2009 Monthly Distilleries

[Ganga]

Talisker has already been voted in for January. I have elminated previous Live Tasting distilleries. Also, as suggested, closed/silent/demolished distilleries and very difficult distilleries have been removed. Closed/demolished/silent distilleries will be done as a special tastings.

Please post your 11 choices for February through December 2009 Monthly Distillery Tastings. The 11 distilleries that receive the most votes will be selected for the year. If in the even there is a tied for 11th, a two-day runoff will be done. Vote closes on January 10th (Talisker Live Tasting).

Here is your list of distilleries.

Aberfeldy
Ardmore
Arran
Auchentoshan
Auchroisk
Aultmore
Balblair
Balmenach
Balvenie
Ben Nevis
Benriach
Benrinnes
Benromach
Blair Athol
Bowmore
Brackla
Bruichladdich
Bunnahabhain
Cardhu
Clynelish
An Cnoc/Knockdhu
Cragganmore
Craigellachie
Dailuaine
Dalmore
Dalwhinnie
Deanston
Drumguish/Speyside
Edradour
Fettercairn
Glenallachie
Glenburgie
Glencadam
Glen Deveron/Macduff
Glendronach
Glendullan
Glen Elgin
Glenfarclas
Glen Garioch
Glengoyne
Glen Grant
Glenkinchie
Glenlossie
Glenmorangie
Glen Moray
Glen Ord
Glenrothes
Glen Scotia
Glenturret
Inchgower
Jura
Knockando
Linkwood
Loch Lomond/Old Rhosdu/Inchmurrin and a few more
Lochnagar
Longmorn
Mannochmore
Miltonduff
Oban
Pulteney
Scapa
Speyburn
Strathisla
Strathmill
Tamdhu
Tamnavulin
Teaninich
Tobermory/Ledaig
Tomatin
Tomintoul
Tormore
Tullibardine

[Dram fine idea]

Here's my 11 (feels like I'm picking a football (soccer) team)

Arran, Balblair, Balvenie, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Clynelish, Glenmorangie, Longmorn, Scapa (who is surprised at that??), Tomintoul and Tullibardine.

[Ganga]

Thanks DFI. Interesting selection of whiskies.

[TreacleSponge]

We did Balvenie in March. I don't mind doing it again but if you're trying to exclude whiskies done this year...

[Dram fine idea]

Well spotted TS, I'm quite happy to substitute (another football (soccer) reference) Glen Moray (good team player) and take Balvenie off the pitch for not following tactical instructions from the management team

[Ganga]

Thank you TS. If anyone sees any others like Balvenie, please ignore them.

And yes, I will vote later this week. Just looking for which distilleries I'd like to go get some bottlings.

[Ryguy]

My 11 choices are the following:

Ardmore
Auchentoshan
Aultmore
Benriach
Bowmore
Bruichladdich
Bunnahabhain
Dalmore
Glenfarclas
Glen Grant
Scapa

[LagaDrinker]

My 11 are: -

1. Auchentoshan
2. Benriach
3. Bowmore
4. Bruichladdich
5. Bunnahabhain
6. Dalwinnie
7. Glenfarclas
8. Jura
9. Ledaig
10. Oban
11. Pulteney

[Wave]

My 11,

Benromach
Bruichladdich
Bunnahabhain
Dailuaine
Glen Elgin
Glen Grant
Glen Scotia
Glenrothes
Longmorn
Strathisla
Tomintoul

Cheers!

[Ganga]

11 from the Pacific Coast.

Auchentoshan
Bowmore
Clynelish
Dalmore
Glenfarclas
Glen Garioch
Glen Grant
Glenrothes
Knockando
Linkwood
Scapa

[mikeymad]

another batch:

Aberfeldy
Ben Nevis
Bowmore
Bruichladdich
Dalmore
Glendronach
Glenfarclas
Glen Grant
Glenmorangie
Longmorn
Pulteney


Cheers,

[Spirit of Islay]

Hmmm.....pick 11 , these are the one's i have a few of each .....
1. Bunnahabhain
2. Bruichladdich
3. Glenmorangie
4. Glenfarclas


These are the one's i have one or none of but would maybe purchase some of.....
5. Glen Moray
6. Clynelish
7. Craigellachie
8. Glen Scotia
9. Glen Ord
10. Longmorn
11. Bowmore (at a push....)

[TreacleSponge]

Hmmm.....pick 11

...and that's as far as I get before I implode under the pressure of being offered too many choices

[Ganga]

Wave noticed he had voted in only 10. He has PM'd me with an 11th: Glen Scotia.

TS, you know you want to vote. First 11, Last 11, random number generator.

PS. Through this post, I have accumulated the votes into a spreadsheet. This allows me to see how many votes each distillery has received and if anyone has made a math error in counting to eleven.

[Spirit of Islay]

Hmmm.....pick 11

...and that's as far as I get before I implode under the pressure of being offered too many choices

Actually TS i was struggling to get 11 , first off one of the ones i have a lot of bottles of was removed off the list due to it being closed ( Brora) .
I was trying to pick the ones i like a lot and have a few bottles of (first 4 in the list) , at the end i reluctantly put Bowmore on , i have a few bottles of Bowmore , but i have went off the distillery a lot since i first went over to Islay . It was my Favourite Islay at one time but something happened either to the Spirit or my taste buds around 1999/2000 .

I think after this years distilleries you will be struggling to get another 11 from the list that people will have or will be willing to splash out good money on IMO . By then it might be time to return to pastures old......

[Dram fine idea]

Hmmm time for a group hug? Let's all chill out. If it helps, release all that nervous energy by going to a Bad Manners gig - I can not recommend it highly enough (reference the Bar section)! By heck that was a good gig! Trust yourself, and everything will be cool. Time to follow your instincts? What's life without an occasional surprise? All the best

[Ganga]

SOI, the intention is not to necessarily go through each and every distillery but rather allow some space in time between returning to a distillery. The proposed time is 18 months. So next year, several favorites will be returning to the lineup to be voted on.

[TreacleSponge]

I think after this years distilleries you will be struggling to get another 11 from the list that people will have or will be willing to splash out good money on IMO . By then it might be time to return to pastures old......

Matt posted elsewhere about the possibility of having 4 tastings a month: distillery, region, bottler, and a fourth which is whatever theme/distillery we decide to put forward. I guess that way there will be the drams everyone wants to taste in one or another of the tastings.

[pkt77242]

1. Bunnahabhain
2. Bowmore
3. Bruichladdich
4. Cragganmore
5. Glenfarclas
6. Glenmorangie
7. Pulteney
8. Lochnagar
9. Glen Garioch
10. Dalmore
11. Oban

Sean

[Ganga]

There's a little more than a week to get your votes in. I'm still waiting for TS to randomly select 11 distilleries. Please vote everyone.

[Ganga]

Friendly reminders:

1. Talikser Live Tasting January 10th
2. Following the Talisker Live Tasting, I will be accumulating the votes and either:
A. Sending them to Matt
B. Calling for a runoff in the event of ties

Oh yes, Happy New Year everyone.

[TreacleSponge]

Oops, sorry Ganga, I haven't been around for a week or so. Will get right on to it!

Auchentoshan
Balblair
BenRiach
Glenfarclas
Glengoyne
Glenmorangie
Glenrothes
Tomintoul

That's my lot, I'll go with whatever for the rest, I don't mind what gets chosen really.

[LagaDrinker]

Go on TS only 3 more to go you can do it

[LagaDrinker]

Whats with not choosing 11?

[Ganga]

Should we set up a schedule for the remainder of the year? If so, any problems with it being the third full weekend of each month? Thoughts?

Thanks TS, LSD. I will get these into the spreadsheet and forward to Matt.

[Gilles Deleuze]

I know I'm late on this, but I hope it's not too late to get my votes in.

1. Ben Nevis
2. Benriach
3. Bowmore
4. Bunnahabhain
5. Clynelish
6. Glenfarclas
7. Glen Grant
8. Glen Scotia
9. Linkwood
10. Longmorn
11. Strathisla

[Ras Mazunga]

I know I'm late on this, but I hope it's not too late to get my votes in.

1. Ben Nevis
2. Benriach
3. Bowmore
4. Bunnahabhain
5. Aultmore
6. Glenfarclas
7. Glen Grant
8. Glen Scotia
9. Miltonduff
10. Longmorn
11. Strathisla

[Ganga]

1. Glenfarclas 11
2. Bowmore 10
3. Bunnahabhain 8
4. Bruichladdich 7
5. Glenmorangie 7
6. Benriach 6
7. Glen Grant 6
8. Longmorn 6
9. Auchentoshan 5
10. Clynelish 5
11. Dalmore 5
12. Pulteney 5

Well, it seems we've got a tie. Runoff for 9, 10 and 11 or just say that these 12 will suffice through January '10?

[Ganga]

Do we have an order? I'm for Matt setting the schedule if he can get some participation from the industry. Or does someone have a suggestion or two for an order?

[Ryguy]

Go through to Jan 2010 would be the easy way.
Should they be mixed up (i.e. don't leave number 10 for November etc) so that we don't just tail off at the end of the year?

I agree, run 12, taking us through Jan 2010. I would suggest going in order of 12, 1, 11, 2, 10, 3......etc....to keep interest.

[Ganga]

I just went back through the list. We need to split up some things.

Glenmorangie
Glenfarclas
Bunnahabhain
Clynelish
Auchentoshan
Benriach
Bowmore
Glen Grant
Dalmore
Bruichladdich
Longmorn
Pulteney

The above is an attempt to break up the Northern Highlands, Islays and Speyside whiskies. Any thoughts? Maybe Matt will have some input based on when/if he can get some participation.

[Willie JJ]

Seems like I missed the vote. Never mind, its all good.

[Ganga]

Willie, did we find a distillery you won't partake?

Also Willie, I have suggested setting the third full weekend as the tasting date for each month. Thoughts?

[Willie JJ]

I think that its a good idea to have it on a regular weekend. It definitely aids the planning process. The third of the month is as good as any.

[Willie JJ]

Planning?
Isn't "plan" a 4-letter word

Yeah, but so is dram and I like to know when I'll be having one.