February Live Tasting

[Ganga]

What should be the distillery for the Live Tasting in February? Also, please suggest some dates for the tasting.

Also, it's not too early to make suggestions for March.

[woodhill]

As I have the 25 yr and 105 in Glenfarclas only the 12 yr Dalmore and the 12 HP and new oddbins thing (which I will not open just yet). I had to choose the 'farclas.

Does it have to be distillery specific or can it be region or region/age or age or bottler?

[Ganga]

We usually start with a distillery. Then when you've finished what you have available, you pull out whatever you want and see what others have.

[Willie JJ]

I choose 'farclas, because there is a thread maligning it.

[woodhill]

I choose 'farclas, because there is a thread maligning it.

That's it Willie! You stick up for them!

[Ganga]

I chose those three because I'm not ready for hepatic punishment by choosing Aberlour.

Any good dates for February?

[Muskrat Portage]

I chose Highland Park for two reasons: First, I have a couple of bottles and second I suspect a lot of people may have samples in their whisky hoards. That being said, I will bow to the final decision of the forum as a whole.

Muskrat Portage

[TheTross]

Unfortunately I have no Glenfarclas bottlings myself, so won't be able to contribute anything to the tastings, but I still chose Glenfarclas on the basis that I've only tried three of them and my opinions were very varied: I found the '105' to be brilliant, the 10 pretty average and the 21 oddly disappointing, so would be an interested onlooker to see what people's opinions are of other Glenfarclas bottlings for potential future purchases . Also, I have no Dalmore and only the HP12 at the moment, so am very little use at all for this tasting, which is a shame, as I really like the sound of these (never been involved in one before).

Also, it's not too early to make suggestions for March

With me being of such little use for next month's tasting, I can suggest either Balvenie (currently have 8 bottlings available) and - maybe for something a little different - St Magdalene/Linlithgow (5 bottlings available), if either of these are of any use.

[Ganga]

Does anyone have any objections for setting up the tasting for February 15/16? I know V Day is the 14th and may cause some people to have problems.

The Tross makes an interesting suggestion with St. Maggies. Maybe the best thing to do would be to open it up to closed Lowland distilleries. Just checking MJ's 4th edition and this is what shows up as closed: Inverleven, Kinclaith, Rosebank, St. Magadalene, Glen Flagler/Killyloch, Ladyburn. Littlemill is shown as mothballed/intermittent production.

[Muskrat Portage]

Lessee, 15th/16th is good for me. As for Glenfarcli, I've a 12, 15 and 21. I have a bit of St Maggy 21 yo left as well, none of the others.
So Ganga, looks like you tentatively may have a distillery and a date. Let's see how things shake out by the end of the poll.

Musky

[woodhill]

With me being of such little use for next month's tasting, I can suggest either Balvenie (currently have 8 bottlings available) and - maybe for something a little different - St Magdalene/Linlithgow (5 bottlings available), if either of these are of any use.

8 Balvenies Tross, sounds good which are they?

[TheTross]

8 Balvenies Tross, sounds good which are they?

• 1991 Port Wood
• 10yo (Founder's Reserve)
• 12yo (Double Wood)
• 14yo Rum Cask
• 15yo Single Barrel, Cask #3970 (1988/2003)
• 17yo Islay Cask
• 17yo SherryOak
• 21yo Port Wood

You might have guessed that it's one of my favourite distilleries

[Spirit of Islay]

Voted Farclas as well seeing i've very little HP and no Dalmore .
Regarding next month how about Bruichladdich ?

[Ganga]

Ok gentlemen, I will setup a poll each month following the live tastings. Poll will be based on suggestions received during the previous poll (ie, there has been some suggestions of Bruichladdich, Balvenie and St. Magadalene for March). Poll will be set to end with the close of the month. Poll will NOT be based on the presence or absence within my own collection.

[Ganga]

Polls still open Gentlemen.

I think we can set the date as February 15 and maybe into the 16th.

Also, anymore suggestions for March? Suggestions so far have been Balvenie and St Magdalene. I'd like to make it three choices.

[Spirit of Islay]

Also, anymore suggestions for March? Suggestions so far have been Balvenie and St Magdalene. I'd like to make it three choices.

What happened to Bruichladdich ?

[Ganga]

Ask and ye shall receive. Bruichladdich, Balvenie, St. Magdalene. Islay, Speyside and Lowland all represented.

[Willie JJ]

Springbank then

[mikeymad]

And at some point down the line we need a good old fashoned Highland Park tasting...

Cheers,

[Muskrat Portage]

And at some point down the line we need a good old fashoned Highland Park tasting...

Cheers,

Oh, yes yes yes!
Musky

[Ganga]

Springbank then

That was held in January at Ardbeggeddon.

Ok, ok. March will be a choice of 5. Bruichladdich-Islay, Balvenie-Speyside, St. Magdalene-Lowland, Springbank-Campbeltown, Highland Park-Islands. Look for the poll following February's live tasting.

I guess those interested in the live tasting have voted. It looks like the choice is Glenfarclas on February 15th running into the 16th.

[Spirit of Islay]

Springbank then

That was held in January at Ardbeggeddon.

good , we're not wasting a perfectly good night then.....

[Di Blasi]

Damn, I'm out again! I have no Glenfarclas, embarrassing really since it's such damn great whisky! I do have a few Highland Parks so hopefully the poll shifts. If not, I'll have to lurk and enjoy something else. Or hey, if there are enough of us out there maybe do 2 simultaneous live tastings??

[Muskrat Portage]

Johnathan:
Not enough time for me to ship you a sample, can anyone a bit closer do so? Otherwise, I'll gladly dram whatever you are able to find along with the whisky that the poll selects.

Martyrdom, thy name is Musky.


Muskrat Portage
(I suspect Christian, Ganga, Mikey and JJ would chime in with the same drams as well, they are all such accomodating sorts)

[Di Blasi]

We have almost a few weeks, so maybe just wait a few days or so what happens?? Thanks for the help and offer Musky, yes always very accommodating as are many around here, it's appreciated.

[mikeymad]

One thing that I was thinking about when I was home yesterday. Was that I have the Scotch Whisky Calendar for 2008 on my wall, and there is a beverage for every month.

I will have to take a look at the order when I get home. But what are thoughts about following it through the year for the monthly selection? We don't have to change this month.... but we could lay out the rest of the year.

January was Laphroaig
February is Highland Park
March is The Balvinie
Etc.....

Thoughts?

Cheers,

[woodhill]

Sounds good.

easier then making decisions.

[woodhill]

Sounds good.

easier then making decisions.

[Di Blasi]

Good for me, especially since I've got Highland Park ready to go!

[Muskrat Portage]

One thing that I was thinking about when I was home yesterday. Was that I have the Scotch Whisky Calendar for 2008 on my wall, and there is a beverage for every month.

MM:
Gee, I have the same calendar on my Whisky Lair wall! Was yours a Christmas gift as well? Personally I'd have rather had the bottles, but pictures of them will suffice.

2008 Calendar.jpg

It sounds like a good plan for live tastings, although the fun of running a poll every month is now gone.
Muskrat

[mikeymad]

That is one Musky.... I think that I bought it at a local BevMo. I don't remember now.

Sorry I didn't want to take away any fun... but I would rather drink....

Cheers,

[Muskrat Portage]

Mikey:
I'm like you, I'd rather drink than plan, however it was Ganga that was having all the fun setting up polls. We've ruined his fun.

Musky

[K-Mile]

Though decision here.. I already have HP12, 18, and 30, tried just one 'farclas (the 25), and no Dalmore yet.

I might vote for Dalmore and get some, or stick with HP and finally get to open my 30yo.

* K-Mile remains neutral, as all three options each provide an opportunity for a great new experience...

[Ganga]

Since when have you two ever worried about my fun?

[mikeymad]

It was just a thought. I just should have thought of it sooner.... I have no problems with the poles.

Anyway, FYI the calendar order (if you don't have one (and you should)) is:

JAN - Laphroaig
FEB - Highland Park
MAR - The Balvenie
APR - The Macallan
MAY - Springbank
JUN - The Glenlivet
JUL - Edradour
AUG - Glenmorangie
SEP - Ardbeg
OCT - Glenfarclas
NOV - Dalmore

Cheers,