08/08/2014 Aperitive at the SMWS

Our friends happen to live very close to the Edinburgh members' room. Would it not be insulting not to go? I agree.

Snap it up

35.122 12yo d.2001 Perfumed lady at a garden fête (57.3%, SMWS Society Single Cask, first-fill ex-Bourbon barrel, 245b) (JS): we missed this one last week. Nose: citrusy and spicy, as well as pretty woody. Mouth: very, very citrusy -- Acidic, in fact. Finish: feels like cola, now, long and pleasant. 7/10

59.20 20yo 1981/2002 (58.3%, SMWS Society Cask) (me): good to get to try an old bottle, especially an American bottling from yesteryears, even though I realise later I have already had this one. Nose: wood juice, then coffee and mocha-flavoured chocolate. Later on, custard graces the woody tones. Mouth: flat Fanta (the orange one), blueberry coulis. Amazing, this. Finish: not invading at all, but it has this lingering blueberry coulis aftertaste, which, I must say, does it for me. Like it a lot better than the first time. 8/10 (or is it 9?)

Ooooh! Beer!

121.73 14yo d.1999 A layered sponge fruit cake (55.6%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 299b) (MD): nose: hay, cut pears and peaches. Mouth: very slightly fizzy, warming and honeyed. Finish: honey, honeysuckle and woody goodness. What a great distillery Arran has become! 8/10

The Old Man of Huy does not drink beer.
But he will try yours from time to time.

36.73 22yo d.1991 Tired vampire gets a massage (54.7%, SMWS Society Single Cask, 2nd Fill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 255b) with water (DD): nose: ginger beer, haystacks. Mouth: balanced, pleasant and seductive. Almost silky. Finish: cinnamon aplenty, speculoos spice mix with a pinch of toasted coconut shavings. 7/10

64.52 23yo d.1990 Sweet toothed, tap dancing, Cuban (56.1%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 190b) (MD + DD): nose: flavoured custard. With what? Sage and thyme, I would say. Mouth: creamy. reminiscent of the nose (sage and thyme custard, innit), with even a hint of verbena. Finish: long and warming. The sweat from the elbow of a guy who's been pumping iron with one arm. M+D are well into the silly tasting notes (D has been taking pictures of loads of them) and come up with their own. 8/10

26.93 28yo d.1984 Cottage garden beside a church (56.3%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill Sherry Butt, 352b) (JS and me): nose waxeeeeeey! Hot candle wax, wooden-floor oil. Some of my co-tasters find a whiff of peat fire, yet it is very subtle. Mouth: chewy fruit (peach gum?), wax, honey, beeswax and a touch of candle wick. Finish: a cavalcade of beeswax, with a fanfare of chewy stone fruit to complement it. 8/10

The Old Man of Huy high-fives you

DD has been claiming for years she hates whisky so much and it distresses her, because she sees there is so much to it, yet it makes her sick. One could not tell by looking at her having a lot of fun, trying them all and liking most of them. Ha!
Gone are the live music and the iPod players from last time. Yay!