"Sherry Christmas to You" December 2010 Live Tasting

[mikeymad]

More Sherry/Peat

Benriach 1986 23yo 56.1% Cask 3182 (OB bottling for the PLOWED group (known as the PlowedRiach))

Another reddish Amber dram in the glass. Now this one comes out with much more balance than the CI. The Nose comes off with cooked oranges and cinnamon to start followed by some apples and caramel. There is a peat note there, but more of a supporting note to the rest of the more standout smells. The Palate is where the balance really comes into play. The Sherry notes seem to dominate more now (only a couple of fingers left in the bottle) than when it was freshly opened earlier this year. Almost hard to pick it apart... big rich Christmas cake collection of flavors. Very appropriate I guess... Finish will last till new years.

Great dram.

[dramtastic]

G'day all

Ichiro's Malt 6 of Clubs 2000 9YO 57.9%

Nose: Gunpowder, lime, white pepper, mushroom, mixed peel. With water marzipan comes through.

Palate: Blood orange, burnt toffee, gunpowder, blackberry, wet earth. With water the mixed peel zings.

Finish: Sweet spices, blackberries(not something I normally find in whisky) Christmas pudding drizzled in warm treacle and buttered shrooms on the side.

[dramtastic]

Gordon and Macphail Secret Stills 2.2 Speyside (Cragganmore) sherry casks 1966/2006 40yo.

N: Very gentle. Sandalwood, peaches, nectarines and some oak. Sherry, milk chocolate and a little cinnamon.
P: Loads of sandalwood, peaches, and nectarines. Some mint, walnuts and eucalyptus. also a touch of cinnamon.
F: Medium short on sandalwood, pencil shavings, peaches, walnuts and nectarines.

Has a fair amount of oak but balanced by the fruit. A damn good whisky.

Now that sounds really nice Sean!

[pkt77242]

G'day all

Ichiro's Malt 6 of Clubs 2000 9YO 57.9%

Nose: Gunpowder, lime, white pepper, mushroom, mixed peel. With water marzipan comes through.

Palate: Blood orange, burnt toffee, gunpowder, blackberry, wet earth. With water the mixed peel zings.

Finish: Sweet spices, blackberries(not something I normally find in whisky) Christmas pudding drizzled in warm treacle and buttered shrooms on the side.

Hey DT. That whisky sounds amazing. I am now drooling.

[dramtastic]

Hey DT. That whisky sounds amazing. I am now drooling.

Mop and bucket to aisle nine please.

[Ganga]

Hey Dram.

Hazelburn 1997, Oloroso Sherry Cask, Swiss bottling

Nose: currants and figs, rubber, oranges, wine glass that has been left to sit with the red wine dregs, Thanksgiving cranberry sauce
Palate: leathery, cranberries, tangerines and meyers lemons, light dusting of cinnamon and Italian spices
Finish: long, oranges and spices

[pkt77242]

Cragganmore 1993 10yo European Bodega sherry butts.

N: Raisins, strawberries, almonds, walnuts and flowers (roses and sunflowers). Also a little cinnamon and orange.
P: Raisins, lemons, and strawberries. A hint of chocolate and walnuts. Also a little flowers (hard to tell what kind here as I don't usually eat flowers) and some oak.
F: Medium on walnuts, cinnamon and strawberries. Hints of orange and a little milk chocolate.

[dramtastic]

Ok not a whisky but the sherry influence in this one is very prominent

Ron Zacapa 23

Nose: Menthol, oak, match heads, maraschino cherries, sherry, valencia oranges, molasses, candied walnuts, pine.

Palate: Only sweet tooths need apply. Soft and balanced. Menthol, dark cherries, blackcurrant jubes, valencia oranges, molasses, sherry. Smooooooooth!

Finish: Is fairly short, with cherries, molasses, a bucket of valencia oranges, candied nuts and milk chocolate.

The perfect desert spirit.

[dramtastic]

Hey Ganga,
some excellent dramming going on tonight. I'm enjoying the reviews.

[dramtastic]

Hey Ganga,
some excellent dramming going on tonight. I'm enjoying the reviews.

[dramtastic]

Is there an echo in here?

[Ganga]

Indeed there is. Lots of unique whiskies here.

[dramtastic]

I take back what I sai about the 'Zacapa's finish being short. The candied sweetness that coats the mouth hangs on for quite some time.

[AdamMY]

Macallan 12 traditional (Sherry Cask).

Lovely amber color. Nutty, spicy and sherry notes on the nose, with the slightest hint of a toffee, and apples. Nice sweet taste full of fresh fruit, lots of leather and apples. The finish is nice and strong with a decent kick of chili peppers, but the sherry influence is quite evident.


Very enjoyable makes me want to try some of the older bottling of their sherry oak casks.

[Ganga]

Had the Macallan 18 1992 last night. While the descriptor used above for the Macallan 12 would be used for the 18, let me say that this is a much richer version of it. The nuttiness revealed itself as candied walnuts.