A Pour Man's Tasting Notes

[pkt77242]

As long as the little man doesn't wake up the bottles are all lined up and the order will be by abv so focm, then 2008, 2009, and lastly 2004. I should be pouring in about 1 hour.

[pkt77242]

First up is Lagavulin 1995 12yo European oak casks 48% Friends of Classic Malts

N: Salt, pepper, some jams and a little smoke. A little sandalwood and tea. After a couple of seconds, leather and peat shows up.
P: Salted orange with some smoke. Tea, leather and peat show up. A touch of tobacco and sticks (anyone ever bit a branch before?).
F: Medium finish on salted oranges and smoke. Tea and leather show up again as well. just a hint of peat but more of a farm yardy peat.

Not as sherried as I though it would be but still very good quality. Great flavor but lacks just a smidge on complexity. 89 points.

[pkt77242]

Lagavulin 12yo 2008 56.4%.

N: Peat, wood smoke (well more like smoke from twigs), apples and salt. A hint of a nut (not quite sure which one). A little straw and some cinnamon.
P: Peated apples (if there is such a thing). Smoke and more apples. getting rather salty and coastal. A little oysters, smoked fish and beef jerkey.
F: long on peated apples, oysters, smoked fish and beef jerkey. Also a large dose of salt and a little pepper.

A big brute that assault your senses. But it can assault my taste buds anytime. 91 points.
Not sure if you tasted this and Laga 16 side by side if you would believe they came from the same distillery.

[pkt77242]

Next up is the Lagavulin 12 2009 57.9%

N: Vanilla, green smoke (burning very young (green) wood), white chocolate and pie crust. A little apple and peat.
P: Apples, peat, lemons (well citurs there could be some lime as well), smoke and some salt. tea and a touch of pepper. Just a hint of smoked fish.
F: long, on burning embers, salt, almonds and peat. maybe a little lemons and apples.

A very different Laga and 90 points in my book. I have a slight preference for the 2008 but this is very enjoyable in it's own right.

[pkt77242]

Last one is the Lagavulin 12 2004 58.2%

N: Peat, apples, almonds and hay. some smoke and salt as well with a hint of oysters.
P: Peated apples again? A little citrus (lemons), apples and salt. Big smoke and peat. Almonds and hay are there but mostly in the background.
F: Medium long and huge notes of smoke and peat. A little salt and oysters as well. Also a touch of lemon. Did I mention lots of peat and smoke?

A very different Laga again. More on the smokey/peaty side.

90 points. If you like peat bombs rate this higher and if you don't like peat stay far away.

[pkt77242]

My next tasting will be 4 Laga 12's 2004, 2008, 2009 and the FOCM 1995. If all goes well it will be tonight if not then Monday or Tuesday.

No wonder you're struggling to keep below 100 open bottles Sean!

I would like to say that no bottles were opened to do this tasting (because I opened all of them within a couple days of buying them, no will power over here).

[pkt77242]

I'm waiting for that

So am I. You made my curious, Sean.

My next tasting will be 4 Laga 12's 2004, 2008, 2009 and the FOCM 1995. If all goes well it will be tonight if not then Monday or Tuesday.

Uhm really interesting, I'm waiting for that

I have to admit, I am glad that people are still reading this thread, as there hadn't been a comment on here in a while.

Anyone have any suggestions for tasting for me? Thank you

Sean

[MacDeffe]

I always read this tread, so keep up the great work

Suggestions, it's hard , as I don't know what you got, but a vertical of '72 Caperdonichs wouldn't be bad

Steffen

[matteo]

I agree with you, the 2008 release is a little bit higher than others.

I do read this thread any times you update it but I prefer when you talk about whisky

I think that your notes are simple and direct, no too much poem and humorism with sensational words and adjectvies used like fireworks, but personal and quite condivisible TASTING NOTES they are a FAIR way to understand a spirit having not tried it yet

Thank you so much I apreciate

[johan brugge]

have to admit, I am glad that people are still reading this thread, as there hadn't been a comment on here in a while.

Anyone have any suggestions for tasting for me? Thank you

I'm not always up to date but I do check your thread often enough. Do you have by any chance also the 2005 release?

[The Third Dram]

I've definitely been intending to chime in on this thread, Sean, especially concerning your wonderful comparative notes on the trio of Lagavulin 12YO releases.

At the moment, I've only tasted the 2004 and 2005 editions, each of which is quite similar to the other. As yet, full bottles of the 2006, 2008 and 2009 releases remain unopened in my cabinet. So your take on the 2008 and 2009 is much appreciated.

Truth be told, I'm far more inclined these days to opt for the 12YO CS releases over the standard 16YO bottling, as they invariably, in my opinion, offer up a much clearer, cleaner, uncluttered representation of the distillate's intrinsic characteristics. Just so appetizing, they are!

[pkt77242]

I always read this tread, so keep up the great work

Suggestions, it's hard , as I don't know what you got, but a vertical of '72 Caperdonichs wouldn't be bad

Steffen

Steffen, you provide the '72 Caperdonichs and I will post the notes

But you bring up a good point. In the next week or two I will try to post up a list of my open bottles and samples.

[pkt77242]

I think that your notes are simple and direct, no too much poem and humorism with sensational words and adjectvies used like fireworks, but personal and quite condivisible TASTING NOTES they are a FAIR way to understand a spirit having not tried it yet

Thank you so much I apreciate

Thank you very much Matteo.

[pkt77242]

have to admit, I am glad that people are still reading this thread, as there hadn't been a comment on here in a while.

Anyone have any suggestions for tasting for me? Thank you

I'm not always up to date but I do check your thread often enough. Do you have by any chance also the 2005 release?

Thank you Johan. Unfortunately I do not have the 2005. I am looking at getting a 2010 when it finally comes out.

[pkt77242]

I've definitely been intending to chime in on this thread, Sean, especially concerning your wonderful comparative notes on the trio of Lagavulin 12YO releases.

At the moment, I've only tasted the 2004 and 2005 editions, each of which is quite similar to the other. As yet, full bottles of the 2006, 2008 and 2009 releases remain unopened in my cabinet. So your take on the 2008 and 2009 is much appreciated.

Truth be told, I'm far more inclined these days to opt for the 12YO CS releases over the standard 16YO bottling, as they invariably, in my opinion, offer up a much clearer, cleaner, uncluttered representation of the distillate's intrinsic characteristics. Just so appetizing, they are!

Thank you very much Doug.

I really like the Laga 12 in comparison to the 16 and to make it even better the Laga 12 is $5-10 cheaper out here than the 16.

[pkt77242]

I currently have 4 tastings planned (not quite sure of the when but at least one should be posted by this weekend).

Diageo Distiller Editions (I have at least 4 if not 5 of them)
2 unnamed 40yo+ speyside single malts
Wild Turkey (at least 3 if not 4 of their offerings)
Scott's Selection tasting (at least 4 if not 5 of them).


Sean

[matteo]

Only one question but all your tasting are on full bottle (70cl or much more) purchased by you or do you use sample? Do you work in the spirit market?

[johan brugge]

Thank you Johan. Unfortunately I do not have the 2005. I am looking at getting a 2010 when it finally comes out.

Pitty, 'cause I have this one in my collection. I still want to get my hands on the 2004 one, though. I had the 2007, which I really loved! Now I have the 2003, 2005 and 2009 but none of them are open. But after reading your tasting notes that might change soon.

[pkt77242]

Only one question but all your tasting are on full bottle (70cl or much more) purchased by you or do you use sample? Do you work in the spirit market?

Matteo, most of the whiskies I taste are my own bottles (currently about 90+ bottles open) and samples (some are mine from finished bottles and some are from trading samples. About 40 total samples).

As to the second question, I do not work in the spirit business (or wine or beer for that matter). Just an amateur with a passion.

[matteo]

WOW

[pkt77242]

Sorry about not getting a whisky tasting up yet but i have one ready for tomorrow night.

For tonight 2 beers while watching monday night football.

[pkt77242]

First up New Belgium Brewery Ranger IPA 6.5%

N: citrus and floral. Some pineapple a hops. A touch of bubble gum, pears, guava and malt.
P: malt and hops. Citrus (grapefruit and lemon) and some floral notes.
F: shortish and slightly bitter. Hops and malt and has a slight dirty flavor. A little citrus shows up at the very end.

I loved the nose, the palate was enjoyable but simple and the finish was slightly disappointing.

82 points.

[pkt77242]

And the challenger Sierra Nevada Torpedo extra ips 7.2% abc.

N: citrus and malt. Some hops and floral notes with a little banana and caramel.
P: hops, malt, citrus and some banana. Floral and slightly bitter.
F: medium short on floral notes and malt. Getting rather bitter at the very end.

Nose is nice but not.as good as the NB Ranger, the palate is slightly better and the finish is about the same (in quality not taste)
81 points.

[pkt77242]

In about 1-2 hours i will be starting a tasting of entry level 12yo speyside malts. Hopefully 5 different ones but maybe only 4.

[pkt77242]

Ok, it is 4 speyside malts and the speyside 12 (which sometimes gets lumped as Highland and sometimes in Speyside).
The list is Glenlivet 12, Speyside 12, An Cnoc 12, Cragganmore 12, and Balvenie 12 Doublewood. The first one is in the glass.

[pkt77242]

Glenlivet 12

N: apple, pears, a little lemon and some sugar cookie. Also a touch of coconut. A little malt and vanilla.
P: Malt, apple, and sugar cookie. Lemon and coconut.
F: Short on apple, lemon and sugar cookie.

I rather like Glenlivet 12, not super complex but very drinkable. 83 points.

[pkt77242]

The Speyside 12yo

N: Caramel, brazil nuts, cashews and a faint whiff of sunflower seeds. Lots of caramel.
P: Lots of caramel and rather bitter. Did someone mix this whisky at 1 part whisky and 1 part caramel color (E150 isn't it). Some nuts in the background (brazil nuts, etc).
F: Short and bitter. Brazil nuts, and caramel.

I really hope I have an off bottle as this is not good. 65 points and I think I am being generous.

[pkt77242]

An Cnoc 12

N: Vanilla, lemon and porridge. Grass and yogurt. A little malt and some cooking spices.
P: Grassy, with some lemon and vanilla. A touch of greek yogurt and malt. Also a touch of caramel.
F: medium short. Grassy and some white pepper. A touch of the lemon and vanilla. some spices as well.

A very solid whisky and a great bargain at $35 a bottle out here. 85 points.

[pkt77242]

Cragganmore 12

N: spicy oranges, white pepper, cooking spices and a little malt. A hint of peach, tangerines and salt (yes salt, don't ask me how).
P: Spicy fruit (oranges, tangerine and peaches) cooking spices and white pepper. A nice malt backbone and a hint of vanilla.
F: Medium short but spicy. Fruit (oranges and tangerines) and white pepper.

A very enjoyable whisky. 86 points. would be 88 or so if the finish was longer.

[pkt77242]

Last one for the night. Balvenie 12 Double Wood

N: Very nutty (cashews, almonds, etc), and some sherry. A little raisins, honey and malt. a hint of cedar and varnish.
P: the nuts carry over to the palate (cashews and almonds) and raisins. A little sherry, honey and malt. Rather similar to the nose.
F: Medium on varnish and nuts. Slightly bitter but not over the top. A little honey is mixed in as well. Sherry (walnuts, almonds and raisins) in the background.

83 points. Not overly complex but a very drinkable whisky.

[MacDeffe]

What is Speyside and what is not is always an discussion, and you can always find slight disagreements when you start poking around

Geographically I would say that Speyside its the area which water (burns, streams, rivers etc.) flows into the River Spey

As such, of the 5 drams you just had

Speyside and Cragganmore are more or less on the banks of the River Spey itself

Glenlivet are up in the hills, close to the Livet (which flows into Avon which flows into Spey)

Balvenie is next to Fiddich which flows into Spey


That leaves out AnCnoc which is from Knockdhu distillery. This is not Speyside at all but in Deveronside (geographically speaking)

Steffen

[The Third Dram]

Thanks once again for the notes, Sean.

I've been 'secretly' pondering revisiting the 12-year old An Cnoc, and your review has increased my motivation to do so.

[pkt77242]

Tonight 2 beers loaded with hops.

First up Lagunitas Hop Stoopid 8% abv 102 IBU

N: canned pineapples, dried tropical fruits and malt. Some hops and citrus as well.
P: Bitter hops and malty at entry that gets a little sweeter with a little pineapple and apple peel. Some floral hops.
F: medium in length and rather bitter. A little apple peel is there as well and some pear. But it is mostly bitter hops.

Too bitter for me. I loved the nose, the palate was ok and the finish killed my tastebuds. 82 points. Very good quality just not for me.

[pkt77242]

The challenger
Great Divide brewing co Hercules double ipa 10% abv 85 IBU

N: fruit salad, malt and hops. Pineapple, melons and pears. A little caramel as well.
P: malt, caramel, apples and pears. Some floral hops and citrus.
F: medium length on caramel apples and butterscotch. Some bitter floral hops, citrus and malt.

Much more balanced, still bitter but with some contrasting sweetness. 86 points.

[pkt77242]

BV Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

N: Cherry, herbs, cocoa and cigar box. Mushrooms, blackberry and cassis
P: Cherry, earthy notes (mushrooms and herbs), and the typical rutherford dust. Some blackberry, cassis, red currants and tobacco. The tannins are there but not overpowering.
F: medium long on blackberry, cassis and herbs. A fair amount of cocoa and chocolate as well.

A damn nice wine and well worth the price, I will be buying at least one more bottle of this if note more. 89 points.