Port Ellen Live Tasting - October 4, 2008

[Wave]

Bladnoch forum #2036 to try to get some commonality with the US if Wave is happy to open his.

No problem, I've read good things about the Blodnoch bottlings of PE. I'm just surprised at myself that I haven't opened it sooner.


Cheers!

[Willie JJ]

Sub £100 I have
McGibbons Provenance 1982, 19yo, 43%

Otherwise I would have to go up the price range to:
Signatory 1979, 24 yo, 43% (about £135)

Happy to open the latter, don't worry about compensation (what goes around, comes around)

Nice offer Nick, thanks. I'll put it up as an either/or until we see what the US folks can find:

Euro drams
Ras Mazunga:
Port Ellen 1982 / Cask #2030/2035 / 70cl / 46% / Berry Brothers & Rudd
Leorin:
One of: Art of Whisky Da Capo 1983-2006 132 bt. 56,8%
DL Provenance 21 y.o. Cask 476 aut.82- sum04 46%
A.D. Rattray 1982-2008 Cask 2466 199 bt. 60,4%
Willie JJ:
Bladnoch forum #2036
and maybe something else
Collector57
McGibbons Provenance 1982, 19yo, 43%
or, Signatory 1979, 24 yo, 43%
The Tross
???

US Drams
????????


Cheers

[Ganga]

At least a couple of us have PE samples courtesy of ryguy. PEAR 7 is one of them. The question gets to be, how many more do we want to get.

[Willie JJ]

I suppose what I'm trying to establish is whether we can have enough drams in common to make a good transatlantic tasting or whether we are looking at having two separate, but simultaneous tastings of the same distillery. Do any of the drams that folks on this side have as options look familiar? Otherwise is there something you will all have that won't cost a fortune that I could buy and distribute?

Cheers

[orangedogofglory]

I only have one sample, and it is the Signatory 1979 - guessing the same one C57 posted.

Outside of that, I am bottle-less. So I either need to pick one up for trading, or purchase shares of others'. Or trade something unrelated, I suppose.

[Ryguy]

We'll work it out one way or another Orangedog, I'll get together with Ganga to see what the plan here is.

[Willie JJ]

Sorry guys I'm not trying to be pushy and there is plenty of time.

[Ganga]

Ryan, will you be around Thursday evening? We could discuss bottlings then.

Willie, I'd suggest that the Euro folk can start early and the NA folk can join in as they have time, probably with a focus of Saturday evening. I see an advantage to this. By having folk around for some 12 hours or so, we provide a greater base of opportunity to provide an exchange amongst forum members.

Hopefully, this tasting will provide a dry run on how things will go on these more exotic tastings where exchanges will likely need to occur.

[Ryguy]

Ganga, I'll be around Thursday evening, so we can discuss this further then.

I like the idea of having a common denominator for us all, when it comes to a bottling. It's nice to be tasting the same thing if at all possible.

But for the most part, the US folk will primarily be tasting in the evening here, and it may be much later than when the UK folk start up. If at all possible I'll be around when it kicks off, but typically I can only stick around for a little while, until later in the evening.

i'm more than willing to send out a sample for those who don't already have one, of the Sig 1979/22yo that I have at home already. I have easily enough for 5 more samples (50ml). Ganga and Mikeymad already have one of these, not sure if anyone else does though. Let me know if you want one and you're willing to participate. That includes Willie, Nick and everyone else from the UK group.

[TheTross]

Sorry I've been quiet lately, just not been around much recently for one thing or another.

I'm still very much up for this tasting, but a recent reality check on finances has really questioned my rather willy-nilly spending habits of late. With a holiday coming up, potential course fees to pay (thinking of picking my French up again!) and other random things that invariably crop up occasionally in that dreaded thing we call Real Life, I'm having to put an indefinite self-imposed ban on 'non-essential' purchases. Unfortunately I've felt inclined to include whisky, which has taken up a large proportion of my funds for a long time now. It's a good hobby, but can be a bloody expensive one!

This has obviously ruled out buying a Port Ellen specifically for the tasting, for which I sincerely apologise. However, if necessary I'm more than willing to provide samples from the two full-size bottles I already have:

• 25yo 1982/2008, A. D. Rattray, 60.4%, Cask #2466, 199 bottles
• 1982/2007 RMW 10th Anniversary bottling, 51.5%, Cask #1144, 294 bottles

Both have enough in for a couple of 10cl samples. Just let me know if you're interested.

[Ras Mazunga]

Just noticed I have a different bottle: it is a single cask: no. 2469

What size of samples are we going to send?
Maybe some prefer 5 others 10cl.
Personally I prefer 10cl.

[Dram fine idea]

Things are a bit tricky at the moment so I can not commit to being available on the date. However, I am interested and, if possible, I may want to join the party nearer the time. I'm happy to pro rata the costs and if stocks are running low after all the sharing then 20ml of any bottling would be enough for me to catch a glimpse of the magic. I once tried Parker's Pert Mellons and it had a fantastic nose and taste. The finish was slightly short but overall it was lovely. I'll be in touch.

[Ryguy]

Is there anyone in the U.S. that I'm missing, or that would like a sample of the Signatory 1979 22yo for the tasting?

[Jimmy321]

Guys, if it's not to late i can send PE 3rd samples 6 * 80ml (approx) in the UK.

I have read past threads and i take it you just join it after 7pm and post your comments on the samples.

[Ras Mazunga]

Is Leorin still joining the tasting?
He doesn't reply my pm.

[Deactivated Member]

Unfortunately Malty is not available on that date.

[Willie JJ]

Is Leorin still joining the tasting?
He doesn't reply my pm.

I've just sent him a pm myself Ras so I don't know.

Thanks to Nick and Ras for the samples.

I'll get mine out over the next day or two.

Cheers

[Ganga]

Attention US folk, I have the PE 79, 22 yo from Wave for distribution. I need to know who needs samples.

Please shoot me an email at ntnganga@yahoo.com.

[Leorin]

Yes of course I wouldn't miss this tasting!
Ras' mail went to my spam folder, so it took me long to recognize it.
If there is anybody who would like to swap a sample with me and who hasn't contacted me so far, please feel free to do so.
Slainte
Kevin

[Willie JJ]

Great to have you involved Kevin.

I'm posting samples to everyone this morning, so they should arrive within the next few days.

Cheers

[Willie JJ]

The postal deed is done. Folks that should be getting parcels in the next few days are (in no particular order):

Ras Mazunga
Leorin
Collector57
The Tross
Dram Fine Idea
Jimmy321

Starting to get excited about this now, because the parcels have been arriving at my door.

[TheTross]

Aye, thanks very much Willie! Looking forward to it arriving

I too seem to have accrued quite a few samples, so this should be a good tasting.

[Ras Mazunga]

I'm looking forward to it Willie.

This is going to be a very nice tasting. I don't think I'll ever have a chance like this to taste so many Port Ellens again.

[Ras Mazunga]

mispost

[Ryguy]

I'm looking forward to this one as well. I have several lined up already, and at least 1 more sample is on the way. Many thanks to everyone involved for putting this together.

Port Ellen then Ardbeg.....it's going to be a nice October!!!!!

[daveski]

Going to try to join in, although have a 12 day old girl (new addition to the family) and the wife requires me to do the feeding at 3am at weekends!!

Will try to acquire a PE for the night within the next week to have a bit of variety, should i have the opportunity. If not forgive me for posting my thoughts either early (Sat afternoon) or late (Sunday Night) and therefore not quite Live!!!


I live in hope

[Ryguy]

Daveski - Congratulations on your new baby girl!!!

Looking forward to seeing you at the tasting, feel free to post notes before, during or after the tasting. I think that you'll find people strolling in and out anyway, depending on what time zone they are in.

[Willie JJ]

Oh yeah, many congratulations Dave. That's brilliant!

[TheTross]

Aye, many congrats daveski!

Hope you can make the PE tasting - the more the merrier! I'm usually unavailable for the actual live part myself and end up chipping in a day or so after, although I'm going to try to make damn well sure I'm here for this one

[Ryguy]

Looking forward to your notes as always Stuart!!

[TheTross]

Looking forward to your notes as always Stuart!!

And many thanks for the Bladnoch notes Stuart - up to the usual standards!!

Thanks lads

Anyway, un-bloody-believable - I can't do next Saturday! . I'll be in Wales watching a road rally, probably setting off late afternoon-ish so I'm almost certain to miss the start of the tasting and definitely the bulk of it. I'm genuinely annoyed by this, as I've received samples from various members specifically for the tasting. I was also really looking forward to it, but the road rally is a must I'm afraid as I'm in training to become a co-driver - amateur, of course - and the Welsh events are the ones to watch.

However, chances are quite good that I'll be back in the relatively small hours of Sunday morning, so hopefully I'll be able to catch the US members - and possibly even one or two dirty stop-ups on this side of the pond - taking part and join in with them. And even if I'm not back until later than planned I'll definitely be tasting a few samples, so will be adding notes at some point. I'm not totally missing this one!

[Ryguy]

Cheers Stuart, no problem at all. There is a really good chance that myself along with Mikeymad, Ganga and maybe more, will be around until at least 3am (your time), if not much later Sunday morning.

[daveski]

Many thanks all for the congrats on the arrival of the new addition to the family, much appreciated.

It appears i will be able to join in and have acquired the following: a bottle of Port Ellen from the Old Bothwell Co. It is a 26yo distilled in 1979 and bottled in 2006. From a single Oak cask, it comes in at 53%.

The father in law has insited he joins in the fun (mainly because i am opening a bottle of PE). More than happy to swap samples with anyone, if there is postage time.

Dave

[Ryguy]

Looking forward to reading your notes Dave! Looks like a nice bottle there! I'm glad you can join in the fun with us!

[Willie JJ]

Organisation for this tasting is going wel I think. Thanks to everyone that has sent me a sample(s). I now have 11 Port Ellens on my desk waiting for the night.

An especial thanks to Spirit of Islay who provided me with a large sample of a very interesting PE, which has allowed me to include a wee drop for those on the Euro side, since I was posting to them anyway. So, many thanks to Gordon for that. I think it will really give an extra dimension to the tasting. Apologies to those in the US. Despite being a huge sample, it wasn't enough to give a meaningful taste to so many folk and I had to choose what to do with it. Its my fault it didn't get to you.

Not sure what has happened to the parcels I sent on Monday to the continent. Any sign of your's yet Ras? Hopefully Leorin's will arrive shortly. Dave your's will go in the post today.

This is really good fun.