5 drams from £100+ bottles 30.12.12 Edinburgh

[jmrl]

Okay so I know there's a POURS tasting on Thursday 27th December but a group of visitors asked for one on the 30th or 31st. Meanwhile I'd been toying with an idea of a tasting where each bottle costs over £100 but I was concerned the high ticket price would be a problem. So when these guys said they could afford £30 to £35 a ticket the two came together. Tickets are £35/32*

So far I've got:-

George T. Stagg

perhaps an Octomore but certainly a peaty dram to finish - perhaps an independent and old Caol Ila

not sure about the sherried dram - maybe a Glendronach or a G&M Connoisseur's Choice

Scott's Selection are doing some top and ancient grains at the moment at very competitive prices.

I have a reasonably early Glenlossie Manager's Dram but having never tasted it and am a bit cautious about opening it. - Anybody tried it? It's 12yo and very pale, bottled in the 90s I believe.

I'm thinking a blend. Hibiki 21yo is tempting...

Unusually it's an afternoon tasting and they don't know about it yet so I'm hoping the venue will be The Kilderkin on the Royal Mile.

* £3 discount for first timers and members. Membership costs £10 for 13 months

[jmrl]

Further contenders for this tasting. Unfortunately I've not tried them so would greatly appreciate any comments on the quality.

Strathcylde Duncan Taylor 30yo 53.1%

Benrinnes 23yo Diageo

MacPhails 30yo 40% although batch variation might effect consistency

G&M Tamdhu 1966 - 2006 43%

G&M Millburn 1978 - 2008 46%

The Tamdhu is impressively old and early vintage but I spend all day saying to people don't believe old is necessarily good. Millburn is a chance to do a closed distillery. However my preference is for cask strength.

[jmrl]

The Hibiki 21yo is in the bag.

The George T. Stagg is 71.3% which I believe is the current batch

Almost certainly doing a St. Magdalene 28yo 05.10.1982 - 02.2011 57.3% from Mackillop's Choice

So just something peaty and something from a sherry cask to pick, old Caol Ila from BBR looking good but maybe I'll have a look up the loft...

[jmrl]

Getting closer to completing the line up. Although I don't have it in my hand I am assured it will be delivered in time for the tasting:-

Glen Grant 37yo 1974 - 2012 47.8% Berry Brothers and Rudd

Jim Murray's Scotch single cask 35-40yo whisky of the year 2012.

Only the peaty one left to go, mind you there is the Benriach 25yo but it's only 46%...

[jmrl]

Got the last piece of the jigsaw sorted:-

Caol Ila 29yo 14.12.1982 - 28.03.12 60.4% hogshead 223 bottles from Signatory

[jmrl]

Yesterday's tasting went well, we started with the St Magdalene from McKillop's Choice. Those who had tasted the Cadenheads version last week agreed this bottling was better - we will try the third in the series next tasting, a Berry Brothers bottling for Platform 3, a pub in Linlithgow itself. Next was the current addition to the series from Hibiki - the 21yo, unfortunately this one wasn't as captivating for the attendees as I hoped, for my money it easily merited inclusion, will we ever try the 30yo? I seriously doubt it.
Following this was a BBR 1974 Glengrant, again the baying crowd didn't quite get it. This was a guy called Jim Murray's best Scotch between 35yo and 40yo 2012. Once again Mr Easypleased (me) was loving it though.
Next was the Geo. T., this went down a storm, this is the kind of moment when I can finally say, okay I get it all Bourbons are not made equally.
We finished off with a Signatory Caol Ila 29yo. I was a bit nervous as I only picked it up a couple of hours before the tasting at Royal Mile Whiskies, we thought it was fine but I was looking for pretty much perfection. No worries though as come the test at the tasting every single person had a thumb up in the air - most unusual for a peaty dram, very classy stuff. I thought he line up should maybe have finished with the Geo T. and that the Caol Ila might be in the shadow, but not at all, Islay handled Kentucky with a Lion's heart.

Happy New Year a'body, mine's a large one, (cue Frankie Howard titter)