2nd Live Tasting - Fri 19 Oct 8.00pm GMT

[mikeymad]

I am going in a slightly different variation from ganga. I am trying mine in the same glass but with different chocolates from Sweden and Germany.

Yummy..

Cheers,

[Ganga]

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Talisker 175th Anniversary, glencairn
Nose : Would you believe lemon notes? Salty sea air. Where's the smoke and peat? A little cocoa hidden underneath everything.
Palate : Light smoke/charred oak and peat with citrus. A cleansing of the palate with water and a good swig gave me cherries. Hmm.
Finish : Pleasant smoke drifting off into the horizon.
Comment : Boy I like this one. Next glass is coming.

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[K-Mile]

Don't blame it on me! Ganga and Mikey have been chomping at the bit all day, haven't you boys! Seriously thanks K-mile and y'know post your comments on the Ardbeg, you have a good grasp of whisky, and I for one would like to see what you think of the Ardbeg.
We couldn't do this alone, it's better with all of us here.
Musky

Allright, I'll pour myself a second one and see what we get...

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Ardbeg TEN
Nose : Like I said in my comment, noticed some vinegar for the first time. Salt, sealike. Also something fresh and sour, lemon.
Palate : Salt, tingling on tip of my tongue. Citrus fruit. Heathery, earth smoke.
Finish : Loong, salty, with lots of peat. Lemon peel at the end, slightly bitter, tea.
Comment : The most amazing thing about the TEN is that the bottle feels like it's twice the size of the average whisky bottle. Really impressive, as is its content.

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Hi mikey, enjoy! I won't stick around too long, but I'm glad there is some overlap between the continents. I agree, the Ardbeg is a great Scotch, really enjoyable but not your average easy drinker (not like, say, an Highland Park or Cragganmore). Although I wouldn't mind a regular visit to this one

I will pick up on this thread in the morning to see how you all did. Will finish my dram and go to sleep.

[Muskrat Portage]

(patter patter patter) Okay, got three differing glasses, each containing 1 tblsp of Talisker Distillers Edition TD-S:5 AM (1986) 45.8 abv

1. Standard (flared mouth straight sides)

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TD-S:5AM (1986)
Nose : Sweetness is evident as are the previously references
Palate : The same
Finish : Warming and spicy
Comment : A decent way to sample my SMs, and the largest number of specific glassware for tasting I own, (approx 12)

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2. Glencairn style (N.S. Crystal, flared mouth, narrower neck, bulbous base)

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TD-S:5AM (1986)
Nose : Seems to be a bit fuller in bouquet than the first glass
Palate : no real variation that is obvious, perhaps if I inhaled as I tasted... yes appears to be slightly sweeter in this glassware
Finish : Long and peppery with spices, perhaps a hint of white pepper as opposed to black, seems a trifle hotter than regular pepper
Comment : Sadly I only own 2, but they are the best for tasting and nosing in my book

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3. Brandy snifter (same size mouth, bulbous base flare).

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TD-S:5AM (1986)
Nose : not quite as intense as in the glencairn style. Perhaps the wider base diffuses too much.
Palate : the least exciting of the three.
Finish : Still long and peppery with spices on the tongue
Comment : A distant third for tasting, good to swirl and warm in your hand, and I own 7 (1 broke a few years back)

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Of course this type of tasting is also an excellant reason to try the same dram as many times as you have differing glassware. (Now, where's that water glass gone...)
Muskrat

[Ganga]

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Talisker 175th Anniversary, sm brandy
Nose : This is quite pleasant. Honey and cereals. Only slightly smokey.
Palate : Smokey, with notes of honey, cereal and a little caramel.
Finish : Although moderate the smoke and caramel hang on.
Comment : This really needs to become more of a favorite distillery.

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[Muskrat Portage]

Ardbeg TEN
Nose : Like I said in my comment, noticed some vinegar for the first time. Salt, sealike. Also something fresh and sour, lemon.
Palate : Salt, tingling on tip of my tongue. Citrus fruit. Heathery, earth smoke.
Finish : Loong, salty, with lots of peat. Lemon peel at the end, slightly bitter, tea.
Comment : The most amazing thing about the TEN is that the bottle feels like it's twice the size of the average whisky bottle. Really impressive, as is its content.

Okay, now when I finish my Talisker, I'll go and pour myself an Ardbeg 10, this is the OB not the IB, right?
Muskrat

[Muskrat Portage]

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Talisker 175th Anniversary, sm brandy
Nose : This is quite pleasant. Honey and cereals.
Palate : ????
Finish : ????
Comment : ????

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Ganga, Ganga, are you there (shaking the computer screen)
Mikey can he speak? He sure can't keyboard!
Muskrat
Edit:
Ah, you're back! Had me worried for a second looked like you'd fallen asleep at the switch!

Muskrat

Hey, I was helping someone. Go look again.

Oh!

[Ganga]

Hey, I was helping someone. Go look again.

Ever onward.

[mikeymad]

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18yo - standard US release - glencairn
Nose : Softer on the Peat, more on the sweet
Palate : Oh my gosh, spice, hony, peat across the palete
Finish : The spice remains with slowly mellowing peat in the background
Comment : Now with a bit of chocolates

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[Ganga]

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Talisker 175th Anniversary, Ardbeg nosing
Nose : caramel and cereals.
Palate : Nice smokey malt with only slight hints of honey.
Finish : It just kinda hangs there with all this smoke.
Comment : This just keeps getting better and better.

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[Ganga]

[Edit:
Ah, you're back! Had me worried for a second looked like you'd fallen asleep at the switch!

rotflmao.

[Ganga]

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Talisker 175th Anniversary, Celtic Malts glass
Nose : Very sweet cereals, little hints of caramel and cocoa, maybe some honey and citrus.
Palate : Lemony malts with smoke.
Finish : Long with lots of smoke and spices.
Comment : Probably the best experienc out of the eight.

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[mikeymad]

Opening ----

Talisker 25yo 1975 ( 59.9%, Original Bottling, bottle 4771/6000 d-75, b-01, cask strength )

[Ganga]

Ohhhh! Ahhhh!

[Muskrat Portage]

Talisker18yo
Nose : sweet-peatiness,peppery .
Palate : not as fiery as the 10yo but still warming with a dryness , lovely stuff
Finish : long and warming,
Comment : A lovely dram , does not disappoint ,

Talisker 18
Nose : Just poured it so I'll concentrate on the nose first. It's not often that I detect the same scents others do but when SOI said sweet peppery I felt I could smell the same. Could be my imagination got triggered by his words but there you go. I also feel it's a little vegetal - like a Rhum Agricole from Martinique would be. Maybe some pencil shavings - I'm not sure? Oh yes, I'm getting toffee too - sweet cereals and toffee/caramell. And add peppermint to that. This one definately benefits from being in the glass for a while. Everything seems to come together and the scents get stronger in character. I love the nose and quite like the mouthfeeling of it - the finish is quite different from anything I've had so far. Oh the nose is really opening up now - it's fantastic! So much better than I remember - and I seem to remember it was quite good! Also, I find the smoke to have a certain "sour" - very nice actually - quality which I've only found in Port Ellens and Springbanks. Do Talisker malt any of its barley themselves like PE and SB did/do?
Palate : a little oily and peppery - but much less so than the Caol Ila 12 for example. It has a tougher bite than I seem to remember. Feels like there's a little sherry matured whisky in it too. Strangely enough the taste of it lasts very long in the back of the mouth and throat after having swollowed. I'm intrigued, it's very good but also quite strange! After a while it seems more fruity but the same long finish applies. it's a good whisky this one!
Finish : Loooong finish, peppery - lasts in the back of the mouth and throat for quite a while
Comment : Well, I'm pouring another - need I say more?

18yo - standard US release - glencairn
Nose : Softer on the Peat, more on the sweet
Palate : Oh my gosh, spice, hony, peat across the palete
Finish : The spice remains with slowly mellowing peat in the background
Comment : Now with a bit of chocolates

I've lined these up for comparison and again, similar but disimilar, as expected. This is what intrigues me most with tastings, the breadth of life experience and how it impacts your perceptions. Perhaps this would be a good dissertation for someone working on their Masters. Think of the enjoyment you'd find in the field work.
I wish I had decent chocolates to do the comparison Mikeymad is.
Muskrat

[Ganga]

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Talisker 175th Anniversary, Celtic Malts glass
Nose : Very sweet cereals, little hints of caramel and cocoa, maybe some honey and citrus.
Palate : Long with lots of smoke and spices.
Finish : ????
Comment : Probably the best experienc out of the eight.

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[Ganga]

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Talisker 175th Anniversary, Celtic Malts glass
Nose : Very sweet cereals, little hints of caramel and cocoa, maybe some honey and citrus.
Palate : Lemony malts with smoke.
Finish : Long with lots of smoke and spices.
Comment : Probably the best experience out of the eight.

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There finally.

[Ganga]

I've lined these up for comparison and again, similar but disimilar, as expected. This is what intrigues me most with tastings, the breadth of life experience and how it impacts your perceptions. Perhaps this would be a good dissertation for someone working on their Masters. Think of the enjoyment you'd find in the field work.
I wish I had decent chocolates to do the comparison Mikeymad is.
Muskrat

Oh, I need this PhD.

[Muskrat Portage]

Ganga and Mikeymad:
I have to admit that I'm very impressed with the breadth of whiskies you have available to you. Very nice to see, gentlemen. And you also can appreciate them and comment adroitly on them, a pleasure to vicariously dram with you both.

Muskrat

Now, where's that Ardbeg... oh there it is! ... down... those... eleven... steps... to the Lair...
I'm in a bit of pain by the way. Went to Karate last night, muscle spasms in both calves - pushed a bit too hard I guess. Needless to say, the drams are, thankfully, numbing to a certain extent.
Muskrat

[Ganga]

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TD-S:5HT 1992 DE 45.8, sm brandy, 2:1 whisky to water
Nose : Peaty smoke with cereals. More of the seaweed. Citrus rinds?
Palate : Hey, charred caramel. Am I at a sushi bar?
Finish : short and smokey.
Comment : much better at full strength.

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[Muskrat Portage]

Ganga;
Really, that much water? I'm not overly fond of water, no more than a tablespoon worth at most, even 'though I've heard numerous times how it opens up the bouquet.
I find it flattens the dram too much for me.
Muskrat

[Ganga]

I agree with you. The boquet is slightly better but it really depresses the palate way too much.

[mikeymad]

Talisker 25yo 1975 ( 59.9%, Original Bottling, bottle 4771/6000 d-75, b-01, cask strength )

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25yo US release 59.9%- glenclairn
Nose : Hard candy, Peat, Grass, White pepper
Palate : Great mouth feel, slight oilyness, peat is strong on the back of the palete, Starts out just slightly dry, lots of pepermint spicyness comes through strong
Finish : Mostly leaves you with pepper and peat, there is a slight sweetness, finish is fairly short for an old beverage, on reflection the finish is pretty long, but it is in the mouth, not in the throat or chest.
Comment : Worth the price of admission, It has a wonderfull satisfying experience to it.

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25yo - same one with a cap of water added
Nose : Nose opens up. Much more earthyness becomes apparent. Softer notes (very nice)
Palate : Not as attacking as the full strenght drams. Much more of a grassyness comes through, peat is integrated into the over all flavors of pepper and light spice. Oilyness is gone, but the mouthfeel is still good.
Finish : Pepper and peat still remain as the finish, it seems more mellow and longer
Comment : I like it a little bit better with a touch of water, but keep in mind that this is still probably at about 55%

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Cheers,

[Muskrat Portage]

My turn:
Ooooh!
Ahhh!

[Ganga]

Maybe we can get S'tan De'Mon to join us.

[Muskrat Portage]

Maybe we can get S'tan De'Mon to join us.

Yes, I 'd noticed him skulking around the Forums a moment ago. Stan, are you coming in out of the cold?
Muskrat

[mikeymad]

My turn:
Ooooh!
Ahhh!

Cheers

[Ganga]

Ok, I'm adding a wee drop of water to the Talisker 175th.

[Ganga]

I have to say the nose on this beverage is very interesting. Nose is more interesting but the palate is only about the same, maybe a little less.

[Ganga]

No one else? Well I'll stick around for a little bit in this thread. I'm off to Balvenie. Boy this is a honey.

[Muskrat Portage]

Well, my Ardbeg is done and that's my just about 10 pm nightcap. I'll leave you fellows to wait for the Pacific Rim to show. If I can't sleep I'll log back on.
Until tomorrow then,
Slante! and thank you for a wonderful and educational evening.
Peter

[Ganga]

Peter,

We're hanging on this thread for a few more than we'll be off to mass quantities. Thanks for hanging out.

[oldrip57]

A "bourboneer's" take on Talisker 10:

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Talisker 10
Nose : Sweet and rich malted grain, with a touch of iodine and a hint of butterscotch. Smoke comes on.
Palate : Sweet entry evolving into the doctor's-office antiseptic (not in a bad way, mind you!), spreading to red-taffy apple-candy around the edges. Smoke-dried lumber at the throat.
Finish : Pretty long and warm for the relatively low proof (most of my bourbons top 50% abv/100 proof). Complex combination of dry smoke and sweet grain.
Comment : A 10yo bourbon (new oak) is often a well-aged whiskey; a 10yo Scotch (frequently in ex-bourbon oak) whisky much less so. Still, this offers a surprising complexity without the slightest suggestion of immaturity. I generally prefer Islay and other island malts at 15 or more years. This'll do.

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[Ganga]

Thanks for joining in. It's nice to see what other whisky drinkers think of Scotch whisky.

[oldrip57]

Thanks for joining in. It's nice to see what other whisky drinkers think of Scotch whisky.

I find I enjoy a higher (almost univeral) percentage of available bourbons, but can find enjoyable whisk(e)ys in all origins/styles. And, the more I've come to understand the American straight whiskeys -- bourbon and rye (Tennessee whiskey is a slightly different animal) -- I find a greater recognition and appreciation for quality in other types, including single malts.
Value, however, keeps me committed to the American whiskeys. I currently have open a handful of bourbons and/or ryes distilled in the '50s and '60s, and didn't pay outrageous sums (over, say, $125) for any of them. How much would the most typical such single malt cost?