PS and C are there, sipping away. I happily join them before JS completes our group.
G1.9 21yo 1990 The palate gets a Ping! (62.8%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill Hogshead) (me): this one comes highly recommended by PS. He knows nothing about grain, yet I decide to trust him. Nose: typical grain, this -- nail-varnish remover, hair lacquer and some less usual coffee. Mouth: black-coffee bitterness, mint freshness. The second sip brings pleasant, dark, hot chocolate (cocoa powder in hot water, that is). Finish: a bit drying, with more cocoa. Nice, but not the best.
"To Pringle or not to Pringle?" |
G3.5 33yo 1979 Chocolate Cafe Latte (49.6%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 159b) (JS): it took me a while to finally buy a Caledonian, thinking it was a now-or-never thing, then the usual happened: every other bottler released one or five of them. Nose: lots of wood, varnish, cedar wood, some bandages too, in a good way (if that makes sense). Mouth: so sugary it hurts. Green pepper and dark, muscovado sugar, crushed banana with cane sugar. Finish: long and warming with unidentified herbs. Nice, this one. 8/10
G9.1 11yo 2000 Sweet and Sour Mélange (57.8%, SMWS Society Single Cask, 187b) (me): yes! It is here at last! This one got everyone excited six or seven months ago (or more?), yet we never saw it. It was a Canada release that was also presented at a tasting in Leith, but it never made it Daahn Saahrf. Nose: lots of paint thinner with orange and melon. An unexpected combination that works a treat. Mouth: apricot shavings swimming in skimmed milk. Finish: milk coffee and vodka orange. Excellent. Well glad I was able to procure a bottle (thanks CD). 9/10
G7.5 28yo 1984 Smoky Werthers Original (58.9%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 275b) (JS): I remember a time when Girvan was a very rare sight. And when electronic music was all fields. Nose: more downplayed and flowery than the above. Vanilla-sugared whipped cream. Mouth: green pepper and honeyed milk. Finish: very milky, now, with hints of milk chocolate. 8/10
Magdalene comes out of her box |
G1.5 24yo Corn fields and oak forests (60.7%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 245b) (all): PS is not one to offer one drink. This one is a favourite of his and is back behind the bar. Nose: this one burns the nostrils a lot more than the St Magdalene -- but then at 60.7%, it is not exactly for little girls either. Butter-based bakery overtaken by a pepper plantation. Mouth: herbs and dough. Finish: a drop kick in the tonsils, this! PS feels he has to add, 'Show me on the doll where the whisky touched you,' which amuses everyone immensely in a non-apologetic way. Lots of bakery activities going on, old-fashioned violet sweets, foxgloves (digitalis purpurea) (thanks again, PS).
Good times. We went for a dram and to pick up a bottle and ended up in there for several hours.
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