Tastes

Tasted this at Whiskylive NJ, alongside @Richard-ModernDrinking. Pretty good nose, but falls apart in palette. Not sure I’d buy a bottle...instead I’d go for the Edition 2 or 3

We all have some sort of a bucket list...one of those things that as you get older in life, you start to realize that there’s a world of experiences that await you. I’ve had a list ranging from food experiences ( street food in Chiang Mai) to travel ( going to the foothills of the Himalayas), to accomplishments ( write a book). Having a sample from every active Scottish distillery was actually on that list too. So....today is the day. Today is the day that I can finally cross off having a sample from every active Scottish whisky distillery. An idea concieved and organized by my friend @LeeEvolved over 18 months ago. We put together a small team. We searched far and wide for hard to get distillery samples ( Abhain Dearg, for example). We had an amazing tracking sheet with macros that provides a dashboard of stats. And we provided really interesting ‘extra’ samples that ranged from gems like Hibiki 21, Macallan Rare Cask Black, and Highland Park 25, just to keep things interesting. So...today is the day I can finally say I’ve tried a sample from every active distillery in Scotland. 18 months to do it...but, we did it. Anyway...Onto the tasting of this...surprisingly good...vanilla, honey. Flora and Faunas seldom disappoint...and this is no exception. Thanks to @Telex for the pour!!

Second to the last sample from our SDT tour, this one provided by @Generously_Paul . Perspective is an amazing thing. In Scotland, 7 years is young and needs more time in the cask, generally speaking. In Kentucky, 7 years is about right. In India, those Amruts and Paul Johns rarely see such a mature age. In keeping with party lines, for this one, I felt 7 was too young and would’ve benefited from a few more years in the cask. Nose starts off well, but the palette is simply too hot despite what seems as manageable ABV in principle. I needed to flush this with ice to take away that heat. It wasn’t the good heat, as what you get out of an young peated Islay...but the raw heat you get from roughness. Good attempt, but just a tad too brash for me.

Finally getting back into these samples from SDT, after 2 weeks of vacation through the English lakes and countryside. This one here is provided courtesy of @LeeEvolved . Another distillery I’ve never heard of, but unlike the other unknowns, I actually really like this one. Maybe it’s the age, maybe the bottler (Samaroli always had a keen eye for good casks), or it’s just me finally being back home from two weeks abstinence (not counting the samples at Lakes and Cotswolds Distillery). Nuts and fruits galore, this one. Think taking a bunch of roasted hazelnuts, mixing it with strawberry with clotted cream ( which by the way is AMAZING in England’s Cotswold District!). Not sure what Lee paid for it, but if the price is reasonable (< $150), it’s a pretty good 22yr old Speysider. Thanks Lee for the pour!

I’m having this at the Lakes Distillery in northern Lakes District. Amazing views and equally amazing drive up through craggy peaks, valleys dotted with sheep, and glimmering lakes. You go through these single car lanes through some of the most picturesque parts of England...just breathtakingly beautiful. The distillery itself is located in a dreamy setting, nestled between peaks and valleys. So...unfortunately, this pour isn’t much to speak of...grainy and sweet, a mix of English whiskey matured in sherry cask. Easily forgettable...but the drive up from Keswick was anything but forgettable. Pass on the whiskey, definitely do the drive.

Having this at the distillery in Cotswold...for young 3 yr old malt, really well made with all local ingredients. Taste further enhanced by the local Cotswold vistas...

Another Colorado only pour I sampled this week during a business trip. This one was really good...for a mashbill of 100% rye, I guess I expected something really spicy and hot, maybe like biting directly into a rye seed itself. I was wrong...incredibly floral and light, almost as if there was wheat in there. For $6/pour, highly recommended! I’ll be looking for a bottle during my next visit here

Tried at a local pub this week during a business trip to Denver. $8/pour, quite expensive...not sure I’d buy again or buy a full bottle. Didn’t really come across as “peated”, felt more like a light speysider instead. Faint aromas of shortbread; palette is sweet, like corn candy with a touch of oak. Interesting to try a local only whiskey.

Seriously? This is 23 yr old? It’s like a kid you just put through 4 years of college, then 2 years of graduate degree, only to find him sitting around all day on your sofa eating chips and watching Oprah. Such a disappointment for his age. Until @LeeEvolved provided a pour of this for our final SDT round, I’d not even heard of this distillery. Apparently it’s just a front for Balvenie to send second rate stuff over into blends. I had this with about 1/2 teaspoon of water. I got a nice floral nose, like Balvenie. But for me, it all fell apart in the palette. Weak green apples and some honey. I don’t know...seriously, for 23 yr old Speysider, I’d expect much more. Thanks Lee—-good to know and experience.

Lord almighty..this one packs a punch! It’ll grow some chest hair on you, gender agnostic. Imagine a huge orange cinnamon gateau. Then imagine topping it with more cinnamon. And some dark cherries. Now leap into it, face first. This one here ain’t for the faint of heart rose wine drinkers. You gotta let it sit for a while, and just have the juice calm down a bit. Then add some ice. Maybe one large one. Take that bad boy 62%ABV down a bit...it’s almost at that fiery Amrut Greedy Angles territory otherwise. Once you let it settle down, sit back and enjoy the deep sherry dark chocolate flavors. If I had to knock it a bit, I’d almost say it’s a tad over done...as if the chef fell asleep, and suddenly woke up smelling smoke coming out of the oven. If it was just a wee bit less in the cask (how often do you hear that?), this would’ve been amazing. Either way...cheers to @Generously_Paul for providing this rare treat...hardly 1000 bottles available, so I’m that much more grateful.