What did you drink last night?

[Matt2]

May I jump in here .... the topic title is 'What did you drink last night' so it is fine to carry on with it if you want, posting details of what you drank last night.

If some of the messages have gone off-topic then start a new topic for them.

If you dont want to post to or read this topic then please don't, but let others continue to do so.

Basically - start a new topic, and don't put this topic down because an off-topic post got lost in the middle of it.

If you want to talk about what you had last night, then there are places to post your tasting notes.

YES, it is a topic called "What did you drink last night"

[Aidan]

Ok - I'll answer the particles question on another thread...

[Stephen]

i think this thread is meaningless but really relaxed, so i will still post some special drams i had recently.

Ardbeg Uigeadial
Ardbeg Uigeadial is strange,fruit fragrance is too few, but some woody and the similar Chinese native medicine fragrance instead. Although the sense of smell (leaf, wood) and the feeling in the mouth are actually rich (peat, acid, smoking, peppermint, tobacco), but the body punctures me very much, in the whole is uncoordinated. i think it is because of vatting the young and the old.

Longmorn 30yo 1973/2003 (56%, Millinnium Malt, Fresh Sherry Cask#3978) Mabye from Duncan Taylor
The fragrance is ultra nice, honey,wood, fresh sherry taste and natural sweetness, the feeling in the mouth is very rich, sweet, smoky,obviously bitter, the tobacco,the finish is very dry with the bitter taste, makes me comfortable. Could i have this dram, again?

[brian12069]

I like this thread...
Tried a little Eagle Rare 10 y.o. and JTS Brown B.I.B. 100 proof...both were enjoyable

[bamber]

Old Grandad 114 (neat)
WT Russell Reserve (neat)
Noah's Mill x 2 (neat)
Ardbeg 10YO (neat)
Macallan 10YO cask strength ( with water)
2 Glasses of water (neat)

Was on the verge of attempting to watch Big Brother. One more drink would have done it

[brian12069]

Last night was Saturday Night...Some friends came over and I had a Glass of Old Grand Dad 114 neat and a Glass of JTS Brown 100 neat...the Grand Dad is delicious

[Lawrence]

I've just returned from 8 days in Edinburgh, I played a very, very minor part in the 2004 Edinburgh Military Tattoo for the Canadian Scottish Regiment who's Pipes & Drums are participating for the very first time.

I noticed that some controversy (is this the WM online version of the FA scandal? ) about this post has arisen however I was not able to sign on in the UK to respond. I originally started this post because I was curious to see what people were drinking and to see what whiskies are available and where. The results have been very interesting and like most conversations it has it's highs and lows as it has evolved. As with most "products' in a free market the market decides what lives and dies.

What did I drink last night? Well I was on an airplane and I drank Johnnie Walker Black. I originally asked for a "scotch" and this dark amber scotch arrived that had a great nose, a sweet taste with some spice and a wonderful rounded mouth feel, it reminded me of what Macallan 12 used to be like before the current boring version came on the market. For my second, third and fourth drams (it was a long, long flight) I chose the JW Black over the only other choice of Glenfiddich. I was very surprised to find out that it was JW Black, like pre war intelligence reports, do you think JW Black has been sexed up?

I'm going to try the JW Black here and see if my results are the same or if possibly the canned environment of a Boeing 767 ER had some strange affect on my senses.

[bond]

Lawrence,

Presume your first dram was a J W Black too. Of late, I have been experiencing an eerie Macallan-like finish on J W Black. Blamed it initially on my ill-developed tasting skills. Procured the next bottle from a Duty Free in Turkey. Ditto results.

In a separate string Admiral had mentioned that Jim Murray has pointed to the deterioration of J W Black in recent times and I had opined that it could have something to do with the short supply of Lagavulin.

While I am not implying at any necessary inferiority, are we witnessing a subtle shift in the classic blend? Maybe awry sales forecasts compelling blenders to tinker around a bit?

[Lawrence]

I agree with you, I think they've gievn JW Black more body and a sweeter, rounder taste that has serious hints of an older Macallan. It is now a really nice dram. More importantly I found very little of the grain whisky, it seemed to be all malt.

[bamber]

I agree. It really is a very malty blend. Its also a great whisky and for for the money, I think it has no equal.

As for what's in it - I always taste Talisker.

[bond]

Agree about J W Black being a very malty blend. However, Talisker has a very coastal taste to it which I never seem to get in J W Black.

Am not sure if there is anything more than a smattering of powerful "monsters" in J W Black. "Smoothness" as opposed to "robustness" typifies the malt.

[Lawrence]

I sampled a few drams of JW Black last night and found almost the same taste as on the airpalne. As I wrote in a previous post I don't remeber JWB being such a flavourful malt, I have to come to the conclusion that they've improved the blend. I glad to see that several people around the world have come to the same conclusion.

[Lawrence]

Last night I tasted the Auchentoshan 21, I found it to be quite "spicy" in the taste and slightly peppery in the mouth feel. I experienced the same spiciness in the Glen Garioch 21 (to a much greater extent, itover powered the taste), the two are both owned by Morrison Bowmore so perhaps a similar cask was used for both? The nearest I can come to describing the taste is rye so I'm curious to know if they used some ex rye casks for the finishing?

[Stephen]

We had a "Super Vertical Bowmore Tasting" yesterday afternoon:

Bowmore Legend NAS (43%, OB, 200ml bottle)
Bowmore 12yo (43%, OB, 200ml bottle)
Bowmore Mariner 15yo (43%, OB)
Bowmore 17yo (43%, OB, 200ml)
Bowmore 21yo (43%, OB)
Bowmore 25yo (43%, 2003,OB)
Bowmore 30yo Sea Dragon Black Ceramic (43%, OB)
Bowmore 32yo 1968 S.P.Morrison 50yr Anniv. (45.5%, OB, 1860b.)
Bowmore 35yo 1968 Celtic Heartland (40.6%, Murray McDavid, 722b.)
Bowmore 33yo 1968/2001 (46.2%, Signatory vintage, cask#1431, 218b.)
Bowmore 35yo 1968/2003 (42.05%, Peerless, Cask#124, 201b.)

The conclusion, old(above 30yo) bourbon cask Bowmore is really nice and different from those standard products below 30yo.

[Lawrence]

Stephen, what a great Bowmore tasting! I'm impressed that you managed to walk after such an Olympian feat. Would you please tell me what the 50th Anniversary Bowmore 1968 32 year old was like? We have two bottles for our Club that we have not tried yet which will be part of a mini vertical as we have a SMWS Bowmore to taste along side it.

[Stephen]

Lawrence, you are really a specialist. Bowmore 32yo 1968 S.P.Morrison 50yr Anniv. is the champion.

I copy my friend's tasting note.
Bowmore 32yo 1968 S.P.Morrison 50yr Anniv. (45.5%, OB, 1860b.)

Golden color. It must be bourbon casks. Citrus fruit, heather, peat, mint again! Very touching, no talk for quite a long time. It can be observed that every body like this malt. Denis is good at wine but quite a beginner at Single Malt. He adds a very good comment: How can it be so old but still give you the feeling it’s so refreshing? I think that’s also what I found in this malt. You feel it seems so powerful and charming. You feel the malt want to demonstrate it’s unique personality. You know immediately this is the winner by no doubt. I love it. Score: 93. (S:94, H:92, D:90, B:A~A+)

After having it, i understood what Jim McEwan pursue, it's the spirit of his teacher James McColl.

[Lawrence]

Thanks Stephen, it's always some thing to see when you pour a dram for a group and there's a long period of silence. We'll be tasting the Bowmore 50th in a few months.

[bamber]

A moving house and my girlfriend is insistent that all the nearly finished bottles of sctoch and bourbon get finished. Luckily a friend is staying over to decorate and help drink whisky:

Bowmore 12YO
Bowmore Darkest
Auchentoshan 10YO
Knockando 12YO
Glenfiddich 12YO
Glenfiddich 15YO
JW Black Label

That Auchentoshan is pretty hard going especially when it is old and oxidised.

I think top marks to the Bowmore Darkest and Glenfiddich 15YO

[brian12069]

"A moving house"? ...I guess my house would be moving after all that booze too!...lol

[bamber]

lol

Looks like that whsiky has messde with my tpying.

[Lawrence]

The Bowmore Darkest seems to be a favourite with a great many people. Bowmore has hit on the right balance of sherry and peat, it's quite a nice dram, even without and age statement. However maltmadness.com has it listed on his sh*t list with a score of 55/100, you can't please everybody all the time

[brian12069]

last night...Rip Van Winkle 10 year 107.... very tastey!

[Matt2]

Last night I carried on my peaty quest and ended up drinking Lagavulin 16 year old. Wow, thats a beast of a whisky, nice but intense. Like a Laphroaig on steroids. A few pints of Summer Lightning real ale went down quite nicely in between. Thanks to the great 'Fat Cat' pub in Norwich.

[bamber]

The Bowmore Darkest seems to be a favourite with a great many people. Bowmore has hit on the right balance of sherry and peat, it's quite a nice dram, even without and age statement. However maltmadness.com has it listed on his sh*t list with a score of 55/100, you can't please everybody all the time

I noticed that too. He's probably got one of those infamous 'Bad Bowmores'

[peatreek1]

While having my electricty out as the result of Hurricane Charley for the past 5 days, I felt blessed in that my preferred drink is neat malt whisky, which one can enjoy under almost any circumstances. Sitting quietly in shade with a sea breeze, book, and glass of whisky was quit tolerable.

It just happens that Bowmore darkest was one of my choices (great stuff if you don't get a bad bottle). I was also drinking some Dalmore 12, Ardberg 10, and Aberlour 15 sherry .

[Lawrence]

We've discussed this in other threads (so I'm not sure if some people would allow it to be discussed here) and it seems that Bowmore has been very up and down lately. Hope fully they will smooth out the taste to maintain their reputation.

Last night I had a dram or two ot the Glenfarclas 12 year old. A very nice dram with a pleasant dark color, sherry on the nose and in the taste with a slight hint of sulphur, not enough to spoil the dram but just enough to make re examine it. Still a very nice dram for a 12 year old.

[hpulley]

I too have had absolutely wonderful and horribly dreadful bottles of Bowmore Darkest, Mariner, et al. The last Bowmore I had, a 12yo, was quite good so I am about ready to try Darkest again. This time if its bad I'm taking it right back to the store rather than hoping it would get better like last time.

Harry

[Lawrence]

I've found the new paper label Bowmore 12 to be quite floral on the nose and taste, this is a departure from the older "stenciled" label Bowmore 12's of the past which had more of a sherry influence. I do not like it, a floral Islay is not to my taste.

[clayton jr]

Poured my first couple drams of Macallan Cask Strength (the US version with the bright red label) last night. I found it to have strong notes of molasses and apple. Quite rich and rather good.

[MAMS]

I've spent the last few hours sipping a Glenturret 15yo that I bought about 5 years ago during a distillery trip.

What a wonderful Whisky and it WAS a wonder Distillery to visit, oh how they have ruined it with the Grouse.

[Lawrence]

Last night I tried the OB Glen Garioch 10, it was very nice at 43%, lots of sherry flavour with a good balance in the taste and mouth feel. It's curious how the 21 can be so seriously different, a different wood regime I presume. I finished off the evening with a couple of Macallan 18's.....

[bond]

Bowmore 12 it was last night... sampled this malt after a while and it certainly has gotten a lot more coastal on the finish..

This is also a bid to revive what used to be one of the most active threads till a few weeks ago...

Have some negative comments on the existence of this thread scared us away? Or are we drinking less of late? The latter seems a scary thought!

[hpulley]

Just forgetting to post, no shortage of malts here!

Opened a few fresh bottles recently, some new to me and others just replacement bottles.

The other day I sampled the first dram out of a new bottle for me, a 17yo '85 UCF Bladnoch from the Dun Bheagan Vintage Bottling series. It has a lovely nose of malty cereal, toasted butter and grass but the body is light; the finish is nice and dry. Not the most wonderful Bladnoch I've had but just opened so it may get better and makes a nice apertif and dinner dram.

I've already mentioned the Bowmore Darkest. I opened it again a couple of nights ago and it has opened up a bit but is still not as good as I remember the good bottles as being. It is, however, head and shoulders above the 'bad years' so I'm not complaining too heavily yet. With added water this dram 'collapses' to a very weak version with nothing good to add, not uncommon with sherry finished drams.

The Darkest was sampled after the first dram of another bottle of 15yo Bruichladdich. Lovely stuff, I do love that age of it and now wonder again if I shouldn't try the 20yo? The 15yo has a nice hint of peat smoke with vegetative and sweet sherry notes, a nice syrupy body and a good finish. It is a lighter islay but that meant I enjoyed it before and during dinner.

Last night I opened another new one for me, another from the Dun Bheagan Vintage Bottling series, a 23yo '80 UCF 49% Brora, about which I wrote:

Nose: still kind of closed but some peat, some stale rolling cigarette tobacco, some light soapy notes (could be the glass, my wife cleaned it, will confirm next time)

Body: medium strength, some peat, some spice, not a lot going on

Finish: a real zinger, spicy peat, takes a second to kick in but then lasts a very long time.

So far I'd say I hope it improves with opening; perhaps it needs some water.

So, of 5 recently opened bottles (if I include the '89 10yo Hedges & Butler Clynelish I also opened recently and may have failed to mention in this thread) only two have been good right away, the 10yo Clynelish and the 15yo Bruichladdich. The Bladnoch, Bowmore and Brora I'm hoping will open up which is not a good sign really -- at tastings usually fresh bottles are opened and I'd likely have given all three a pass under such circumstances while the Laddie and 'lish are winners from the first pour. Oh well, such is the adventure of malt whisky drinking in Canada where tastings are few and far between.

Harry

[Lawrence]

Last night I had an Aberlour 10 which needs no introduction, just a little water. It's interesting to read someof the older books by JM and MJ and to read of the rising fortunes of Aberlour.

Since it was a night out and the end of a week of challenges I then moved onto the OB Clynelish 14, I must say this is a distillery that I am having more and more respect for, it's a very nicley balanced dram with lovely smokey peaty notes and a spicy mouth feel.

And then I finished off with a Bowmore 25 (the best of the current line up IMHO) with a hint of water and it was a double becuase somebody treated me to it!

[bond]

Began with some cask strength Glenmorangie last night. Perhaps the only cask strength whisky where I would not recommend adding any water since water seems to kill the dram completely.

Moved on to an Ardbeg 10yo (non chill filtered). This was easily the star of the evening. The Laphroaig 10yo which followed the Ardbeg seemed to have lost its medicinal character completely. Me thinks this was an incorrect order to follow.

In fact, mixing malts (even Islays) does not seem like a great idea unless of course one is having a vertical session.