November 15 Irish Whiskey Tasting

[Ganga]

The Tasting List
Blends:
Jameson's 12yo
Bushmills Original

Pure Pot Still:
Redbreast 12yo

Single Malt:
Tyrconnel NAS

Single Grain:
Greenore 8yo

Cheers

As the October 4 date sort of fell through, the date of the Irish Whisky Tasting is now moved to Saturday November 15. The general lineup is listed above.

Anticipated participants:


North America:
Ryguy
Ganga
Mikeymad
Lohssanami
Wave

Europe:
The Tross
Willie JJ
Collector57
Cathach

Anyone else that wishes to participate with an exchange only needs to speak up.

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Okay if ye are really going with November I'll disregard the October thread.

I'm nearly sure Nov 15th is good for me. But don't know if we'll bring anything more to the table

I have Greenore 8yo open at the mo so can get some samples out to the UK guys.

In the Blends category I would suggest Blackbush there rather than Bushmills NAS (white) as it is far superior but only if it's widely available which I would imagine it is.
Jameson 12yo is perfect for tasting beside the Redbreast 12yo
Tyrconnell Nas is also

[Ganga]

I'll see if I can find some samples of the BB or maybe a half bottle to split with the good folks in the US. Keep the white label on though as it should be readily available throughout much of the US in miniature form and half bottles.

[Willie JJ]

I'm nearly sure Nov 15th is good for me. But don't know if we'll bring anything more to the table

You bring yourself and that works for me. It really seemed to miss the point to have an Irish whisky tasting without as many of the experts as possible.

Cheers

[cathach]

I think we need a peated malt as well, Connemara seems pretty well available so how about a cask strength or the 12yo?

And a peated blend to add to the blend category? Like Inishown perhaps?

or even an indie bottling e.g. Knappogue Castle 1994/1995

Re: the pure pot still I imagine some specialist in the US might have Green Spot.

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Greenspot I think could be a tough one because as far as I can remember IDL are contracted to produce only 600 cases yearly (I think) and I presume that may even be only 6bottle cases which seems to be the norm now days

SO as little as 3600 bottles up to 7200 bottles which is not a lot really but if anybody has any better information let us know.

[cathach]

Well I've bought 2x 12 or 4x 6 cases of the Green Spot this year so I've either bought .33% or .66% of their total production!!

As far as I know they must mean 12 bottle cases even thought the offies get them in cases of 6. So that'd be 7200 bottles per year. It's very popular in dublin and is on all the German/UK websites nowadays.

[Ganga]

If Greenspot is making the US market, I'm not seeing it.

The US contingent will try our best to accumulate samples of other suggestions beyond the main list of 5. I know that at least one US member has purchased several other samples of blends.

[DavidH]

If Greenspot is making the US market, I'm not seeing it.

I'm pretty sure it's not bottled in 750ml size so it's not sold in the US.

[cathach]

If Greenspot is making the US market, I'm not seeing it.

A mate of mine is heading to San Francisco on the 5th of Novemeber so I could get him to bring a bottle over and post it to you if you'd like?

[Ganga]

MikeyMad lives in the general SF area as doe Lohssami.

[cathach]

Well the offer still stands if one of you would be prepared to send samples onwards to the others. Whichever of you would like to do that let me know via pm and we can sort something out.

[Ganga]

Cathac, I'll PM you tomorrow after I get a chance to talk with some of the other folks.

Here's my question for all of you: How do we get participation from more of the forum members?

[mikeymad]

If Greenspot is making the US market, I'm not seeing it.

A mate of mine is heading to San Francisco on the 5th of Novemeber so I could get him to bring a bottle over and post it to you if you'd like?

I would have no problem meeting up with someone in the area. I should be around about that time of year. Maybe have a beverage as well.

Cheers,

[TheTross]

Here's my question for all of you: How do we get participation from more of the forum members?

I'm not convinced we can. It's not as if members don't know it's happening - there have been at least two threads on this now - so perhaps we're the only ones interested in taking part. Bit of a shame, as more is better in this case, but you can't force people to join in...

Anyway, the lineup sounds good to me. Shame there's no RB15 in there, as by all accounts it sounds an absolute belter, but I suppose it's getting very difficult to get hold of!

Has it been decided who's buying what yet?

[lohssanami]

I can also meet up with your friend cathach, and if there is a US marketed bottle you need, perhaps we can send it back with your mate.

Binny's has Connemara CS for $59.99, as well as the other varieties.

[Aidan]

I may be able to make this date. It's a long way away, but I'm sure I could make it.

[Ryguy]

I may be able to make this date. It's a long way away, but I'm sure I could make it.

We'll look forward to seeing you then Aidan!!

[Aidan]

What do I have to do? Please excuse my ignorance.

[Ryguy]

The Tasting List
Blends:
Jameson's 12yo
Bushmills Original

Pure Pot Still:
Redbreast 12yo

Single Malt:
Tyrconnel NAS

Single Grain:
Greenore 8yo

The tasting list is shown above. And you are in no way limited to that selection, a few people will have this plus some available to them. And others will have only one or two from the list above. I think because of the differences in availability in the UK and US, if we can each have 2 common bottles, we're doing well.

It will be held here in the Live Tasting Forum on Saturday, November 15th. Tastings typically start at 7PM GMT, but we'll most likely choose a time that works for everyone in the group.

The folks in the US are each either buying 50ml minis of the whiskies above, or a bottle in some cases to be distributed to others in 50ml samples. The folks from the UK are doing the same I believe. Willie JJ or The Tross will be your contacts if you need help obtaining samples. But being from Dublin, I don't think you'll have a problem finding Irish Whiskies.

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM either Ganga or Myself. Look forward to having you participate!!

[Willie JJ]

Just update the participants here:

North America:
Ryguy
Ganga
Mikeymad
Lohssanami
Wave

Europe:
The Tross
Willie JJ
Collector57
Cathach
Irishwhiskychaser
Aidan
DavidH?

Great to have the Irish gang on board.

Don't think I missed anyone, but please feel free to berate me if I did

Who amongst the Euro crew is up for sending samples to the others? This might not work for the Irish folks as the brits may be very unlikely to be able to find a bottle that you don't have.

Cheers

[Ras Mazunga]

I would like to join too.
Probably I'll buy a Green Spot. Hopefully many of you want to swap samples with me.

[TheTross]

Glad to hear you'll join us Ras!

If you want to bring the Green Spot to the tasting then that's fine, though I'm not sure what its availability is like for the US members. If you're wanting to split it - at least amongst the European contingent - then I have no problem with that; we can all sort out sample swaps easily enough. I know I'd swap a sample with you

Participant update:

North America
Ryguy
Ganga
Mikeymad
Lohssanami
Wave

Europe
The Tross
Willie JJ
Collector57
Cathach
Irishwhiskychaser
Aidan
DavidH?
Ras Mazunga

[Willie JJ]

It seems like Cathach might have arranged to get the Greenspot to the US folks so perhaps we can add it to the list:

The Tasting List
Blends:
Jameson's 12yo
Bushmills Original

Pure Pot Still:
Redbreast 12yo
Greenspot

Single Malt:
Tyrconnel NAS

Single Grain:
Greenore 8yo

Starting to look really good now.

[Jobi]

I'm interested and following the thread closely, but I won't be able to commit to the date until much closer. My plans to join past tastings always had to be scrapped at the last minute.

[Ryguy]

I'm interested and following the thread closely, but I won't be able to commit to the date until much closer. My plans to join past tastings always had to be scrapped at the last minute.

Good deal Jobi, hopefully you can make it!

[Ganga]

Jobi,

Don't worry too much about it. At least three of these are available as minis in the US. If you find yourself available as the date approaches, you can likely request samples of the others. Or you could commit to them and taste them at your convience should you become unavailable at the "official" time.

[lohssanami]

I'll go ahead and pickup a bottle of the Connemarra CS peated, and I'll send samples out to the US folks. I've wanted to get a bottle anyways, and I found some in California for $50.

[DavidH]

Looks like I got volunteered

I'll participate with whatever is on my shelf at the time.

[Willie JJ]

By the way if there is anything that the Irish gang want to try and don't have/haven't had then I'm game to buy and split it. £100 is my limit though.

Cheers

[lohssanami]

I'll go ahead and pickup a bottle of the Connemarra CS peated, and I'll send samples out to the US folks. I've wanted to get a bottle anyways, and I found some in California for $50.

If there is something you would rather I grab, let me know, and I can pick it up too.

[Ryguy]

I'll go ahead and pickup a bottle of the Connemarra CS peated, and I'll send samples out to the US folks. I've wanted to get a bottle anyways, and I found some in California for $50.

If there is something you would rather I grab, let me know, and I can pick it up too.

lohssanami, I think the Connemarra CS peated is a good choice. Any thoughts on this Ganga?

[Ryguy]

Who amongst the Euro crew is up for sending samples to the others? This might not work for the Irish folks as the brits may be very unlikely to be able to find a bottle that you don't have.

Cheers

Yep. The McGibbons for sure, and maybe another if Ryan forces me to open one

(Just thought I'd get that in pre-emptively Ry...)

Anytime you feel like you need to be pursuaded to open a new bottle, I'm here for you Nick!

[cathach]

Yep. The McGibbons for sure,

McGibbons?? Pardon my ignorance but is this an IB of an Irish malt?


WillieJJ
Cooley released several OBs of a 15yo Tyrconnell this year, all from single casks @ 46%abv. They all come in at £45 or so in the U.K.
Cadenhead also have a 15yo single cask, cask strength Cooley.
There are also a few Connemara single casks around I think.
Or even the Connemara 12yo, it's lovely but very dear

[Willie JJ]

WillieJJ
Cooley released several OBs of a 15yo Tyrconnell this year, all from single casks @ 46%abv. They all come in at £45 or so in the U.K.
Cadenhead also have a 15yo single cask, cask strength Cooley.
There are also a few Connemara single casks around I think.
Or even the Connemara 12yo, it's lovely but very dear

Ok so if there is one of these that none of the four of you have, or if there is one in particular that you all want to try then let me know. They all seem to be affordable.

Cheers