The 80s (Feb 25-27, 2011)

[Ganga]

Yes folks. This month's theme is the 1980s. Home to big hair, leg warmers, and a bunch of bad lingo ("gag me with a spoon anyone"?). The official meet time is 7 PM British Time on the 26th. However, please feel free to join in before, after and during.

The whiskies:
whiskies that were distilled in the 80s
whiskies that were bottled in the 80s
I would like to see each year represented.
Also, note that we did not select any region for whisky so feel free to bring in Scotch, Irish, Bourbon, Japanese or any other that you might have that fits the 80s.

[Willie JJ]

I'll need to take it easy on this tasting due to new antibiotics today, so I'll try to do a couple of drams per night. let's break the ice by starting at the end of the decade with a nice light Grain from Cameronbridge:

Cadenhead's 19yo Cameronbridge 59.4% 1989-03.09, Bourbon Hogshead, 301 bottles

Nose: Vanilla sugar with hint of lemon zest. Clean as a whistle.
Palate: Sharp spiky alcohol, with biscuit, vanilla, and a slice of fresh lemon dusted with icing sugar.
Finish: Bitter lemon now like a Lem-sip. Gentle heat and plenty of length.
Comment: Quality fresh grain whisky.

[Willie JJ]

Sticking with the grain theme but moving to 1988:

Cadenhead's 20yo Port Dundas 55.4% 1988-03.09, Bourbon Hogshead, 258 bottles

Nose: The nose is not dissimilar to the Cameronbridge but it's richer and less spirity. plenty of vanilla with a hint of biscuit factory.
Palate: Much more of a corn-like mouth feel. Fatter and more satisfying. Bitter lemons and gooseberry jam.
Finish: A heap of strangely bitter caster sugar melting on the tongue.
Comment: Another very drinkable grain whisky.

[Willie JJ]

Back to 1987 now:

Gordon & Macphail BenRiach 20yo 43% Connoisseurs Choice

Nose: Tangerines, peaches and love heart sweets. Lashings of malt and a hint of mustiness.
Palate: Beautiful sweet barley malt with little fruity bursts of peach along with some fabric softener.
Finish: The mustiness is back, but its not unpleasant. Medium length and a little hot.
Comment: A nice CC bottle from G&M. It would be great at CS (as usual).

[Willie JJ]

Ok I better stop for the night there. I have a lot of work on tomorrow, but I'll try to be here at 7pm to pick it up at 1986.

[Ganga]

Ok, Willie convinced me to have one before going to PTA movie night.

glencairn
Aultmore
Cooper's Choice
1983-97
43%
Color: straw gold
Nose: vanilla, oak, lemon, light tropical citrus, some Pledge, and to go with the color, straw
Palate: decaying straw, old brittle caramel chews, polished oak furniture
Finish: long, more of the oak with lemon high notes and a floor of straw

This is much nicer than last night.

Also, I will be joining in a little later tonight following the PTA movie night.

[Willie JJ]

Time to get organised

Starting with a Cadenhead's Glenturret tonight.

[Ganga]

Good morn Willie.

So we've covered 83, 87, 88 and 89.

I'm going to cover 82 this morning with Glenrothes.

[pkt77242]

I will join in with a 85 Glenrothes

[Ganga]

glencairn
Glenrothes 19
OMC
3.82-6.01
50%

Color: straw
Nose: straw, cracked vanilla beans, herbal-fennel/licorice, lemon spritz
Palate: strong licorice, vanilla extract, fresh baked buns, lemon juice
Finish: long, cracked wheat, licorice

[Ganga]

Good morning Sean.

Rothes is good this morning. Would like to see what kind of resemblance between yours and mine.

[Willie JJ]

Cadenhead's Glenturret 20yo 50.3% 1986-07, Bourbon Hogshead

Nose: Stewed apples, pears, peaches and fudge.
Palate: A big hit of soft fruit followed by a harsh metallic bite and a hint of mint.
Finish: The minty theme develops followed by a bunch of very gently stinging nettles that linger for a while.
Comment: Some nice notes, but its spoiled by the harshness.

[Willie JJ]

Evening gents. I'm working my way backwards through the decade.

[Ganga]

Covering another of the years.

Kockando
Scott's Selection
1980-04
46.4

glencairn
Color: light straw
Nose: floral-meadow, whole wheat dough, finely ground white pepper
Palate: dough with pepper, daisies and dandelions
Finish: mild, doughy

[pkt77242]

Glenrothes OB 1985/2005 43%

N: Loads of nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, etc), a little orange, lemon and hay. some caramel and toffee.
P: Loads of nuts, caramel and toffee. just a hint of the citrus and some milk chocolate.
F: medium long on salted nuts, toffee, and milk chocolate. just a touch of citrus shows up at the very end.

Damn this is good.

[Ganga]

Doing well Willie. Looks like we're making very good progress on getting at least one from each year of the 80s; 81 and 84 to go.

[Ganga]

Glenrothes OB 1985/2005 43%

N: Loads of nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, etc), a little orange, lemon and hay. some caramel and toffee.
P: Loads of nuts, caramel and toffee. just a hint of the citrus and some milk chocolate.
F: medium long on salted nuts, toffee, and milk chocolate. just a touch of citrus shows up at the very end.

Damn this is good.

Sounds tasty Sean. Must be the difference between bourbon and sherry.

[Willie JJ]

1985 next and a visit to the Lowlands. (I have 81 and 84 covered, I just haven't got there yet.)

[pkt77242]

I have a couple of 1981's as well as it is my birth year. I will probably have one more then I will have to take a break as I am taking Gavin to an Elmo event at our local Borders bookstore.

[Ganga]

Another 83
Knockando 18
1983
43%

glencairn
Nose: more straw dough and less floral than the Scott's bottle. Hints of orange rinds but no lemons
Palate: rather bland, dried out buns, light pepper dusting
Finish: very short, with just a hint of pepper and bread

[Ganga]

Glad you still have a local Border's Sean. Both local one to my work and to my wife's are among the 200 closing.

Willie, I have a couple of hours that I can dram before I need to work on being capable of getting to a cub scout event. I've got a couple of 86s and then two identical bottles of 87s. Different fill levels and I'm not sure how long they've been open. Be interesting to see if there is any differences.

[Willie JJ]

Got interupted by a phone call. Back to the Blad. No problem if you have commitments guys. I'm glad you came along anyway.

[Ganga]

Knockando 12
1986
43%

glencairn
Color: straw
Nose: very similar to the 18 but it is rougher in character, stronger pepper
Palate: I feel like I' wondering through the meadow with a long blade of grass between the teeth. There's also some coarse black pepper.
Finish: much longer than the 18. Very similar character that is stronger.

[Ganga]

It's all good Willie. I don't have to leave here right away. Just stop dramming.

[Willie JJ]

G&M Bladnoch 11yo 56.8% 1985-96. .

Nose: Big hitting nose. Plenty of lemon and an unusual floral note. Some nuttiness too.
Palate: Mmm, lemon explosion. Wild bursts of lemon juice and little sugar crystals. Yummy.
Finish: Heaps of spice. Bladnoch takes on the wood really quickly I think.
Comment: Another lovely Bladnoch.

[pkt77242]

Cragganmore 1989 21yo

N: Banana, papaya, banana bread and a little canned pinapples. Some vanilla, straw/hay and some cooking spices.
P: Banana, banana bread, and some vanilla. a little pineapple, and the straw/hay note.
F: rather long with banana, vanilla, cooking spices and a touch of toffee.

Very good, Added just a drop or two of water to open it up.

[Willie JJ]

Well I shouldn't have too many drams either. The missus tells me its not good with these antibiotics.

I suppose she's probably right

[pkt77242]

Got interupted by a phone call. Back to the Blad. No problem if you have commitments guys. I'm glad you came along anyway.

I will probably have one more and then I will have to go to the elmo event but I should be back after that to sample more.

Ganga, are you going to be on later tonight?

[pkt77242]

G&M Bladnoch 11yo 56.8% 1985-96. .

Nose: Big hitting nose. Plenty of lemon and an unusual floral note. Some nuttiness too.
Palate: Mmm, lemon explosion. Wild bursts of lemon juice and little sugar crystals. Yummy.
Finish: Heaps of spice. Bladnoch takes on the wood really quickly I think.
Comment: Another lovely Bladnoch.

Sounds very good Willie.

[Ganga]

I'm feeling the need for some sherry influence.

Mortlach 9
Signatory
1988

glencairn
Color: tangerine gold
Nose: orangy leather, heavy bread (banana nut w/o the banana), used up spices from the kitchen, some scented (fruit) parafin
Palate: tangerines, freshly worked leather, nutmeg, cinnamon
Finish: long, rich, spiced orange cider

[Willie JJ]

Yeah the Blad was good Sean. It usually is though.

1984 now. I wish I had some of the 1984 Jura to try but I'll have to make do with this MacDuff.

[Willie JJ]

I see somebody is spamming the forum again. It's really bad on here just now.

[Ganga]

Yes, following cub scout dinner. It will likely be around 7 my time.

[Ganga]

Darn it. I just realized I finished my 88 Bladnoch. GRRR.

Sounds like the CadBlad I had. Loads of lemony goodness with floral notes.

[pkt77242]

Scott's Selection Macallan 1985/2006

N: Lemon, straw, nuts and caramel. a little cooking spice, salt and some oak.
P: Caramel cream, big straw/hay, lemon, and some polished oak.
F: medium finish, on caramel cream, straw, oak and lemon. A little nuts as well.

Good and very different from a normal Macallan