Remembral

[Ganga]

Hey, I just thought it would be nice to have a place to share reminders about up coming tastings (and I didn't like STRING as the Subject). So it is here that I propose to post reminders to those about up coming tastings. If someone has a reminder, post it here.

First reminder...CLYNELISH is this weekend.

[Ganga]

I forgot, it's rye whiskies the following weekend. And the kids are gone that weekend.

[Ganga]

Benriach starting July 17. Ok, there's lots of OBs for folks to take for a test drive. Plus all those IBs.

[pkt77242]

Benriach starting July 17. Ok, there's lots of OBs for folks to take for a test drive. Plus all those IBs.

Just wanted to bump this back to the top to remind everyone.

Sean

[Ganga]

I will be sampling the Benriach 10 yo (old light blue label version) and the Benriach 15, dk rum finish. Anyone else have something interesting?

[pkt77242]

I will be sampling the Benriach 10 yo (old light blue label version) and the Benriach 15, dk rum finish. Anyone else have something interesting?

I have the 10 curiositas plus notes from six others that I tried this past weekend.

Sean

[Wave]

I will be sampling the Benriach 10 yo (old light blue label version) and the Benriach 15, dk rum finish. Anyone else have something interesting?

I've got a 12yo 1994 Peated Oloroso Sherry Wood Finish 57% ABV. though notes from it won't make it into the forum till the following week since I'm working Midnights this weekend.


Cheers!

[Jobi]

I've noticed the Benriach advertisement at the top of the page, promoting the upcoming tasting. Do you think WM is making a little advertising $$ from these tastings?

[Ganga]

I don't know Jobi. WM doesn't tell us what whiskies to do at these tastings. We vote and tell WM what we're doing. If Matt sets up a page there's a banner. If I set it up there isn't.

[Ganga]

Reminder that Bowmore is coming up on the 21st. I will miss at least part of this as I will be at a cub scout camp that weekend. Definitely will post some notes a little later following my return.

Also, a special thanks to Ryan for maintaining the links section for all the tastings.

[Ganga]

Next weekend is Bowmore. Unfortunately, I have a conflict for the weekend. I will join in either Sunday night or Monday. Can anyone pick up the ball and lead our adventure through Islay's middle ground?

[Ganga]

Ok, Laddies and Grants:

This is to remind you that we have Glen Grant coming up next week. In October it's Dalmore followed by Brora. Get some stuff together if you can, makes some trades for samples.

[Wave]

I'll be in Kirkwall Orkney next weekend but I'm still planning on the tasting so long as I can find a pub with a bottle of Glen Grant or two.


Cheers!

[pkt77242]

I have one Glen Grant, 2 dalmores and one brora. I may have to try and find another glen grant.

Sean

[Ganga]

Glen Grant in two days folks.

[Ganga]

Ok, coming up on two tastings for Scotchtober. Naw, someone else patented that but I'm allowed.

16-18 is Dalmore. I've got a couple to share in.

23-25 is Brora. Certainly try to get Mikey to share in this one.

[pkt77242]

Ok, coming up on two tastings for Scotchtober. Naw, someone else patented that but I'm allowed.

16-18 is Dalmore. I've got a couple to share in.

23-25 is Brora. Certainly try to get Mikey to share in this one.

I have 2 Dalmores (cigar malt and new 12) and 1 Brora.

Sean

[randall fairbrook]

i have some

if u want samples

[Willie JJ]

I think I can make it this weekend.

[Willie JJ]

(Rare Malts 1877)!!

Yeah that's a really old one Nick. I wouldn't open it either.

[Ganga]

Simple reminder that Bruichladdich is coming up in a few weeks.

Also, we were going to try to do Closed Lowland distilleries. Littlemill, Rosebank, St. Magdalene, etc. Suggestions for a date on this one? Black Friday?

One last thing, I thought participation worked better when we had a monthly vote rather than a fixed schedule. I don't know why. Should we return to a monthly vote? If so, let me know and start making suggestions for February. Also, let's make it only 12 months before the distillery becomes eligible again.

[pkt77242]

Simple reminder that Bruichladdich is coming up in a few weeks.

Also, we were going to try to do Closed Lowland distilleries. Littlemill, Rosebank, St. Magdalene, etc. Suggestions for a date on this one? Black Friday?

I have 5 Laddies for the tasting Rocks, 3D3, Links St Andrews (all of these from a tasting pack at Bevmo) and 15yo 1st ed. and 15yo 2nd edition.

I don't really care which day we choose for the Closed Lowland distilleries. I have two for that tasting Signatory CS Rosebank and Littlemill 8yo (I haven't found a reason to open it yet, so I guess this will work).
Sean

[pkt77242]

One last thing, I thought participation worked better when we had a monthly vote rather than a fixed schedule. I don't know why. Should we return to a monthly vote? If so, let me know and start making suggestions for February. Also, let's make it only 12 months before the distillery becomes eligible again.

Voting might be nice for the newer members and hopefully it will make them feel like they have a say. I really like the idea of a distillery being eligible after 12 months. I can't wait to redo Talisker, Lagavulin or Ardbeg. Also I think it will help increase participation as newer members are more likely to have one of those three than Old Pulteney (though good it doesn't have tons of expressions and isn't super common) or Glen Grant (which is just about impossible to find an official bottling of in the US, though there are some nice IB's).

Sean

[Ganga]

I'm suggesting that we do the Lowlands the first weekend of December as the last weekend of November has suddenly become very busy for me.

Also, looking for suggestions for the February monthly tasting. Remember, all those ones from 2007 and 2008 are eligible.

[Ganga]

Well, does this weekend work for the Lowlands? I can fill it in a little bit on Friday night or Saturday morning (evening for you UK folks). Would you guys rather delay this one a little bit (January)?

Also, I've received no suggestions for the February Live tastings. I'd like to setup the vote so that people have time to get something (if they need to). I'll make the first suggestion to kick it off. Talisker.

[pkt77242]

I nominate Lagavulin and Ardbeg. Something peaty for winter (though I also like the Talisker nomination).

Sean

[Holysinner]

I'll second Talisker, just because I have 4 bottles that I can evaluate (whereas for most distilleries it's one or none). My second choice would be Laphroaig.


Let me throw out an idea for the "other tastings" category sometime...bourbons from non-distillery bottlers (or whatever the terminology for independent bottlers of bourbon is). I know some were sampled in the last bourbon tasting, but it might be a good reason for some to venture away from their familiar distilleries by restricting a tasting to 3rd party bottlers. Just a thought.

[Ganga]

Works for me HS. We'll have to look into this to get information out to the folks so they can get a sample or two though.

Talisker
Ardbeg
Laphroaig
Lagavulin

Hm, do I sense a trend?

[jhershauer]

Works for me HS. We'll have to look into this to get information out to the folks so they can get a sample or two though.

Talisker
Ardbeg
Laphroaig
Lagavulin

Hm, do I sense a trend?

Yes, a fine trend indeed. I've got multiple bottlings of all of those except Ardbeg, so I'd prefer one of the other three (no purchase necessary).

Thanks,
Jeff

[Ganga]

No other distilleries that would interest you Jeff? You can always suggest another one as I will post a poll in a few weeks for the February tasting.

[Ryguy]

I was going to suggest Laphroaig, but it's already been done. So I'm happy with the suggestions we've got going.

[jhershauer]

No other distilleries that would interest you Jeff? You can always suggest another one as I will post a poll in a few weeks for the February tasting.

I was going to say Caol Ila, as I have a bunch of those, including IBs...was thinking CI was already done not too long ago, though.

[Ryguy]

Good idea Jeff, I'd like to add Caol Ila to the list of suggestions.

You can view a list of past tastings along with the dates they were held here: Past Live Tastings

[Willie JJ]

One last thing, I thought participation worked better when we had a monthly vote rather than a fixed schedule. I don't know why. Should we return to a monthly vote? If so, let me know and start making suggestions for February. Also, let's make it only 12 months before the distillery becomes eligible again.

Voting might be nice for the newer members and hopefully it will make them feel like they have a say. I really like the idea of a distillery being eligible after 12 months. I can't wait to redo Talisker, Lagavulin or Ardbeg. Also I think it will help increase participation as newer members are more likely to have one of those three than Old Pulteney (though good it doesn't have tons of expressions and isn't super common) or Glen Grant (which is just about impossible to find an official bottling of in the US, though there are some nice IB's).

Sean

Talisker
Ardbeg
Laphroaig
Lagavulin

Hm, do I sense a trend?

Maybe we should just have Peatfest February and let folks bring any peaty stuff they have. That would help to get around any lack of appropriate bottles. Also we used to encourage folk to come along and bring anything they had to hand even if it wasn't the featured malt.

Maybe it also worked better when there was a fixed time that folk turned up on a specific day. That doesn't preclude folk from adding to the thread as and when they can but it does concentrate a group into a particular time frame which is perhaps more fun.

Just thinking out loud.

[Ryguy]

I think you are right Willie. A 'Peatfest' would be great, and maybe it would allow more people to participate, given the broader range. I think the intent on having tastings for an entire weekend was to get more people involved, but I'm not so sure that it worked out as planned.

So I'm up for all available peated drams for Feb if everyone else is.