The 90's Tasting (March 25-27th)

[pkt77242]

Yes folks. This month's theme is the 1990s. The decade that gave us Nirvana, beanie babies, and Pulp Fiction. 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 90s
whiskies that were bottled in the 90s
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.

[pkt77242]

I have 6 diageo distiller's editions lined up 1 Cragganmore, 1 Caol Ila, 1 Talisker and 3 Lagavulins.

[Ganga]

I'm disappointed in that I will be out camping in the rain this weekend. So I will do some tonight and some Sunday night. I will be back in a little bit to contribute to the thread.

[pkt77242]

Cragganmore DE Port Casks 1992/2005

N: light licorice, cinnamon, carnations and some caramel. Also some roasted cashews and peanuts with a slight berryness in the background.
P: Very thin. Light licorice and caramel. Some nuts and a dusting of cinnamon.
F: Rather short but stronger then the palate. Some of the roasted nuts, with butterscotch and cinnamon.

A really light whisky. Nothing wrong with it but nothing to fall in love with and not as good as the standard 12.

[Ganga]

Check on 92 and 93.

Glen Keith 13
Connoisseurs Choice, G&M
1993-06

Tulip
Nose: squeezed lemons and barley, little bit of dough
Palate: straw, cracked barley, little bit of wax, butterscotch
Finish: long, pleasant maltiness

[Ganga]

Glen Garioch 1987, 8 yo
bottled circa 1995

Tulip
Nose: little bit soapy lavendar, harvest straw
Palate: brisk walk through Macy's perfume department, some grain character
Finish: short (thankfully), little bit of lavendar and some grain.

[pkt77242]

Caol Ila DE Moscatel finished 1996/2009

N: butter, brine, seaweed, olives, cane sugar and a slight note of beef jerky.
P: Really similar to the nose. Butter, olives in brine, cane sugar, lemon drops and some light smoke.
F: medium short on lemon drops, cane sugar, some brine and melted butter.

A very weird whisky but very enjoyable to me.

[pkt77242]

Glen Garioch 1987, 8 yo
bottled circa 1995

Tulip
Nose: little bit soapy lavendar, harvest straw
Palate: brisk walk through Macy's perfume department, some grain character
Finish: short (thankfully), little bit of lavendar and some grain.

That sounds pretty awful.

[Ganga]

Next up will be a couple of 1996 Arrans. First up:

Blackadder ARN 96/039
24.1.96
9.00
43%

Nose: butterscotch drizzled over fresh baked bread
Palate: sweet-butterscotch candies, little estery
Finish: moderate, sweet fading to bitter

[Ganga]

GG: some nights it is more offensive than others. Tonight not so good.

[Ganga]

Blackadder Arran
24.1.96
7.01
56.7

Nose: straw, grain, light butterscotch (hot)
Palate: thrashed straw-little green so bitter, grain, lemons
Finish: long, citrusy

[Ganga]

Another 1993, Speymalt (Macallan) 9

Nose: amazing how barley like this one is tonight. Ah, the notes of caramel/marzipan, nuts
Palate: nutty, caramel popcorn, button mushrooms in marinara
Finish: relaxing, bright caramel

[Ganga]

Covering 1990
ANB, L8

Nose: tarry rope, lemon, honey dew, iodine, diesel
Palate: oily brownies, lemon juice, fermenting melons
Finish: rich and oily, some apricot

[pkt77242]

Talisker DE Amoroso cask 1992/2005

N: Slightly smokey berry. Light salt, pepper and cola. Kind of like a top notch pinot noir.
P: Big berry. Some light smoke, freshly ground black pepper and some cola. hints of licorice and salt.
F: Medium on salty berries with some light pepper and smoke.

Very juicy and different from the 10 and 18 but enjoyable.

[Ganga]

I seem to have an abundance of 93 and 96. Look for me to have these two years well covered.

95.7, 8.97, 5.07
58.1

Nose: loads of straw and grain, some citrus, cocoa powder
Palate: lemon pledge polish, crushed grains
Finish: long and light, lots of citrus

[Ganga]

Yet another 1993

Glenlossie 10
Whisky Galore
1993-04

Nose: late summer harvest of wheat (picked not thrashed), grassy
Palate: begins with mid summer grass (so Tom Sawyerish), then some barley and oats
Finish: moderately long, and returns to the grass

[Ganga]

Benrinnes 11
Signatory for Binny's
25.11.97
21.8.09
cask 93
59.3

Nose: fresh wheat bread, light lemon
Palate: lemon rind, dough, basil,
Finish: light, vibrant

Everything about this is very clear. No muddy notes here.

[pkt77242]

Lagavulin DE Pedro Ximenez cask finish 1991/2007

N: Just a beautiful nose. Cigar tobacco (top quaility), walnuts, leather, rich sherry, peat, balsamic vinegar and some nice smoke. slight salted orange note. I could smell this for hours.
P: Slightly thin. Tobacco, walnuts and sherry. Some salt and peat as well. Rather smokey with a touch of brown sugar.
F: medium short on leather, tobacco and salted peat.

A great whisky (believe I rated it about 91 points).

[Ganga]

Dailuaine 1997-09
G&M cask 12612
Binnys/Maxwell Street Traders
46%

Nose: cinnamon bread, dry spices, glue, wood finish
Palate: candy cinnamon sticks, cinnamon bread with some raisins, prunes
Finish: really is long with loads of dark fruits-prunes and plums

[Ganga]

So let's review: 90, 91, 92, 93, 96, 97...95 is questionable.

Hm.


Cragganmore 17
AD Rattray
23.4.93, 4.8.10
58.4

Nose: straw, dough, light pepper
Palate: meaty/fleshy fruits, light pepper, dry grass
Finish: long, bold, barley

[pkt77242]

Lagavulin PX finish 1993/2009

N: starts on strawberry gum, then opens up to almonds, light tobacco and some sherry. Slightly sweeter and lighter than the 1991
P: Strawberries, almonds, walnuts, light peat and some smoke. A touch of salt and tobacco.
F: Medium on strawberries, smoke, salt and peat. Some orange hits at the very end.

Much sweeter than the 1991 and not quite as complex but still very good.

[pkt77242]

So let's review: 90, 91, 92, 93, 96, 97...95 is questionable.

Hm.


Cragganmore 17
AD Rattray
23.4.93, 4.8.10
58.4

Nose: straw, dough, light pepper
Palate: meaty/fleshy fruits, light pepper, dry grass
Finish: long, bold, barley

Are you trying to make me jealous with the Cragg 17?

[Ganga]

ADR Balblair 16, 62.4
1990

Nose: kind of a strawy dough, dried apricots
Palate: diced peaches and apricot mised with barley, light pepper notes
Finish: long, light fruity

[Ganga]

That's me Sean. Always workin' it.

93 Laga sounds good.

[pkt77242]

Lagavulin DE PX finish 1994/2010

N: Butterscotch, caramel, almonds, walnuts, cashews and light peat. A touch of fruit as well (orange/cherry).
P: Very similar to the nose, Butterscotch, caramel, nuts and peat. Some smoke and red fruits.
F: Medium on butterscothc, caramel, nuts and smoke. Some light peat, salt and orange.

Very good but also different from the 1991 and 1993. It is growing on me though.

[pkt77242]

ADR Balblair 16, 62.4
1990

Nose: kind of a strawy dough, dried apricots
Palate: diced peaches and apricot mised with barley, light pepper notes
Finish: long, light fruity

Is that the sample I sent you?

[Ganga]

Per Sean's inspiration, Laga 12-2010. Should be distilled abou 1998.

Nose: big lemon and peat, in walks the diesel engine, malt, brine
Palate: tarry, charcoal, lemons, sea air, seaweed
Finish: big oily peat

[Ganga]

Yes, the sample Sean. As well as the Laga.

[pkt77242]

Per Sean's inspiration, Laga 12-2010. Should be distilled abou 1998.

Nose: big lemon and peat, in walks the diesel engine, malt, brine
Palate: tarry, charcoal, lemons, sea air, seaweed
Finish: big oily peat

Love this whisky. Are you moved to go buy a full bottle?

[Ganga]

Clynelish 9
Signatory
28.6.96
17.11.05
cask 222

Nose: oily wax, cedar, earthy dry peat, lemons dropped from the tree
Palate: oily peat, waxy lemon, cooking oil
Finish: long but subtle, oiliness just lingers.

[Ganga]

I plan on getting a bottle Sean.

[Ganga]

Next up G&M CI

1996-08
43%
cask 16113

Nose: bacon bits, auto shop
Palate: charcoal, extra crispy bacon and lemon cooked in the bacon grease
Finish: mild and oily, some hints of seaweed

[pkt77242]

Lagavulin 1995 12yo Friends of Classic Malt European Oak 48%

N: Light strawberry and cherry. Light smoke, nuts, barley, straw, some salt and smoke. New leather.
P: leather, strawberry, light smoke, nuts and some peat. Also a touch of olive oil and salt.
F: Medium on salted butterscotch, strawberry, smoke, salt and peat. Some nuts as well.

A very interesting whisky and very enjoyable.

[Ganga]

Sounds like an interesting Laga Sean. I think I need to go get the Laga 12 09

[pkt77242]

Sounds like an interesting Laga Sean. I think I need to go get the Laga 12 09

Where did that come from?