Contained within these pages is all the information on the whiskies tasted by the Society at its Tasting Meetings. Our Ninth Tasting - Perfect Pairs Hosts: David and Mike Theme: Pairing Cigars and Whiskies - Oban 14 Year Old 43% abv, Price: $70
- Aberlour 12 Year Old, 43% abv, Price: $44
- Laphroaig 10 Year Old, 40% abv, Price: $60
- Gurkha Park Avenue, Churchill, Price: $4.50 a stick ($60/box of 20)
- Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Robusto, Price: $8 a stick ($140/box of 20
| | | Oban 14 Year Old and Gurkha Park Avenue | 5 | Whisky becomes nutty (brazil nut?) with salty bittersweet chocolate notes. Toasted oat finish. Great mouthfeel. | Oban 14 Year Old and Rocky Patel Vintage 1990
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| 5 | These sing together. A great match. Marvelous mouthfeel. Heavy dark chocolate. Coffee. Earthiness. Powerful up front; finish tighter. | Aberlour 12 Year Old and Gurkha Park Avenue
| 5 | Sweet butter. Hints of caramel and cookie dough, marshmallow and grain. | | Aberlour 12 Year Old and Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 | 5 | Wow! Immediate mouthfeel and lip smacking taste. Loads of chocolate, coffee, nuts, and subtle spiciness (cedar?). | Laphroaig 10 Year Old and Gurkha Park Avenue
| 5 | Light medicinal tones. Salted buttered popcorn. Softens peat. | | Laphroaig 10 Year Old and Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 | 5 | Burnt toffee & caramel. Tastes like Mister Salty chocolate covered pretzels on palate. Sweet, woody finish (cedar?) with malt notes. |
Our Eighth Tasting - Wheel of Fortune Host: Linda Theme: Whisky Wheel Aromas - Oban 14 Year Old 43% abv, Price: $70
- Glen Grant 10 Year Old, 40% abv, Price: $47
- Arran Port Wood, 50% abv, Price: $65
- McClelland 18 Year Old, 40% abv, Price: $30
- Lagavulin Double Matured 1993, 43% abv, Price: $95
- Laphroaig Triple Wood, 48% abv, Price: $60
| | | Oban 14 Year Old | 3.6 | "Cereal": Light amber/Old gold. Long legs. Alcohol on nose. Sweet fruit (red berry and pear) and cinnamon aromas. Wood notes, cereal on palate along with black licorice and bourbon. Short finish, longer with water | Glen Grant 10 Year Old | 3.8 | "Fruit": Chardonnay in color. Thin sheeting/legs. Honey, cereal nose along with fruit and heather. Complex light palate. Winey, bitter chocolate. Nice mouthfeel. Water brings up sweetness, cereal, and richness. Silky, not as crisp with water. | Arran Port Wood | 4.0 | "Winey": Amber color. Long legs. Port richness. Alcohol, peat, and wine on nose. Pepper, wine, and toffee on palate. Sweet with water. Complex. | | McClelland 18 Year Old | 3.4 | "Floral": Gold in color. Long legs. Cinnamon, nutmeg, bitter orange, with floral notes. Cereal on edges. Very light on palate with cereal notes. Very nice! Malty, moderate finish. Water smooths it out. | Lagavulin Double Matured 1993 | 3.7 | "Peat": Amber color. Thick sheeting legs. Sherry, peat, and some leather on nose. Sherry, maple, and rubber on palate. Complex notes. Good mouthfeel. Moderate to long finish. Water doesn't make much of change. | | Laphroaig Triple Wood | 3.1 | "Wood": Full gold color. Consistent sheeting for legs. Alcoholic on first nosing. Butterscotch and burnt leafy notes on nosing. Very peaty, burnt wood on palate. Water improves. Pine finish with toffee. |
Our Seventh Tasting - Blind Man's Bluffs Host: Ron Theme: Silent evaluations - Sprinbank CV, 46% abv, Price: $40
- Old Pulteney 12 Year Old, 40% abv, Price: $45
- Old Pulteney 17 Year Old, 46% abv, Price:$80
- Hazelburn 8 Year Old, 47.7% abv, Price:$95
- Old Pulteney 21 Year, 46% abv, Price: $100
- Longrow CV, 46% abv, Price: $75
| | | Springbank CV | 3.7 | Pale gold. Long legs. Very alcoholic nose. Lemon zest and pineapple. Medicinal, herbal. Touch of rubber/asphalt. Peat. Sweet peat on palate. Notable salt and malt increases with water. Water opens flavors. Long pepper finish. | Old Pulteney 12 Year Old | 4.0 | Light gold. Long legs. Moderate alcohol on nose with heather, honey and a fruity lemon and pear aroma. Floral tones of honeysuckle. Vanilla beans and almonds. Complex palate of caramel and butterscotch. Peat and malt with some pepper undertones. Nice mouthfeel, long finish with late peat. Not as good with water. | Old Pulteney 17 Year Old | 3.5 | Golden color. Medium legs. Complex nose at first difficult to categorize. Water opens up whisky. Citric, peach. Floral tones. Salt. Palate is very sweet with vanilla (bourbon?), rock sugar. Whisky finishes with licorice and spice (pepper?). Water brings out malt and nuttiness. | | Hazelburn 8 Year Old | 4.0 | Amber. Long legs. Very alcoholic on nose. Hot, sweet butter toffee. Some floral tones. Peat. Very rich on palate. Alcohol burn. Raisins and anise. Cereal. With water more buttery malt. Long spicy finish with a creamy bourbon sweetness. | Old Pulteney 21 Year Old | 4.3 | Gold color. Moderate legs. Very approachable with nose that is sweet and candied. Perfume and orange (?). Also sweet on palate with butterscotch and a touch of citric. Water brings up salt and nuts. Long, salty finish. | | Longrow CV | 4.1 | Straw color. Long legs. Notable peat on the nose. High alcohol. Smoky, sweet honey. Wet straw tones. Very sweet peat on the palate. Incredibly rich with vanilla malt and molasses. Chocolate. Long rich finish with a mushroom earthiness. |
5-17-11
Our Sixth Tasting - Into the Woods Host: Tod
Theme: Effects of Different Casks/Wood - The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year Old, 47.8% abv, Price: $65.99
- Glenlivet French Oak 15 Year Old, 40% abv, Price: $45.99
- Glenkinchie Distiller's Edition 1991, 43% abv, Price:$69.99
- Laphroaig Quarter Cask, 48% abv, Price:$56.99
- Bowmore 16 Year Old Cask Strength Sherry Cask, 53.8% abv, Price: $79.99
| | | The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year Old | 3.7 | Full gold color. Nice legs. Sweet apricot nose with a touch of lemon grass. Some orange marmalade/nectarine. Nutty on palate, vanilla plus Coca-cola and caramel. Opens nicely with water. Bourbon char on back palate. Some spice, pepper. Drawn from a single bourbon oak cask. | Glenlivet French Oak 15 Year Old | 4.0 | Light, pale gold. Big legs. Very floral, lilac and honeysuckle. Citrus (lemon?) tones. Mint? Light on palate. Anise and clove. Salt. With water more lemon and malt. Aged in European new Limousin casks. | Glenkinchie Distiller's Edition 1991 | 3.5 | Amber color. Big, thick legs, oily. Sweet overripe bananas. Honey-nut and lemon on nose. Very sweet on palate, toffee, brown sugar. Coconut, macadamia nut tones. Water brings up more banana. Short finish. Finished first in bourbon casks and then in amontillado sherry butts. | | Laphroaig Quarter Cask | 4.0 | Full gold. Moderate legs. Peat, very smoky, malt. Burnt sugar, medicinal nose. Alcohol prevalent up front. Water brings up salt and smoke. Some cinnamon. Long finish.
Aged 5 years in bourbon casks before transfer. | Bowmore 16 Year Old Cask Strength Sherry Cask | 4.3 | Amber color. Moderate legs. Cotton candy nose. Phenol peat, sherry forward (oloroso?). Heather, honey with salt and iodine on palate. Leathery, subtle smokiness with water. Some tar. Very long peat finish. Matured in Spanish oloroso sherry casks. |
3-22-11
Our Fifth Tasting – 90+ Rated Whiskies Host: Ben
Theme: Recognized Top Whiskies. Whiskies Tasted: Glenlivet Nadurra 16 Year Old, 57.2%abv, Price: $64.00 Glenmorangie Astar, 57.1%abv, Price: $80.00 Highland Park 15 Year Old, 43%abv, Price: $70.00 Aberlour a'bunadh, 59.9%abv, Price: $60.00 The Macallan Fine Oak 15 Year Old, 43%abv, Price: $80.00
| | | Glenlivet Nadurra 16 Year Old | 4.2 | Gold color. Sugar notes on nose also sherry, butterscotch and alcohol. Rich and thick on palate, sugar cotton candy along with cinnamon, honey, and vanilla. Long, dry finish. With water, more sugar plus lemon zest and nuts (hazelnut). Better with water, longer finish. | Glenmorangie Astar | 3.5 | Pale straw/gold in color. Long legs. Fruit (apricot) and candy on nose. Char notable. On palate salty, nutty (almond), sweet pear, earthiness, cinnamon and honey. Short finish. With water pear and fruit notes become more pronounced. | Highland Park 15 Year Old | 3.4 | Amber color. Rubber as it opens then sherry notes with sugar. Pungent. Resin (pine) taste with earthiness. Brazil nut on back palate. Hint of graphite. Round with iodine and salt on finish. With water still pungent but more butterscotch. Improved by water. | | Aberlour a'bunadh | 3.9 | Dark amber/copper color. Cask char, saw dusk. High alcohol, raisin, and apple. Toffee, sherry, and mint on palate. Salt, anise (black licorice) finish. With water alcohol is softened, licorice, malt, and molasses on finish. Enhanced by water | The Macallan Fine Oak 15 Year Old | 3.9 | Full gold. Long legs. Oak, phenol, and lemon zest on nose. Mild chocolate with peanut on palate. Moderate finish with orange notes. With water smoother, more fruit, and malt.
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1-20-11 Our Fourth Tasting – Twenty Somethings Host: David
Theme: Older whiskies. Whiskies Tasted: Gordon and MacPhail Rare Old Mortlach 21 Year Old, 46%abv, Price: $129.99 Benromach 21 Year Old, 43%abv, Price: $119.99 Gordon and MacPhail Caol Ila (1984) Cask Strength 25 Year Old, 57.7%abv, Price: $169.00 Glengoyne 21 Year Old, 43%abv, Price: $129.99 Old Pulteney 21 Year Old, 46%abv, Price: $99.00
| | | Gordon and MacPhail Rare Old Mortlach 21 Year Old | 4.1 | Full gold color. Phenol and sherry nose. On the palate, buttery almost with perhaps some coconut up front as well as mint and honey. Soft finish. Water diminishes flavors but cut alcohol heat. | Benromach 21 Year Old | 4.3 | Full gold. Candied, sweet nose with some lemon/citrus notes, butterscotch and a hint of pineapple. Deceptively light on the palate. Very rich sherry notes. Very easy drinking. Short but pleasant sweet malt finish. Adding water accentuates fruit and butterscotch notes and creaminess of the whisky. Some pepper on finish with hint of licorice. Very nice whisky. | Gordon and MacPhail Caol Ila (1984) Cask Strength 25 Year Old | 4.0 | Light gold color. Nose is buttery with lemon notes. Phenol also present. Sherry (oloroso?) notes also. Nice sweet peat, with characteristic Islay saltiness. Slightly medicinal with some licorice notes late. Long finish. Water softens whisky and intensified sugars. Interesting difference in peat compared to other Islays. | Glengoyne 21 Year Old | 4.4 | Amber gold color. Sweet sherry predominates on nose. On the palate there were hints of brown sugar, butterscotch, nuts (pecans and almonds?) and sweet tea. Water softened whisky while retaining the flavors and bringing out a hint of cinnamon. | Old Pulteney 21 Year Old | 4.4 | Full gold/amber color. Floral and fruit notes in nose. Lots of fruit on palate - orange marmalade, apricots. Very creamy with underlying vanilla. Nutty finish. So very nice! |
11-16-10
Our Third Tasting – Think Outside the Bottle Tasting Host: Mike
Theme: Single malts most people haven't tried. Whiskies Tasted: Amrut Fusion - Indian Single Malt Whiskey, 50%abv, Price: $60.00
Glendronach 15 Year Old, Revival, 46%abv, Price: $90.00 Chatoe Rogue - Oregon Single Malt Whiskey, 40%abv, Price: $45.00 Arran 10 Year Old, 46%abv, Price: $45.00 Suntory Yamazaki 12 Year Old, 43%abv, Price: $45.00 New Holland (MI) Zeppelin Bend Straight Malt Whiskey, 45%abv, Price: $75 | | | | Amrut Fusion - Indian Single Malt Whiskey | 2.4 | Light golden color. Grassy, sweet, phenol on nose,. Chalky, sweet, vanilla bourbon char and some pear on palate. Water sweetens whiskey - brings up salty brine. Smoky, licorice finish. | | Glendronach 15 Year Old, Revival | 3.8 | Amber color. Massive sherry nose with orange/chocolate. Hazelnut, coffee and char on palate. Thick linseed mouthfeel. Water smooths and sweetens whisky (honey). Light smoke and licorice finish. | | Chatoe Rogue - Oregon Single Malt Whiskey | 3.3 | Full gold color. Banana and cinnamon nose with hints of anise and cedar spice. Soft, round on the palate reminiscent of Bananas Foster. Some apple fruit. Moderately short finish. | | Arran 10 Year Old | 3.2 | Light golden color. Vanilla and phenol on the nose with hints of orange and lemon. Yeasty vanilla malt, cereal on palate. Buttery. Smoke and malt on a long finish. Water makes even better. | | Suntory Yamzaki 12 Year Old | 3.6 | Full gold color. Hot, sweet mint, heather, honey nose. Second nosing - pecans, maple syrup, some lemon. Wheaty,honey, chocolate on palate. Moderately long finish with licorice. | | New Holland Zeppelin Bend Straight Malt | 3.2 | Golden color. Caramel and phenol with malt nose. Hints of vanilla and clove (cinnamon?). Palate show sweet honey, toffee, and nuts. Bourbon char. Water brings out malt and spice, lessens penols. Moderate finish. |
9-28-10
Our Second Tasting – High Road, Low Road Tasting Host: Mark
Theme: Differences/similarities in highland versus lowland whiskies. Whiskies Tasted: Auchentoshan 12 Year Old, 40%abv, Lowland Price: $44.99 Glendronach 12 Year Old, 40%abv, Highland, Price: $48.00 Glenmorangie Original 10 year old, 43%abv, Highland, Price: $39.99 Glenkinchie Distiller's Edition, 1991 Edition 43%abv, Lowland, Price: $65.00 Signatory Selection (distilled at Bladnoch) Vintage, 59%abv, Lowland, Price: $59.99 Signatory Benrinnes 1997 Vintage 11 Year Old Cask Strength, 59.3%abv, Highland, Price: $49.99
Our second tasting followed somewhat in the footsteps of our first tasting with a clever selection of highland and lowland whiskies that had some distinct similarities (was our host trying to test/fool us?). We also had a full house (or patio, as the case may be) for this tasting with a combined 14 people (with nine full members and five alternates). The evening had interesting start. Without knowing it, the first two bottles tasted were the Signatory bottlings and as a group, everyone immediately picked up on high level of alcohol in the nose. At the end of the evening, the night's preferred bottle was the Auchentoshan 12 Year Old, an Auchentoshan bottling new to everyone at the tasting. However kudos are due to several members who mentioned how they thought it might be Auchentoshan's Three Wood, though being somewhat lighter than they remembered the Three Wood. Once again, the "not so silent auction" at the end of the evening saw all the bottles being purchased. If this continues, the Society may need to reconsider the Master of Reserves' position.
Whisky Tasted | Averaged Rating |
Selected Comments | | Auchentoshan 12 Year Old | 4.3 | Dark gold (amber) in color. Outstanding nose. Sherry, oak, and bourbon sweetness up front. Notes of cognac noted by some. Soft, rich, and well-rounded palate with a great finish with hints of orange liquor.
| | Glendronach 12 Year Old | 3.9 | Dark gold to light amber. Sweet cinnamon, spice, cantaloupe, and citrus in the nosing. Nutty, malty flavors on the palate. Somewhat musky, nutty finish. | | Glenmorangie 10 Year Old | 3.6 | Full gold color. Citrus, floral (lavender), and bourbon mash on the nose. Round toffee, cinnamon, and nuts on the palate. Bitter chocolate/burnt molasses on the finsh. | | Glenkinchie Distiller's Edition, 1991 Edition | 3.2 | | Dark gold to light amber. Sweet sherry nose with hints of grassiness, wet straw, toffee, and malt. Nutty, toffee on the palate. Nuts and black licorice (Anise) on the finish. Aggressive without water |
| | Signatory (distilled at Bladnoch) Vintage | 3.5 | Pale gold color. Buttery, vanilla, apple, and pears on nose. Lots of alcohol up front. Very sweet on the palate with vanilla notes. Some chest burn from alcohol. Long finish with hints of pepper.
| | Signatory Benrinnes1997 Vintage 11 Year Old Cask Strength | 3.2 | Light golden color. High alcohol up front. Citrus, honey, heather, and nuts on palate. Saltiness and vanilla on finish. |
7-20-10
Our First Tasting – Peat and RePeat!
Tasting Host: Tim
Theme: Differences
in peat from different regions.
Whiskies Tasted: Amrut Peated Indian Single Malt Whiskey, 46%abv Price: $80.00 Ardbeg Airidh Nam Beist, 1990
Vintage, 46%abv Price: $100.00 BenRiach
"Curiositas," 10 year old, 46%abv Price: $65.00 Longrow C.V., 46%abv Price:
$75.00 Tomintoul Peaty Tang, 40%abv
Price: $45.00
Our first tasting was one that was full of surprises. One of the surprises of the evening came when
the whiskies were revealed and we found out that a non-Scotch single malt,
namely the Amrut, Limited Edition, Peated from India was one of the whiskies we
had tasted. Individual members’ scores
for the whiskies ranged from a 2.5 to a 4 on our scale with 2.5 meaning “worth
a try” and a 4.0 meaning an outstanding whisky.
The biggest surprise of the evening was when the whiskies were revealed
and it was found that the whisky with the highest average rating was Amrut! What made its win even more surprising is
that several Society members are avowed Ardbeg lovers and they rated Ardbeg’s
Airidh Nam Beist 1990, generally considered to be a top-rated whisky only receiving scores in the 2.5
– 3 range.
A number of members thought that “peat fatigue” and the
higher alcohol levels of some of the whiskies might have resulted in a greater
level of difficulty in assessing the more subtle nuances of the various
whiskies.
Regardless, the "no so silent auction" at the end of the evening saw all the bottles off leaving nothing for the Master of Reserves to watch over.
Whisky Tasted | Averaged Rating |
Selected Comments | | Amrut Peated (India) | 3.5 | Bit of an alcohol burn on first nosing. Viscous, butterscotch, smoke, nuts, possible sherry notes on nose. Oak,peat/smoke, sherry on palate. Long finish with peat and oak hanging there. | | Ardbeg Airdh Nam Beist | 2.92 | Honey, vanilla, phenol, earthiness, root bitterness on nose. Moderate peat smoke and burnt marshmallow on palate. Moderate finish | | Benriach Curiositas 10 Year Old | 2.95 | Honey, vanilla, lemon zest, iodine, phenols, and some nuttiness on nose. Defined sweetness on palate behind the peat up front. Honeyed with a long finish. | | Longrow CV | 2.5 | Smoke, butterscotch, lemon nose. Peat lighter and fruit on palate. Moderate finish. | | Tomintoul Peaty Tang | 3.08 | Butter, heather, nuts and soft peat on nose. Butterscotch, candied fruit, and marshmallow on palate. Moderate finish. |
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