We had another fine scotch tasting, this time hosted by DB. Thank you very much Dave we appreciate you generous hospitality. As usual there was plenty of fine food to help us absorb the drinks were were about to consume. KB brought this fine platter of grilled veggies and DB grilled up some mean beef tenderloin.
Below are our tasting glasses. Just simple little glasses with our names on them to keep track and KB does a good job filling them up for us.
On to the first tipple... As usual we started with a non-peat, non-cask strength whisky. Today we started with the Auchentoshan 12 year old (40% acl/vol). Thumbs up all around and the consensus was that this whisky is a great all occasion whisky that would be a great starter whisky for those who were novices to the world of whisky. It had a lovely buttery texture with some caramel sweetness. Who in the world would not like that??? This is an older bottle and KB seemed to think that newer versions were not as good. Perhaps that could be a comparison we could do next time!
Next we wanted to compare two different expressions of Aberlour. The Aberlour A'bunadh has always been a favourite and we have had the 10 year old and the 12 year old but for some of us had never had the 16 year old. The 10 year old has a 43% alc/vol and the 16 year old was only 40% alc/vol. The version in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible had the 16 year old at 43%. Odd that they would bottle at different levels. What can you say about Aberlour? They always deliver!!! These two were had only slightly different flavour notes. As the 16 year old was similar in price to the A'bunadh and the 10 year old is almost half the price. I think even though the 16 year old was marginally better the 10 year old delivers more bang for the buck!
Ah now to the prestigious Macallan!!!! Surely this Select Oak expression (no age statement) would be everything you expect from a Macallan. Surely it would have all the expressive and impressive flavour notes that you always seem to get from Macallan. And surely this would be another excellent whisky that the Highlanders would be proud of. Sigh.... what a let down. Ok it was not "bad" but with such high expectations surrounding the name Macallan the general consensus around the room was "meh, it's ok". BM was the only one who said "That's good" but he's a novice to the world of whisky. He said that about almost all of the samplings. I guess it's all about expectations.
I had forgotten we tried this last time and what can I say? We love Ben Riach. Personally I prefer their peated expressions but even the unpeated provides enough character that even of George R.R. Martin got a hold of a few there would still be enough left to please even the most discerning whisky drinker.
What would a night of tasting be if all the whiskies were great whiskies? This is where the Fettercairn fits in. Maybe it was better when it was Old Fettercairn before Whyte and Mackay took over the distillery???? It's good to have something to compare. I can't say it was bad, it just did not taste like anything. Has about as much to say as a political speech. Lots of talk but no substance.
When people talk about how fabulous Macallan whiskies are, THIS is the kind of Macallan they were talking about!!!! No age statement, 58.6% alc/vol. This whisky is a monster!!! Opens up with a nose something reminiscent of bananas foster with the flame still going as it hits your tongue. The honey sweetness stays with you long after it's gone.
On to the peat!!! Talisker Dark Storm. Appropriately named because so many flavours are thrashing around in your mouth. The non-peat drinkers were not impressed and it caught our novice off guard. I thought it has a slightly briny, charred citrus nose with a bit of chilli heat. Not quite as much peat as I expected but still plenty to satisfy the peat lovers.
The award for the most interesting whisky of the night surely goes to this Murray McDavid version of Bunnahabhain. It got some mixed reactions from very good to very bad. Some thought it had nose and taste of charcoal briquettes soaked in lighter fluid and not the good smell after you light it, the bad smell before you light it! There was a distinct charred flavour notes but beyond that there was more lurking beneath all that smoke. A bit like slightly burnt chocolate chip cookies.
How can you go wrong with a 12 year old cask strength Lagavulin??? Even those who are not fans of peat loved this well peated whisky. Earthy straw with green apples. I can almost smell the seaweed splashing up against the rocks somewhere on the west cost of Scotland.
I love Ardbeg. Every Ardbeg I have had I absolutely loved. The Ardbeg Supernova is no exception. At 60.1% Alc/vol it is a big big whisky. Cigars and new leather on the nose, and a full peppery peaty body with a long long long spicy finish with a hint of coffee bitterness.
La pièce de résistance!!! BenRiach 18 year old cask strength, 56.7 alc/vol. Of all the whiskies of the night this was my absolute favourite. It has a sweet peatiness. Soft fruit and spice with plenty of smoke that seems to linger forever like a really good cigar.
Now tell me about the tipple that you sampled recently!
Until next time!
Slàinte
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