical components which impact the character of what ends up in your glass. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk34eSOxpV1bQ-LrslIpr3ANjlUxiKo1482LtEXJ3NLj--XJ-aoz4aVsHKPabTnbujVvLAWLVRDQbwghHG2iWEpFZB1vKjPWhF9zRsTdEJl1FxMtCC-5N-riNRCSpUtP5IYrZw0O6EROxRI7LDbdS-pvDaZ_OtmV4hcaRifEcK-JHLozHGjIoTH34i01i7/s2016/IMG_2150.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk34eSOxpV1bQ-LrslIpr3ANjlUxiKo1482LtEXJ3NLj--XJ-aoz4aVsHKPabTnbujVvLAWLVRDQbwghHG2iWEpFZB1vKjPWhF9zRsTdEJl1FxMtCC-5N-riNRCSpUtP5IYrZw0O6EROxRI7LDbdS-pvDaZ_OtmV4hcaRifEcK-JHLozHGjIoTH34i01i7/w150-h200/IMG_2150.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pintail Glen Elgin</td></tr></tbody></table>She had selected half a dozen varied examples, and we kicked off with an independently bottled 14-year-old Glen Elgin, produced by Edinburgh-based Pintail. They specialise in unusual finishes, and this particular bottle was finished in a cask that previously held Floc de Gascogne, a fortified sweet wine consisting of Armagnac and grape juice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was very strong tasting and really packed a punch. Chewy with strong cereal notes, and some blackcurrant too. Water brought yet more on the nose, and generally upped the floral taste as well. This was 54.1% and cost £75.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfE3c7ht1PDK9qI38sMZLzbjOeYbAXz2037e-TsGv20JZsnDM7KoxyUkwbyHb_w-h057UTPMcUh7fiqY0sDuuYi2tCOxqKwOWKUGvL77BIjVQwud08JG7ivfgcxr5zCQ3gwZkimEnRSoa2sp1WFgPBDuum9hxxyqvEVl6RoV3C968QIofEoaxdJnKdTeC/s2016/IMG_2152.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfE3c7ht1PDK9qI38sMZLzbjOeYbAXz2037e-TsGv20JZsnDM7KoxyUkwbyHb_w-h057UTPMcUh7fiqY0sDuuYi2tCOxqKwOWKUGvL77BIjVQwud08JG7ivfgcxr5zCQ3gwZkimEnRSoa2sp1WFgPBDuum9hxxyqvEVl6RoV3C968QIofEoaxdJnKdTeC/w150-h200/IMG_2152.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deanston tequila</td></tr></tbody></table>Deanston is a popular distillery with club members, known for its organic approach to distilling and distinctive use of a former mill building as its base. Its latest expression is an unconventional one, a 15-year-old finished in casks that previously held Agave tequila from the Mexican highlands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This one again was very striking on the nose. It smelt quite strongly like marmite in fact. While a good drop, the consensus in the room was that it was the tequila aspect we didn't actually like as much. We would possibly have been happier having a plain old Deanston 13-year-old, without the last couple of years in the tequila. It's 52.5% and you can get a bottle for £95.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8BEV9akyj01A1AtdNsiwMW5r-H3Vs_M2cqutmMLOjZjhQ7IixoRq0TuwX4MpI_LFu9wf_ZXTOXoPw2wPhk8vPw9bSU_SdHXeXEKUMZylG9XgPZS40uqyyyq-Yx6OdMg7tLzNmAXC3UpQt5RWRwWwik2lWSRnORYnMyU0nszils9Na2_ydixUVp4qwwyX/s2016/IMG_2154.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8BEV9akyj01A1AtdNsiwMW5r-H3Vs_M2cqutmMLOjZjhQ7IixoRq0TuwX4MpI_LFu9wf_ZXTOXoPw2wPhk8vPw9bSU_SdHXeXEKUMZylG9XgPZS40uqyyyq-Yx6OdMg7tLzNmAXC3UpQt5RWRwWwik2lWSRnORYnMyU0nszils9Na2_ydixUVp4qwwyX/w150-h200/IMG_2154.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishermen's Retreat 9</td></tr></tbody></table>Onto dram three and something very close to home: a bottling from the Fisherman's Retreat restaurant in Ramsbottom. It's Batch 9 of their own stuff, a heavily peated Bruichladdich.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Again unusual, we got smoked onions and oily grass along with, appropriately enough, a real fishy mustiness. Someone even suggested sardines. This was 50% and cost £75 for a 50cl bottle, but if you can spare the cash it's well worth supporting a local indie bottler.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFv-xK7BD1LD6dVytidBrHFGSAvZxHbVE9PPaRbasS16aRPHUICJffLYo2Jnbf-77UoLHEynIIXHzdcnM32CTu1Omr34i3rGTA-yLyuIrRStiTczcHZcp8PYkhRbzny2ZvK5OlkuZSXdpBskmimYfAB6ZrSFhJo_pozYLp3sXU7h8U8ZexMYPWHIcwDRLz/s2016/IMG_2156.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFv-xK7BD1LD6dVytidBrHFGSAvZxHbVE9PPaRbasS16aRPHUICJffLYo2Jnbf-77UoLHEynIIXHzdcnM32CTu1Omr34i3rGTA-yLyuIrRStiTczcHZcp8PYkhRbzny2ZvK5OlkuZSXdpBskmimYfAB6ZrSFhJo_pozYLp3sXU7h8U8ZexMYPWHIcwDRLz/w150-h200/IMG_2156.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BenRomach Polish oak</td></tr></tbody></table>After a half-time break to recharge our glasses downstairs at the Britons' Protection, Anna gave us something with connections to her Polish homeland. BenRomach have brought out a limited edition 10-year-old single cask expression, with full maturation in first fill Polish oak (in fact there are two sets of these, in sister casks).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was stunning! Sweet and citrussy, especially orangey. We also had notes of toffee and apple, with a touch of smoke in there as well. It's 59.1% and costs £95.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvWXUJCacYX0yqURTaZZT_As3zEj3Stni7AGZmlLeK8aWfYwrf7Bj91XuzgIKHQpbHmthigcwVmvezrM_0Z5i0Rhzn1shulVWlQamoPAxceRvi8heax9hFkASAkBDCtUZbpjK0WBBkxZDp4nFhO-4U2BoSZi_LpWAeKfF8MF-xl6WnBNH4aaBZ9kN9C16/s2016/IMG_2158.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvWXUJCacYX0yqURTaZZT_As3zEj3Stni7AGZmlLeK8aWfYwrf7Bj91XuzgIKHQpbHmthigcwVmvezrM_0Z5i0Rhzn1shulVWlQamoPAxceRvi8heax9hFkASAkBDCtUZbpjK0WBBkxZDp4nFhO-4U2BoSZi_LpWAeKfF8MF-xl6WnBNH4aaBZ9kN9C16/w150-h200/IMG_2158.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linkwood 12yo</td></tr></tbody></table>We stayed in Speyside next and moved on to Linkwood and another independent bottler that was new to most of us, Fragrant Drops. I say new to us, but the team behind the brand - George and Rachel - were welcome attendees at some of our virtual tastings over lockdown, so it's wonderful to see them branching out with this new whisky business. This particular expression was a 12-year-old, fully matured in a fresh Tokaji barrel, Tokaji being a Hungarian white wine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Fruity was the key tasting note here. Although beyond that it was a bit mystifying, in the sense that we couldn't tell whether it was sweet or savoury or herbal, with a bit of pastry in there as well. This went down very well all round. It's 58% and cost us £110.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibOiHzzVgWYfSCAMmIP6uvNAn78DsUsMTfy2L1vB2lOuR8ucyj2u9jIw-KAIZ1_KbaOrO6sAAIDtJfhcbm4-ajvDbOTdGi0vhyiT0cxQ7EZxotmY2YAonw4-P7eNhkgu-D3iVY70D90-MyAoSbTfJ4BjFDNbDwBBPlT9LUSQAQb5jd2G-uamFITVfb2Kx/s2016/IMG_2160.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibOiHzzVgWYfSCAMmIP6uvNAn78DsUsMTfy2L1vB2lOuR8ucyj2u9jIw-KAIZ1_KbaOrO6sAAIDtJfhcbm4-ajvDbOTdGi0vhyiT0cxQ7EZxotmY2YAonw4-P7eNhkgu-D3iVY70D90-MyAoSbTfJ4BjFDNbDwBBPlT9LUSQAQb5jd2G-uamFITVfb2Kx/w150-h200/IMG_2160.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teaninch 12yo</td></tr></tbody></table>And this brought us to the last of the six drinks, a 12-year-old Teaninch finished in the Scandinavian spirit Aquavit. Teaninch is a Diageo distillery but has a relatively low profile in its own right, rarely seen outside the Flora and Fauna range. This expression was from the independent bottler Lady of the Glen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Herby and spicy, we felt this was one was both complex and subtle. A great way to finish a superb line-up, it was 57.3% and decent value at £75.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">For the dram of the night voting, the Teaninch did well enough for the third step on the podium, behind the Fragrant Drops Linkwood in second and the winner - the BenRomach Polish oak.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Many thanks to Anna for choosing and taking us through such a great selection of drams, to all at the Britons for hosting us once again, and to club members and guests for attending in such good numbers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-57438267389034136142023-04-27T21:39:00.114+00:002023-05-13T13:32:33.898+00:00Filey Bay from the Spirit of Yorkshire<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbIXfmkUgF0dVYNp4HpDsiAz1eM0HxCQv7EDIvm-ZToWxp4nGMBCfZ4QufipyogKUPFoZ7TXYsfyg2qEVO3XDDpCtxi56BNZ8CVd9_y5Cg4GZtA0s6jEgON2X-aXcCTA3LURqzlG522u5vhDn5-xzWWX6jDB_4NDRJWyR5RW9dXOdHbXukl0d8OeO0g/s4032/IMG_1919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbIXfmkUgF0dVYNp4HpDsiAz1eM0HxCQv7EDIvm-ZToWxp4nGMBCfZ4QufipyogKUPFoZ7TXYsfyg2qEVO3XDDpCtxi56BNZ8CVd9_y5Cg4GZtA0s6jEgON2X-aXcCTA3LURqzlG522u5vhDn5-xzWWX6jDB_4NDRJWyR5RW9dXOdHbXukl0d8OeO0g/s320/IMG_1919.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tasting in full swing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>For April's tasting we were joined by one of our nearest distilleries - Spirit of Yorkshire - to give us a rundown of some of their excellent Filey Bay whiskies.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7AAf2D1KhVQQLqT8ODPaQu-B3--Gm1t5xMCyQVNWsGfQe-95oMqnMJiqOVQQVJB3uSLFMxXqG7dwpYBtp8VQaAM-1KYIs6XUqcN__5CVR8YsLaIPykWgVS_AATuSr9oGwt457aoKSLHzD4n-oHJAw6-itruDKErgVMOuBANGExYvAggi62CRrlI3xg/s4032/IMG_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7AAf2D1KhVQQLqT8ODPaQu-B3--Gm1t5xMCyQVNWsGfQe-95oMqnMJiqOVQQVJB3uSLFMxXqG7dwpYBtp8VQaAM-1KYIs6XUqcN__5CVR8YsLaIPykWgVS_AATuSr9oGwt457aoKSLHzD4n-oHJAw6-itruDKErgVMOuBANGExYvAggi62CRrlI3xg/w150-h200/IMG_1920.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flagship</td></tr></tbody></table>The first single malt ever to come from Yorkshire, we've been enjoying it since it first hit shelves in 2019 (the inaugural release goes for more than a few quid at auction these days - quite a few of us in the club naturally drank ours years ago). One thing that particularly sets it apart is the field-to-bottle philosophy, with more or less everything done on the same site on the North Yorkshire coast, from growing the barley to bottling the finished product.</p><p>We got straight into it with a chance to try their main expression, the Filey Bay Flagship. Matured in ex-bourbon casks, this is the entry point to the Spirit of Yorkshire range.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjlhi_HAJdGdx8udqMJNPyo4uZJPq2GfKFmN9pkJ50e_BztTMzhGV-bbvHzYhedM0oqhIkHjOaB0HF9V3lOmbgZ0z59WJFcV0RpVz8aGnyDsvGRWY85yr6EOjLbT6tslGhFTG_Defz3_wF53kVOXYdkCViEogCUbNaiubEOhgGQ-pPiQ8mS-Ykda67w/s4032/IMG_1921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjlhi_HAJdGdx8udqMJNPyo4uZJPq2GfKFmN9pkJ50e_BztTMzhGV-bbvHzYhedM0oqhIkHjOaB0HF9V3lOmbgZ0z59WJFcV0RpVz8aGnyDsvGRWY85yr6EOjLbT6tslGhFTG_Defz3_wF53kVOXYdkCViEogCUbNaiubEOhgGQ-pPiQ8mS-Ykda67w/w150-h200/IMG_1921.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moscatel finish</td></tr></tbody></table>A nice calibration dram to start the evening, we thought. Lovely and fruity, with a short finish. Not exactly the most challenging dram, but it's not really supposed to be. Accessible and tasty. It's 46% and you can get a bottle for £55.</p><p>We moved on to a Moscatel finish, part of the distillery's third batch of these bottles, mostly matured in ex-bourbon once again but then finished in casks which previously held Moscatel sherry from the south of Spain.</p><p>There was more going on all round with this one, while remaining an easy-to-drink dram. The finish was longer and very pleasant. Other tasting notes from members included "intense" and "chewy" and it was definitely also quite sweet. Again 46%, but this time a slightly higher price point of £60.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6W1pOfVGepoc9sCC-GLlZYGkUQZz2DP-j7rqAWXQgqA5xEwwP70k4obmKlF5NWPeOfApwtMIPYVYj9lCqPge7hVjPHppLlSiG4wz8VwyeizQzkhznUQSgNPw6ceE62p5E-DqKGxn7nky9TiUmizgvt_gtm0q0dB4uhUalsMMdVhvDdKMMJQZec3lPQ/s4032/IMG_1922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6W1pOfVGepoc9sCC-GLlZYGkUQZz2DP-j7rqAWXQgqA5xEwwP70k4obmKlF5NWPeOfApwtMIPYVYj9lCqPge7hVjPHppLlSiG4wz8VwyeizQzkhznUQSgNPw6ceE62p5E-DqKGxn7nky9TiUmizgvt_gtm0q0dB4uhUalsMMdVhvDdKMMJQZec3lPQ/w150-h200/IMG_1922.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">STR finish</td></tr></tbody></table>For dram three we had a bottle of STR - shaved, toasted and recharred - finish. Again the third batch of these from the distillery, the STR technique is a way of rejuvenating ex-red wine casks (in this case Rioja), pioneered by the late whisky guru Dr Jim Swan who advised Spirit of Yorkshire in its early days, among many others from the new breed of modern distilleries.</p><p>We got pepper and fruit on this one. It was creamy and smooth to taste, reminiscent of old style boiled sweets such as Werther's Originals. "You could easily get very drunk on this" someone suggested, although of course we could never condone that sort of behaviour. A bit chocolatey too. It's 46% and also costs £60, perhaps the high point of the opening trio.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucTfCyHGYfdWZjN7u6dtb1K5ChNuJqF-TlSd5M8gSD4wyZuimhy2Hr5r13wMIRXOThQzzIOdGFt6R-Q48TG709n89GqE1mGDfBrKKSe054UBmXSXHfCXSVURNvYwl6Srws1bRhgZGupY1w4Cr5YG09chYIeXlG06wdtJCCI0pC-RFdEw8QAUhjVMfcQ/s4032/IMG_1923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucTfCyHGYfdWZjN7u6dtb1K5ChNuJqF-TlSd5M8gSD4wyZuimhy2Hr5r13wMIRXOThQzzIOdGFt6R-Q48TG709n89GqE1mGDfBrKKSe054UBmXSXHfCXSVURNvYwl6Srws1bRhgZGupY1w4Cr5YG09chYIeXlG06wdtJCCI0pC-RFdEw8QAUhjVMfcQ/w150-h200/IMG_1923.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port finish</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After a half-time break for everyone to recharge their glasses downstairs at the Briton's Protection, we were all back for the second part of the tasting.</p><p>Our fourth whisky was a port finish, from the first batch of this expression produced by the distillery, using port casks to add a different twist to the standard ex-bourbon liquid.</p><p>Those Portuguese Ruby port casks really did the job. This was more complex than the previous drams, we thought, with a velvet, creamy sort of taste to it, along with the sort of red fruits and berries you'd expect from a port cask. Lots of the club members enjoyed this one the most of those so far. It's 46% again, and costs a touch more at £65.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oGBma93E0FTvSI4CURpwnuGy3us97OrrYczhvmLvvJwvH6XoE98U8vbOwHT20Dve2FY-0D2I-s5o9vkbfmUYgo0MiZvmDEeYFM3RVKBdXExWYJ9mp7TA8b8efVnmuuLaiUalXlKdN0Pg5-q-NlP2fPVdiYwIyjSKsuByd9X-coyUKjthM8ULZ0fHtw/s4032/IMG_1924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5oGBma93E0FTvSI4CURpwnuGy3us97OrrYczhvmLvvJwvH6XoE98U8vbOwHT20Dve2FY-0D2I-s5o9vkbfmUYgo0MiZvmDEeYFM3RVKBdXExWYJ9mp7TA8b8efVnmuuLaiUalXlKdN0Pg5-q-NlP2fPVdiYwIyjSKsuByd9X-coyUKjthM8ULZ0fHtw/w150-h200/IMG_1924.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Oak</td></tr></tbody></table>On to the Filey Bay Double Oak Batch 2 next, matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and virgin oak casks.</p><p>Or to put it another way, this was the "Flagship on steroids". Creamy again, but like cream soda this time. Big tasting, and it went down very well, no mean feat as it can be tricky to get it right when using virgin oak because it can give such a powerful and distinctive flavour. Again 46%, this is available for £75.</p><p>All too quickly it was the final dram of the evening. And we had something a bit special lined up, with the distillery's Yorkshire Day release from 2022. As ever, my notes are a bit vague by this stage of the evening, and so all I've really got about the content of the bottle is that it is a "vatting of different stuff". In reality, it's a vatting of whisky from ex-bourbon, ex-Moscatel and ex-Oloroso sherry casks.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WYy_Kfu_tB34rdyEKpb9CwKHx1mRW0i4mbrgY-x_yFuxYCTYEfUVUGvzlDwmuGlhXKhuEIEWN4fk6vazpThabaC0AAW7-4gitNbi97sPv-3z8lMdXowwitbUeh7KWmuCCw5RwDDwWkISewRL5ivhcdaO4IN-TJPLmKKilR3-OtouNgpsz4tJ6ls64w/s4032/IMG_1925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WYy_Kfu_tB34rdyEKpb9CwKHx1mRW0i4mbrgY-x_yFuxYCTYEfUVUGvzlDwmuGlhXKhuEIEWN4fk6vazpThabaC0AAW7-4gitNbi97sPv-3z8lMdXowwitbUeh7KWmuCCw5RwDDwWkISewRL5ivhcdaO4IN-TJPLmKKilR3-OtouNgpsz4tJ6ls64w/w150-h200/IMG_1925.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yorkshire Day 2022</td></tr></tbody></table>In terms of what we actually thought, I've written "this is the high point - superb stuff". And that's about it. I did bring a bottle home with me though, courtesy of the folks from <a href="https://astonsofmanchester.co.uk/" target="_blank">Aston's of Manchester</a> who were there as well. If you've never been, their shop in the Royal Exchange is a real trove of great whisky, and much else besides.</p><p>As for the Yorkshire Day 2022 release, it's no longer available from the Spirit of Yorkshire website, but you might be lucky and find one on an auction site somewhere. The distillery brings out a special release each Yorkshire Day though, so keep an eye out for this year's (it's August 1st by the way).</p><p>To the dram of the night voting then, and even though number six did indeed attract some support it was in fact dram four - the Port finish - which took the honours with 14 votes. The STR finish was second, with Yorkshire Day 2022 in third.</p><p>Thanks to all at Spirit of Yorkshire, Aston's and of course the Briton's Protection for all helping put on such a great evening with some top quality whisky - and thanks to all club members and their guests for attending another successful tasting.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GEsy2jp47HvXot6wvaNtPWmHSVjPefQJg66HmRchtMs86e5Mwyq7Th9sSiNnU8E8y_LH5qucwZgG7cspY3akmE0DOdDURS9AIxw5NcmYxN650Lng_NRY0Qqnbsz2fF3GDrxXa_VTog79F0aC6-Hk0EQ7nemdTYdotkcKFgzeNRzkon-tB5JgfVtt5g/s4032/IMG_1917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GEsy2jp47HvXot6wvaNtPWmHSVjPefQJg66HmRchtMs86e5Mwyq7Th9sSiNnU8E8y_LH5qucwZgG7cspY3akmE0DOdDURS9AIxw5NcmYxN650Lng_NRY0Qqnbsz2fF3GDrxXa_VTog79F0aC6-Hk0EQ7nemdTYdotkcKFgzeNRzkon-tB5JgfVtt5g/s320/IMG_1917.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line-up</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-58117278892456440842023-03-30T21:06:00.001+00:002023-04-10T16:48:40.977+00:00St Patrick's Day (ish)<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUl8ySc8HV2n5p4tw7rRZtkc_vMXwFPYdxlp67gAW-C8WRP__yNAgD867AnC6LBvyVm9rSsUkQJSw90M9Zcq2pGOPbbkq_YIi2mhBnSJCxrDwsCk3KWTYjCwzczcFDgX8XAS8nBzKUFXCydVV3vxCL3zHEv0dqj2tjXzHdtK_nzBp2w1wydmxoxRULmQ/s4032/IMG_1632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUl8ySc8HV2n5p4tw7rRZtkc_vMXwFPYdxlp67gAW-C8WRP__yNAgD867AnC6LBvyVm9rSsUkQJSw90M9Zcq2pGOPbbkq_YIi2mhBnSJCxrDwsCk3KWTYjCwzczcFDgX8XAS8nBzKUFXCydVV3vxCL3zHEv0dqj2tjXzHdtK_nzBp2w1wydmxoxRULmQ/s320/IMG_1632.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line up</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>Our March tasting, being sort of near enough St Patrick's Day, was an opportunity for club member James to take us through a selection of half a dozen Irish whiskeys, with the theme that these were all examples of drinks that were at least a little out of the ordinary for Ireland.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOGdoF5BrKqIHMT6MN2RLRQGCVAVFmqyKFa1A59mA7dT-PsrlvsfvYAZ9pOELi8HUxxtyPqxPi-hcdbGQ6iWm4etC2JYk4Ys10wbzB4_uG4S5JLLHPOMFyTCIoMhAuyIoLXJET1AbG5ebLWLPeoHrmXuVeBLi1RB6ojL24ZhDsg4bQ2Ecp-QThqBf6Q/s4032/IMG_1636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinOGdoF5BrKqIHMT6MN2RLRQGCVAVFmqyKFa1A59mA7dT-PsrlvsfvYAZ9pOELi8HUxxtyPqxPi-hcdbGQ6iWm4etC2JYk4Ys10wbzB4_uG4S5JLLHPOMFyTCIoMhAuyIoLXJET1AbG5ebLWLPeoHrmXuVeBLi1RB6ojL24ZhDsg4bQ2Ecp-QThqBf6Q/w150-h200/IMG_1636.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dingle Samhain</td></tr></tbody></table>And we opened with the limited edition Samhain expression from the Dingle distillery in County Kerry. Matured in bourbon casks, this was finished in ex-Moscatel, and that's what helped it along to some interesting flavours. At first we thought this a smooth, middle of the road, easy drinker, a nice calibration dram for the evening. But as we had another couple of sips, we got more of the vanilla, marmalade and generally orangey notes. There was a bit of spice around too on the finish.<p></p><p>A good way to start the evening, this is 50.5% and you can get a bottle for £84.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQd7QJMWxozspcRgkCvvwEOrPZGou4p-rBIowxMcM3JmlV5roKewD0EwEzIDqUvdMaYj35BwoGB-EFHL0PoaH0AwmAvx-Y2o7gldHOgAU0nU3E6Jsa0wMWJOftPr4HhM7nEX04uQ9zp1vViZF1SHIHA5C1UqPT7f3pGzthl6dXMOXzlikpn1JlCP6IAg/s4032/IMG_1637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQd7QJMWxozspcRgkCvvwEOrPZGou4p-rBIowxMcM3JmlV5roKewD0EwEzIDqUvdMaYj35BwoGB-EFHL0PoaH0AwmAvx-Y2o7gldHOgAU0nU3E6Jsa0wMWJOftPr4HhM7nEX04uQ9zp1vViZF1SHIHA5C1UqPT7f3pGzthl6dXMOXzlikpn1JlCP6IAg/w150-h200/IMG_1637.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Powers Irish Rye</td></tr></tbody></table>We moved on to the Midleton distillery for dram two, one of the giants of Irish whiskey best known as the home of Jameson's. The whiskey was Powers Irish Rye, calling on one of the older brand names from the history of Irish Distillers. It's a historic bottling, with a recipe drawn from records found in the company archives, and featuring 100% Irish rye.<p></p><p>Herbal was an early tasting note on this one, and spicy too, like medicine. There was also a sweetness about it as well. Parma Violets thought someone, although it reminded me more of dandelion and burdock. Peppermint was another shout. It's 43.2% but, perhaps most appealingly, comes in at just £33. This last revelation prompted a bit of a dash for people's phones, and a few more sales were duly clocked up.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoYE8bj_P6xWqZXKCYMGKyCCNusHFtNsWzr6Ejtf_4chAQmG5PZhlDiiOsL-n53FSA_LZmR-oR9CG0dXJ2Wf8gZUFOoZASC4hfaLwtOKCSx6oIgWgJrmzdmbxXPwzBQrkf9zXT4e1c4KVjVv9MNW3qMQ9iON7BqaxnKzNiTUQJ2rFy3CqCHrDDHcMhQ/s4032/IMG_1638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoYE8bj_P6xWqZXKCYMGKyCCNusHFtNsWzr6Ejtf_4chAQmG5PZhlDiiOsL-n53FSA_LZmR-oR9CG0dXJ2Wf8gZUFOoZASC4hfaLwtOKCSx6oIgWgJrmzdmbxXPwzBQrkf9zXT4e1c4KVjVv9MNW3qMQ9iON7BqaxnKzNiTUQJ2rFy3CqCHrDDHcMhQ/w150-h200/IMG_1638.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tide's In</td></tr></tbody></table>Next we were onto the first of two bottles from the Whiskey Factor, an independent bottler. We had in our hands a dram of Tide's In, a 13 year-old from An Fear Grinn. This was a single grain whiskey finished in Oloroso sherry. The first tasting note I have written down clearly fell victim to the autocorrect elves because it says it had a 'Spotify nose' but beyond that it was nice and punchy on the palate. Vanilla and chocolate were both to the fore.</p><p>It's 57.8% but didn't taste that strong, and the flavours were satisfying all round. Those who put a bit of water in said it didn't really need it. This was £77.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2CF-wt_8tLhet5VoTnIJ2WIVZmRM8JVtlnOj6IICHYlR5Sf1j0Foi3uep9J37Ru0zL3Hi66xwgtQwSKy-DdUv8e9-ANtRKyYEqNeqXF2aBR3JBsLtiWh8BHqL22mQWTwCTr_4rg_S84kN7uPGbQPyXKWBG41MYFFvMvnmQ4RHtunxu24N7UCmS7ZTg/s4032/IMG_1641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2CF-wt_8tLhet5VoTnIJ2WIVZmRM8JVtlnOj6IICHYlR5Sf1j0Foi3uep9J37Ru0zL3Hi66xwgtQwSKy-DdUv8e9-ANtRKyYEqNeqXF2aBR3JBsLtiWh8BHqL22mQWTwCTr_4rg_S84kN7uPGbQPyXKWBG41MYFFvMvnmQ4RHtunxu24N7UCmS7ZTg/w150-h200/IMG_1641.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gullion</td></tr></tbody></table>After a half-time break to recharge our beer glasses downstairs at the bar of the Britons Protection, we were back for another from the same Whisky Factor/An Fear Grinn source. This expression was called Gullion, a five year-old finished in a rye cask.<p></p><p>Fruity we thought straight away, with tasting notes including candy floss, aspartame and apples, along with some spicy notes and even a bit of Vimto (we are in Manchester, after all). "Very nice" was a simpler summary. The all-important numbers here: £66 and 46%.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUv5GMQy4FPg4qBBPkboSuTln40WcxQkMieX9jZevajNlhTMOYPdKdmB6YhSOLtjGm2RROlN1E5qiL5tCrBKuuDY595alrrUD3HEf6j3NblHgC2jsxJxnR1JNR18g4Lvnc4GxMLFxpQ7Rej-GQ2TT4cP_6DgXVOpVZjOCbYIr2xoUPKMsx91E-iNMnQ/s4032/IMG_1642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUv5GMQy4FPg4qBBPkboSuTln40WcxQkMieX9jZevajNlhTMOYPdKdmB6YhSOLtjGm2RROlN1E5qiL5tCrBKuuDY595alrrUD3HEf6j3NblHgC2jsxJxnR1JNR18g4Lvnc4GxMLFxpQ7Rej-GQ2TT4cP_6DgXVOpVZjOCbYIr2xoUPKMsx91E-iNMnQ/w150-h200/IMG_1642.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roe and Co single grain</td></tr></tbody></table>Dram number five took us to Dublin and Roe and Co, a Diageo-owned distillery created in 2019 with a close association with the nearby Guinness factory. Apparently their standard bottling is designed and marketed for mixing, but we had a bottle of a 13-year-old single grain to try.</p><p>There was not much on the nose but a very nice taste for sure. This had full maturation in a port cask, and at 58% it was strong (and tasted it). At £55, it was decent value as well.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGO8pEYQr2zw8iWlth1qPyughJyd77KbOm6pZ8sc8xhlXUZLE9s-ac1OTS-YbFw4G_mHp5gj8ZE_reod-faUmktATAQziW1VM5vAeNc0-CAythg5OD0Pcuqjaog-GjUG94ygf6ziuWNeIdLdI6eOf8VUTch1Gx6B09BomgeqFwGA5jk3ewlEoofmziQ/s4032/IMG_1643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGO8pEYQr2zw8iWlth1qPyughJyd77KbOm6pZ8sc8xhlXUZLE9s-ac1OTS-YbFw4G_mHp5gj8ZE_reod-faUmktATAQziW1VM5vAeNc0-CAythg5OD0Pcuqjaog-GjUG94ygf6ziuWNeIdLdI6eOf8VUTch1Gx6B09BomgeqFwGA5jk3ewlEoofmziQ/w150-h200/IMG_1643.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunville's 18yo</td></tr></tbody></table>Which brought us to the last dram of our Irish half dozen, and we went to Echlinville in County Down, the first new distillery built in the north since Bushmills. This was the whiskey we pushed the boat out a bit for. Produced under another old Irish whiskey brand name revived for the modern age, Dunville's. We had an 18-year-old, finished in a Palo Cortado sherry cask.</p><p>And this really was something. Almost like a rum with fruity notes, especially banana. "Totally tropical" like the soon-to-be-history Lilt (RIP). This was £160 for us, although there aren't many bottles around and none are at that price anymore. It's 55%.</p><p>Which brought us to the dram of the night voting, and whiskeys five and six had to settle for joint second, as the Whisky Factor Tide's Inn - whiskey three - took the victory with 11 votes.</p><p>Thank you to James for choosing the whiskeys and leading us through such a great tasting, to all at the Britons for hosting us once again, and of course to all club members and guests for joining us.</p><p><br /></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-11330715586812803402023-02-28T14:27:00.000+00:002023-04-05T20:53:23.003+00:00A Danish Whisky Tasting<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnU3s-YVVYoxOo3y1nyOOpd1t-iiEf4ZLBMvcXOaJtaEswx71rBHjMXqVf2JDj2vE1PwGu3GDDHZDKv2uV4yEg7EuGOMi3gnOMdWwvnnB17ae5FC9oFCezdORYTZUHxOmkcFz33znVUV09JeeJS_12Fi-_EqZwD4N4wtCRrZeWQusRnLykRXZzAYp7w/s3024/IMG_1402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnU3s-YVVYoxOo3y1nyOOpd1t-iiEf4ZLBMvcXOaJtaEswx71rBHjMXqVf2JDj2vE1PwGu3GDDHZDKv2uV4yEg7EuGOMi3gnOMdWwvnnB17ae5FC9oFCezdORYTZUHxOmkcFz33znVUV09JeeJS_12Fi-_EqZwD4N4wtCRrZeWQusRnLykRXZzAYp7w/s320/IMG_1402.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line up (bonus dram on the right)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />For February's tasting, we visited one of the newer whisky producing nations - Denmark. Club member Marc (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/drams_not_drama/?hl=en">you can find him on Instagram</a>) has family connections there, and took advantage of some recent visits to bring us some of the best of the growing Danish whisky scene.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ62yCFh7su8caAySiKiY8UGkJwyL5pZq1F65Zq0_YbhtIzQFQ2JQRDjuRXSl7g2qqMOXAg90tsOVq0C2hvFuD7V4wMorklFWdTQOpUHWwTctOufLKf0HFvF0kHoFmRXIGGtSa8uLMWqXV4y8-DddYHaS23-u_5yqXq2Rgce7QHWM08o-d3Q5Es9LYXQ/s4032/IMG_1404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ62yCFh7su8caAySiKiY8UGkJwyL5pZq1F65Zq0_YbhtIzQFQ2JQRDjuRXSl7g2qqMOXAg90tsOVq0C2hvFuD7V4wMorklFWdTQOpUHWwTctOufLKf0HFvF0kHoFmRXIGGtSa8uLMWqXV4y8-DddYHaS23-u_5yqXq2Rgce7QHWM08o-d3Q5Es9LYXQ/w150-h200/IMG_1404.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stauning El Clasico</td></tr></tbody></table>A lot of the bottles were 50cl so we had seven to work our way through rather than the usual six. But that wasn't the case for the opening dram, a full 70cl from the best known name in Danish distilling, Stauning.</p><p>El Clasico is a rye whisky aged in vermouth, aimed at creating a flavour a bit like a Manhattan cocktail. And it does this, more or less. Other tasting notes we picked out included custard tarts, with an overall bittersweet sense about it. Very distinctive and nice, it was £64 at an ABV of 45.7%.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7DiUP8P1wHrvTBMglK7or_2aQ66sho14HRvhvTwP2K_W-IL2XFhXuH9kVtMEV7_zyMEICmI0z3r6QSmRlswkHDvg0tRcPQHXD7s-GKHwXN9Y8sWRBEu6HA5fETKLg7uJ0ZyWdX4-tUWJKNyytMNAyxHUfTvhu7fjLmYDegiQVGYwefXfdokLfDKtRg/s4032/IMG_1405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7DiUP8P1wHrvTBMglK7or_2aQ66sho14HRvhvTwP2K_W-IL2XFhXuH9kVtMEV7_zyMEICmI0z3r6QSmRlswkHDvg0tRcPQHXD7s-GKHwXN9Y8sWRBEu6HA5fETKLg7uJ0ZyWdX4-tUWJKNyytMNAyxHUfTvhu7fjLmYDegiQVGYwefXfdokLfDKtRg/w150-h200/IMG_1405.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thy Spelt Rye</td></tr></tbody></table>Next we moved on to the Thy distillery, and a single distilled bottling called Spelt Rye, which featured 50% rye and 10% spelt flour along with the more regular 40% barley, all grown at their local farm.</p><p>Matured in virgin American white oak barrels, this had an interesting mixture of flavours. Bubblegum and a certain sweetness, mixed with a chemical sort of taste as well, "like thinners" as someone suggested. Liquorice was another shout. The official tasting notes suggested a lingering finish but we didn't get a clear sense of that, instead finding it a little on the short side. It's 47.9% but at £84 for 50cl, there would be better value bottlings on offer later in the evening.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjRigwlA_dPG-wsC3k-2wdNojsUDfo5wQCeBtWoWz8BeMTUS-Ynq4yJTQWlISwg5i-8t5QxVB_owpTq5yjusBXPGOcQNfL-BuIfB81tjS2Xn9WSWqTteN1XgPquO9zSK8TBV3yIfTv4b59MFQnMXoZms-cguSczRKzJ5KImrQcKMD3PBsPYx16V38tQ/s4032/IMG_1406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjRigwlA_dPG-wsC3k-2wdNojsUDfo5wQCeBtWoWz8BeMTUS-Ynq4yJTQWlISwg5i-8t5QxVB_owpTq5yjusBXPGOcQNfL-BuIfB81tjS2Xn9WSWqTteN1XgPquO9zSK8TBV3yIfTv4b59MFQnMXoZms-cguSczRKzJ5KImrQcKMD3PBsPYx16V38tQ/w150-h200/IMG_1406.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Braunstein 12.2</td></tr></tbody></table>On to dram number three and Braunstein, another family-run enterprise consisting of a micro brewery and distillery, along with a range of independent bottlings. We had the Library Collection 12.2 to try, a peated dram with a sherry finish (the picture of the empty bottle doesn't do justice to the dark colour of the actual liquid).</p><p>This packed a bit of a punch considering it was just 46%, with a real woody smoke. Water took some of the edge off, though. Generally we liked this one. £86, again for 50cl.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZOPyyXYLaRVgRoEDCQxAC9RhTYUDKct8w41pSuDCRD70kORWHoTQIcuopEqrV5CpXpS8nzr1uWOd1b5-6dfvmppBO3UtE9bnSIv7FOakOZ3ApXuVBk74QLo4GYMAKwDmaT8tKinBI_VYWNEgqm75vBLYBTfPWJ-vE_Z_bOnAdV1mNCESdhb0ryZ3-Q/s4032/IMG_1407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZOPyyXYLaRVgRoEDCQxAC9RhTYUDKct8w41pSuDCRD70kORWHoTQIcuopEqrV5CpXpS8nzr1uWOd1b5-6dfvmppBO3UtE9bnSIv7FOakOZ3ApXuVBk74QLo4GYMAKwDmaT8tKinBI_VYWNEgqm75vBLYBTfPWJ-vE_Z_bOnAdV1mNCESdhb0ryZ3-Q/w150-h200/IMG_1407.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mosgaard</td></tr></tbody></table>After a half-time break to recharge our beer glasses downstairs at the Britons Protection, we were back for a homeward run of four more Danish drams. Starting with Mosgaard, and their PX cask finish batch 8.</p><p>Aged in French oak and then the sherry, this smelt great. And it had lots of flavour on the palate too: some coffee, chocolate and apple, along with other citrus type notes. Fantastic, we thought. At £64 we agreed this was a "mad price for a three-year-old" but was undoubtedly amazing. It came in at 46.3%, and again it was just 50cl.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8aw5RbUWaRjilJSmvmaCMU2WWkgw2CWfSMwHgGe3Ngw6tA_8xQGCov-gz-nQEyjtoHmVUBbJYvV9rssUBz1qFZ26qZ3d1-jmRwutKphybiSpBhEJGDqSojN6m6vbyfd7XJUMOrMfgkWnJvSJWztAAhwkU78eiOdZiTv4RiMvHb3SKQq1Vu7FvqRiuQ/s4032/IMG_1408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8aw5RbUWaRjilJSmvmaCMU2WWkgw2CWfSMwHgGe3Ngw6tA_8xQGCov-gz-nQEyjtoHmVUBbJYvV9rssUBz1qFZ26qZ3d1-jmRwutKphybiSpBhEJGDqSojN6m6vbyfd7XJUMOrMfgkWnJvSJWztAAhwkU78eiOdZiTv4RiMvHb3SKQq1Vu7FvqRiuQ/w150-h200/IMG_1408.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isfjord</td></tr></tbody></table>Isfjord was next, a brand made at the Braunstein distillery from dram three, but using iced water from Greenland allowing it to call itself 'premium Arctic single malt'.<p></p><div>This again was from a sherry cask, and we got tasting notes including chocolate and raspberry. A honey-type sweetness along with creaminess, and raisins too. It's £73 (50cl) and 42%. Not bad but not the favourite for most from the night's line up.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGX-p0pjWK2w6OST1H7ciLSbM2CQ2LzZyN4eUKb7hFZWaQ__4FBHHpJeBlHwKMJtLfDke6ay_TL1V8srHhA5b86v2cbdtEttPcS9X_Xx2lBcLN6FLhe2gyffM1oTastue_Kw4dwu9o_S0V0jvm1uWQ2aWzwzJTS638Ytb1XSkHYbgXr_bLBZsG9w91g/s4032/IMG_1410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGX-p0pjWK2w6OST1H7ciLSbM2CQ2LzZyN4eUKb7hFZWaQ__4FBHHpJeBlHwKMJtLfDke6ay_TL1V8srHhA5b86v2cbdtEttPcS9X_Xx2lBcLN6FLhe2gyffM1oTastue_Kw4dwu9o_S0V0jvm1uWQ2aWzwzJTS638Ytb1XSkHYbgXr_bLBZsG9w91g/w150-h200/IMG_1410.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fary Lochan</td></tr></tbody></table>To Fary Lochan for whisky number six, a distillery that certainly sounds as if it ought to be in Scotland somewhere. We had a 6 year-old Moscatel finish to try, an expression called Batch 5.</div><div><br /></div><div>There wasn't loads on the nose but a truly great taste. Juicy, fresh, with a definite flavour of green apples. Water brought this out even more: Granny Smiths all round. Arguably it didn't even taste all that much like whisky, and we spent some time discussing whether that really mattered. Certainly well worth trying, although at £120 it wouldn't exactly make an everyday drinker. It's 62% (although it seems to have sold out).</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAo6N-Lpmva4ckmIOD2GcdZxkHG78dZn3DmXb4TWe4EUdjZ9Ut7hu7Rhiqs3DZFvO71L0MVy_-eoEcJFXCxhyWLcdbtOhnrTv8ShELJDhfjJiNjexI1-t7NOKiC3Gy47Yem6WfQMvjTYGEeJSdIzrz0A2vbp2D84Ww3zXaPcHiqT-XWxY05KFUU6n9fw/s4032/IMG_1411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAo6N-Lpmva4ckmIOD2GcdZxkHG78dZn3DmXb4TWe4EUdjZ9Ut7hu7Rhiqs3DZFvO71L0MVy_-eoEcJFXCxhyWLcdbtOhnrTv8ShELJDhfjJiNjexI1-t7NOKiC3Gy47Yem6WfQMvjTYGEeJSdIzrz0A2vbp2D84Ww3zXaPcHiqT-XWxY05KFUU6n9fw/w150-h200/IMG_1411.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BBR Stauning</td></tr></tbody></table>For the final dram it was back to Stauning and a full 70cl bottle, this time courtesy of legendary indie Berry Bros. and Rudd. This was a 5 year-old, distilled back in 2017 and bottled last year, again with a Moscatel finish.</div><div><br /></div><div>And it was great! Lucky number seven indeed. This was "awesome" all round from nose to palate, where the only tasting note I was able to write down was "thick jam". It's safe to say we all liked this one. We got it for £125 and it was 58.9%.</div><div><br /></div><div>That brought us to the dram of the night voting, which produced a victory for the last whisky of the evening, the Berry Bros. Stauning. Tied for second were the Fary Lochan and the Mosgaard.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to all club members and guests for coming along, and to all at the Britons for hosting us - and especially to Marc for putting together such an excellent and well-curated showcase of Danish drams. Skol!</div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-14645147829331236442023-01-26T23:00:00.140+00:002023-01-29T12:38:33.423+00:00Manchester Whisky Club's 10th Anniversary!<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5STyuxSDfWq54pnXpXbr9K6NjFiRnJEhLYJfCC3wUdeaspUQTte1EpcypldoPaeDLXbvl_Xel8qbxm6K6iwfFIB8QPlq9yPA91h-OMNk9zn_ooOZvPRigzIVC-0X1wTs5RNeTjWiJpYTHD76JHrsg-oCm4fmtAEyjtn9QUN3HTLS--FPjwWVUVKveyA/s3024/IMG_1188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5STyuxSDfWq54pnXpXbr9K6NjFiRnJEhLYJfCC3wUdeaspUQTte1EpcypldoPaeDLXbvl_Xel8qbxm6K6iwfFIB8QPlq9yPA91h-OMNk9zn_ooOZvPRigzIVC-0X1wTs5RNeTjWiJpYTHD76JHrsg-oCm4fmtAEyjtn9QUN3HTLS--FPjwWVUVKveyA/w320-h320/IMG_1188.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tenth anniversary line up</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Has it really been ten years? Yes, yes it has. A full decade on from the beginnings of Manchester Whisky Club, on Twitter and then at the Lass O'Gowrie, we were packed in at the Britons Protection the day after Burns Night, to mark our biggest anniversary yet.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltchcAIz2gIO_sO-2U-g-Ko8CRWKWWUVNuQiPL9tAjedJv1Vc-oA1YbpjgmHSBqZ-WwUGQj7zPczQvwSOVKa-wwb3FtWbbGswzp7M8IjPD8k_mXyNKa0gFRymyPOq7cgBizoM9XBT8js5Fn_yOaFHj4CZfBfPoqwJXoRrtVyaU1LeYOfTwR68UrdK5Q/s4032/IMG_1190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltchcAIz2gIO_sO-2U-g-Ko8CRWKWWUVNuQiPL9tAjedJv1Vc-oA1YbpjgmHSBqZ-WwUGQj7zPczQvwSOVKa-wwb3FtWbbGswzp7M8IjPD8k_mXyNKa0gFRymyPOq7cgBizoM9XBT8js5Fn_yOaFHj4CZfBfPoqwJXoRrtVyaU1LeYOfTwR68UrdK5Q/w150-h200/IMG_1190.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">29yo Glaswegian</td></tr></tbody></table>Chairman Adam has picked out some special cask strength goodies to mark the occasion. And we started off with a whisky almost three times as old as the club, a 29-year-old Glaswegian from the Whisky Works brand. An indie-style offshoot of a famous old name in whisky, Whyte and Mackay, this was the first time we'd had anything of theirs at the club.</p><p>The liquid came from the now-closed Port Dundas grain whisky distillery. It was very pale, but went down well straight away. "Gorgeous" offered someone. It was very biscuity, and the mouthfeel improved a bit with a drop of water. A bit sweet, a bit of caramel. A good start all round. It's 54.2% and it's available at £128.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfq0AJV_bW-S0-LZFBGeRieXvLuhpfJxr7L1rcLPwMEuAEPiF4RbuAb-gTJl1asSH7cJOlz0wsnQPpdGja0wB0Ew3XLBeqLZUDUkEMFWwo_ao0Tr7Lt0qQ2x8DMCYxypU61V_0n9VaEtKQ6Z4_NEX0_c6ZUhCPCd9Gv0LpEhSgjucc2XT3yiIAsOJLGA/s4032/IMG_1193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfq0AJV_bW-S0-LZFBGeRieXvLuhpfJxr7L1rcLPwMEuAEPiF4RbuAb-gTJl1asSH7cJOlz0wsnQPpdGja0wB0Ew3XLBeqLZUDUkEMFWwo_ao0Tr7Lt0qQ2x8DMCYxypU61V_0n9VaEtKQ6Z4_NEX0_c6ZUhCPCd9Gv0LpEhSgjucc2XT3yiIAsOJLGA/w150-h200/IMG_1193.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WotW Mackmyra</td></tr></tbody></table>Next we went to Sweden and one of the club's favourite distilleries, Mackmyra. Unusually though, rather than a distillery bottling it was an independent offering from French outfit Swell de Spirits as part of its Wonders of the World range. A 2013 bottled last year, this was aged in virgin American oak throughout.</p><p>This was great on the nose in particular. A real sweet shop vibe about it. Syrup as well, and biscuits again too. A further tasting note was a carton of apple juice! Quite spirity as befits the 53.4% ABV, this was another that got plenty of positive comments. It's available for £95 (although it's a 50cl, rather than 70cl bottle).</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29xsx-sk_X1e2WyoTF68V602UkrK88rxhlHUY1NPzDugkZPFJV0CYGTUBZ0mEM-XI-N95LQO1e8Vg5MsZTJRhSU8ut9FlBdMraEPT0Y8JsvJ38Ms-OiPcACcayI41dV9YK4-OAHwQOIatnODIf4rnSMCtK4avOhGdRGAJnQRA5Qn8hK6AmP2woTASKw/s4032/IMG_1196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29xsx-sk_X1e2WyoTF68V602UkrK88rxhlHUY1NPzDugkZPFJV0CYGTUBZ0mEM-XI-N95LQO1e8Vg5MsZTJRhSU8ut9FlBdMraEPT0Y8JsvJ38Ms-OiPcACcayI41dV9YK4-OAHwQOIatnODIf4rnSMCtK4avOhGdRGAJnQRA5Qn8hK6AmP2woTASKw/w150-h200/IMG_1196.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GlenDronach 26yo</td></tr></tbody></table>We concluded the first half of the tasting with something the club really pushed the boat out for: a bottle of 26-year-old GlenDronach that came in at no less than £245 (although if you can find a bottle now, it would be an awful lot more than that). GlenDronach is always associated with sherry and this was a real sherry monster, having spent its full maturation in a Pedro Ximenez puncheon.</p><p>Big and sweet, this one came on as strong as you might expect for a 54.9% dram, with some big flavours on the nose and then the palate - intense fruits, raisins, syrup and much more along those lines. One or two in the club thought it faded a little in terms of an aftertaste, although not everyone went along with that, although given the high proportion of sherried Speyside fans in the membership it's perhaps not surprising this went down well.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv2kP_PXCXuLtn3r5haNam0Y3icX_KO5FCni_C_WCVplPW0xXP-XXmTmqzkXzeYLsitjykGHQG8mZ-ej5VOBAWTE8aRmO1lyDZZezil_yyl2ttgF6cczgu7W0Kf8kcsYUK1XSTX9k10XmLhGUT73yQSv-x7J0zCstxGU4vx462aXJRh3FUjKVOsf6qw/s4032/IMG_1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGv2kP_PXCXuLtn3r5haNam0Y3icX_KO5FCni_C_WCVplPW0xXP-XXmTmqzkXzeYLsitjykGHQG8mZ-ej5VOBAWTE8aRmO1lyDZZezil_yyl2ttgF6cczgu7W0Kf8kcsYUK1XSTX9k10XmLhGUT73yQSv-x7J0zCstxGU4vx462aXJRh3FUjKVOsf6qw/w150-h200/IMG_1200.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M&H 3yo</td></tr></tbody></table>After a half-time opportunity to recharge our beer glasses at the bar of the Britons - which has been our home for most of the past decade following initial spells in the old snug at the Lass and then upstairs at the Castle (each of which we quickly outgrew) - it was back for another trio.</p><p>Another feature of our tastings over the years has been trying a whole range of international whiskies, including from all sorts of new and up and coming distilleries. To check off that particular tradition, Adam selected a bottle from Israel's Milk and Honey. It was a 3-year-old which had spent its full maturation in a cask which previously held port-style fortified wine from Galilee, although there's no word on whether this had previously been water.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0aO5ZWq5RdKn9GhOh4WPtjh4jew-ssazMIFvhequSPXznZyGJIMUPhGU-aHdgMD_gkGbO5FCl2bVC0v-g4LM239RLc5TsP83l9iAWApVy0fkVQitjk8PLML8u9U4Z3srDqFSnXRpLSzF7NNAqy_Levbkbf4VFLi99rdM6rJmaM1SxUCDr764tIuVAA/s4032/IMG_1202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0aO5ZWq5RdKn9GhOh4WPtjh4jew-ssazMIFvhequSPXznZyGJIMUPhGU-aHdgMD_gkGbO5FCl2bVC0v-g4LM239RLc5TsP83l9iAWApVy0fkVQitjk8PLML8u9U4Z3srDqFSnXRpLSzF7NNAqy_Levbkbf4VFLi99rdM6rJmaM1SxUCDr764tIuVAA/w150-h200/IMG_1202.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talisker 8yo</td></tr></tbody></table>I immediately got cigarette ends, although nobody else really did so this might say more about whatever beer I had drinking than anything else. Even allowing for the faster maturation possible in the Israeli climate, this tasted much older than three years. It was too strong for some at 66.5%, and gave some a bit of a harsh, heartburny type taste. But with water this mellowed a bit, and gave way to some lovely fruity notes, along with a bit of barbecue. It's £85.</p><p>A bit more smoke for dram number five, in the shape of Skye's Talisker and an eight-year-old, from Diageo's 2021 special release series. This was matured in some heavily peated refill casks, adding a real edge to the already coastal character of the liquid.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPufexTC99hxQPxQ4-TDMVgLsNW3Xvfx0mkNDnYij-upHR0D1LeGNhWAlRgbf4qQrKyGKEs7eHnjYBEQGi5oJLvCPwKnaRU7F-YrqvbgKHjVXNqPdoekx6jfJDd-9H9t1g-BjWXlozog4CoxVbrct-tLwVgKeflFFCw8P0Yp_06e-GuVq4GWEQQcGeA/s4032/IMG_1204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPufexTC99hxQPxQ4-TDMVgLsNW3Xvfx0mkNDnYij-upHR0D1LeGNhWAlRgbf4qQrKyGKEs7eHnjYBEQGi5oJLvCPwKnaRU7F-YrqvbgKHjVXNqPdoekx6jfJDd-9H9t1g-BjWXlozog4CoxVbrct-tLwVgKeflFFCw8P0Yp_06e-GuVq4GWEQQcGeA/w150-h200/IMG_1204.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruadh Maor 10yo</td></tr></tbody></table>And it was very peaty. In fact, we felt this tasted a bit like another great dram we've had over recent years, Bruichladdich's Port Charlotte. This was just as drinkable, and at £82 we felt this was decent value as well. It's 59.7%.</p><p>Adam rounded off the half dozen with another indie, a Lady of the Glen bottling of Ruadh Mhor, the name used by Glenturret for its peated expressions. This was a 10-year-old, finished in a first fill ex-Amarone wine barrique for the last two of those years.</p><p>Smoky and salty, this got Frazzles on a very distinctive nose (although as I often say when Frazzles comes up a tasting note - when was the last time anyone actually ate Frazzles?). If anything the nose overshadowed the actual taste of the stuff, although perhaps our palates were a touch worn out after an evening of very big flavours of which this was last but certainly not least. It was 61.8% and cost £86.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaKBGAFH2BWD4rzb25imhzDHSkxH4fEldg6leX5OFyP2KuXUs57EyB35B1AqdvWsBltP7DFzysTJf2r9irOrDubR1fka0n3IX32EV1p2830PFDoBIditWsKxymhiHwFp1xtmJ_TmLKcBWZHFLouiEJRoRQlWAF5mzQ3hiPLrgpoFq-IenhkeVEAtdgw/s4032/IMG_1210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaKBGAFH2BWD4rzb25imhzDHSkxH4fEldg6leX5OFyP2KuXUs57EyB35B1AqdvWsBltP7DFzysTJf2r9irOrDubR1fka0n3IX32EV1p2830PFDoBIditWsKxymhiHwFp1xtmJ_TmLKcBWZHFLouiEJRoRQlWAF5mzQ3hiPLrgpoFq-IenhkeVEAtdgw/w150-h200/IMG_1210.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JD Manchester cask</td></tr></tbody></table>This brought us to the dram of the night voting. As is only sometimes the case, each of the six whiskies attracted at least one vote - always the sign of a well-chosen selection. But it was the Mackmyra that came out narrowly on top, with 13 votes ahead of the 11 which went to the GlenDronach in second, while five peat monsters backed the smoky Talisker.</p><p>There was still time for one more whisky, though, courtesy of our generous hosts at the Britons.</p><p>The pub has a long association with Jack Daniel's and boasts the best range of JD in the UK and probably Europe. This extends to a series of special expressions created just for the Britons, and we had in our hands a bottle of cask number five. I didn't actually take any detailed tasting notes down for it (it was that time of the evening), but it was a great dram - a lovely way to finish another successful evening.</p><p>Thanks to all club members for attending and continuing to show such support to us, and once again to the Britons for hosting us so brilliantly. I think we can all drink to the next ten years.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-9207340884833042972022-12-16T22:22:00.011+00:002022-12-29T14:27:33.008+00:00Christmas Party 2022<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbaVC354p4tSO4MYxNlo8qbZirWrkgOCQ0jiHc7ymIt7E8sq25K1QfeFBcpUHwDWMq0eSkW7XRG_5e2XzcpcJ4nOyeLv5tqVqgvW8-MAQ-Xr0HgbIVhfMB6GmmkZK5V9R-g0u2ffdr8kJhmW2TVID0DC5YOl-weBSAtUYpC3Ph6dOha09bfOArhtudQ/s4032/IMG_0598.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbaVC354p4tSO4MYxNlo8qbZirWrkgOCQ0jiHc7ymIt7E8sq25K1QfeFBcpUHwDWMq0eSkW7XRG_5e2XzcpcJ4nOyeLv5tqVqgvW8-MAQ-Xr0HgbIVhfMB6GmmkZK5V9R-g0u2ffdr8kJhmW2TVID0DC5YOl-weBSAtUYpC3Ph6dOha09bfOArhtudQ/s320/IMG_0598.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whisky table</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>We gathered upstairs once again at the Britons' Protection for the Manchester Whisky Club Christmas party. It's the annual event where we bring back the bits and bobs of whisky we didn't finish at the tastings through the year, and members bring a few snacks and homebakes to help us through the evening.</p><p>Thanks again to everyone who attended a tasting throughout the year, and to all at the Britons for helping to take care of us. We've also been enjoying our latest club bottling (below), an excellent 14 year-old Caol Ila.</p><p>We'll be back with more in the new year, as the club marks its tenth anniversary. Merry Christmas!<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXMvN52CBlHcXIN8ZgY9Y1EFZIJgwYlR0ZkmIZ4DKgq4J1iSWvVB3ne8bsU8WeHnMHU0wP6txFAPl8hkHkyySYI9vmAmG7hHXeR7R5PFHStFbjsKJl2uwbblxhYD5RTQWZWkRNAdJQKiNlRylNvgJF8DfzLEknDNTX4X1M_sCzKZTtoH4HTIzObXm7A/s4032/IMG_0772.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXMvN52CBlHcXIN8ZgY9Y1EFZIJgwYlR0ZkmIZ4DKgq4J1iSWvVB3ne8bsU8WeHnMHU0wP6txFAPl8hkHkyySYI9vmAmG7hHXeR7R5PFHStFbjsKJl2uwbblxhYD5RTQWZWkRNAdJQKiNlRylNvgJF8DfzLEknDNTX4X1M_sCzKZTtoH4HTIzObXm7A/s320/IMG_0772.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our latest club bottling</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-3682786296647116972022-11-24T22:30:00.012+00:002022-12-29T14:28:01.245+00:00Cask Strength Islay<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQr-ouYJdB8lQhrLS_fQj9_2vFm6ztHqf8wY7SnnNySg7jA_m4n7Ok3OCJMTgs28LQS0-yZOzzhUBZcA9NdBVJRRb3BjnmFMDqEbRmJJlsR4benEH8DA_FaSwpj7NlBX4CI3pq3oWk_kwPxmAZ_VCyEVdH_bVJBR29WwPjT2C4F0B4atfu_AymhOwqyg/s4032/IMG_0393.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQr-ouYJdB8lQhrLS_fQj9_2vFm6ztHqf8wY7SnnNySg7jA_m4n7Ok3OCJMTgs28LQS0-yZOzzhUBZcA9NdBVJRRb3BjnmFMDqEbRmJJlsR4benEH8DA_FaSwpj7NlBX4CI3pq3oWk_kwPxmAZ_VCyEVdH_bVJBR29WwPjT2C4F0B4atfu_AymhOwqyg/s320/IMG_0393.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line up</td></tr></tbody></table><br />For November's tasting we visited one of the club's favourite destinations - Islay - for an evening of cask strength drams from the home of peated whisky.<p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZDyv44v4k0CPk3tj5iWFavaVFvJSxFViQl6280biNRlAZBKo_G-PlrC7N4NRMvGSaWLcFEREzKSw7rnxu8pZKVacNnFGAXDMjpM9TyXDR7dsnxlaoXaUep42oxGUllIJev2cuKcP5nd5J44mIOb0uDJcgnlKS3O7iXUyRc3UoN4aFNyfOwZh4cWFbw/s4032/IMG_0396.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZDyv44v4k0CPk3tj5iWFavaVFvJSxFViQl6280biNRlAZBKo_G-PlrC7N4NRMvGSaWLcFEREzKSw7rnxu8pZKVacNnFGAXDMjpM9TyXDR7dsnxlaoXaUep42oxGUllIJev2cuKcP5nd5J44mIOb0uDJcgnlKS3O7iXUyRc3UoN4aFNyfOwZh4cWFbw/w150-h200/IMG_0396.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Untold Richest</td></tr></tbody></table>With Martin guiding us through the list, we began slightly counter-intuitively, with something unpeated. It was old, 28 years-old in fact, and was a Wemyss Malts Bunnahabhain called Untold Riches. The liquid comes from no fewer than 31 casks, mostly bourbon-aged but with some sherry cask as well.<p></p><p>We wouldn't have pegged this one as an Islay, if we hadn't known. It was chocolatey and spicy with distinctive notes of cereal and oats. Quite spirity too, still quite a lot of life in it despite the age and the 49.1% ABV. Certainly a great way to start the evening. We got our bottle when it was released for the RRP of £150, but these days you'd be lucky to find one at auction for anything less than £325.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3jcwzDjbbcJKxZkDlZkswojqKkyY67QyQ_XcevTdycFJdp9xtwcj0Ur6ELH9wZpQ6451EUZefT2SiqjisL_B8qQsiIflnrNxmhrcnVMaT5fzma5V2aqQFMlBLkG4QCa48MpJDW3EZxdV5sNrf-DGSE2QtfVO-l5nmIQ64PzNm-WOPGmuxDc8Vkaz0A/s4032/IMG_0398.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3jcwzDjbbcJKxZkDlZkswojqKkyY67QyQ_XcevTdycFJdp9xtwcj0Ur6ELH9wZpQ6451EUZefT2SiqjisL_B8qQsiIflnrNxmhrcnVMaT5fzma5V2aqQFMlBLkG4QCa48MpJDW3EZxdV5sNrf-DGSE2QtfVO-l5nmIQ64PzNm-WOPGmuxDc8Vkaz0A/w150-h200/IMG_0398.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bowmore 15yo</td></tr></tbody></table>Bowmore was next, another of Islay's great distilleries. We had a Feis Ile bottling, released for the annual Islay festival. This put us immediately in mind of <a href="https://manchesterwhiskyclub.blogspot.com/2021/11/islay-festival-special.html">last November's tasting</a> when we had a whole series of festival drams.<p></p><p>The Bowmore was a 15yo released for the 2022 festival, costing £110. And it was clear from the first taste this was something extra special. Bourbon, chocolate and coffee were all over this. Really fruity, with an extra hit of coffee beans again at the end. Lovely all round. It was 54.7%.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOnijK4YUWRcdu_4469bT8QS6MSUjvCpLjbZfz_xlpsWr4hP80o0FB3vMP0lA6ucMyR9VFRAudQvQd_nQJwt86N1d7khuyfOUuDWwQD4ActK9yxuiwlsr1Fm7EfwqJU0dlq3CzAyqC71J2lnp8QRS0mdScpfCS-JzN0yxngLV06bbKEtQmriE8zM3ZA/s4032/IMG_0400.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOnijK4YUWRcdu_4469bT8QS6MSUjvCpLjbZfz_xlpsWr4hP80o0FB3vMP0lA6ucMyR9VFRAudQvQd_nQJwt86N1d7khuyfOUuDWwQD4ActK9yxuiwlsr1Fm7EfwqJU0dlq3CzAyqC71J2lnp8QRS0mdScpfCS-JzN0yxngLV06bbKEtQmriE8zM3ZA/w150-h200/IMG_0400.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spiritfilled Port Charlotte</td></tr></tbody></table>October's tasting from <a href="https://manchesterwhiskyclub.blogspot.com/2022/10/mythical-beasts-from-spiritfilled.html">Spiritfilled</a> was one bottle short due to the vagaries of the postal service, but the bottle did eventually turn up and slotted into this tasting as whisky number three. <p></p><p>This was a forthcoming Port Charlotte, a bourbon cask 13 year-old clocking in at 58%. At the time of our tasting, this had a total availability of one! But this will be changing soon as it gets a broader release. This was certainly a very punchy dram, and went down particularly well with those who enjoy the big Islay peat monsters (this is a not insignificant proportion of club members!). It's £145 for pre-order.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhCZKMkCLmfaPdQh_hBoAtQCWu0zDbxVczaUwSpQIimxlR0JVoRw8OiLzu1nznOwx0NGLFMmlQqEUODdm4CdTttu4HmLxnOM2FGQ1rfMXDl1WIwFxl5on6ZKW2VelBFKAi1vJoXNhWqJNcotG9Ja-j8h4RYzN2gg3QsA3fT1ctzCuvCoFUiTjDLNQYg/s4032/IMG_0404.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhCZKMkCLmfaPdQh_hBoAtQCWu0zDbxVczaUwSpQIimxlR0JVoRw8OiLzu1nznOwx0NGLFMmlQqEUODdm4CdTttu4HmLxnOM2FGQ1rfMXDl1WIwFxl5on6ZKW2VelBFKAi1vJoXNhWqJNcotG9Ja-j8h4RYzN2gg3QsA3fT1ctzCuvCoFUiTjDLNQYg/w150-h200/IMG_0404.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caol Ila 9yo</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After a half-time break, giving everyone the chance to recharge their beer glasses downstairs at the Britons' Protection bar, we were back for the second trio of whiskies.<p></p><p>Next up was a bottling created for the Southport Whisky Club, a 9 year-old Caol Ila. A sherried Caol Ila is a relative rarity which is what caught Martin's eye when he picked it up for us for £75 (there was a discount involved here, we think the bottle itself is probably no longer available).</p><p>This had a high ABV of 57.9% but was nevertheless very smooth. In fact it was "surprisingly chill" as someone put it. Very peaty as well, of course, with some ripe bananas at the end. This got the nod as being a "quintessential Islay", a classical sort of dram and a great example of the combination of sherry and peat.</p><p></p><table align="center" 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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDierfBRtjwoDQT0EnxMgW2hI2CaHBmZEgQZLo9EPokHb9gAmPNw_v1G4t2rn-L1ElYmRmBbDmNmp4_5dDsWPxdgvICBmQXPc-tsNht9eQmovunSBUhR8q6KZhD_4_cJTWpWmq6saEOa3I-B_UVLfeqwdj87oNUp-hQQEqzFOBQbRzNUb9xxPkZa6hA/s4032/IMG_0406.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDierfBRtjwoDQT0EnxMgW2hI2CaHBmZEgQZLo9EPokHb9gAmPNw_v1G4t2rn-L1ElYmRmBbDmNmp4_5dDsWPxdgvICBmQXPc-tsNht9eQmovunSBUhR8q6KZhD_4_cJTWpWmq6saEOa3I-B_UVLfeqwdj87oNUp-hQQEqzFOBQbRzNUb9xxPkZa6hA/w150-h200/IMG_0406.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lagavulin</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Lagavulin was dram number five. On this occasion, a no age statement bottling from 2018, consisting of a vatting of two types of cask, a heavily charred refill bourbon and an American oak.<p></p><p>This didn't feel like a Lagavulin to us, although "it is Laggy adjacent" as someone suggested. A really good dram, with more of a subtle sweetness than you'd expect from the distillery. A little bit muted even, but not in a bad way at all. There was something creamy about it too. It was £100 and came in at 53.5%</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4jHwQYNXTkCR9Pk1ThTqvxNjB1y0613tcCUyZmNEaA6k6kv9GSQ6E0ty9cnzpp3QbOur93rio6f9noLgn5lID5vJJCmppGMo9QvuadDpMjpxoeUmYdeWMZyRKeTuec__0tIlOzYHAQn92pOgJN0jVc_1-0H4QcBcUTeh8x2RKYR2J4wG-0pufLP2Fg/s4032/IMG_0408.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4jHwQYNXTkCR9Pk1ThTqvxNjB1y0613tcCUyZmNEaA6k6kv9GSQ6E0ty9cnzpp3QbOur93rio6f9noLgn5lID5vJJCmppGMo9QvuadDpMjpxoeUmYdeWMZyRKeTuec__0tIlOzYHAQn92pOgJN0jVc_1-0H4QcBcUTeh8x2RKYR2J4wG-0pufLP2Fg/w150-h200/IMG_0408.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kilchoman</td></tr></tbody></table>The final dram of the night involved a visit to Islay's farm distillery, Kilchoman, and a bottle created especially for Robertson's of Pitlochry, a notable independent whisky retailer. This was a single cask whisky, aged in a refilled bourbon barrel from Woodford Reserve, then finished for a year in a French oak tequila barrel. It was £90 and 54%.<p></p><p>This was lovely on the nose, and in fact some thought the palate didn't quite live up to the promise. Sweet and fruity, there were mixed views on whether the tequila really added anything much to the mix here. American cream soda was another tasting note.</p><p>That brought us to the dram of the night voting, and the Bowmore ran out a clear winner with 15 votes, ahead of the Spiritfilled Port Charlotte in second place.</p><p>Thanks to Martin for selecting and presenting such a great range of Islay whiskies, to all at the Britons for hosting us again, and to club members old and new for joining us to take part.</p><p><br /></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-3789007910177396392022-10-27T22:00:00.001+00:002022-10-30T12:01:00.114+00:00Mythical Beasts From Spiritfilled<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITxWUREB6KwKSECpAZ5vJym6AsM76vrtfVa53xvMw-xOisZtv0BfZuceE1QV21YwBhatj_K8rwRNMc-dQ_Hc_NmGy1qWgpb8eNhIH-pnE66d7-znHhrFR-phnya4pBW16b0AKW6HeVmBLcO9lPBx_r1WqVF6wplNwZHcuR_WIZfY2rrD8LNOASHDH_w/s4032/IMG_0187.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITxWUREB6KwKSECpAZ5vJym6AsM76vrtfVa53xvMw-xOisZtv0BfZuceE1QV21YwBhatj_K8rwRNMc-dQ_Hc_NmGy1qWgpb8eNhIH-pnE66d7-znHhrFR-phnya4pBW16b0AKW6HeVmBLcO9lPBx_r1WqVF6wplNwZHcuR_WIZfY2rrD8LNOASHDH_w/s320/IMG_0187.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The evening's line up</td></tr></tbody></table><br />For October's meeting of the Manchester Whisky Club, we were treated to our first brand tasting since the pandemic. Ross and Russell from cask broker and independent bottler Spiritfilled were on hand to share their story so far, and to allow us to try some of the expressions they've released under their Mythical Beasts label.<p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iArFO8xs5HYcIVPseS22WAtcHBXI0cCPD3K8Ll8pvZFrGp4yuxyBEbEnKTah_kLk3jkcZH1xkpIr1zltzNOERyEFni5sXmBui_yOkw4iKNF8kEDdzLfdhC7RIa-ye2syEhTmJoskNW8O9csxsgSG65l0FKbIE2P49BDwFfx7QFTS-5WZhiYO9pG7nA/s4032/IMG_0183.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iArFO8xs5HYcIVPseS22WAtcHBXI0cCPD3K8Ll8pvZFrGp4yuxyBEbEnKTah_kLk3jkcZH1xkpIr1zltzNOERyEFni5sXmBui_yOkw4iKNF8kEDdzLfdhC7RIa-ye2syEhTmJoskNW8O9csxsgSG65l0FKbIE2P49BDwFfx7QFTS-5WZhiYO9pG7nA/w150-h200/IMG_0183.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ardlair 11yo</td></tr></tbody></table>We had four to try (the fifth, a forthcoming Port Charlotte, was delayed in the post, but we're looking forward to having it next month instead). <p></p><p>The opening dram was an <a href="https://www.spiritfilled.co.uk/products/mythical-beasts-ardlair-11-year-old-whisky">Ardlair</a>. Not a name that is seen all that often - it is in fact an unpeated Ardmore, a Highland distillery best known as the key component of the Teacher's blend. An 11-year-old, this was finished for the last 18 months in a PX sherry cask.</p><p>And at 53.5% it was certainly a bit fiery. "Don't be afraid to add water" was some early advice. We got green apples on the nose, then pears and toffee apples when it was tasted, so a good dram for the time of year. The finish was quite long as well, and citrussy. Very flavourful all round, you certainly know you've tasted it. It was dry too, almost like a dry white wine as someone suggested. It's £68. Not bad value for a whisky with plenty going on.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpS8LMdj4tA20o6PGU_NABb3rU473jIVyu3j0LaOb2mx8PemRyjdt9-gyAIzInHQi041xI76igX70rqGtjS60uc-BOM5zddXkIK3znLWftItk9AwDfeBLoO1T-_MhTmCwUC_zmKoIYAxsVevRVJFMkqCPeLIg-T84aKYRDO8jtlBN1P1_grEsYmUhisA/s4032/IMG_0185.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpS8LMdj4tA20o6PGU_NABb3rU473jIVyu3j0LaOb2mx8PemRyjdt9-gyAIzInHQi041xI76igX70rqGtjS60uc-BOM5zddXkIK3znLWftItk9AwDfeBLoO1T-_MhTmCwUC_zmKoIYAxsVevRVJFMkqCPeLIg-T84aKYRDO8jtlBN1P1_grEsYmUhisA/w150-h200/IMG_0185.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glenrothes 15yo</td></tr></tbody></table>More sherry next, in the shape of a <a href="https://www.spiritfilled.co.uk/products/mythical-beasts-glenrothes-15-year-old-whisky">Glenrothes</a>. This spent the full 15 years in a first fill sherry butt. A Speyside, Glenrothes also has a long association with a particular blend, in this cask Cutty Sark.<p></p><p>Ross and Russell said this tasted so big out of the cask, they had to "bring it down a bit" to 55% before bottling. This had chewy sweets (like Fruit Salad) and ginger biscuits on the nose, and a bit of vanilla too. On taking a sip, this was thick and unctuous, with dates and fruitcake. Very Christmassy. Some water brought out some orangey notes as well. It's £120.</p><p>After a short break to recharge our glasses downstairs at the Britons Protection, we were back for dram three and the most expensive bottle - at time of purchasing - we've ever had, in almost ten years of the club.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Azpbo687LB_OgkP2h9b5nYCaP-yN1sCfPJL4KtWy_mFz0kfz38lf0N40GJcFflMKfDnHzlVE7R4cqlGsI9jxCjQ1WM_JKAFermMXj-d2Pqu2eG3TM25z1XJVIOcUXF7djLABjmJXooHL94VX1IZdxltYozVCcCvaQN1gF_fgWQkrj4kqyA0qn_YuJQ/s4032/IMG_0188.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Azpbo687LB_OgkP2h9b5nYCaP-yN1sCfPJL4KtWy_mFz0kfz38lf0N40GJcFflMKfDnHzlVE7R4cqlGsI9jxCjQ1WM_JKAFermMXj-d2Pqu2eG3TM25z1XJVIOcUXF7djLABjmJXooHL94VX1IZdxltYozVCcCvaQN1gF_fgWQkrj4kqyA0qn_YuJQ/w150-h200/IMG_0188.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fettercairn 32yo</td></tr></tbody></table>It was a 32-year-old <a href="https://www.spiritfilled.co.uk/products/mythical-beasts-fettercairn-32-year-old-whisky">Fettercairn</a>, bottled from a cask which had been held by a Birmingham woman all that time. It went into an ex-Bourbon hogshead in July 1989, when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, the Berlin Wall was still standing, and Soul II Soul were at number 1. Just 98 bottles exist and we had two of them in the room, and at £425 a pop that's some seriously valuable liquid.<p></p><p>The distillery itself is officially considered a Highland, although in reality the village from which it takes its name is just a short distance from the North Sea.</p><p>On the nose we got some rich, dried, fruit, like raisins and apricots. It was sweet to taste, and there was a very pleasant maltiness about it. This was very special to try and we liked it a lot although, sad to say, it was more than a little out of reach in terms of price. It's 48.6%.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ybp2iXG_OYQLOQbRjD6Co_n1XmyMn3694ZXRtCHpWl05ApjMyl8p0nBuXynLJiSRC6PbPDmSI-PB723oIfl7vBlQJyULJccqD27SGyalMWykR34Ulx5nHxZspHYNAsa8FrHnp3Fa4wFeNcru-Qfeei2OWpO70jlEwN7b1phsvuIzDVLfTwQVq7J9cg/s4032/IMG_0190.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ybp2iXG_OYQLOQbRjD6Co_n1XmyMn3694ZXRtCHpWl05ApjMyl8p0nBuXynLJiSRC6PbPDmSI-PB723oIfl7vBlQJyULJccqD27SGyalMWykR34Ulx5nHxZspHYNAsa8FrHnp3Fa4wFeNcru-Qfeei2OWpO70jlEwN7b1phsvuIzDVLfTwQVq7J9cg/w150-h200/IMG_0190.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kilchoman 15yo</td></tr></tbody></table>That brought us to the last dram of the evening and a visit to the Islay distillery of Kilchoman. A small, independent, farm-style distillery, Kilchoman is a real favourite of club members.<div><br /></div><div>This particular <a href="https://www.spiritfilled.co.uk/products/kilchoman-15-year-old-private-cask-release">Mythical Beasts expression</a> was a 15-year-old private cask release, which spent its entire maturation in a bourbon cask. A little bit of pepper and spice on the nose, and then when tasted a lovely, subtle peated flavour with some vanilla too. I thought this was particularly outstanding (although as we'll see, the membership as a whole had a different favourite). Although at £190 again it's one to push the boat out for. The ABV is 55.5%.</div><div><br /></div><div>So that brought us to the dram of the night voting, and all four whiskies gained some support from the members in the room. The Kilchoman, in fourth place, still had six votes. But the winner was that sherry bomb Glenrothes, with ten.</div><div><br /></div><div>Special thanks to Ross and Russell for bringing us such a special selection of whiskies and telling us all about a business that is already going from strength to strength (having been founded in - of all times to do it - March 2020). Thanks also to club members old and new for joining us, and the Britons for hosting us once again.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-76912710585093511752022-09-29T22:00:00.112+00:002022-10-30T12:39:16.744+00:00Bourbon Special<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxc87ui1B8hJnIBo3DXoIx1prvuVzEyEeUVI7osCrWJ9PoedvuB0xxMWc45n11Kjq8sfq5fzirj_REgAhpQbEueHpoce31aO1MYjzB0aR7xPog2hfCiwPumcS33fgdOnhPB_pQa6l5mKqbkGH0MR9RI-jQqjbGapnhJKLqCf9lwapuA0mut2gNz-6rw/s4032/IMG_9541.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxc87ui1B8hJnIBo3DXoIx1prvuVzEyEeUVI7osCrWJ9PoedvuB0xxMWc45n11Kjq8sfq5fzirj_REgAhpQbEueHpoce31aO1MYjzB0aR7xPog2hfCiwPumcS33fgdOnhPB_pQa6l5mKqbkGH0MR9RI-jQqjbGapnhJKLqCf9lwapuA0mut2gNz-6rw/s320/IMG_9541.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line-up</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Our September tasting had us take a trip over the Atlantic for half a dozen top class bourbons.<p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGGZKCym-uff4AmlLQBknyFX7L0zsDgmLEezFDMtRDtIinVt_GautxxjXpWEpeUgs-1jcLdOsCUeme6Ww2OqtF7JfPWlaz_7pEwbse6C_tWriC1QygWvHv4UiGHhE9LrtxL0iMH8_OuDXqN0_xvUP-C_CLahB9c_WClXVHZ7Gb7lOKCkEspk6zAoYcw/s4032/IMG_9542.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGGZKCym-uff4AmlLQBknyFX7L0zsDgmLEezFDMtRDtIinVt_GautxxjXpWEpeUgs-1jcLdOsCUeme6Ww2OqtF7JfPWlaz_7pEwbse6C_tWriC1QygWvHv4UiGHhE9LrtxL0iMH8_OuDXqN0_xvUP-C_CLahB9c_WClXVHZ7Gb7lOKCkEspk6zAoYcw/w150-h200/IMG_9542.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Forester</td></tr></tbody></table>And where better to start than Kentucky, the state probably most associated with the golden liquid. We kicked off with Old Forester, as an example of the sort of entry level bourbon that's widely available and won't break the bank. Part of the Brown-Forman group, the Old Forester brand is therefore loosely speaking a sister of Jack Daniel's.<p></p><p>We thought this was a good drop, pleasant and excellent value. It's 43% and £25, although you can sometimes pick it up for less if there's a deal on in your local supermarket. Nothing here to go too deep on but there's a nice aftertaste. Gentle with a bit of spice.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_zmeP8Us0gZZ5PH35svcTlHxlOUjlE2VF7go3hRQONYSC-dZMw0c8To8yA2PqjSF-uxe66-2JibwybuI91ckvD8nihHsBcIozFwPE9DYpF53BBYyXErpLuo1xDdBJS-ntIgjjbLXqOC4Rxp1V6HoedcNOkD-q-qhAMRtYXnT1tVR45XqVzcYZ6wmvw/s4032/IMG_9543.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_zmeP8Us0gZZ5PH35svcTlHxlOUjlE2VF7go3hRQONYSC-dZMw0c8To8yA2PqjSF-uxe66-2JibwybuI91ckvD8nihHsBcIozFwPE9DYpF53BBYyXErpLuo1xDdBJS-ntIgjjbLXqOC4Rxp1V6HoedcNOkD-q-qhAMRtYXnT1tVR45XqVzcYZ6wmvw/w150-h200/IMG_9543.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1792 Single Barrel</td></tr></tbody></table>Moving onto the second whiskey and we stayed in Kentucky for a single barrel 1792, a brand referencing the year it formally became a state. It's owned by the spirits group Sazerac.<p></p><p>The bourbon itself was sweet, and the flavour really hangs around with this. Sugar puffs thought someone (other 1980s breakfast cereals are available), and it's certainly distinctive while also packing a bit of a sweet punch. Approachable at the same time. Among those less keen, one more negative tasting note was that it was a bit on the "grassy" side.</p><p>It's 49.3% and will set you back a shade under £60.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLwclOCAeG6g5BAWeWPQ9-NrKUAVIyZ2hUg9H7iNNLz7073R1N2X-6P64E66qXw5_OPqlr4eHzEwgPAzwcCRM9lrc0a5_DYbBhAiMMeA0AzZc_mtVtYPiYaAVpkIEcSA1-zrTHs2dR7lZaf_gHzu9T2U0YlSr1Qu0oxitiXDoYcxAJy3hVT4zXQAmfg/s4032/IMG_9544.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLwclOCAeG6g5BAWeWPQ9-NrKUAVIyZ2hUg9H7iNNLz7073R1N2X-6P64E66qXw5_OPqlr4eHzEwgPAzwcCRM9lrc0a5_DYbBhAiMMeA0AzZc_mtVtYPiYaAVpkIEcSA1-zrTHs2dR7lZaf_gHzu9T2U0YlSr1Qu0oxitiXDoYcxAJy3hVT4zXQAmfg/w150-h200/IMG_9544.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four Roses</td></tr></tbody></table>Four Roses, next, and their Small Batch Select. This is a whiskey made from a combination of six of the ten recipes used by the distillery, and then matured for six years. The distillery itself is another Kentucky one, although these days it has Japanese owners in the form of Kirin.<p></p><p>Spice and fruit were the key tasting notes here. Fruitcake and grapes were other shouts. Someone also suggested liqourice allsorts (although the ones which aren't entirely liqourice, you know the ones). As someone said "I forgot to add water because I was enjoying it so much." Although praise wasn't completely universal, and others felt there was a bit too much going on, and all those different recipes didn't quite marry together as they might have done.</p><p>It's 52% and is £57 - as is typical for bourbons, though, it's a 75cl bottle rather than 70, so offers very slightly better value than it might first appear.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8cS5zzpJPkgTZNJIquLC814YbVQ1TQ27KRYUFXNT01AhKmZEwoxk3KbFtLp8CZYqcg4lTRIdYmGpuwuHAQGffllzw0bREpX6JayqXokiv_2NXbb3DcliuLdf534olHuzOuDmmd3C7VAF_plAQfiMw8n1CdYc-B7Zi8VcQ2mzJohnWr2bY6ITKwwWUg/s4032/IMG_9549.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8cS5zzpJPkgTZNJIquLC814YbVQ1TQ27KRYUFXNT01AhKmZEwoxk3KbFtLp8CZYqcg4lTRIdYmGpuwuHAQGffllzw0bREpX6JayqXokiv_2NXbb3DcliuLdf534olHuzOuDmmd3C7VAF_plAQfiMw8n1CdYc-B7Zi8VcQ2mzJohnWr2bY6ITKwwWUg/w150-h200/IMG_9549.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Penelope Barrel Strength</td></tr></tbody></table>There was a half-time break as ever, allowing us to get another pint from the bar of the Britons Protection, before resuming for bourbon number four.<p></p><p>You might say we went from a pitstop to a Penelope, as in our glasses was the Penelope Barrel Strength. A brand named for the co-founder's new daughter, this was billed as a "high-octane whiskey experience" and for once the marketing bumph had some truth in it. "It costs 72 pounds but tastes more like 72 percent" as someone suggested.</p><p>Very whole and well-rounded, salty, and nice despite the big ABV (which in reality is 57.9%). Those who tried it with a bit of water said that opened the flavour out and took away the big kick, although I have to admit I'd finished my glass by then.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9d9Og70QD-AH2iLjfsvQB_xkzbxE0d-7wxdIsoCElLwHEf21uu8_vcNvKdih5S2uX5JXbSJdXfk_veU0prKrtB8jc-5IOwRoEPuYZXsN-YF-dab5lZ-7I2e_ArzqqegTM_zpprcu46OPdmQf1cxwslUjb8fslkcB_gPMTiNsmwCzMfmCmdiRclT4ZDQ/s4032/IMG_9550.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9d9Og70QD-AH2iLjfsvQB_xkzbxE0d-7wxdIsoCElLwHEf21uu8_vcNvKdih5S2uX5JXbSJdXfk_veU0prKrtB8jc-5IOwRoEPuYZXsN-YF-dab5lZ-7I2e_ArzqqegTM_zpprcu46OPdmQf1cxwslUjb8fslkcB_gPMTiNsmwCzMfmCmdiRclT4ZDQ/w150-h200/IMG_9550.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cadenheads</td></tr></tbody></table>Cadenheads is the oldest independent bottler around, and we've had many great expressions from there down the years, drawn from all kinds of distilleries. Tonight's choice was an 18-year-old Tennessee, certainly taken from George Dickel, the Diageo-owned distillery, which uses the Scottish spelling of 'whisky' (the label is a bit of a giveaway here).<p></p><p>At £125 we thought this was actually outstanding value for what we got, because it really was something extra special. Smooth and a bit buttery, the way to sum it up is the phrase "like a<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-size: 16px;">crème brûlée </span></span>in a glass" which was so uncanny that we all more or less agreed with it. Spectacularly good. It's 46%.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7V2qPdTsuLxuggnW2MC-J9BEE85TLmJVGEYSGsLgGNpXr04Ju0k-aXOS_WkmHBf-e_IgPueR9NVfUA0jAiqNyrFCIY7sPDfuIef42SY4k7Ji7oSZRKGsPF5p_tAWBZ-6T4-C3367HJtmV1bC7ADtrYXm-Zf242mcCmlen9D5gNaW_sWudeLj9yUE9A/s4032/IMG_9553.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7V2qPdTsuLxuggnW2MC-J9BEE85TLmJVGEYSGsLgGNpXr04Ju0k-aXOS_WkmHBf-e_IgPueR9NVfUA0jAiqNyrFCIY7sPDfuIef42SY4k7Ji7oSZRKGsPF5p_tAWBZ-6T4-C3367HJtmV1bC7ADtrYXm-Zf242mcCmlen9D5gNaW_sWudeLj9yUE9A/w150-h200/IMG_9553.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elijah Craig</td></tr></tbody></table>And that brought us to the final dram of the evening, a cask strength monster from Elijah Craig, a bourbon again produced in Kentucky at the Heaven Hill distillery and named for a preacher considered one of the fathers of whiskey in the area.<p></p><p>This 65.7% Barrel Proof expression was from September 2018, and very powerful it was. Quite a lot to handle after the smooth subtlety of the previous dram, this was big and heavy and needed a bit of water. "What if bourbon, but too much?". It cost £100-ish.</p><p>For the dram of the night voting, despite the fine array of bourbons on show, it was a clear win for the Cadenheads George Dickel with 12 votes. A worthy winner!</p><p>Thanks to all club members old and new for another great evening, and to the Britons Protection for again playing hosts.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_WvRW99Rx1v-UY2oBIRNPJonzrCx2xd3jPSnCRq6uo1qQrYl4ORqQdC6q232C0q5UQ7c5Oq14Hr5K760Sz7WCbC0noFfI3V9D09njPD9euHPYmXM3n0h5DsmE-lQz-G0tElhg156ZE2wYVIKw8qCJFveLSWGmpCS_1loz-iOXZklw1DDKPDrRcV96A/s4032/IMG_9552.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_WvRW99Rx1v-UY2oBIRNPJonzrCx2xd3jPSnCRq6uo1qQrYl4ORqQdC6q232C0q5UQ7c5Oq14Hr5K760Sz7WCbC0noFfI3V9D09njPD9euHPYmXM3n0h5DsmE-lQz-G0tElhg156ZE2wYVIKw8qCJFveLSWGmpCS_1loz-iOXZklw1DDKPDrRcV96A/s320/IMG_9552.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An action shot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-27147234558473321622022-08-25T21:30:00.109+00:002022-09-24T13:18:34.724+00:00Rage Against The Maltchine 2<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjElNoXGHB1Rru8QP1Jt5erMnFf9aH5AGMdnqz1x19FO6YbktW-7Rg_SPZvGGDwYeIctX50N-snK9lVZBI60qdPnNVwHXM_sWQuCn6qklDkuvQSfKrmAR_oYWuBusJtnT1CWrA1Py-KME_UFxWWXtXyS6G8fWs3_JayPJlH3rGVC3JgxhjYjL7Y8yuHg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjjElNoXGHB1Rru8QP1Jt5erMnFf9aH5AGMdnqz1x19FO6YbktW-7Rg_SPZvGGDwYeIctX50N-snK9lVZBI60qdPnNVwHXM_sWQuCn6qklDkuvQSfKrmAR_oYWuBusJtnT1CWrA1Py-KME_UFxWWXtXyS6G8fWs3_JayPJlH3rGVC3JgxhjYjL7Y8yuHg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line up</td></tr></tbody></table><br />For our August tasting we returned to a theme <a href="http://manchesterwhiskyclub.blogspot.com/2021/07/rage-against-maltchine.html">we explored last year</a>: Rage Against The Maltchine.</p><p></p><table align="center" 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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXYWYmuFTwRQ8Bd85qhgh-xdftUlVlKMIaTgv77G_LwAFb9U3buz7RIsNH4Bb0LB0P_nSRTz5_VRQCrg_jUDG2AFP4t4gbnaK5HTFoMtrj-OC9TppddCmpO9KJM6sgFgO95FLggvrFav0jOwE3SPbp1H2Mb9vRQniu6J-oT18HNjIX_4B-gCUT_ac5oA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXYWYmuFTwRQ8Bd85qhgh-xdftUlVlKMIaTgv77G_LwAFb9U3buz7RIsNH4Bb0LB0P_nSRTz5_VRQCrg_jUDG2AFP4t4gbnaK5HTFoMtrj-OC9TppddCmpO9KJM6sgFgO95FLggvrFav0jOwE3SPbp1H2Mb9vRQniu6J-oT18HNjIX_4B-gCUT_ac5oA=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singleton of Dufftown</td></tr></tbody></table>Club chairman Adam took us through three distilleries owned by spirits giant Diageo, and three expressions from the same distilleries released by independent bottlers.<div><br /></div><div>First up was Dufftown, a Speyside chosen by Diageo back in 2006 to be marketed under the 'mega brand' Singleton. The opener of the duo - we were tasting each pair blind - turned out to be the official bottling, the Singleton of Dufftown. Easy to drink we thought, but at the same time a bit forgettable.</div><div><br /></div><div>If anything, not really worth the £60 price tag, even for an 18-year-old. It's 40%.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHGP2dbxNygHH0b_Qp88ICRX-Ng-Qw1E3ingy5fY1t1JzHmshFm0uIgaM9-LQr4XbU7-2Kh4kZESKa5EKv9UH_1SwC41N1t8uOcWGv4Fny92gZ6NuE_VusBN4rdRyqUpTRxTUA1bEWPDt0mcDNBqN5tfBSV8P7JhINEFbBG17Fd7OCEBUNa09fjHhMA/s2016/IMG_9109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHGP2dbxNygHH0b_Qp88ICRX-Ng-Qw1E3ingy5fY1t1JzHmshFm0uIgaM9-LQr4XbU7-2Kh4kZESKa5EKv9UH_1SwC41N1t8uOcWGv4Fny92gZ6NuE_VusBN4rdRyqUpTRxTUA1bEWPDt0mcDNBqN5tfBSV8P7JhINEFbBG17Fd7OCEBUNa09fjHhMA/w150-h200/IMG_9109.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cadenhead's</td></tr></tbody></table>The other Dufftown had had was from (extremely) long-standing indie Cadenhead's, a firm favourite at the club. It tasted a lot stronger than the first whisky, and it took a bit of water which helped ease off any rough edges.</div><div><br /></div><div>Perhaps surprisingly it was only 51% - some in the club had it pegged a bit higher than that. It's 51% and when we picked it up we paid £57 for it.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfjBpnuQAob6jbCjqFBbv9qD1Sa7hwKsUvvrloOfXIl5ndYkNrUiZcrqqYxSLMNCDuiBVX22jDTfbchFNALywL3wRqK_YMZ8EVfeuNjXF1Gj_B2DIv-Y0qWrLNJjinOEjv6XLl3oyDiklsRF3Oom-88TyQG3tqj9-1E8cShstlX0ag-07yzGhw4KXBQ/s2016/IMG_9110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfjBpnuQAob6jbCjqFBbv9qD1Sa7hwKsUvvrloOfXIl5ndYkNrUiZcrqqYxSLMNCDuiBVX22jDTfbchFNALywL3wRqK_YMZ8EVfeuNjXF1Gj_B2DIv-Y0qWrLNJjinOEjv6XLl3oyDiklsRF3Oom-88TyQG3tqj9-1E8cShstlX0ag-07yzGhw4KXBQ/w150-h200/IMG_9110.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mey Selections Glen Ord</td></tr></tbody></table>The second distillery of the evening and second pairing of drams took us to another of the 'Singleton' distilleries, Glen Ord, situated in the Highlands on the Black Isle.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whisky number three would turn out to be the indie this time around, a 12-year-old from Mey Selections, a brand name used for a wide range of products from salmon to gin. Launched by the-then Prince Charles in 2005, the whole enterprise is managed by Loch Fyne Oysters.</div><div><br /></div><div>But how's the whisky? Not bad, ok on the nose certainly, but if anything a little blander on the palate than we'd expected. A bit metallic, was one tasting note. The 12-year-old was 51% and came in at £118, again not one we're likely to be investing in.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWqhO-K2pQ3rOrHw7rfvv6ZMRrVDg1Uj3qt1zNTs-BKhsqwZ1fv1T8xE-LrzmDckbUD6eU3uXIjFwF13VgIu0rlKIPdaJzwZd3LZ3gKHdK9zrEDrmYg_BrRpwipokey8uHMjjWw9CD-rxKlVi2eSrbgnK2iMU13ffR-9XeEPpcpOksBHOBuS0mvGj0w/s2016/IMG_9111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWqhO-K2pQ3rOrHw7rfvv6ZMRrVDg1Uj3qt1zNTs-BKhsqwZ1fv1T8xE-LrzmDckbUD6eU3uXIjFwF13VgIu0rlKIPdaJzwZd3LZ3gKHdK9zrEDrmYg_BrRpwipokey8uHMjjWw9CD-rxKlVi2eSrbgnK2iMU13ffR-9XeEPpcpOksBHOBuS0mvGj0w/w150-h200/IMG_9111.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singleton of Glen Ord</td></tr></tbody></table>For once, the Maltchine had it, in the form of Diageo's Singleton of Glen Ord 18-year-old. More punchy all around, and we felt this had the edge on the Mey Selections. Having said that, it wasn't exactly cheap either at £130. It's 55%.</div><div><br /></div><div>With Rage and the Maltchine level at one each, we went to the third distillery to act as the decider for the evening. And it was Blair Athol, a Perthshire distillery known for being a major part of the ubiquitous Bell's blend.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3SsZs6KMZRqMsIDFvoc3WxyemT4TywV0MWZurWkFM0N-TP4CEwc7Jn84cCYYOsvS_hsBTlXsNjd7ags55Jklz6UxDMYMFg1vgvZ7trliqVwy0cgTZmyNOwHOlvQ9ESITVfURqcESbkZ1aRwb7Rnw-UPhboS6XBNz9YutAMyEKvOgB4HsG1qb3qch8g/s2016/IMG_9115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3SsZs6KMZRqMsIDFvoc3WxyemT4TywV0MWZurWkFM0N-TP4CEwc7Jn84cCYYOsvS_hsBTlXsNjd7ags55Jklz6UxDMYMFg1vgvZ7trliqVwy0cgTZmyNOwHOlvQ9ESITVfURqcESbkZ1aRwb7Rnw-UPhboS6XBNz9YutAMyEKvOgB4HsG1qb3qch8g/w150-h200/IMG_9115.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blair Athol F&F</td></tr></tbody></table>The fifth dram was the distillery bottling, a Blair Athol 12-year-old Flora and Fauna. A great drink, this got the thumbs up all round, even more so when it was revealed as costing a very reasonable £46. From a first fill sherry cask it was a very chunky dram, especially considering it was only 43%.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAE8amiDA4cYa2_Jgjy5suKZlY1PJfw_v_51qIfz8i0gh4K34iyY3lBh_IbQBRJjFeJadUQIeYQTbXjgwFNUNFTlnnj0cpEuRmYlpsv56lZmIJjxuh2rEWJky51OmLY5viqS47A_mXLDGvPIsc9U1wke-yeyaPwmu4iK4HLXTAvvF4BA_yRIvSe2lh0Q/s2016/IMG_9116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAE8amiDA4cYa2_Jgjy5suKZlY1PJfw_v_51qIfz8i0gh4K34iyY3lBh_IbQBRJjFeJadUQIeYQTbXjgwFNUNFTlnnj0cpEuRmYlpsv56lZmIJjxuh2rEWJky51OmLY5viqS47A_mXLDGvPIsc9U1wke-yeyaPwmu4iK4HLXTAvvF4BA_yRIvSe2lh0Q/w150-h200/IMG_9116.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 23-year-old</td></tr></tbody></table>The last whisky of the evening, being tasted alongside, was another cracker. The indie in the spotlight this time was another long-time club favourite, Whiskybroker. This was a 23-year-old coming at 57.7% and, as ever for Whiskybroker, was reasonably priced at £87. Between both the distillery bottling and that last one, Blair Athol earned a few more fans.</div><div><br /></div><div>This led us to the dram of the night voting. And although the Whiskybroker Blair Athol did well with ten votes (all drams got at least one - this doesn't always happen! - a sign of a strong line up), it was just one behind the Cadenhead's which took the honours.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to all club members old and new for attending another great tasting at the Briton's Protection, and of course to all at the Briton's for hosting us once again.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p><br /><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-92101010919038559042022-07-28T09:47:00.000+00:002022-07-30T09:47:41.110+00:00Manchester Whisky Club Commonwealth Games<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CWG2HTabumXd284n5FpZnom9ES3BYyKE0SqgJIIJHEQNyEYTDiJmqmJnsuyTDnk0ehiZ7-wFGpZmRsIusYZSOjAKU8qFM-8q4y08jdwD5PYC58Ge09L8N_3Bwa1Zy5EaMKN-5NeST6qzuHOBBMyMsl5kieJfn6h535FIzJ8oNarjIMpFinO7diHFeg/s4032/IMG_8173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CWG2HTabumXd284n5FpZnom9ES3BYyKE0SqgJIIJHEQNyEYTDiJmqmJnsuyTDnk0ehiZ7-wFGpZmRsIusYZSOjAKU8qFM-8q4y08jdwD5PYC58Ge09L8N_3Bwa1Zy5EaMKN-5NeST6qzuHOBBMyMsl5kieJfn6h535FIzJ8oNarjIMpFinO7diHFeg/s320/IMG_8173.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line-up<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>On the night of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham, the club met for a much more thirsty kind of contest, as we tried a range of six whiskies plus two wildcard drinks to see which nation would take home the gold medal (I should say I was hosting the tasting and didn't take any photos as we were going along, so the one at the top is all you're getting this month!).</p><p>We started off in Canada for an early double header. In one hand the Glen Breton Ice 10yo, the world's first regularly available whisky to be finished in casks which previously held ice wine. And in the other, some Canadian icewine itself - not from the same vineyard in Nova Scotia used by Glen Breton - but some Lakeview Cellars wine from Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario.</p><p>The nose of the Glen Breton is interesting, some thought a bit weird and off-putting, and certainly distinctive. Official tasting notes suggest sticky toffee pudding and ginger biscuits and there was a bit of that around for sure. The icewine, made using frozen grapes for a more concentrated, sweeter, but small volume drink, was really very sweet indeed for the club members' palates, although those with a sweet tooth enjoyed it. A bit citrussy and syrupy, some got a bit of elderflower or even honey, almost like mead. The Glen Breton is £48 and 40%, and the Lakeview Cellars icewine is available from Aldi at £14 for a 37.5cl bottle.</p><p>Next, South Africa and a bottling from Africa's only commercial whisky distillery, James Sedgwick. Bain's and Three Ships are the brands it's known for, but we had in our hands a 10yo version of the standard Bain's single grain, finished in a Shiraz cask for the last five years of its maturation and then bottled at cask strength - on this occasion a whopping 63.5%. This went down very well, it certainly tasted strong although it was perhaps surprisingly drinkable as well given the strength. Lots of toffee again, with vanilla, spice and red fruits. It's £50.</p><p>Having been to a couple of corners of the earth, it was much closer to home for the fourth drink, and third whisky. Wire Works Whisky is the brand name for the White Peak distillery, based in an old wire and cable factory on the River Derwent. We had one of their early expressions a couple of years back, before it was whisky, and thought there was already something interesting developing, so I thought it would be a good idea to revisit it, in the form of their latest Small Batch release, number 3. A lightly-peated single malt from a small batch vatting of American and French oak casks, aged mostly in STR with some ex-bourbon, the distillery says it's a nice complement to their spirit which they describe as 'fruit forward'. On the nose, butterscotch and vanilla slice, and to be honest more vanilla all the way through. Again, not bad, but still bottled too young really, albeit out of necessity as the distillery starts to pay its way. It's £60 and 46.2%.</p><p>After a half-time break, the night's curveball. I wanted to find a rum to represent the Caribbean islands of the Commonwealth, and especially one finished in a Scottish whisky cask. There were no obviously candidates, so I broke my own rule and went outside the Commonwealth to the Dominican Republic for the Opthimus 15yo Malt Whisky Aged Cask, which uses ex-Tomatin casks in the maturation. Aiming for a whisky-ish rum that would please a whisky crowd, this did a pretty good job, and if you were blind tasting it could certainly pass for a very sweet whisky. A smooth sipper, lots of brown sugar and banana around here. £53 and 43%.</p><p>Back to the whisky for the sixth drink of the evening, and the fruits of a recent visit to the new Penderyn distillery in Llandudno. I did the whole fill-your-own-bottle thing in the distillery shop, and came back clutching a bottle of ex-Bourbon cask liquid from 2016. Green apples and pears on the nose, more citrussy and spicy on the palate. Despite Penderyn's general popularity with the club, some slightly mixed views on this one, and again a general feeling it was perhaps a bit young and not quite worth the money - I paid £101 although that included an extra sample and a glass as well, so the bottle itself would be more like £90. It was 59.7% although again, it didn't really taste like it.</p><p>Next to India for two names quite familiar to us. One being Paul John, the distillery. The other, Cadenheads, the bottler which produced the particular expression in hand. This 9yo spent five years in India - although the faster maturation in the warmer climate means that's much more like 15 - and then the last four years in Scotland. So in a way, it was more equivalent to a 19-year-old. Aged in a Bourbon hogshead cask, we got redcurrants and ginger, citrus and dates. Very nice indeed, in fact. £85 and 53.3%.</p><p>We finished the night on the other side of the world, Australia, for the Unexpeated bottle from Melbourne's Starward. It uses lots of locally-sourced ingredients, including casks from local vineyards. But on this occasion, also made use of some ex-Islay single malt casks, presumably from Diageo stablemates Caol Ila or Lagavulin, to aim for a drink balancing its natural juicy fruit flavours with a big dash of smoke. The verdict was that this worked pretty successfully on the nose and finish, but the two flavours perhaps clashed a bit on the palate and were fighting against each other. Certainly drinkable again though, with lots of red berries and a lingering peaty finish. It's £80 and 48%.</p><p>The dram of the night voting was the closest ever! The rum came fourth, just one vote behind the joint silver medallists from India and Australia, a further single vote behind the gold medallist from South Africa. So well done to Bain's! And thanks to all who attended another sold out tasting, and to everyone at the Britons Protection for hosting us once again.</p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-48336254297242386672022-06-30T21:28:00.050+00:002022-08-22T10:08:16.423+00:00Battle of the Blends<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNoIgF9ceaClullwVwvTf3G1j0HAPyJsu4rpsmN26IjetZGyJo-voIeG-F--YGLqClGNLBtu1XNdiusttQXRBB7AoMQafrTNhAjkUkm9VD7igVvW9VYGksCRLa4TI49jsba7c9EivPhMf9HfSh5O9iK_Ya9c26tXqQLpcZQfzuVJwEs04x4LvB6Vrvg/s2048/blends.jpeg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNoIgF9ceaClullwVwvTf3G1j0HAPyJsu4rpsmN26IjetZGyJo-voIeG-F--YGLqClGNLBtu1XNdiusttQXRBB7AoMQafrTNhAjkUkm9VD7igVvW9VYGksCRLa4TI49jsba7c9EivPhMf9HfSh5O9iK_Ya9c26tXqQLpcZQfzuVJwEs04x4LvB6Vrvg/s320/blends.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The line-up of seven blends </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>For June's tasting we did something we do all-to-rarely at whisky club, and took a proper dip into the market of blends. Club chairman Adam took everyone through the most expensive core range blend from the owners of each of Scotland's seven grain distilleries, Girvan, Loch Lomond, Strathclyde, Starlaw, North British, Cameronbridge and Invergordon.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the almost decade-long history of the club, only five percent of the whiskies we had ever tried as tastings have been blends, so it seemed like a good opportunity to redress that a little and see what was on offer. Adam asked everyone to try these blind and see if we felt what was in the glasses offered decent value.</div><div><br /></div><div>We began with Girvan, and the Grants Triple Wood. Buttery with biscuits on the nose, more butter on the palate along with a sweetness and a certain prickly quality as well. It's 40% and is usually available for about £17.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next it was on to the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, and a taste of High Commissioner, a brand that sells well overseas in addition to domestically (it remains the fifth biggest blend in the UK market, although that's down a bit from where it once was). It's unremarkable on the nose, a bit of pear drops perhaps, but overall a little bit thin and watery - we weren't especially impressed. It's 40% and £15.</div><div><br /></div><div>Strathclyde next, owned by Pernod Ricard, and the 21yo Signature Blend from the Royal Salute brand. Musty with parma violets on the nose. Taste dominated rather by wood. Although it was certainly smooth, much smoother than the previous two drams. As well it might be though, it's a whopping £125 (we thought 20 quid tops). It's 40% again.</div><div><br /></div><div>French drinks group Martiniquaise owns Starlaw, and we had a bottle of Label 5 Classic Black. A new name on many of us but it's the eighth biggest selling Scotch globally. For the nose we got Scampi Fries and prawn cocktail crisps sort of smushed together with fondant icing. Then on the palate, buttercream and parma violets again. It's 40% and £21.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were on familiar territory with dram number five, from Edrington Group, owners of the North British distillery, it was a bottle of Famous Grouse. Bit oily and biscuity on the nose, this. Buttery toffee taste and very smooth again, with a hint of Rich Tea biscuits. It's £16 and 40%.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cameronbridge is owned by Diageo, and one of their best known brands is Johnnie Walker. So we had a bottle of JW Blue. Slightly smoky, a bit sickly. As someone suggested, "the market for this is people who buy solid gold bath taps". It's £155 and 40% - again, not great value by any stretch.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which brought us to the final dram of the night, Invergordon's Filipino owner Emperador and their Whyte and Mackay brand. We had a bottle of the Triple Matured. Cupcake, sponge and buttercream, we thought. It's £19 and, as is standard for blends, was 40%.</div><div><br /></div><div>For dram of the night, everyone was asked to score out of ten as they went along, and the Johnnie Walker just edged ahead of the Whyte and Mackay and Royal Salute - although the Royal Salute had most 'top' votes overall.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to Adam for putting on the tasting and especially David for his extensive notes (I wasn't there so am relying on these for this blogpost!).</div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-61002723278830203322022-05-26T12:15:00.000+00:002022-07-30T08:59:49.009+00:00Bang For Your Buck<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqZ5KK_zopx3viaGtcO3pZr8H8ZlGCq_eXXmt440TAIIOgGy19XUtIR6eEziy0EdS3horLpGuBMelv61TI1Ac8sxvjhXYLCxXitAieYUJ0u506J2dLnJowKi3Cq5IGXbNevhX0rEosPRQUpwluE0K4HRhvVR-DRdgLwBYAgOPg_uotkhN3I7T_qJAnQ/s4032/IMG_7201.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqZ5KK_zopx3viaGtcO3pZr8H8ZlGCq_eXXmt440TAIIOgGy19XUtIR6eEziy0EdS3horLpGuBMelv61TI1Ac8sxvjhXYLCxXitAieYUJ0u506J2dLnJowKi3Cq5IGXbNevhX0rEosPRQUpwluE0K4HRhvVR-DRdgLwBYAgOPg_uotkhN3I7T_qJAnQ/s320/IMG_7201.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This month's line up<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>For May's tasting, there was a welcome return for Anna who presented a line up of best 'bang for your buck' whiskies currently on the market, a timely tasting considering not only the cost of living crisis, but also the general inflationary pressures on whisky prices too. Anna was out to show us that there remains all kinds of great stuff out there at reasonable prices if you know where to look.<div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglVMXGTlndJTQm6OP_HLy2yzEVgmV25z0A7JCXnJMXFuKw9hFGCsYBIRlAE9ddaeTKkqd5jviw6M5yn3cBOP213xEWdEf2zScpxPWleEjKCVIvg9HauXPTwNg563kes4r0tozYO1Xha90txYk6ZqSE4oXGamcBbThV6EitTqIpp-f2UqEEVdHlKqTdA/s4032/IMG_7202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglVMXGTlndJTQm6OP_HLy2yzEVgmV25z0A7JCXnJMXFuKw9hFGCsYBIRlAE9ddaeTKkqd5jviw6M5yn3cBOP213xEWdEf2zScpxPWleEjKCVIvg9HauXPTwNg563kes4r0tozYO1Xha90txYk6ZqSE4oXGamcBbThV6EitTqIpp-f2UqEEVdHlKqTdA/w150-h200/IMG_7202.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Compass Box</td></tr></tbody></table>Most of the drinks came from independent bottlers, and dram number one was the work of one of the club's favourites, Compass Box, the London-based blender and bottler. We were drinking Orchard House, a blend (of which the biggest component was Clynelish) with a definite fruit and apple vibe from the label onwards.</div><div><br /></div><div>There was no doubt about the apple straight from the nose, green apples especially. We also got some peanut butter, and perhaps a faint bit of smoke on the palate, too. The finish was nice and long. It's 46% and you can pick it up for about £41 from the usual online retailers. </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxe2BVmajbVVeV-mQuDM1sei7n_vx3fp7FEGQsQplkCi0yqgrGXrUPBKPeTgofnnCMWF0css-jKVE72UdKTZMtjMjcF4RB1IW8RDRtiydRGSOpKMQWIFStsOxQgLO1_j3p3MUoY8nHBkKK9AliJgK-V3sWoPvUbREDZ7Q4j_11H9NxF0zqutp2zueVdg/s4032/IMG_7203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxe2BVmajbVVeV-mQuDM1sei7n_vx3fp7FEGQsQplkCi0yqgrGXrUPBKPeTgofnnCMWF0css-jKVE72UdKTZMtjMjcF4RB1IW8RDRtiydRGSOpKMQWIFStsOxQgLO1_j3p3MUoY8nHBkKK9AliJgK-V3sWoPvUbREDZ7Q4j_11H9NxF0zqutp2zueVdg/w150-h200/IMG_7203.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kilchoman SB3</td></tr></tbody></table>Dram number two took us to Islay and Kilchoman, and a small batch distillery bottling. It's number three in Kilchoman's small batch series, and features a combination of bourbon and Oloroso aged Kilchoman, along with some much stronger Sauternes cask, to create a bottling at 49.1%.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was sweet before it got peaty. Apples again and other sweet notes, making for a lovely combination with the smoke which grew on the palate. "I'd buy that" said more than one club member. It's £52. Cheap at the price, we felt.<br /><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipManrGkf4IHfybP71QkN-qk0X2U5s3lcJt-eaLE-A71zf574CS0m31pXRJmO3wk60vcjtGpNGD84zB5_bOxepohRyA3GFRz4kv5tHi3r9A6fJAc2LK9_6O_YYyWmpDr6Qji_v2hAPS6TsXRyYa9DZaiJoXd4FbsNBEsfXZ5xRS-cp2Jw-sD_6z_BogA/s4032/IMG_7204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipManrGkf4IHfybP71QkN-qk0X2U5s3lcJt-eaLE-A71zf574CS0m31pXRJmO3wk60vcjtGpNGD84zB5_bOxepohRyA3GFRz4kv5tHi3r9A6fJAc2LK9_6O_YYyWmpDr6Qji_v2hAPS6TsXRyYa9DZaiJoXd4FbsNBEsfXZ5xRS-cp2Jw-sD_6z_BogA/w150-h200/IMG_7204.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petrichor Galore</td></tr></tbody></table>Back to the indie bottlers for dram three, and a whisky from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. This one was called Petrichor Galore (petrichor being the smell of rain, a new one on me!) and was bottle 63.81, the 63 standing for Glentauchers.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was intense and "sherry tastic" with toffee another tasting note that we got. "This makes me violently happy" someone said. As well it might, at just £53.20 (for members, and sadly it's all since gone), it was an extremely strong 66.3%. Great value as well as being an excellent drop. Not sure about the smell of rain, though.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20pzx75azdR8Ka4wELl0Fp-lxhM4P7XAcOpzGd91-dKTjlwe6H7V9klFQ97SPQ1BNvFRzTt0fSD3DKJTbdZGTZI2SDl9ZdTVUVRKo2Ei84t6NcGxWNC2-dGmz_0YGCNzkR16eRs8USpUhZAskqQhFu3f26FnHotATZcIdbMKNWMwqnsMMgi9Iupci1w/s4032/IMG_7205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi20pzx75azdR8Ka4wELl0Fp-lxhM4P7XAcOpzGd91-dKTjlwe6H7V9klFQ97SPQ1BNvFRzTt0fSD3DKJTbdZGTZI2SDl9ZdTVUVRKo2Ei84t6NcGxWNC2-dGmz_0YGCNzkR16eRs8USpUhZAskqQhFu3f26FnHotATZcIdbMKNWMwqnsMMgi9Iupci1w/w150-h200/IMG_7205.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IF Knockdhu</td></tr></tbody></table>After a half-time break to recharge our beer glasses downstairs at the Britons Protection, we returned for whisky four. The indie bottler this time was Infrequent Flyers, a brand run by ex-BenRiach man Alistair Walker, which aims to showcase some rarer single malts at affordable prices. On this occasion it was a Knockdhu, a Speyside distillery which normally produces whisky under the name anCnoc to avoid confusion with Knockando up the road.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another superb drink, this. Lots of marzipan and almond as the key tasting notes. A really easy drinker, too, remarkable considering its strength of 58.9% (so perhaps we should reclassify it as a 'dangerously' easy drinker). It's £52.90.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GMIfb09OC0dWYf0yutpK0J5Z9F1CZEBPCooTe_wBucSlPiYY02siuqgLqSMNinHh7gmbQe3MZ9NDg-QsZkhLJ0Bge9Oy4dPAzi2dP_BLE5GMHs3m1fTE4ZM1U6TFVVCGLeKJ0M7FCrd7C6XImXczAD0H4bcK_x4-dPFAMLYwp1w_4gVni4nCPX9meQ/s4032/IMG_7206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GMIfb09OC0dWYf0yutpK0J5Z9F1CZEBPCooTe_wBucSlPiYY02siuqgLqSMNinHh7gmbQe3MZ9NDg-QsZkhLJ0Bge9Oy4dPAzi2dP_BLE5GMHs3m1fTE4ZM1U6TFVVCGLeKJ0M7FCrd7C6XImXczAD0H4bcK_x4-dPFAMLYwp1w_4gVni4nCPX9meQ/w150-h200/IMG_7206.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Star Chaos</td></tr></tbody></table>As a measure of how strong the last two were, there was a bit of surprise that whisky number five was "only" 50%! A North Star bottling from its Chaos range, asking the question 'do port and peat go well together?' being an Islay whisky mostly aged in ruby port octaves.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's assumed the liquid in this bottling is a Caol Ila, but as someone commented, "if it's a Caol Ila, the delivery van has crashed with an Ardbeg". This was very floral, and savoury. Again great value at £50.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2KOTTS7cjfi-kmRi-2380s4drWKjSzCRCwedAbBEsR2cFewTEMiLkdfgrmDeA3UXayI1--9NxA8tFkZ15QczSm8Qsz9vlkg1QxiUws1xPrjUdJA2vKRPyiirHFk3n__L5yw4n4FS-6p1dC7iiezDlISmeRoNjJdwYmcGGldJtf16Mqwaveenk1RXnA/s4032/IMG_7207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2KOTTS7cjfi-kmRi-2380s4drWKjSzCRCwedAbBEsR2cFewTEMiLkdfgrmDeA3UXayI1--9NxA8tFkZ15QczSm8Qsz9vlkg1QxiUws1xPrjUdJA2vKRPyiirHFk3n__L5yw4n4FS-6p1dC7iiezDlISmeRoNjJdwYmcGGldJtf16Mqwaveenk1RXnA/w150-h200/IMG_7207.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Highland Laird</td></tr></tbody></table>All too soon it was the last dram of the night, and bottling under name Highland Laird, owned by family-run bottler Bartels. This was a 9-year-old Macduff with plenty of big strength again, at 65.4%. The colour was particularly notable, it was fully matured in first fill sherry casks.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was another superb whisky, and there were lots of phones out to buy a bottle (including mine) at the excellent price of £48. There are still some available, too, so it's well worth getting one before they're all gone. As a sidenote, after the bottle I ordered went walkabout after an issue with the courier, full marks to Bartels for sending me another! Great customer service and a business well worth supporting.</div><div><br /></div><div>There was plenty of support for the Highland Laird in the dram of the night voting, but it narrowly lost a three-way battle with the Knockdhu and - this month's winner - the SMWS Glentauchers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to Anna for such a great selection of whiskies, and to all club members and their guests for attending another successful tasting. And, as ever, thanks to the Britons for hosting us so well once again.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLfwcexHETnp6ZJkbfmORxqbI2jT3Te0iVz4SidQRvuD8QPnEw2CwgOVVIbnkIgrc7rYwXNNYaz2lWGMyxk8SLdM_NGsjrQd8tdfpy82cVNj9ljh46RU9G-88sEde9Hxe0US27mJ2eRMMWMM5JruUM4Q0Uw597UzcWK6ANVE31M4_Vmv35mSFnHyUNg/s4032/IMG_7208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLfwcexHETnp6ZJkbfmORxqbI2jT3Te0iVz4SidQRvuD8QPnEw2CwgOVVIbnkIgrc7rYwXNNYaz2lWGMyxk8SLdM_NGsjrQd8tdfpy82cVNj9ljh46RU9G-88sEde9Hxe0US27mJ2eRMMWMM5JruUM4Q0Uw597UzcWK6ANVE31M4_Vmv35mSFnHyUNg/s320/IMG_7208.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There they all are</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-25725382235923286142022-04-28T21:42:00.121+00:002022-05-14T11:26:36.891+00:00April Fools Special<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Lqdm6kYWKVOOfuh9VkJI82GyTc1ORWL8zYLHiB7mjxRGGmq8aLO781TtaOP6UpacrGn9ES3PASDLrmExQFe0IDXC7cGmpJA_Fg1RgUhGvtpFqp8XaUVW9NgNckOVJN_amcAmntMwfpY1NW_o8xvHXoaYJcnEtISqSR3ieB3jKMzGunjotd5-jQYNLg/s4032/IMG_6948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Lqdm6kYWKVOOfuh9VkJI82GyTc1ORWL8zYLHiB7mjxRGGmq8aLO781TtaOP6UpacrGn9ES3PASDLrmExQFe0IDXC7cGmpJA_Fg1RgUhGvtpFqp8XaUVW9NgNckOVJN_amcAmntMwfpY1NW_o8xvHXoaYJcnEtISqSR3ieB3jKMzGunjotd5-jQYNLg/s320/IMG_6948.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The line up (minus the Buckfast)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />For our April tasting, we were back at the Britons for a selection of drams in honour of April Fools' Day. Club member Rich had picked out a selection of drinks with an unusual or surprising twist for us to get stuck into.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRPj0-detdsf2GTQRN-_P8nTziibvClytef7fGiHL0Eo92TobLSptzKUnrjuJuEh_ItyyBvZ1vA1B3Becq-3CDXVD-V220CqPhqPcSJ2JYnEpgsStS-Dpr3KoSaY-bmzhbUhd07fxIyAFQKz1waeiBIuO3I5XhnWrwdINJ5zO8nC57T59lM0ZGdUsSQ/s4032/IMG_6950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRPj0-detdsf2GTQRN-_P8nTziibvClytef7fGiHL0Eo92TobLSptzKUnrjuJuEh_ItyyBvZ1vA1B3Becq-3CDXVD-V220CqPhqPcSJ2JYnEpgsStS-Dpr3KoSaY-bmzhbUhd07fxIyAFQKz1waeiBIuO3I5XhnWrwdINJ5zO8nC57T59lM0ZGdUsSQ/w150-h200/IMG_6950.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glenallachie 10yo</td></tr></tbody></table>And it didn't take us long to get started on dram number one. This was sweet and very nice. "One of the best opening drams we've had" offered someone almost straight away. There was a bit of heather honey around, liquorice too, lots of good notes. We liked it very much.</p><p>It was a Glenallachie 10-year-old, from a distillery and a town right in the heart of Speyside. But the twist here was the finish, in that it spent the last 18 months or so before bottling in casks made of Chinquapin oak. A wood sourced from the northern Ozarks in Missouri, this was the first time most of us had tried it. A great way to start the evening. The bottle is £60 and is 48%.</p><p><table align="center" 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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYZwHr9k_CVzZXVGJpueMiMhAfy5qTqFNbv5hTbYDbb1C0PNPrn7MT-DiXBbFs9TwePIvQjJ6MGlabMogZxnc7oKmgAqZkKq9ES2Ijd_76-i9D21h7dhOj3uZgXOKVus_nHj82PYCSH1jtgkVW8FfOF_TSlLIxCdi22fOl3UiUQ-KWEtpMAjOC4bq7A/s4032/IMG_6952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYZwHr9k_CVzZXVGJpueMiMhAfy5qTqFNbv5hTbYDbb1C0PNPrn7MT-DiXBbFs9TwePIvQjJ6MGlabMogZxnc7oKmgAqZkKq9ES2Ijd_76-i9D21h7dhOj3uZgXOKVus_nHj82PYCSH1jtgkVW8FfOF_TSlLIxCdi22fOl3UiUQ-KWEtpMAjOC4bq7A/w150-h200/IMG_6952.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Defilement 8yo</td></tr></tbody></table>The second whisky was very dark. A bit weird in fact. There was definitely something unusual about it from the off. It was warming though. We got notes of caramel and toffee - again something very sweet here. Someone else suggested furniture polish, which only served to send those of us of a certain age <a href="https://youtu.be/iKb3J9mctlo">down this rabbit hole</a>.</p><p>Back to the whisky itself, and it was a Defilement, a series available from Master of Malt in which various whisky 'rules' are broken. In this case, it was the use of a chestnut cask, rather than the oak which is typically used for maturation. It's an 8-year-old and it's still available for £49.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AGWPTSLbPgH7QEYxEyTR2BSGDOkeGPjzbMHlUsfKTxZEXinSHGYMb27YnbW967EUEhDCcWWC7xrZt-bg8Hkqz23pG7eNPKkRUD4d3U5FLIvuw0ioPov8XwyDE60jpH5FM4J1lKGmdWOebG5m1FAAOKF5XBMttC8mbgIk0hNPg3ubQDULtsDb-usY6w/s4032/IMG_6954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AGWPTSLbPgH7QEYxEyTR2BSGDOkeGPjzbMHlUsfKTxZEXinSHGYMb27YnbW967EUEhDCcWWC7xrZt-bg8Hkqz23pG7eNPKkRUD4d3U5FLIvuw0ioPov8XwyDE60jpH5FM4J1lKGmdWOebG5m1FAAOKF5XBMttC8mbgIk0hNPg3ubQDULtsDb-usY6w/w150-h200/IMG_6954.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starward Ginger Beer</td></tr></tbody></table>Whisky three was very distinctive. Sweet again. Fresh mint too, said someone, and a long finish, but there was something very obvious and zingy we were all missing.</p><p>And when we saw the bottle we realised it was: ginger. From Australian distillery Starward, this was their Ginger Beer Cask whisky. It spent three years in a mixture of Apera (Australian fortified wine) and red wine casks, and then six months in ginger beer casks. Fresh and fiery, this was a great drink. It's 48% and costs £86 for a 50cl bottle. A bit on the pricey side for most of us, but another example of the success of a whisky club like ours: a chance to try something great we'd never normally splash out on.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4Ca6xxs9gAsJ5G-dyh4bshWMWhUW8Mn7JJtnsIsmExYAWtQ7zUd-wiBeQauCzkZq24m-7dJ9q17YGKSgMMzpWfKH0gnJKtz1-BaRP6vFcq0_EZP8VRGPLP2GhXHAn4Vv099y9LcCKDm1CxR_5OtGnCqRRSoABHS318Ren5rXMcH46QHEITGSNm0nww/s4032/IMG_6956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4Ca6xxs9gAsJ5G-dyh4bshWMWhUW8Mn7JJtnsIsmExYAWtQ7zUd-wiBeQauCzkZq24m-7dJ9q17YGKSgMMzpWfKH0gnJKtz1-BaRP6vFcq0_EZP8VRGPLP2GhXHAn4Vv099y9LcCKDm1CxR_5OtGnCqRRSoABHS318Ren5rXMcH46QHEITGSNm0nww/w150-h200/IMG_6956.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Buckfast whisky!</td></tr></tbody></table>After a half-time break to recharge our (beer) glasses downstairs at the Britons Protection, we were back for the second half.<p></p><p>And as it turned out, this really was something even more unusual than even a ginger cask. We got caramel and a real sweetness like cream soda, or Dutch stroopwaffles. Highly drinkable and very nice. But what was giving us that lovely flavour?</p><p>It was a finish in none other than Buckfast tonic wine. Beloved of drinkers in and around Glasgow, but created by monks in Devon, it's a caffeinated fortified wine. Here, it was used to add a bit of seasoning to some ex-bourbon casks. The whisky was a collaboration between Master of Malt and a thing called the Rhythm and Booze Project, which is run by a couple of guys who mix whisky, music and live events. It was £45 and came in at 46%. For good measure, we had a bit of Buckfast itself as well, for a treat.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_J7xwTYYG8lpl8tYpt-oqbZtEgSqXOgitM3tkVijlscoQTMz1-vKMQwEWzAB84MLSxxxLCdTYSYyOSmu9E0v3uozV2JugRsbVgtmtyzpgwLpKMmhjVIZCobPNpmqIa3eN_LGdWrtE3s1Xd2NwTHAvGUmvviZdz_UtGz79GNUc8MLgSJc7TGF1aGkCTg/s4032/IMG_6961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_J7xwTYYG8lpl8tYpt-oqbZtEgSqXOgitM3tkVijlscoQTMz1-vKMQwEWzAB84MLSxxxLCdTYSYyOSmu9E0v3uozV2JugRsbVgtmtyzpgwLpKMmhjVIZCobPNpmqIa3eN_LGdWrtE3s1Xd2NwTHAvGUmvviZdz_UtGz79GNUc8MLgSJc7TGF1aGkCTg/w150-h200/IMG_6961.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">30yo April Fool 2021</td></tr></tbody></table>There were still more treats to come, as well. Dram five was again very nice, and sweet too. "Cakey" someone suggested, and then to really drill down on that, "maybe lemon drizzle." Other tasting notes included a butteriness, and perhaps the inevitable pear drops (second only perhaps to Frazzles as a ubiquitous tasting note relating to a thing most of us haven't tried since we were about eight years old).</p><p>We were drinking the 2021 April Fool bottling from The Whisky Exchange, called 'Extremely Young, I Wish I Was Older'. The twist here being that it was in fact a 30-year-old. From an unknown Speyside distillery (although internet sleuths have proposed it might be Glenburgie), there were 869 of these and they all sold out within an hour even at the £150 price tag. It was 51.7%. We really enjoyed this one all round, so we were grateful to Rich for grabbing a bottle while he could.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HdICXFuGOWyWQgIZ_OVX-BAZzn2WjO3uma1mceWm5S4SiSIH5V29l6sgD2sy84ScRJPJMhZqA9HBSZo9znGeK5l4rGLmkBAZhyy2M65kodjg04eVge2DLfIL8Sqxsu5pzz5NAnItQSO5dk65jrk73FVs4iJv2b6ZDahel15Qdixk68tM9IFircFysA/s4032/IMG_6965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HdICXFuGOWyWQgIZ_OVX-BAZzn2WjO3uma1mceWm5S4SiSIH5V29l6sgD2sy84ScRJPJMhZqA9HBSZo9znGeK5l4rGLmkBAZhyy2M65kodjg04eVge2DLfIL8Sqxsu5pzz5NAnItQSO5dk65jrk73FVs4iJv2b6ZDahel15Qdixk68tM9IFircFysA/w150-h200/IMG_6965.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5yo April Fool 2022</td></tr></tbody></table>The last whisky of the night was darker. Indeed, a dark roasted peanut butter as someone suggested for a tasting note. As ever, looking back at my notes for this stage of the evening reveals no other tasting notes at all, so we'll just have to stick with the peanut butter here.</p><p>It was this year's follow up, the 2022 April Fool offering from TWE. This time around it had the name 'Extremely Old, I Wish I Was Younger' and it was just five years old. Matured in a range of first fill bourbon casks and peated ex-Oloroso hogsheads, the 1,575 bottles were gone in 45 minutes. It was £75 and had an ABV of 53.2%. We assume this may once again be a Glenburgie.</p><p>Which brought us to the dram of the night voting. A tough one as ever, it was the two TWE April Fools whiskies we liked the best. The last dram took top honours with eight votes, over six for dram five, but all except dram two got at least one vote.</p><p>Thank you to all club members and those from the waiting list who attended, and special thanks to Rich for putting on such a great selection!</p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-56470374379677717292022-03-31T21:16:00.000+00:002022-04-09T09:40:30.293+00:00Members' Choices<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKRXlmQNaq-sBs9ygegv3d8K5wwjxWelgQCXZ0QsRtQP_SMI8fBwevUPOgOw7sCqwhvGcE3BA5Jg_y4OBspl3kg2YfvLDUdynHF1S8TG7k73MsuMqCMqubTnY0H9Mu2XihqEK2AyNjdWpf2cfrnx-MUdPQNjH4kDtrOTMcDZAKYTWh3Aifgt11wEgqw/s1440/42D79CC4-7A39-4B32-A3BD-6940A4C761C9.JPG" style="clear: left; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKRXlmQNaq-sBs9ygegv3d8K5wwjxWelgQCXZ0QsRtQP_SMI8fBwevUPOgOw7sCqwhvGcE3BA5Jg_y4OBspl3kg2YfvLDUdynHF1S8TG7k73MsuMqCMqubTnY0H9Mu2XihqEK2AyNjdWpf2cfrnx-MUdPQNjH4kDtrOTMcDZAKYTWh3Aifgt11wEgqw/w320-h240/42D79CC4-7A39-4B32-A3BD-6940A4C761C9.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full line-up</td></tr></tbody></table><br />For March's tasting we made a welcome return to the Britons Protection, to try a series of six different drams picked by six of our club members.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mihMheGLwgrKj1y_skBgOvr-eSHeuHPdMVZLu7BH8oSN0wgPoDDodWiJFUoQd4hRt1W0WRfUvL8TRnMe7yT7Mmw2Y7cn-drhRWizMLzoNvj1AsJ17XyCh_PadnprWwRo5UvFCokzyjmQQdzuyJeL7c-HChq1Bi44kk2q78MQMw23OMkZN77MZgOyjg/s1440/22F8ED30-3F09-4E37-9E76-44779B42DE70.JPG" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mihMheGLwgrKj1y_skBgOvr-eSHeuHPdMVZLu7BH8oSN0wgPoDDodWiJFUoQd4hRt1W0WRfUvL8TRnMe7yT7Mmw2Y7cn-drhRWizMLzoNvj1AsJ17XyCh_PadnprWwRo5UvFCokzyjmQQdzuyJeL7c-HChq1Bi44kk2q78MQMw23OMkZN77MZgOyjg/s200/22F8ED30-3F09-4E37-9E76-44779B42DE70.JPG" width="200" /></a><br /></div><div>Tim almost blew the top off the budget straight out of the gate with the opening bottle of the evening. He went for a Benromach 21-year-old, a 43% that comes in at £129.</div><div><br /></div><div>A Speyside sherry cask, this tasted chunky and smooth. Lots of almonds in evidence we thought, certainly a hint of marzipan and, more generally, Christmas cake. "This would make a great whisky sour," someone commented, before hearing how much we spent on it, "but not at that price!" A very nice drop all the same, though.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq5mu_2oeZm1002Amnb-luJdgkaZdZKA89KaX7dx2O5aDlTIKlc_ZuwRERdq7s-gZf-xygaFHCrX_q1yWByKiStNaepj63tvucSJzPMdNzzKePQmxd5Ak7H5Cuw8sU1Wh8IcWve1bwU4muUaKZhv6W_0KAufYfFHPJq9C_Nvw2jcIbF-t28z3rySeHA/s1440/E03696E0-B2A8-4C04-AB73-66ACD20F4F59.JPG" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq5mu_2oeZm1002Amnb-luJdgkaZdZKA89KaX7dx2O5aDlTIKlc_ZuwRERdq7s-gZf-xygaFHCrX_q1yWByKiStNaepj63tvucSJzPMdNzzKePQmxd5Ak7H5Cuw8sU1Wh8IcWve1bwU4muUaKZhv6W_0KAufYfFHPJq9C_Nvw2jcIbF-t28z3rySeHA/s200/E03696E0-B2A8-4C04-AB73-66ACD20F4F59.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Dan presented whisky number two, and it was something from the Fettercairn distillery. He explained he hadn't thought much of their younger expressions, but had his head turned by some of their better stuff when visiting their stand at a whisky show.<br /><div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5DNJaOaDmBb-0d_sQAJS3ipOIMEYOzlieBICF4_OUNvc69OD6D--pqIW-crqpS2CuZ1fFx_Sfn7z90Gf1oG2zC95FiX7i6UHPDHaF-SEehrsN6-fWyUKTwI3q3aq75eGkBpQy3O4JoLrqG5eg_9kEJBtQnDAItCPIQH9wGvSoh6JjvwXI-sdvB_4zg/s1440/7E13AF53-61F9-4707-992F-5C3BC8F4381A.JPG" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm5DNJaOaDmBb-0d_sQAJS3ipOIMEYOzlieBICF4_OUNvc69OD6D--pqIW-crqpS2CuZ1fFx_Sfn7z90Gf1oG2zC95FiX7i6UHPDHaF-SEehrsN6-fWyUKTwI3q3aq75eGkBpQy3O4JoLrqG5eg_9kEJBtQnDAItCPIQH9wGvSoh6JjvwXI-sdvB_4zg/s200/7E13AF53-61F9-4707-992F-5C3BC8F4381A.JPG" width="200" /></a>That included the 16-year-old that was in our glasses (the older ones were even better, he said, but were a little pricier than the £65 this one retails for). More sherry cask, this time a mixture of Oloroso and the more rarely seen Palo Cortado. Very good we felt, but if anything it's possible the sherry actually detracted from the whisky, as the spirit seemed to be just fine without too much of that. We were quietly impressed. It's 46.5%.</div><div><br /></div><div>Onto whisky number three, then, and Paul produced one of his absolute favourites for us, a Glenfarclas 21.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5ydhyHhm5Dg63dQBIWIbvOMocr-JAi2Y7KCL3g10gMPA270GizaWIAG_PNfSWpIkkp8l5EEYFkn_RAOln2KhgHnztynR9paMefcw1_auQM6Y4n7ivoLX5S2xhi3KivJY1NX0ART2FeTTXRWSVkPCjKKUu7W6l6fcz6aBI9hLcpb-aA-KMUfrWsnmLA/s1440/2A0F8F4A-EB52-430E-A424-AFEEC800C121.JPG" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5ydhyHhm5Dg63dQBIWIbvOMocr-JAi2Y7KCL3g10gMPA270GizaWIAG_PNfSWpIkkp8l5EEYFkn_RAOln2KhgHnztynR9paMefcw1_auQM6Y4n7ivoLX5S2xhi3KivJY1NX0ART2FeTTXRWSVkPCjKKUu7W6l6fcz6aBI9hLcpb-aA-KMUfrWsnmLA/s200/2A0F8F4A-EB52-430E-A424-AFEEC800C121.JPG" width="200" /></a>Back to Speyside with more sherry, this time full Oloroso. Smooth, fruity, some nutmeg, and a mixture of both sweetness and sharpness. At 43% and £95, beautifully drinkable. As someone suggested, "a warm hug of a whisky." One for after Christmas dinner, perhaps.</div><div><br /></div><div>After a half-time break, I got up to introduce my choice, a Glen Garioch. As an Aberdonian, this is just about my own local distillery. I wanted to try it because I'd had a go at some of their standard bottlings over the years and fancied something a bit more special. I picked out this 19-year-old, a 1999 wine cask bottled in 2018, and fully matured in wine casks from Chateau Lagrange in Bordeaux (owned by Suntory, as in Glen Garioch).</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTDuZisqXZB15o4JXFCn2Jcz8-p1Y9fIWgkPSqUZKaUr2cn0IS8wTltSGn3EuUU8QU4C9tEgMw1wEYwRtTcTrLzCV718OhNlcuGcLyUVyOeVIFDQoV8nYZ_UqRv5AhRTDfyQme7iQaC0454209rBVcqswVRH_nWhVK_YWiDQ1xCD2Taqg7OyEwBksJA/s1440/DE29CFC6-2C9C-4ABB-AAF9-F0EE4CBA3E87.JPG" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTDuZisqXZB15o4JXFCn2Jcz8-p1Y9fIWgkPSqUZKaUr2cn0IS8wTltSGn3EuUU8QU4C9tEgMw1wEYwRtTcTrLzCV718OhNlcuGcLyUVyOeVIFDQoV8nYZ_UqRv5AhRTDfyQme7iQaC0454209rBVcqswVRH_nWhVK_YWiDQ1xCD2Taqg7OyEwBksJA/s200/DE29CFC6-2C9C-4ABB-AAF9-F0EE4CBA3E87.JPG" width="200" /></a>Tasting notes on this included red applies, berries and ginger biscuits. This went down well, and further suggestions included Christmas cake (again) and jam (!). This was 48% and £104.</div><div><br /></div><div>Two to go and we were off to the other end of the Highlands next, Martin taking us to the Ardnamurchan distillery on the coast overlooking Mull. One of the newer and hotly tipped distilleries around, here we had batch 07.21.05, a mix of 50% peated and 50% unpeated, and 65% bourbon casks and 35% sherry.</div><div><br /></div><div>This was a 4-year-old and we felt it had plenty of potential, although it had perhaps been bottled a bit soon. Very drinkable and certainly one to watch. This had peat on the nose but not on the palate so much, it was quite sweet in fact.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwr_oA3lieaS3Hs2bGMFMQpOXryZSHFIWTLD0Dg_6UoSxCovig-pd6KtW0BRu_ZdKXTiHYlx4ZcqJVdV9BjYoCVlQstB7LgqFKHM_YBTjipeI3QhU5NvwiPVmoRnTpynKXYA9IDbJjlSNmTc2pdb8Hi04zNXFRMmZYP2Yg-14MFNGSpd7_ga1wzS4eyQ/s1440/98D4F54C-CB42-416F-946E-9640EBB4D5B7.JPG" style="clear: right; display: block; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwr_oA3lieaS3Hs2bGMFMQpOXryZSHFIWTLD0Dg_6UoSxCovig-pd6KtW0BRu_ZdKXTiHYlx4ZcqJVdV9BjYoCVlQstB7LgqFKHM_YBTjipeI3QhU5NvwiPVmoRnTpynKXYA9IDbJjlSNmTc2pdb8Hi04zNXFRMmZYP2Yg-14MFNGSpd7_ga1wzS4eyQ/s200/98D4F54C-CB42-416F-946E-9640EBB4D5B7.JPG" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Ian treated us for the last bottle with the fruits of a recent visit to Campbeltown. He paid tribute to Craig behind the counter in the Springbank shop for recommending the Longrow Red 15-year-old, finished for the last few years in Pinot Noir casks.</div><div><br /></div><div>Slightly peated, we were getting toasted sesame. Sweetness was there again, including red berries. Really nice, this, and highly enjoyable all round. "Lots going on" as someone said, and no doubt one we'll be angling for an extra dram from when it comes around to the Christmas party. It was 51.4% and good value at £65.</div><div><br /></div><div>The dram of the night voting resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Longrow! The Glenfarclas was second and the Glen Garioch third, but most of the membership cast their votes for the bottle from Campbeltown. Thanks to all members for attending, and especially those who chose and presented bottles.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also thanks to the Britons for hosting us once again, at what is an uncertain time for what is one of the great pubs, in Manchester or anywhere else. <a href="https://www.change.org/p/save-our-pub-the-britons-protection" target="_blank">You can read more about that and sign the petition at this link</a>.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5ydhyHhm5Dg63dQBIWIbvOMocr-JAi2Y7KCL3g10gMPA270GizaWIAG_PNfSWpIkkp8l5EEYFkn_RAOln2KhgHnztynR9paMefcw1_auQM6Y4n7ivoLX5S2xhi3KivJY1NX0ART2FeTTXRWSVkPCjKKUu7W6l6fcz6aBI9hLcpb-aA-KMUfrWsnmLA/s1440/2A0F8F4A-EB52-430E-A424-AFEEC800C121.JPG" style="clear: left; display: block; float: left; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div></div></div>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-19260641318415625922022-02-24T22:30:00.000+00:002022-04-02T12:12:04.920+00:00Regional Malts<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyj1gd-ZpTFJGPKwFI-v-AGZEoyHNUXBn_jUr14ljR5cL8xIjjhQB8B8lbueCnpUw3Y0MLh-jQiHi_toWnyY9uFno3AFK519PdYhvXbwzhvclNgyHk5QWAGyacOdGsG2xug25LwrVf6500-cMXPkAkEvOb1oDRJlSgV1948x9QbOB8ud4IN8mmKm7fw/s2016/IMG_6421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyj1gd-ZpTFJGPKwFI-v-AGZEoyHNUXBn_jUr14ljR5cL8xIjjhQB8B8lbueCnpUw3Y0MLh-jQiHi_toWnyY9uFno3AFK519PdYhvXbwzhvclNgyHk5QWAGyacOdGsG2xug25LwrVf6500-cMXPkAkEvOb1oDRJlSgV1948x9QbOB8ud4IN8mmKm7fw/w150-h200/IMG_6421.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johnnie Walker</td></tr></tbody></table>For February's tasting we were online again, before a planned return to the Britons for March. And we marked the occasion with another trip right around Scotland, with Adam taking us to all five of the officially recognised whisky regions: Highland, Lowland, Islay, Speyside and Campbeltown, plus an extra stop at an island distillery for good measure.</p><p></p>We started off in the Lowlands, the southernmost region which roughly speaking covers Edinburgh, Glasgow and everything below. We got dried apricot on the nose of this one, with a light bit of vanilla and flowers, too - there was definitely something floral going on. The taste was quite soft, a Lowland all over in fact as someone suggested. Light, easy drinking, and a good session whisky, with a subtle and sweet aftertaste.<p></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiZ-hPdU6LOSavoV7EsJGb58oZKgnVf_jfmBXGRU4cMDr4aAXk25kViN0S4VZ2pN5PFX6sIwLySOLVrtztcBLVGR6hJDDH7QYeVRxh_lKzEg8s7utLJlMR39xDSRHSfXbNmd7WeceKvjDFOxR59UDRmqcX8PoYGS7BzU3CY8G1JFsO2BPxoZgpXbtXg/s2016/IMG_6423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiZ-hPdU6LOSavoV7EsJGb58oZKgnVf_jfmBXGRU4cMDr4aAXk25kViN0S4VZ2pN5PFX6sIwLySOLVrtztcBLVGR6hJDDH7QYeVRxh_lKzEg8s7utLJlMR39xDSRHSfXbNmd7WeceKvjDFOxR59UDRmqcX8PoYGS7BzU3CY8G1JFsO2BPxoZgpXbtXg/w150-h200/IMG_6423.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gauldrons</td></tr></tbody></table>This was a blend, the Johnnie Walker Lowlands Origin. Given the relative ownership of those distilleries, we think this was probably a mix of Cameronbridge and Glenkinchie. A 12-year-old at 42%, this was £52 for a one litre bottle (so £36 for means of comparison with the usual 70cl bottles). Other tasting notes included biscuits and even a bit of rose Turkish delight. Not bad at all.</p><p>Next to Campbeltown, once the home of Scottish whisky and well on the road to a recovery thanks to the powerhouses of Springbank, Glen Scotia and Glengyle. We had a good try of these <a href="http://manchesterwhiskyclub.blogspot.com/2021/09/campbeltown-night.html">at a tasting last year,</a> and were keen for another. This particular dram was very pale, and didn't have all that much on the nose. A bit of marzipan maybe, there was certainly an almondy vibe. The whisky was quite different on the palate though. Much more distinctive than the nose would have led you to believe. A bit of smoke in there somewhere, with coconut and banana too. Maybe even a bit of fennel.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ylb9y3QupFe5XmR8MHYUCapm3Huvbu4lxGlCTpRfAuGHNNrW91oDRrzI6q7DqDXrOAPnIOLYVkgBS2f7e9MMIP6SMUVzNYRWOBWM4cTMz_NXTRXXhKJj360vhSug0ABezGkTxfLgU0gimHRbyCvQqt_FxhX3jIgLJog_tf8ophSrofGiyzGjU_Kn1w/s2016/IMG_6425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ylb9y3QupFe5XmR8MHYUCapm3Huvbu4lxGlCTpRfAuGHNNrW91oDRrzI6q7DqDXrOAPnIOLYVkgBS2f7e9MMIP6SMUVzNYRWOBWM4cTMz_NXTRXXhKJj360vhSug0ABezGkTxfLgU0gimHRbyCvQqt_FxhX3jIgLJog_tf8ophSrofGiyzGjU_Kn1w/w150-h200/IMG_6425.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hector Macbeth 1997</td></tr></tbody></table>What we had in our glasses turned out to be a blended malt, a term used to describe a whisky that is a blend of various single malts. It was The Gauldrons, from indie bottler Douglas Laing. Billed as 'the marriage of the finest Campbeltown malts' (and let's be honest, there are only three so that does rather narrow down the options as to what that might involve), it's 46.2% and £49. Again, a good drop.</p><p>Speyside may be the best-known whisky country in Scotland. It's certainly got the most distilleries in it, clustered around the banks of the fast flowing River Spey on its journey north from the heart of Scotland to the Moray Firth. The Speyside we had was a bit bitter on the nose, maybe cacao or green apples too. Quite a contrast to the floral notes we'd had earlier in the evening. The taste wasn't all that strong and it didn't need any water. A rich sweetness, "one note" as someone suggested, albeit one note that it does really well. Not the most Speyside of Speysides some thought, but others thought it was a 'classic Speyside' which just goes to show it's basically impossible to get anyone to agree on anything.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0u9HEGZUT-PpXTBr9wPkjdRshmCMfMgAZImyN_nEchUbYqPMLJFJbdHQ80wJwtlmtF9rV-SKngY36xD7qLq4tAPHHT1execg7abbLZDszi2wwQcnJFV4Fqc-rpJdkKyVWEMZR-GAR1J0My_ezdKqOMFjYfBH7jijccQk5wnxlvrZ1h9EcQ2Oc_wi-g/s2016/IMG_6427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0u9HEGZUT-PpXTBr9wPkjdRshmCMfMgAZImyN_nEchUbYqPMLJFJbdHQ80wJwtlmtF9rV-SKngY36xD7qLq4tAPHHT1execg7abbLZDszi2wwQcnJFV4Fqc-rpJdkKyVWEMZR-GAR1J0My_ezdKqOMFjYfBH7jijccQk5wnxlvrZ1h9EcQ2Oc_wi-g/w150-h200/IMG_6427.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet the Beast</td></tr></tbody></table>This was a Hector Macbeth. Another blended malt, this time from Hunter Laing, a company created as the 'other half' of the Laing business when the brothers when their separate ways almost a decade ago. A 24-year-old distilled in 1997, it was 51% and cost £128. Bourbon cask, which came as a bit of a surprised as we'd assumed a sherry cask given the rich colour (sadly I can't show this to you as I had drunk mine before remembering to take the photo, as you can see).</p><p>To the Highlands, a large whisky region including just about 'the rest' of Scotland that isn't covered by one of the other named areas, whether or not there are any actual hills nearby. Toffee and butterscotch on the nose of this one, almost like Werther's originals.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vNmQ58J96iBEhFfQzwG5SqaAZazRzTAuU2c04i-ay4rWGWVLBOwpoodFHGw5hIOBppMD-Tde5u0DmhKo3qtZzFJouW5-Xpt0WltPhFXz7ZoXi7uk5gXNqvHjkeYxTt-EIt8xB18bUFTJOXx2s3JH2ljT9QECBzR1qpki4fl0ROH-DW_GBDNbZCoEPw/s2016/IMG_6429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vNmQ58J96iBEhFfQzwG5SqaAZazRzTAuU2c04i-ay4rWGWVLBOwpoodFHGw5hIOBppMD-Tde5u0DmhKo3qtZzFJouW5-Xpt0WltPhFXz7ZoXi7uk5gXNqvHjkeYxTt-EIt8xB18bUFTJOXx2s3JH2ljT9QECBzR1qpki4fl0ROH-DW_GBDNbZCoEPw/w150-h200/IMG_6429.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mossburn</td></tr></tbody></table>Certainly a bit of sweetness, almost like that heather honey so beloved of National Trust for Scotland gift shops. An easy drinker, it soon stopped being as fiery as it was at the start on the palate. A good one for round the campfire, someone suggested, with notes of dark chocolate, and a creamy, thick, mouthfeel. Others were less keen, though.</p><p>Another Bourbon cask, and another from Douglas Laing, this was an expression under their Timorous Beastie brand, called Meet The Beast. A no age statement blended malt, it was 54.9% and just £50. Great value, we felt.</p><p>That left just an island and an Islay to try, and with the peatiness of Islay inevitably kept for the end, it was off to a different island first. Still smoky though, peaty but very drinkable. It had a pleasant softness. As someone commented, "people who don't like peat would tolerate it." Better without the water we felt, with a hint of sweetness overall.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisq_xHZrnqGM-KWhDnEvUa-mN8gS8-MpAgoeyq80P083e9uqBdwt47Jk8FwFOo96ucjRoHYAWJyF-xw9uaU3_UBO7-Btvu6jn6C2hjTtJWr0SSOeY8jZCxwqjCdtsUmzRPuq5iYHXEi6FsthIn0wYKTS8fk1djNtFi7i8idCB9gv2dY54KFpbc_rvaQQ/s2016/IMG_6431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisq_xHZrnqGM-KWhDnEvUa-mN8gS8-MpAgoeyq80P083e9uqBdwt47Jk8FwFOo96ucjRoHYAWJyF-xw9uaU3_UBO7-Btvu6jn6C2hjTtJWr0SSOeY8jZCxwqjCdtsUmzRPuq5iYHXEi6FsthIn0wYKTS8fk1djNtFi7i8idCB9gv2dY54KFpbc_rvaQQ/w150-h200/IMG_6431.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Peat Black Edition</td></tr></tbody></table>This turned out to be a bottle under the Mossburn brand, from Torabhaig, the Isle of Skye's long-awaited second distillery (after Talisker). Called Signature Casks 1, it involved three different bits of cask wood in the ageing process. Another blended malt it was a no age statement dram at 46% and just £42. Really nice, we thought.</p><p>And so to Islay. To no great surprise, this had the typical medicinal character straight from the off. We also got salty, cough syrup, but perhaps not a wide range of sensations on the palate. "Not bad but not amazing" said someone, and others felt it was a touch one dimensional, by comparison to a few of the earlier drams.</p><p>This was a Big Peat, another of Douglas Laing's range of brands. Specifically, we had the Black Edition in our hands, a blend of Islay malts and a 27-year-old that was certainly different from the Big Peat we'd had previously. At 48.3% but a costly £185, we probably wouldn't necessarily be queuing up to buy it again.</p><p>That left only the dram of the night voting, and it was an easy win for... dram number 4! Meet the Beats took more than half the vote, with the Mossburn in second.</p><p>Thank you to Adam for preparing another great tasting for us, and to all club members for attending remotely and continuing to support us!</p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1577709744265508793.post-87022326354839347282022-01-27T23:00:00.079+00:002022-03-26T14:21:52.571+00:00Virtual Island Hopping<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewksOJ3h9S3_B4bGYV83hgriFjmsYoy-bhN6tXNPvpc2nImj3B5CKc11RK4DLQ5FhjZ853AAhSKF1HTAR5oScjxyMXLhgDZ7nAg3kMpsqTK110SsQiXRc38bsCrauahwRNIQrL5WqCw7TeznP-41-wsKhO_bto7OiGUETII6fyK1OfxTZGb2nbvfq8Q/s2016/IMG_6274.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewksOJ3h9S3_B4bGYV83hgriFjmsYoy-bhN6tXNPvpc2nImj3B5CKc11RK4DLQ5FhjZ853AAhSKF1HTAR5oScjxyMXLhgDZ7nAg3kMpsqTK110SsQiXRc38bsCrauahwRNIQrL5WqCw7TeznP-41-wsKhO_bto7OiGUETII6fyK1OfxTZGb2nbvfq8Q/w150-h200/IMG_6274.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Jura</td></tr></tbody></table>January's tasting was back on Zoom as we took account of the New Year Covid surge and the Omicron variant. But from the comfort of our homes we went on quite the journey around Scotland's most remote distilleries, on the theme of virtual island hopping.<p></p><p>The first dram was very pale. You could certainly taste the alcohol here. It was tart and had a bready quality about it, almost like crumble. Harsh said some, a bit grassy thought others. For those who partook in a bit of water, they felt that didn't do all that much for it.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOs4GipntyixhBuhuSbx9kETMTbPKtVvFQdbqwidmm3LehDDjQWip9DVAnm1K7B5vqM05WHKUSdYFpb1lsLLp8DCtZxNc7Vs6Pmbs7PmTuU0e0UDldu0PrWqkz4adGhXWwrS9qtTkSvFCdTD09rS3ocS7-GIba4AU4veJJ6WcKMy52GGdvNQEmJ4umoQ/s2016/IMG_6278.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOs4GipntyixhBuhuSbx9kETMTbPKtVvFQdbqwidmm3LehDDjQWip9DVAnm1K7B5vqM05WHKUSdYFpb1lsLLp8DCtZxNc7Vs6Pmbs7PmTuU0e0UDldu0PrWqkz4adGhXWwrS9qtTkSvFCdTD09rS3ocS7-GIba4AU4veJJ6WcKMy52GGdvNQEmJ4umoQ/w150-h200/IMG_6278.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Highland Park</td></tr></tbody></table>This was a Jura, and an unpeated one at that. An independent bottling from Gleann Mor spirits, it was a 12-year-old that clocked in at 50% (although it arguably tasted stronger), and cost us £58.<p></p><p>Next there was a definite farmyard vibe to whisky number two. Straw-like offered someone, "like a barn" in fact. A nice, long finish, too. Peppery flavours, slightly smoky and lots of wood, yet at the same time quite sweet too. All round a very nice and complex drink.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUyuNKI3fZApHHj6SFNJLT3DJtGQnnNhen2xukq5ibBzORlWxZ0F_8IGmHD1cwlR6EAtwxEzG7DHuiZ7AhB-opCpPUZKHcf7QE9UbOC9xpHvOLspIc9NAlGvZggvhOwAGRV4YWisvJ3sKUf6fYSoH5dtetKYCY7xq8hqbfJRhcprS07hmw0XyEr6GIA/s2016/IMG_6280.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUyuNKI3fZApHHj6SFNJLT3DJtGQnnNhen2xukq5ibBzORlWxZ0F_8IGmHD1cwlR6EAtwxEzG7DHuiZ7AhB-opCpPUZKHcf7QE9UbOC9xpHvOLspIc9NAlGvZggvhOwAGRV4YWisvJ3sKUf6fYSoH5dtetKYCY7xq8hqbfJRhcprS07hmw0XyEr6GIA/w150-h200/IMG_6280.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Talisker</td></tr></tbody></table>This was another indie, an Independent Malts of Scotland bottling of a 23-year-old Highland Park, the Orkney distillery. A single cask it was £166, a decent chunk of change in anyone's language but much cheaper than the official distillery bottling. It's 52.8%.<p></p><p>There was more smoke to come from the third dram of the night. A nice light smokiness, and a creamy quality, along with a bit of a smell of bacon (this led to the almost inevitable tasting note of Frazzles, as if anyone has actually eaten Frazzles recently enough to know what they actually taste like). An easy drinker, and it felt pleasantly familiar.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMkX_2iH5AVZEwe4CccKQizQoXDHpmaliSQC4DPT-WawjsEomCC23Dr1qa75tgcXJuUnilOuiYCk6isk8Lh_DYpr6aEcxD4X0vzXArIYOSILC6TonCopWzMXKSrbmrZLcbAXi1mkQmmIYgLzumHWoUE-NuFv4ewduNcPwKrwm2VLJbH8dYUk_O55d3A/s2016/IMG_6282.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMkX_2iH5AVZEwe4CccKQizQoXDHpmaliSQC4DPT-WawjsEomCC23Dr1qa75tgcXJuUnilOuiYCk6isk8Lh_DYpr6aEcxD4X0vzXArIYOSILC6TonCopWzMXKSrbmrZLcbAXi1mkQmmIYgLzumHWoUE-NuFv4ewduNcPwKrwm2VLJbH8dYUk_O55d3A/w150-h200/IMG_6282.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Arran</td></tr></tbody></table>In the breakout room I was in we guessed at a Talisker, and were proved right! It was the official 10-year-old, a 45.8% dram at a reasonable £44. Incredibly, we'd never had this particular standard bottling in almost a decade of club meetings.<p></p><p>Four started off very well. Very nice, woody, and perhaps just a tiny bit thin at first but overall very impressive once given a chance to savour it.</p><p>This was an Arran! The first new distillery in yonks when it came along in the 90s, now firmly established in the pantheon of Scottish whiskies. This was a no age statement Bodega sherry cask, 55.8% and at £54 very reasonably priced for a good quality cask strength drop. It's a minimum 7-year-old, and it was finished in first fill oloroso casks.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3LDTSWGtK6UxNllKVx5Oj6gaKXnOEYdIibsIbUNL5oH_h6ALKj3OnIBdEvyIgYXvqtYE2b4IZ9rdQrAwMRF2TAA8XXDBh2yCYju_-JbBY0CkAkJuazBl05p3gbzLF0K8cf7hKGULJNTYx04eCZvBLH-CajDQHksVtrCrL2XKzpYGQMLkkbd8Fe1D0g/s2016/IMG_6284.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3LDTSWGtK6UxNllKVx5Oj6gaKXnOEYdIibsIbUNL5oH_h6ALKj3OnIBdEvyIgYXvqtYE2b4IZ9rdQrAwMRF2TAA8XXDBh2yCYju_-JbBY0CkAkJuazBl05p3gbzLF0K8cf7hKGULJNTYx04eCZvBLH-CajDQHksVtrCrL2XKzpYGQMLkkbd8Fe1D0g/w150-h200/IMG_6284.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Raasay</td></tr></tbody></table>Next was dram number five and this immediately hit us as pleasant, although not perhaps as complex as the Arran we'd just enjoyed. The finish wasn't quite as long. But another easy drinker, and nice and warming too.<p></p><p>It turned out we'd visited one of the newest distilleries around, Raasay. This no age statement could only be just over 3-year-old, given the youth of the distillery itself. It's the R-02, and cost £50, clocking in at 46.4%. A blend of peated and unpeated, not that strong but despite that some felt a few drops of water really improved it. Well balanced, and lightly peated.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiQhee0VUArlAjuRH27xC_L6I-0W9N-eRi5lXgpE621rLOKGpCEtWuq7_vqjD7fsCV3rYzFPlJoPjy5vYYQK5IyEik_UMjWC7sUebzA90Ivs3yVKwsaaQZ5rP262eI5QlJkfPLYKsMRonjlJGkuIqvC7b7fFZzQDKgZhfyBpa9ZyWYSF4I3loXoug_g/s2016/IMG_6286.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiQhee0VUArlAjuRH27xC_L6I-0W9N-eRi5lXgpE621rLOKGpCEtWuq7_vqjD7fsCV3rYzFPlJoPjy5vYYQK5IyEik_UMjWC7sUebzA90Ivs3yVKwsaaQZ5rP262eI5QlJkfPLYKsMRonjlJGkuIqvC7b7fFZzQDKgZhfyBpa9ZyWYSF4I3loXoug_g/w150-h200/IMG_6286.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Torabhaig</td></tr></tbody></table>The final drink of the evening didn't get too much on the nose, beyond a bit of creaminess, almost like cream soda (another taste from the past you think you remember). A little bit insipid perhaps, more of an introductory whisky or, as someone suggested 'an easy drinking dram for the masses'. We kept expecting something more to be there, but it never quite came through.<p></p><p>This was a Torabhaig! The new, and second, distillery on Skye. The expression was an Alt Gleann Legacy Series, 46% and £49, the first 'normal' release from this distillery. Some of the drinkers in the other breakout rooms liked it more than my group did, and likened it to a Caol Ila. A light, thin, barbecue-friendly dram.</p><p>That brought us to the dram of the night voting: and it was a resounding win for number four, the Arran!</p><p>Thanks to Adam for leading us through another great selection, and to all club members for coming along virtually! Back to the Britons soon, hopefully.</p>Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12971810644294438168noreply@blogger.com0