A hectic outturn, this one: a new distillery and a very popular one at that. All bottles sold out online in a record 14 minutes, while the six available at the venue were sold before it even went online. JS was lucky enough to score a bottle on the first day (Ha!)
A few rarer distilleries are represented too, so it was always going to be interesting. With a guest in town, a trip there was mandatory.
129.1 5yo 2006 A Smoky Peachy, Yoghurt Of Loveliness (60.2%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Bourbon Barrel, 135b) (myself): nose: oh my! Lots of burnt wood and charcoal with a little bit of fruit in the back. Peat eases out after a while, making room to more fruit (pear, then cherry and apricot). Mouth: surprisingly smooth, though the peat ends up wrapping the taste buds. Finish: superbly long, of course. More burnt wood and farm shenanigans, then more fruit (cherry and apricot again). FN reckons it is a grandpa whisky, with soothing cigar notes, then herbs. I wanted to shoot this one down, as the irrational enthusiasm for that young distillery and the associated inflated prices irritate me, but I have to admit it is very good indeed.
44.53 22yo 1989 Lip-Smacking, Chewy And Chunky (51.5%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 229b) (JS): nose: complex, with flowers, plants, precisely tulip stems and a bit of honeysuckle. F finds Roquefort in it. Mouth: beaten eggs (?!?), more stems and flowers, as well as honey. Finish: sparkly and peppery with -- would you guess it? -- more plant stems. Probably the discovery of the day. Do we get a bottle? Of course! 7/10
50.47 18yo 1992 Sweetly Appealing And Refreshing (57.2%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 262b) (FN): nose: honey and honeysuckle with lots of brioche in the back. Mouth: flowery, but dry at the same time, then some honey again. Finish: rather warming, then cuberdons, which is probably what they are trying to reflect with the "fruity" comment. :-) With water, it goes on to unfresh udo (sushi urchin) (FN).
FN then has a mushroom tart, JS goes for the lamburger, while I order the blue cheese cannelloni, but get spinach & ricotta cannelloni with a tomato sauce again, which upsets me quite a bit.
G7.2 27yo 1984 Fascinating And Inspiring (60.3%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 270b) (FN): FN is hesitating between G2.2, G7.2 and G7.3. A quick look behind the bar reveals there is no G2.2 left. Both G7 are good, but G7.2 is slightly more to my taste. He likes the description and goes for it. Nose: old armchair, merbromin (FN), bakery and pear. Mouth: peppery. Finish: fresh varnish (FN), creamy, ice-cream soda (FN), custard. Werther's Original, after a bit (FN, who is in descriptive mood).
76.88 25yo 1986 Complex And Manly (58.5%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 209b) (myself): nose: cough syrup, some leather, then plums. Mouth: bitter! Vinegar. Finish: lots of white wine, then more vinegar. The dry, white wine impression lasts forever, though. This is not my thing, though it is interesting.
53.166 15yo 1996 King's Feast Down A Mine Shaft (58.7%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 275b) (all): the barman is excited to share this one, since he gave it its name. Nose: barbecue, smoked bacon. Mouth: more bacon. Finish: long, on charcoal and barbecue. A decent Islay malt, if one-dimensional and not very interesting. 5/10
Relaxed, as usual. Very hot at times, but not too hectic for a Friday night.
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