Favourite Christmas Whisky (21st December)

[Matt2]

Welcome to the 'Favourite Christmas Whisky' live tasting.

The Whiskies

• Any of your Christmas favourites

Date and Time

• Friday 21st December 7:00pm GMT till late

For those of you who do not know what these are about, they run for generally 12+ hours and we all sit down (at various times) to taste a range of whiskies and share our notes and comments on the forum.

They are a great way to meet people on the forum, chat about your experiences and learn something new about the whiskies you have, and we all end up having a good time.

You can follow the tastings on this page or click this link to open our live tastings page.

Please feel free to join in and post any comments or tasting notes you have.

Handy Links

• Whisky Magazine Tasting Notes
• Tasting Notes BBCode to format your notes
• International times
• Live tastings page

Start time - 7:00pm GMT (or when you get here...)

[Di Blasi]

Looks great Matt, thanks for the setup. I'm here, not leaving town til tomorrow after all so maybe I'll check back in later this evening. If I don't get the chance to do so, hope you all enjoy yourselves!!

[mattbuty]

I hate that I am always going out when these sessions are on. hey ho. I will be drinking Bladnoch, Dalmore 12 and Cragganmore tonight, so maybe I add my thoughts at the end...

[Di Blasi]

Let's kick start this thing, now it's 8.32pm in my zone, so "it's on" since 32 minutes ago GMT. What's your first guess of what's in my glass folks?? What has put me here this evening?? Yes, you got it! ARDBEG TEN! My first!!
Not my last, there'll be more, we'll check back later and see, but gotta head out and do a few things first. Enjoy your whisky!!

[Spirit of Islay]

Just got back from doing the Christmas shop at Morrisons (picked up a 10yo Glenmo for £15.99 , IWRNT........) .
Came back and saw this , thought i know the exact dram to kick off with.......

-
Brand : Adelphi Expression : Glen Grant
Nose : Heavy oloroso with that wonderful Christmas cake spices,dried fruit smell . Palate : Very dry , liquid Christmas cake over the palate .Spices , Glace cherries , cake mix . Wonderful ! Finish : Very long and very sherried ! Comment : From Cask No.1036 . The ideal Xmas Dram , Probably the finest bottle recommended by Andy from Loch Fyne whisky . Colour : Deep Mahogany Score : 0
Age : 31 Years Old Vintage : 1970 ABV : 55.4% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : - Ice : - Glass : - Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Spirit of Islay]

I don't know about anyone else but i always associate Christmas Drams with heavily sherried expressions .
And oh boy is this one heavily Sherried !
The Legs in the glass are amazing as well , must be really oily , the mouthfeel is huge .

[Ganga]

Well, good to see the good folks out this morning having a dram. Hey, it's not even time for me to go out for dinner/lunch yet.

Ooh, Dalmore. Good suggestion as I just bought several bottles. Maybe a little Macallan CS to go along too.

When I think of Christmas drams, I think in terms of spicey flavors especially cinnamon. I guess that corresponds to sherry casked whisky. Macallan, Springbank, Dalmore, Highland Park, Glenfarclas all come to mind.

I'll check back in later this afternoon to see how all of you are doing (with intentions of dramming in the evening here).

[Muskrat Portage]

Y'know, I was going to go have a nap after the last Christmas party but I really should have a dram to take the edge off.... (sound of Musky heading downstairs to the Lair)...
A Longmorn 15yo, courtesy of my good friend Danny out West.
Muskrat

[Spirit of Islay]

Time for another one.......

[Spirit of Islay]

deleted

[Spirit of Islay]

Deleted

[Muskrat Portage]

Musky's First Christmas Dram (of many)
Brand : Longmorn Expression : 15 yo
Nose : Cereal, sherry, heather fragrance, a hint of citrus and nougat. Palate : Like christmas pudding with a white brandy sauce. A hint of sherry and raisins and a hint of citrus. Finish : Warming and fiery, searing the tongue and then hanging on with a long dry sweetness. Comment : This has been far too long away from my collection and is a wonderful dram to celebrate the Joyous season with. Colour : Tawny gold Score : 91
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 0% Bottler : OB	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside (Elgin) Water : None Ice : None Glass : Tulip Nosing Glass Notes : Acquired from Alberta courtesy of Danny
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Muskrat Portage]

Hmmmm ......
Whats up with this ?

SOI, the same thing happened to me the first time I tried to use the updated BBCodes. This time, I filled in every field and it seemed to work.
Slante!
Peter

[Spirit of Islay]

-
Brand : Scotch Malt Whisky Society Expression : 7.36 ( Longmorn)
Nose : Cinnamon , Spices , Tobacco , Mint Humbugs Palate : Again Mint humbugs , Menthol Cigarettes , Christmas cake mix (Spices , Dried Fruits) . Finish : Long , Sherried and dry Comment : Another one with the "Liquid Christmas Cake " taste . A cracking Dram . Colour : Bright Mahogany Score : 0
Age : 38 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 53.5% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : - Ice : - Glass : - Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Boy, you guys are making me thirsty. But you are inspiring me.

I'm thinking a Springbank might be in order tonight.

[hiccy]

hmm

[Di Blasi]

Not gonna have a whisky, had an Ardbeg Ten hours ago, but with these Longmorns flying around, I gotta get myself a bottle of the 15y before it sells out. Though I do have a Berry Bros and Rudd downstairs from 1992 distillate I believe. I should probably open that one of these days.

[Willie JJ]

Don't know if its the Christmas thing or if it was the mention of the magnificent Sazerac 18 over on another thread, but I have pulled out the Stagg 129 proof and tonight I am loving it. Yum Yum Yum.

[Danny]

Just starting here it is 5 to 6 in Calgary and the traffic is wild tonight.

As with most whisky evenings I am not sure what my favorite Christmas whisky is so I will have to experiment.

I will probably start with a 12 year Macallan and end up with a Aberlour a'bunadh # 14. See what happens in between.

[Di Blasi]

Don't know if its the Christmas thing or if it was the mention of the magnificent Sazerac 18 over on another thread, but I have pulled out the Stagg 129 proof and tonight I am loving it. Yum Yum Yum.

That's the Stagg I've been drinking this week, opened it Sunday night, so damn good it's crazy!! I'm really enjoying it, so much going on, so complex, takes water well, luckily! Enjoy it Willie JJ!!

[Ganga]

I'm here. Let the bells ring out. I'm gonna start off with the Macallan 12 and see where that goes. Of course, the Mac 12 will be at the end.

[Danny]

-
Brand : The Macallan Expression : 12 Year Sherry Cask
Nose : Orange Brandy, fruit cake, toffee, sherry Palate : Marmalade, cloves, sherried Finish : Medium, cloves, sweet Comment : Can not use much water to elease this. Colour : Golden Honey Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 40% Bottler : OB	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : Just a drop Ice : None Glass : Glencairn Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Danny]

Ganga where did you go?

[Ganga]

Christmas Spirit #1A
Brand : Macallan Expression : Newer style bottling circa summer 2007
Nose : Caramel with nuts, peanut brittle (a nice Christmassy thing), oranges and some other citrus. Palate : cooked apples, caramel,spicey-cinnamon, hints of sulphur and toasted oak Finish : Strong caramel candy with a little bit of leatheriness as the whisky begins to tail off. This has a wonderfully long finish. Comment : If you want a refined sherry cask whisky, this is the one to get. The flavors are well integrated and balanced. Colour : Golden amber Score : 82
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : NA ABV : 43% Bottler : Original Bottling	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : None Ice : None Glass : Tulip Nosing Glass Notes : Sherry Casks
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Ganga where did you go?

Into my glass.

[Ganga]

Christmas Spirit #1B
Brand : Macallan Expression : Newer style bottling circa summer 2007
Nose : Much more malty in this glass and the caramel isn't nearly as apparent. Nuttiness is still strong. Orangey underlying everything else. Palate : Orange chocolate, cooked red apples, some nuttiness mixed with a little more of the hard carmel candies. There just a touch of that sulphur sitting in the back of the palate. Finish : The oranginess seems to be lingering from this glass. Hmm. Comment : Very tasty. I think I like the presentation out of this glass just a little more. Colour : Golden amber Score : 83
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : NA ABV : 43% Bottler : Original Bottling	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : None Ice : None Glass : Sm Brandy Glass Notes : Sherry Casks
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

It's a and moment. The beverage is just one of those marvelous things for around $40 but it's gone now...ok, until I can go get a replacement.

Onto a sherry cask Highland Park.

[Danny]

Ganga where did you go?

Into my glass.

Glad someone is hard at work.

[blawder]

Ganga,

Seems to get a little better with every sip...

[Ganga]

Glad someone is hard at work.

Animal House has a great line about this that I can't quite remember but will give it our best interpretation. "You've got to stop thinking of it as work and enjoy yourself."

[Ganga]

If I had reversed the HP and the Macallan I probably really would have enjoyed the Macallan. The HP I have is a heavily sherried monster.

[blawder]

Just finished the last of a Bunnahabhain 12. Had my first Auchentoshen Select last night. These gentle drams are a great addition to the heavy hitters like Lagavulin.

[Ganga]

Christmas Spirit #2A
Brand : Highland Park Expression : Hi-Time Wine Cellars Single Cask
Nose : Soft caramel chews, mild citruses, a little bit of nuts and cereals. A touch of water balances out these aromas and the citrus becomes more of an orange. Palate : Lots of caramels with oiliness, nuts, some rubbery notes and cinnamon in there too. A hing of anise comes out with the addition of some water. Also the maltiness starts to come out. Finish : Citrus flavors as it trails off back into caramel. Moderately long...a little shorter with the addition of water. Comment : The flavors are not as well integrated as the Macallan but still this is a very good beverage. This beverage doesn't need water but it can take it. Colour : Copper penny tone Score : 77
Age : 15 Years Old Vintage : 1990 ABV : 52.7% Bottler : Original Bottling	Type : Single Malt Region : Highland Water : No and Yes Ice : None Glass : Sm Brandy Glass Notes : 1990-06, Cask10140
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Just finished the last of a Bunnahabhain 12. Had my first Auchentoshen Select last night. These gentle drams are a great addition to the heavy hitters like Lagavulin.

I need to go back and try the new Bunny 12. I haven't had it in years. I recently had the opportunity to sample the 18 and 25 and these were both very, very good. If you like the 12 do yourself a favor and find a place where you can try these two...or at least by a bottle of the 18.

[Danny]

-
Brand : The Glenrothes Expression : 1979
Nose : Vanilla, oranges, stewed fruits Palate : Toffee orange, cloves, nuts, chocolate Finish : Medium long, orange chocolate and a bit of spices. Comment : This is a pretty awesome whisky Colour : Carmel Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : OB	Type : Single Malt Region : Speyside Water : - Ice : - Glass : - Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.