May 2011 - BACK TO BASICS

[Ganga]

Georgia Moon Corn Whiskey
Guarenteed less than 30 days old

Nose: peanut butter, sour mash, alcohol
Palate: sour peanut butter, alcoholic
Finish: short, oily

This is something to be had only to try.

[Ganga]

Yes, like Sean et al buying more whisky. But also, better understanding and enjoyment of your beverage.

Oh and sometimes NOT buying a whisky.

[pkt77242]

Georgia Moon Corn Whiskey
Guarenteed less than 30 days old

Nose: peanut butter, sour mash, alcohol
Palate: sour peanut butter, alcoholic
Finish: short, oily

This is something to be had only to try.

I will take a pass. That sounds nasty.

[Ganga]

Georgia Moon Corn Whiskey
Guarenteed less than 30 days old

Nose: peanut butter, sour mash, alcohol
Palate: sour peanut butter, alcoholic
Finish: short, oily

This is something to be had only to try.

I will take a pass. That sounds nasty.

Are you sure...I can save some for you.

[pkt77242]

I have 6 lined up for tonight.

Bushmills white label
Jameson NAS
Ten High Blended bourbon
Dewars white label
Teachers
And my new bottle of Old Pulteney 12

[lockejn]

Glenfarclas 12.

Nose: Butterscotch, balsamic vinegar, chocolate nougat, ripe apple
Palate: Oak, sherry, holiday spices, brown sugar
Finish: Medium, coating, leather, white pepper, a whiff of smoke

I'm not generally a fan of sherry-finished whiskies, but this is one of my favorites and an excellent value in NH at least.

[pkt77242]

Bushmills White Label

N: Melons and paint thinner. sweet grain with some lemon drops and bubblegum.
P: a big hit of paint thinner up front then some melons, lemon drops and bubble gum. Loads of lemon drops and melons.
F: Shortish on slight lemon drops and melons. Then some big paint thinner notes.

I dub thee Bushmills White label aka Paint thinner. Please avoid.

[pkt77242]

Jameson NAS

N: Pear and lemons. A little grain, hints of raisin and nuts.
P: Rather sweet, pears and lemons. Sweet grain and some raisins.
F: very short sweet grain with pear and lemon drops.

Simple but not bad at all.

[pkt77242]

Ten High Blended Bourbon

N: Bubblegum. Hints of corn and vanilla, but mostly strawberry bubblegum.
P: Strawberry bubble gum, vanilla and corn. A touch of oak and coconut.
F: Shortish, on corn and vanilla. A touch of the strawberry gum.

Way too sweet for my taste.

[pkt77242]

Dewars White Label

N: Dirty grains. lemon oil, musty cotton.
P: Starts on dirty grains and lemon oil. Then some lemon drops, vanilla, and a touch of olive oil.
F: short on olive oil and dirty grains. a little lemon and alcohol burn.

Not good.

[pkt77242]

Teachers

N: Sweet peat, grain, a touch of porridge. Lemon and vanilla.
P: sweet peat and lots of it. Grain, porridge and lemon. hints of bacon.
F: shortish on sweet peat and even sweeter grain. Lemon and bacon fat.

A solid blend especially at $13.

[Ganga]

Ten High Blended Bourbon

N: Bubblegum. Hints of corn and vanilla, but mostly strawberry bubblegum.
P: Strawberry bubble gum, vanilla and corn. A touch of oak and coconut.
F: Shortish, on corn and vanilla. A touch of the strawberry gum.

Way too sweet for my taste.

Isn't it interesting? Try it after some Ardbeg.

[Ganga]

Great price on the Teachers. I think it is closer to $20 here.

[pkt77242]

Brand new bottle of Old Pulteney 12.

N: Lots of salt, melons, mango and banana. A hint of smoke and papaya.
P: Starts on salt, melons and banana. Some mango and malt.
F: Medium length. Huge salt. Some banana and melon.

Crazy salty but still very good.

[Alzarius]

The Glenlivet 12

Bottle is about halfway gone, opened 2 weeks ago

N: Fruit-driven, of the apple and pears kind of fruit, hints of vanilla
P: Soft, some nuts, more apples and pears, touch of spice at the end
F: Toast, vanilla, can't get much else

I think a very spicy dinner kind of killed my taste buds a little on this one, as it was a bit more fruity to me on previous occasions.

[Ganga]

The Glenlivet 12

Bottle is about halfway gone, opened 2 weeks ago

N: Fruit-driven, of the apple and pears kind of fruit, hints of vanilla
P: Soft, some nuts, more apples and pears, touch of spice at the end
F: Toast, vanilla, can't get much else

I think a very spicy dinner kind of killed my taste buds a little on this one, as it was a bit more fruity to me on previous occasions.

Try it again on a fresh palate and post your notes here. It's interesting to have several opinions on a whisky.

[Alzarius]

Will do Looking at your notes for this several days ago, I can see it just like that too when I had it on previous occasions. It's just that tonight this is a tad muted after a spicy meal.

[pkt77242]

Will do Looking at your notes for this several days ago, I can see it just like that too when I had it on previous occasions. It's just that tonight this is a tad muted after a spicy meal.

What you eat or drink before a tasting can greatly change your palate. Do you have any other whiskies to post notes on?

[Ganga]

Will do Looking at your notes for this several days ago, I can see it just like that too when I had it on previous occasions. It's just that tonight this is a tad muted after a spicy meal.

Good deal eh. Look forward to seeing your thoughts next time.

[pkt77242]

Dewars White Label

N: Dirty grains. lemon oil, musty cotton.
P: Starts on dirty grains and lemon oil. Then some lemon drops, vanilla, and a touch of olive oil.
F: short on olive oil and dirty grains. a little lemon and alcohol burn.

Not good.

Trying this first tonight to see if the dirty grains smell/taste was still there. It is is. Don't walk away from this, run away from it.

[Ganga]

Dewars White Label

N: Dirty grains. lemon oil, musty cotton.
P: Starts on dirty grains and lemon oil. Then some lemon drops, vanilla, and a touch of olive oil.
F: short on olive oil and dirty grains. a little lemon and alcohol burn.

Not good.

Trying this first tonight to see if the dirty grains smell/taste was still there. It is is. Don't walk away from this, run away from it.

If you'd've asked I would have told you that it doesn't get better to start with that one.

[Ganga]

So I'm revisiting the Grant's NAS blended scotch whisky.

I get some harsh graininess, anise, burnt sugars. As I dram this further in the evening I find that the harshness diminishes but everything else remains prominent.

[Willie JJ]

I need to start adding to this. The month is flying by

[Ganga]

Why yes you do Willie. I do look forward to seeing your thoughts on some whiskies. Be fun to see how things compare where there is overlap.

[The Third Dram]

Islay Mist 12 Year Old - 40%

Nose: Bakery spiced apple-pear compote with a drop of honey. Then a cooling sensation of wet slate and moist grass followed by far more phenolic scents.

Palate: Smooth, glycerine-like entry that twists nicely from sweet fruit'n'malt notions to drier oak and peat infused tones. Just enough of a bittersweet bite to balance out the otherwise rather easy going nature of the mid palate presentation. Firms up considerably toward the finish as vegetal, oily and sooty nuances kick in left, right and center.

Comment: What it lacks in serene sophistication when compared to its 17-year old sibling, it more than makes up for with its greater sense of liveliness and Islay punch. A quite excellent blend.

[The Third Dram]

Benriach Curiositas 10 Year Old - 46%

Nose: Poached pears and coal tar with a scent of animal sweat. Some anise peeking through tonight as well.

Palate: The peat fuses so incredibly effortlessly with the oak, and this combo then proceeds to flow right into notions of honeyed banana-pear purée and sourdough batter, only for the whole to be taken to the next level by an infusion of peppery heat. As matters gradually settle down near the close, a demure sensation of ground almonds emerges.

Comment: Can't get enough of this one!

[pkt77242]

Nice notes Doug, and thanks for participating.

I might have to see if I can find the Islay Mist in my area.

[The Third Dram]

Early Sunday afternoon here Sean, and I'm following up last night's twosome with...

Glengoyne 12 Year Old Cask Strength - 57.2%

Nose: Overripe pears and apples laced with gingery oak. Some orange zest too.

Palate: Viscous and very fruit laden mouth feel initially. Then the spices and alcohol hit hard. Despite the high strength, the whisky evens out fairly rapidly, permitting the pepper and ginger to play off nicely against notions of nuts and cream.

Now with a drop of water added...

Nose: Pretty much the same except that there's now an additional hint of honey. Furthermore, the orange zest has broadened to include even more citrusy lemon notes. Very clean and fresh overall.

Palate: I sense that typically Glengoyne solid core of barley malt emerging more forcefully now, and occupying center stage as the other nuances fall somewhat to the side. Very clean and quite salivating, all told. The spicy oak then kicks in toward the finish.

Comment: This one never seems to really 'fit in' as a logical stepping stone between the demure, easy drinking 10 Year Old and the more luxurious 17 Year Old. It is, instead, very much its own beast. I could happily alternate between this one and Glenlivet Nàdurra Cask Strength on many a summer evening. As evidence, my current bottle's almost 'toast'.

[The Third Dram]

Scapa 12 Year Old - 40% (older Allied release)

Nose: Rich and ripe pear-mango fragrance from the very first whiff that's made all the more sumptuous by those momentary flashes of dune grass, salt and subtle smoke. Perhaps even a suggestion of pie crust, too.

Palate: Sweetness and dryness so tautly bound together that they coalesce into something neither sweet nor dry. Delicately spiced pears in honey. Soft and yet firm as clean ex-Bourbon oak deposits an overlay of vanilla cream. Those seashore notes then drift casually back into the picture.

Comment: OK. It's admittedly not a GREAT whisky. And I can only imagine what it would have been like bottled at higher strength. But it's still a lovely example of Scapa's charms, and head and shoulders above the comparatively lifeless 14 Year Old that took its place.

[pkt77242]

Scapa 12 Year Old - 40% (older Allied release)

Nose: Rich and ripe pear-mango fragrance from the very first whiff that's made all the more sumptuous by those momentary flashes of dune grass, salt and subtle smoke. Perhaps even a suggestion of pie crust, too.

Palate: Sweetness and dryness so tautly bound together that they coalesce into something neither sweet nor dry. Delicately spiced pears in honey. Soft and yet firm as clean ex-Bourbon oak deposits an overlay of vanilla cream. Those seashore notes then drift casually back into the picture.

Comment: OK. It's admittedly not a GREAT whisky. And I can only imagine what it would have been like bottled at higher strength. But it's still a lovely example of Scapa's charms, and head and shoulders above the comparatively lifeless 14 Year Old that took its place.

Doug have you had the 16yo? if so how does it comare to the 12 and 14 for you?

[The Third Dram]

Doug have you had the 16yo? if so how does it comare to the 12 and 14 for you?

I haven't, Sean. And given its rather mediocre overall assessment by reviewers, not to mention the fact that a bottle runs well over CDN$100 in my neck of the woods, I'm shying away from purchasing any. There's just too much of greater merit in that price range for me to be attracted to the new Scapa.

Unless I find myself in a bar that stocks it, of course.

[Ganga]

Wonder when Willie will join. Willie or won't he?

I'm going to have some Ancient Age Kentucky Straight Bourbon @40%.

Nose: almost like syrupy rye-very sweet yet kind of roughly grainy, vanilla notes, peanut shells, cooking oils?
Palate: unrefined grains, whisp of mint, almond and wanut shells, vanilla extract
Finish: rather long with grain and vanilla notes

Holding this on the palate for 60-90 seconds brings forth straw and green grass while muting the grains.

[Ganga]

At the end of an evening the Ancient still holds its own. Lots of mintiness, almond shells. Actually, more pleasant than when one starts....

[Ganga]

Balvenie 12 DW.

Nose: honey, heather and dry grasses, roasted apples, some very light smokiness
Palate: fruit salad, honey on toast, late summer grass
Finish: lingering sweetness-honey

[Ganga]

I'm going to try the Ten High again following the sweetness of the Doublewood.

Wow, really sweet. The bubblegum is really the powdered sugar on it. The freshly popped in piece of bubblegum.