1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s & 80s whisky tasting Edinburgh

[jmrl]

7.30pm Wednesday May 14th Tollbooth Tavern, Royal Mile, Edinburgh £29/26*

An opportunity to time travel through 5 decades of whiskies.

1940s - Glen Calder blend Gordon & MacPhail 40% 40yo 1949

1950s - Glen Gordon single Highland malt Gordon & MacPhail 40% 1958-96

1960s - Caledonian single grain single cask Clan Denny 43.7% 40yo 1965

1970s - Ardmore single cask Cadenheads Nov. 1977 - June 1996 18yo 59.3%

1980s - Bowmore single cask Cadenheads 1989 - April 2007 14yo 46%

Mystery dram - could be anything as long as it is recognised as whisky in some part of the galaxy, regardless of the Scotch Whisky Association.

The drams can be posted out to those that canot atttend.

Tickets from Mark Tel. 0044 (0)131 556 5864 or chws@wmcadenhead.com

[jmrl]

Glen Calder was quite the charmer. 1949 and 40yo. This must be a record. Anybody know of anything as old as this from such an early vintage? Bargain at less than £200. Good old G & M. 40% though. Tut. Winner with 45% of 'best of night' vote

Glen Gordon 1958 38yo 40%. Second most popular with 36%. More sherry but so well balanced. As usual age well underguessed. Balvenie was to be called Glen Gordon. Coincidence? GORDON & MacPhail again. Bargain again. 40% again.

Mystery malt:- Ankara Turkish viski. By itself it stands up better than when in the UEFA cup line up of the two previous, so more RB Farhquar Highland League. No votes

1965 Caledonian 40yo. Not so sweet, smooth or delicate as similarly aged grains on the go at the moment but interesting opportunity to build the picture of the category. Caledonian hardly ten a penny either. 9%

Cadenheads Ardmore 1977 18yo cask strength. Needed much water before character emerged from alcohol attack. Meaty/leathery body but lightish too.
Quite a paradox. 9%

Cadenheads Bowmore 14yo 46%. After the different styles I think we were all looking for something like this to round the night off. Job done. Bowmore from independents tends to be much more in your face than standard bottlings. Not a bad thing. 9%

Conclusion. Drink the old stuff now when its still available. Closed distillery bottlings are finite.

Next tasting (anonymous cask strength Islays) is sold out so nothing until Thursday June 19th £20/17*:-

North of Scotland closed single grain 1972 34yo 52.3% MWBH

Michel Couvrier single malt clearach 43% (less than 3yo from sherry casks)

Glen Fraser 21yo 40% sherry casked

Talisker 25yo 57.8% bottled 2004

Haig bottled 1950s

mystery dram

Mail order available for £3 P & P

still sets from 1940s to 80s tasting available

* £3 discount for first timers/members. Membership £20 for 13 months then £5 for next 13 then free. (or £17 initially including two lidded Cadenheads nosing glasses and Cadenheads caraf)

[Willie JJ]

I couldn't make the above tasting due to a another engagement

However I do have the drams

I will post notes as I work my way through them.