28/10/2021 red71's surprise birthday bash

As said on Tuesday, it was red71's birthday, this week. That calls for a tasting.

Gaija, Bishlouk, STL, JS and I join birthday boy red71 for a virtual sesh. Blind, of course. Even the theme is only revealed at the end.

Dram #1

Nose: "it doesn't smell bad, this," says Bishlouk. I find banana, fudge and loud pomelo, while everyone else sits in stunned silence. First dram of the night on a cold crowd, probably.
Mouth: a bit more austere and less accessible than the nose suggested (Gaija and Bishlouk). Bishlouk reckons it is not the the easy starter that goes down on its own. red71 finds it rather hot, while I detect a certain bitterness.
Finish: total custard onslaught.
Comments: Gaija thinks of a Lowlander, perhaps a Bladnoch, while red71 ventures it could be an Ardmore.

Mosstowie 33yo 1975/2008 (48.4%, Duncan Taylor Rarest of the Rare, C#5816, 184b, b#008) 9/10

Full notes here.

As soon as I paste the reference in the chat, Bishlouk shouts 'Mosstowie.' Gaija is extremely impressed, oblivious to the fact Bishlouk merely read the answer, not guessed it. Lots of teasing (of both) ensues.

Dram #2

Nose: fresh going fresher, it develops apple mint, tarragon, wax and smoke (Bishlouk), then soot and tiger balm. Bishlouk and Gaija find it very refined, while STL (who has been on a call for the past ten minutes) detects strong banana and Haribo's banana sweets. Later on, he finds sweat and wet newspapers too.
Mouth: Bishlouk reckons it is shot, spent. Gaija concurs in that he feels no alcohol whatsoever. For me, it still retains bitterness, a distant-but-acrid smoke, marmalade and orange peels. Bishlouk agrees that it has a bit of wood, though he claims it lacks complexity and flavour, despite its lemon peels and woody tones. Gaija falls into the sea and comes out with melted plastic and seashells.
Finish: Gaija finds it thin or refined, and sushi-like, while red71 thinks it is bitter. Gaija confirms umami and raw fish.
Guesses: red71 reckons a Springbank, Bishlouk guesses a Brora, then a Bruichladdich, Gaija thinks Glenisla, then Glen Garioch; STL, wiser than the others, decides not to cover himself with ridicule.

Ledaig 1974/2000 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Rare Old, JJ/CB) 9/10

Full notes here.

Bishlouk: "Well, when I said Brora..."
tOMoH: "Don't even try. You failed, like all the others."

With the alcohol flowing, the tongues start going. Guesses become bolder and the conversation more feisty and saucy.

Dram #3

Nose: "festive and fruity," says Gaija. red71 finds plant stems, which Bishlouk corroborates with the terms 'industrial' and 'herbaceous'. I find it deliciously fruity, but, of course, I do not have a terrible sense of smell. :-) Bishlouk then finds it fresh; red71 seems to agree, who calls it a Littlemill nose. Gaija looks towards Ireland, noting strawberry and raspberry jams.
Mouth: Bishlouk calls it very Littlemill-y, though admits it could be a Glen Keith. Gaija finds chamomile, while it is full of citrus (calamansi) and citrus foliage, as far as I am concerned. red71 compares the mouth to sucking on rocks to illustrate the mineral side.
Finish: custard and caramel flan, fudge, mocha pudding, yet with a mineral, chalky side too (Gaija).
Guesses: after establishing it is no Littlemill, Gaija ventures Balblair, then Aultmore, while the others decide not to make fools of themselves.

Deanston 35yo 1977/2012 (40.4%, The Whisky Agency & The Nectar, 253b) 9/10

Full notes here.

red71: "Well, maybe Bishlouk messed up my samples, because I do not recognise anything you all say."
Bishlouk: "It should smell of urine. They are Monday-to-Friday urine samples."
red71: "It tastes like your lady's urine indeed."

Dram #4

Nose: fruity and pastry-like (Bishlouk), green bananas (Bishlouk), "very-active Bourbon cask that has imparted young wood" (red71). I find it gravel-y and a tad austere, personally. Gaija thinks it is beautiful, with very clear fruit. I agree on mandarine, though insist on varnish, gravel and wood glue. Suddenly, it becomes more herbaceous, emitting sage, salsaparilla and oregano. Now, the trademarks are starting to appear. But of course, I know what it is.
Mouth: STL notes that it is powerful -- Gaija confirms it must be around 52%. Bishlouk calls it noble and refined, which Gaija approves, listing varnish and precious woods. red71, for his part, senses that it is much higher in alcohol than the previous, and full-bodied. I find polished fruit stones, with a pronounced-but-perfectly-fine bitterness.
Finish: long, warming like a radiator, a bit herbaceous and mineral, close to white-hot limestone. Gaija talks of pineapple and varnish again, and I correct into charred pineapple. STL tells us he detects a spritzy pinch of salt.
Guesses: Gaija thinks of a Glenburgie, as does red71; Bishlouk and STL side with Glenlossie, Bishlouk proudly claiming it is obviously a Bourbon cask. When told no-one is even in the right region, Gaija suggests it may be a St Magdalene, thereby scoring the first (and last) point of the evening.

Linlithgow 25yo 1982/2008 (59.2%, Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection for La Maison du Whisky Collectors' Edition, Wine-treated Butt, C#2201, 388b, b#313, 8/513) 9/10

Full notes here.

Gaija: "Sometimes, this sort of profiles smells a bit like gas."
Bishlouk: "That's because you've just farted."

Bishlouk: "I get what you're saying with gas in the nose..."

tOMoH: "Your nose is too close to your mouth!"

Bishlouk: "The theme cannot be whiskies from the 1970s. This is from the 1980s. Red labels, perhaps?"
Gaija: "All distilleries that have had different names?"
red71: "All bottled in the 2000s?"

Dram #5

Nose: "and now, for something completely different" (Bishlouk). This is refined and complex (Bishlouk), yet it has some sulphur (Gaija) and cooked cabbage (STL, who refers to brewing as well, particularly mashing). Gaija notes garlic cloves, and red71 settles on matchsticks.
Mouth: Bishlouk feels like he has entered a factory, the whisky being industrial and oily. red71 goes along with the factory theme, and adds liquorice to the mix. Gaija then lists limestone, gravel and earth too.
Finish: "this one kicks like a mule," says STL. Gaija finds it austere and the antithesis of charming, even if he likes it: no fruit, no sugar. Gaija and red71 agree it is an extremely long finish, with red71 stating it is borderline peaty. I am surprised no-one mentions burning hay, but, hey! (pun intended) who am I to judge others' (wrong)  perceptions?
Guesses: Gaija says Springbank, then Banff; Bishlouk reckons a Mannochmore, while it makes STL think of a Lochindaal. red71 carefully stays silent, showing all that he is the wise man.

Glendullan 16yo b.1998 The Centenary Bottling (65.9%, OB for the distillery's centenary, b#000210)

Full notes here.

tOMoH: "I thought of red71, when I selected this last one. I thought it might be his profile."
red71: "That's right!"
STL: "You thought of him?"
tOMoH: "He likes virile, hairy whiskies."

Bishlouk: "Do you score all your wanks?"
red71: "Of course! With detailed notes and all."
tOMoH: "And samples."
Gaija: "That's something to make you run out of rows in Excel..."

Time to reveal the theme. All the attempts at discovering it have miserably failed, of course.

It was pretty instinctive, really.

red71 asks for more information about Burns' Night. I explain the (relatively) set menu and the occasion to try lots of whiskies. I lament that B****t may make it harder to serve haggis in the future.

tOMoH: "A Burns' Night Supper without haggis is like a wank without Excel."
red71 and Bishlouk: "What is next year's theme?"
tOMoH: "Probably the same as the theme for 2021 [which was cancelled]: Man 2 Man -- anything with a man on the label; a woman works too."

red71 and STL tease Bishlouk about his liking Golden Carolus whisky.

tOMoH: "Have you tried baiju? It's a Chinese alcohol distilled from rice. If you're offered it say 'no'! It'll make you burp fermented rice for a week afterwards."
red71: "But... is there a man on the label?"

Great evening with lots of banter and fun. A bit crass, at times, perhaps. :-)