May 3, 2008 - Freestyle Tasting

[Ganga]

Well gents (and ladies if they should join us), it is a little bit after 6 pm here in LA. I'm grillin' up some chicken to have with some drams. Probably start with a little Dalmore in a bit.

[mikeymad]

FYI... I will be on the whisky chat as well if anyone wants to stop out there as well....

http://www.spiritofislay.net/warehouse4/stillroom/

Okay a little Dalmore it is...

Cheers,

[mikeymad]

Cheers team on a Saturday evening.

Dalmore 'Cigar Malt' 43%

Maybe grab a cigar with this as well.... hmmmmm

Cheers,

[Ganga]

Thank you Mikey. The general idea here is to post the whiskies that you are dramming and any thoughts you have about any particular dram.

Hope to see some people tonight.

Oh yes, I'm starting with the Dalmore 12 even though the chicken isn't done yet.

[andyt]

Hi Folks, settling in to an Almost There, I really love this stuff and can't wait to try the Renaissance.

[Ganga]

Andy,

Mikey and I are over at Spirit of Islay (Gordon's website) for general discussion purposes. I do agree that the Almost There is exceptional.

[Ganga]

The fats and seasoning on the chicken brings out the woodin the Dalmore. It comes off as oakey with a small interplay of spices. Works for me.

[mikeymad]

buddy have a cigar
Dalmore - cigar malt
Tulip Nosing Glass

Colour=dark red amber
Finish=smooth coating, more oranges and heavy spice
Nose=sweet sugar, hard candy,
Palate=heavy body, rich and oily, oranges, cooked citrus

[Ganga]

Repour of the Dalmore 12 with a bottle of Red Nectar Ale (central coast of CA microbrew).

The RN certainly highlights the influence of the sherry casked portion of this bottling. The Dalmore is much sweeter at this point. More thoughts to follow.

Some further thoughts here. It is actually finishing with the beer. Very interesting. On the palate I was getting something like cherries or maybe red candy apples. It is a good combination.

BTW, it is a rich late harvest grain that underlies all the sweet things.

[mikeymad]

Had the Dalmore Cigar Malt with a Cigar. Interesting, it seemed to make the cigar better. But then when I worked over the cigar for a while and then went back to the beverage, it did make the Malt very yummy... Fun to play with.

Cheers,

[andyt]

Have you tried their IPA Ganga?

[Ganga]

Moving onto the Glenfarclas 1996, 11, Traverso bottling. Still have the Red Nectar.

[mikeymad]

Moving on with some more Sherry

Aberlour 12yo Double cask (43%)

Cheers,

[Ganga]

Have you tried their IPA Ganga?

I've never been a huge fan of IPAs in general. And it is hard enough to find any of these outside of the Central Coast. I guess I'll be trying them once I find them though.

[andyt]

It's probably my favourite style although porters are a very close second.

[mikeymad]

the 12 yo was a little bit of a light dram moving to the heavy stuff:

Aberlour A'bunadh Batch 10 - 59.8%

Cheers,

[Ganga]

Ok, I think the Red Nectar was more distracting than anything with this particular dram. Seem to make the sweetness of the Glenfarclas become more like toasted rubber. Keep these two in separate corners.

[Ganga]

Highland Park 12 with the Red Nectar. Seems promising upon first try.

Ok, the citrus in this resolves to a tangerine, the honey is more sharp but less dominating and the smoke is really brought to the fore. Good pairing.

[Ganga]

I'm moving along to Red Nectar with the 13 yo Bowmore bottled for Trader Joe's.

Nose: Bazooka bubble gum, cotton candy, floral, light peat, light wood smoke.

Let you know about palate later.

[mikeymad]

The A'bunadh was way too much power for the cigar. Tasty good though. One would just wipe out the other.

[mikeymad]

Moving on to the Highland Park 18yo - Black label.

See how it does with a cigar. The DAlmore is the winner for me so far.

Cheers,

[Ganga]

Definitely two thumbs up for the pairing of Bow 13 Trader Joe's and the Red Nectar Ale. The Ale seems to wipe out the "Islay" of the Bow and leave you with a palate of cotton candy and floral. I have to say this really gets it done for me.

[mikeymad]

The HP and cigar was an interesting pair. It changed the characteristic of both to something very light. Nice on each end but forgettable. I think that the Cigar Malt is the way to go in the long run.

Cheers,

[Ganga]

Back to Speyside. Glenfiddich 12 with the Red Nectar. Hm, may need more Nectar.

I'm back with comments. The Nectar really takes out any of the negatives for the Fiddich. You're left with a basket of fruit for your palate. The wood is gone and the malt is made to be very sweet. I have to say this is maybe about the most pleasant combo so far.

[Ryguy]

Seems as though I'm a bit late, Macallan 12 for me right now.

[mikeymad]

Okay no more cigar.....

Moveing on to some Mac

Macallan 18yo 1986 (43% old style bottle)

Cheers,

[Ganga]

More Nectar; more whisky. Poured the Ardmore 14, Whisky Galore.

Very interesting. It's like a smoked apple. Really present a different character to this whisky. I like the Fiddich better but this is a little surprising and interesting.

[Ryguy]

Macallan 18yr 1988 OB

[Ganga]

Nectar with a sherry monster. Aberlour a'bunadh batch 7

Ok, nothing. The 59.9 just overwhelms the Nectar. You get a'bunadh.

[mikeymad]

The Mac 18 1986 is coming off with nice oranges and spice with the huge finish as always. Just a lovely dram.

Cheers,

[mikeymad]

Taking a step up the Macallan ladder

Macallan 25yo 1972 (MMcD 46%)

[mikeymad]

I really like the MMcD Macallan. It is a little stronger and cleaner than the standard OB25.

It is a treat beverage with orange candy and spice playing around, and a long finish.

Cheers,

[Ganga]

Tali 175th with the Nectar. Comes off with a bacony (more 'Merican style) note. Lots of malt. Only the mildest of smoke and some brineness. Good pairing but not exceptional.

[Ganga]

Well, the Scott's Laddie 15 is only all right with the Nectar. Malty comes through but just doesn't work otherwise. Not offensive just more pleasant to have separate.

[Ryguy]

Macallan 16yr SMWS Cask #24.96

Good stuff here, the mix of oranges and spice is almost perfect