May as well start the Thread off with a report of last nights Society Alternative Burns Night Tasting in Newcastle.......
The First Society Tasting of the year was the Alternative Burns Night Tasting . We had a new Venue in Newcastle for this tasting , the Northern Counties Club , Very nice place . I was expecting Haggis , Neeps and Tatties but we got a full Menu served over a few of the drams......
- Starter.....Cullen Skink with Crusty Bread .
- Main Course.....Pot Roast of Free Range Chicken Breast , Confit of Leg , Haggis Croquette , Swede Puree .
- Coffee
Our Hosts for the Evening was once again The North of England Society Ambassador John Kirk and his Wife . Throughout the evening john encouraged people to recite Burns , a few took up the challenge and did so really well ! Now onto the whiskies for the night......
First up was a Lowland , 25.46 (Rosebank , 16yo , 56.1% , 228 Bottles) , Pale Chardonnay in Colour , the Nose was very lowlanderish , Hay and Fresh Cut Meadows . The Palate again was typical lowlander but spicy . The finish was long and spicy . A Very nice way to start the evening for a 16yo the malt was still quite spirity and remarkably spicy .
Next a long was a young North Highlander 26.60 (Clynelish , 9yo , 60.1% , 241 Bottles ) , This one was slightly darker in Colour , A fresh Straw ! This one was very strong and needed a wee drop of water to open it up......Nose.....(F.S.)Lemon Drizzle Cake (W.W.) Very Maritimey and Salty . The Palate at F.S. was sweet.....Confectioners sugar , W.W. it was Apple Strudel and Custard . The finish was Long and Spicy , Not a bad dram but definitely prefer my Clynelishes older !
The Third Dram was an Ardmore ( Speyside Deveron , 10yo , 58.7% , 802 Bottles ) , This was a light amber in Colour , i should have paid more attention to how it had been casked but i'm sure John said it had been reracked into a QuarterCask but whether it was sherry to Bourbon or Vice versa i can't remember . The nose wasn't too bad , Smoke , Burnt Marmalade and Orange . But the palate was over loaded , in my opinion , with Sulphur but had a bit of Burnt Marmalade . I tried drowning it with water but the sulphur was still predominant but out came Fishermans Friend and Cinder Toffee . The finish was Long and Sulphur . A very Disappointing Ardmore , the sulphur totally spoilt it .
For the penultimate Dram we went to Campbeltown for a 27.71 (Springbank , 11yo , 59.4% , 221 Bottles ) , Gold in Colour , this , to me , was a very strange Springbank . If i'd had this blind i would have said Glen Scotia ! The Nose was weak TCP , Smoke and cool Mint ( Menthol ?) . The palate was very Cough Sweets / Fishermans Friends . it had a long , dry , Menthol Finish . As i said a very strange Springbank......
Lastly we had an Islay , a bit of a treat for some , A Peated Bunnahabhain ( 10.63 , 11yo , 59.4% , 221 Bottles ) , this is the 3rd Peated Bunnie i've had from the Society , seems they must have bought a nice Packet of them ! Pale Straw in Colour , a Typical young peated Islay on the nose....Iodine , TCP and Ash trays . The Palate was Peat ! Peat , smoke and TCP . The Finish was Long , Sweet and Medicinal . A really good peated Bunnahabhain , i'd put it up against a young South Shore and Caol Ila anytime .
Another good night in the company of some Society Malts , Excellent Food and all for £30 ! Came away with a 10.63 BTW.....
Slainte Mhah.
as that may prove dangerous but next time I'm on the forum.)
