What did you drink last night?

[cathach]

Redbreast 12yo yer only man!!

[Dubois]

Auchentoshan 10 Yrs

[Deactivated Member]

balvenie signature

ash .

[Jobi]

The coldest day of the year so far called out for Laga 16.

[Dubois]

Edradour 10 Yrs

[MacAttack80]

The Balvenie 10yo Founder's Reserve
Talisker 10yo

[Knolly]

Laphroaig 10
followed by
Laphroaig QC
followed by
Laphroaig CS
followed by
Brora 30

Last Saturday I opened a bottle of tequila that we bought after touring the distillery in Mexico. I dont have the name of the bottle but its 100% blue agave which is suppose to be the best tequila you can have. This one is golden color in a square bottle. The taste is very smooth. I taste a grassy aftertaste which I think is the agave. Its better being sip a little bit at a time.

And followed it with a dram of #21 A'bunadh.

There are lots of 100% agave tequilas in that come in square or rectangular bottles, but this one wasn't El Tesoro by any chance was it? Good tequilas are as good as good whiskies and the best tequilas are equally as great as the best whiskies - yummy!

[Deactivated Member]

Just a little snifter of Bladnoch new make for me last night.

[Swedish Chef]

Scapa 14
Auchentoshan 12
Glenfiddich 12
Glenfiddich 18
Springbank 10
Nikka 10
Lagavulin 16
Talisker 18
Laphroaig 10
Caol Ila 12
Bowmore 12

[Ryguy]

Glenmorangie 13yo ( 56.9%, SMWS, Cask #125.15, June-1995/June-2008 )

Nose: Lots of wonderful sweet stuff, a whiff of maple syrup, also vanilla, and fresh apple bread.

Palate: Very smooth and sweet, lots of honey and candied fruits.

Finish: Really long and great. Very sweet and lasting, I'm a big one on sweets, so this was like candy in a bottle for me!!

Excellent cask!!

[Deactivated Member]

Sounds good. Gordon was saying last night he loves the Glenmo casks from SMWS.

[Ryguy]

Sounds good. Gordon was saying last night he loves the Glenmo casks from SMWS.

It was very good, now I understand what Gordon's meant. You can't even compare this to the Glenmo OB's. Excellent!

[Gilles Deleuze]

Great notes, Ryan, thanks!

As long as it's not sickly sweet or anything, if that makes sense, then I may have to get one of these.

[Ryguy]

Great notes, Ryan, thanks!

As long as it's not sickly sweet or anything, if that makes sense, then I may have to get one of these.

OK keep in mind, you're talking to the guy who can drink Canadian maple syrup out of a can, so there is no such thing as too sweet for me. Seriously though, I don't remember it being overpowering sweet. I'll try it again tonight and report.

[UUNetBill]

HP 21. After a big dinner in which too much good wine was served. Probably didn't need the nightcap...

Big difference between 'want' and 'need' - but it's all good.

Speaking of good, SM, I finally had a chance to eliminate yet another of the samples you provided - the HP 18 3/5 Lunar - nice dram, wrote it up in Peat Freak's notes, will try and post 'em here when I have a chance on the other computer.

Reminded me of why I love HP so much!

[Dubois]

Glenfarclas 17 Yrs

[Deactivated Member]

I tried Pulteney 17yo last night, and very nice it was too.

[Deactivated Member]

If you want to know what I was drinking last night, you can often find it posted here: http://www.whiskymag.com/forum ... hp?f=2&t=6

[Willie JJ]

Very subtle Nick

[Hereward]

Jura 10, Lagavuilin 16 and early to bed. Tonight, on the other hand...

[Klas]

First, Tamnavulin 12 then a PE 7th Annual Release

Both are getting low, so I'm concentrating on them....

PE 7th release: I am still waiting for the right moment to open mine.
mmmm..
How did it compare to the previous releases?

Last night I had a HP21 together with my wife. She liked it.

[Swedish Chef]

I decided to kill my Caol Ila 12, Laphroaig 10 and Springbank 10.

[jimidrammer]

Last night I was lamenting the loss of some co-workers in a third round of cutbacks this year. The dregs of a '72 Glenrothes was the toast of the evening. All will be sorely missed.

[Sherried Malt]

HP 21. After a big dinner in which too much good wine was served. Probably didn't need the nightcap...

Big difference between 'want' and 'need' - but it's all good.

Speaking of good, SM, I finally had a chance to eliminate yet another of the samples you provided - the HP 18 3/5 Lunar - nice dram, wrote it up in Peat Freak's notes, will try and post 'em here when I have a chance on the other computer.

Reminded me of why I love HP so much!

Glad you enjoyed it! I find it to be a mood malt; I have to be in the right mood for it. Definitely not typical of the HP range, IMHO...

[Sherried Malt]

I had an HP 12 which was followed by Springbank 16yo RumWood.

[kwellada]

Last night was "cheap night" as my girlfriend and I finished off a Ballantine's 12 Year Old, which was a gift from someone. Not something I'd go out of my way to purchase myself, but it was a pleasant enough bottle for evening sippage.

The night before was considerably better:
Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel - just more proof Balvenie does no wrong in my book.
Caol Ila 15 Year Old Wilson & Morgan bottling (cask strength) - one of the better Islays I've tried. When I got the bottle months ago, it didn't really win me over, but more recent sippings have found it to be very very pleasing. The best part to me is the wonderful lingering finish that stays in my mouth for a half hour or so afterwards.

[Knolly]

Ardbeg Uigeadail. This was my first go at the more recent bottlings as all of my previous bottles were the flip top kind. Quite different from the earlier bottles, but still very yummy

[Sir Dino]

I had the last dram of my Strathisla (G&M, 1963-2005, 40%)...

Wonderful old whisky... Lots of wood, sweetness, sherry... Very delicious!
I hope I'll get a bottle again...

[Dubois]

Bowmore 17 Yrs

[whiskyhibby]

Ardbeg Uigeadail - One of the classics, like drinking soft peaty Islay water with a little bite.

As for tonight possibly Glenrothes 1994 or Springbank 15 , or perhaps both

[TreacleSponge]

Ardbeg Beisty and Longmorn CV. The comparison really brought out the earthiness of the Longmorn and the fruit and nut chocolate sweetness of the Ardbeg.

[Jobi]

HP 30 and SMWS 50.35. Both just fantastic.

[Dubois]

Bowmore Dawn

[Sherried Malt]

Waaay too much syrah over dinner (8 bottles for 7 people), so no sms for me. I've learned my lesson!

[Muskrat Portage]

What did I drink last night you ask? Well, it was our annual tasting on Wooden Lake and a group of 9 of us joined together to share and enjoy some fine whiskies from Speyside together. Some have been tasted before and some are very hard to access now in Ontario. We enjoyed an evening of fine single malts and cameraderie surrounded by the wilds of Northern Ontario.

This was our fifth annual tasting and the 12th one that I've organised over the last half decade. (Not including my annual New Years Eve celebration with a special bottle and a couple of close friends)

With no further ado, here's what our evening comprised of:

"Banffshire Beauties" First flight - Glenfarclas

Glenfarclas 12 yo
Colour: Old gold
Nose: Honey with a hint of pepper
Body; Long and rich, fullbodied
Palate: Rich and full with a hint of spicyness
Finish: Warming and Spicy with a long hot finish

Glenfarclas 15
Colour :Reddish gold to amber
Nose: Sweeter on the nose that the 12, spicy odours
Body: A bit richer than the 12
Palate : Spicy and smooth, it sneaks up on you
Finish: Lovely spicy warming finish, a bit peppery.
Gallery Comment: "Like nylon stockings and high heels on this one, more refined"...
"Jesus Murphy this is good sh_ _ !"


Glenfarclas 17 yo
Colour: Deeper reddish gold
Nose: Complex with honey and floral yet velvety. Has the same "family nose" but with more depth.
Body: Longer and slow flowing
Palate: Velvety toffee
Finish: Honeyed and sweet with a warming spiciness but less heat than the 15.
Gallery comment: "We preferred the 15 overall" "Order at least 4 if you ever find it. One for me you and him and a spare for me"


Glenfarclas 21 yo
Colour: Pale reddish gold
Nose: A bit floral but no family finish in the nose.
Body: Full bodied as expected with a Glenfarcli.
Palate: A bit musky with a bit of a spicy bite.
Finish: A long finish with a spicy warmth but milder than the 17 yo.
Gallery Comment: Sort of like the mustiness when being intimate.
(wasn't actually said like that but it's been cleaned up a bit)

Glenfarclas 25 yo
Colour: Pale gold with reddish hints
Nose: Tangerine, orangery
Body: Long legged with fishnet stockings and stilettos.
Palate: Prickly on the tongue caused me personally to drool in response, yummy.
Finish: Toffee, spicy, honey long mostly spicy finish.
Gallery comment: Mighty spicy.

Glenfarclas Cask 105
Colour: Deep reddish almost amber.
Nose: Barley with a lot of alcohol nose prickle
Body: A typical Glenfarcli, long and slow.
Palate: Sweet and spicy with barley, some salt (surprisingly) and a slight hint of nutmeg.
Finish: Short and spicy finish.
Gallery comment: "Not as full bodied and wonderful as memory held"

A short repast was had with honey wings (homemade), Imperial cheese, cheddar cheese , crackers, saltines, a meat tray, fresh breads, butter, a vegetable platter with onion dip. The glasses were charged for the next flight once I'd finished the luncheon and we rolled back into the second part of the evening.

"Banffshire Beauties" Second Flight - the Aberlour Stable:

Aberlour 10 yo
Colour: Medium gold
Nose; Floral scents
Body: Medium
Palate: Honey and grain with a medicinal and floral taste.
Finish: Short but spicy and warming

Aberlour 12 yo
Colour: A bit deeper gold
Nose: Heather notes
Body: Medium body which slowly drizzles down the glass.
Palate : Sweet toffee with a nutty hint
Finish: Medium spicy finish.

Aberlour 16 yo
Colour: Golden with hints of red, a burnished gold.
Nose: Honey in the nose.
Body: Medium weight body, not a heavy hitter.
Palate: Sweet, redolent of honey and a bit malty
Finish: Lovely long warming finish.

"The dessert drams" We were each given a plate with chocolate fudge, nougat, pecan pie, dark dark chocolate and a small bar of dark chocolate to compare to the following drams.

Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 23 (2008) 60.2% abv

Colour: Deep reddish gold
Nose: Heather, floral scents and nutty
Body: Lovely and heavy
Palate: Marzipan, honey butterscotch and toffee were all there
Finish: Warming and spicy
Gallery Comment: Not really terrific 'though, rather less than expected.
Musky comment: My personal least favorite of the A'Bunadh group. I saved a bit from the 6 and re tasted them to finalise my choices for top and bottom candidates.

Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 18 (2006) 59.7% abv

Colour: Deep reddish gold
Nose: Honey toffee and heather
Body: Heavy, very slow and heavy
Palate: Toffee in the finish, smoother than the batch 23.
Finish: Warming and spicy finish with strong honeyed notes.
Musky comment: Near the bottom of my preferences to sample again.

Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 15 (2005) 59.6 % abv

Colour: Reddish gold
Nose: sweet toffeeness with honeyed notes almost like pecan pie. (Which we each had a slice of to compare with the drams.
Body: Flowing and drizzly
Palate: Sweet and spicy with honeyed notes
Finish: Medium long and spicy finish, alcohol prickle as well.
Musky comment: Middle of the pack I preferred the batch 7 over this one. A special thanks to J.H. for making this one available as I'd missed it when it was at the local LCBO a number of years ago.

Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 14 (2005) 59.5% abv

Colour: Yep, reddish gold
Nose: Toffee just like the sample, yummy
Body: Heavy body, flows like lava
Palate: Sweet and honeyish with a mild spiciness. Winnie the Pooh would approve.
Finish: A medium weight spicy finish. Not long enough by far.
Musky comment: My number two favorite.

Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 13 (2004) 59.8 % abv

Colour: a deep reddish gold slightly darker than the batch 14
Nose: Heavy with toffee and honeyed notes and nougat.
Body: Heavy and rich like the rest.
Palate: Fudge and pecan notes with a honeyed sweetness
Finish: Honey and sweet with fudge, pecan pie and dark chocolate notes all rolled into the experience. Wonderful, wonderful.
Musky comment: My top pick for the A'Bunadh stable tasted tonight... and I own it!


Aberlour A'Bunadh Batch 7 (2000) 59.9 % abv

Colour: a very deep reddish gold, the deepest of the lot.
Nose: Heather and honey notes.
Body: Definitively full bodied
Palate: Rich and filling with a long warming toffee flavour to enjoy.
Finish: A shorter finish that is redolent of honey sweetishness, a nice warming finish although I prefer the batch 13 better marginally.
Musky comment: My third favorite of the A'Bunadh's. A very big thanks to G.P. for being able to hold onto this particular sample for so very long.
Group comment: Whisky, unlike women, at least has an end. (I couldn't believe he said this so had to put it in!)

...and that was our evening of fine whisky and good friends. A driver had been laid on after the end of the festivities so we were all able to either get home safely or avail ourselves of the hosts' generous offer to spend the evening. I returned this morning and it appears the party continued on, with a round of darts and several more drams having been enjoyed in our absence.

I cannot stress enough that when planning and holding any sort of function, that overnighting arrangements or a designated driver be set up in advance to ensure everyone is able to get home safely.

Muskrat Portage