Two dates in the whisky calendar count more than others, for die Heimatgruppe: Burns' Night, and dom666's birthday bash. Today is the latter. There is even a (manageable) theme, this year. (Remember last year's "theme"?)
For practical reasons, he hosts at adc's again, and if we have to regret the absence of Gaija, STL, Bishlouk, and kruuk2, we should have plenty to drink with what Psycho, PSc, red71, JS, dom666, ruckus, adc, sonicvince, and tOMoH have brought to the table.
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| A lot, obviously. |
PSc quickly declares that there is no link between his first bottle and the theme, but that he wanted to bring said bottle out of curiosity. ruckus carefully studies the label and tells us the whisky was matured in a barrel. Close enough to Barry, for John Barry(l), who composed the James Bond theme.
Whisky Ardent (40%, OB, Banyuls Barrels) (PSc): nose: Stroh (PSc), burning alcohol (red71), apple turnover (Psycho, who just had one for breakfast). I find it a bit green, with a rubbery touch at the back of the sinuses. Mouth: sugar (PSc), cough syrup (adc, PSc), ye olde sweet shoppe (PSc). It is very sweet indeed, with caster sugar turning mouldy green, and medicine capsules. Finish: incredibly close to cough syrup, sweet, vaguely liquorice-y, and teeming with a minty gel. Not exactly a legendary dram, but a decent enough starter. 6/10
tOMoH [to ruckus]: "You can stop him, if it's not interesting."
ruckus: "There you go."
adc: "Where were you?"
ruckus: "Gujarat."
tOMoH: "Le pays préféré des femmes. Parce que, là, les goujats ratent."
sonicvince arrives, delayed by train disruptions.
PSc presents: Dr. Knockad-No. And, if that does not Knockan-do it, PSc has prepared a list of (Knockan-dodgy) alternatives:
- A Knockando to a Kill
- Licence to Kill a Knockando
- Knockando Another Day
- Quantum of Knockando
- Knockando Royale
- No Time to Knockando
- A Knockando is not Enough
- Knockando Never Dies
Ahem. Let us stick with Dr. Knockad-No, shall we?
Naturally, the cork breaks, and PSc outsources the removal to me. I manage like a pro. Not my first.
Knockando 12yo 1987/1999 (43%, OB) (PSc): nose: "it smells of tissue," says sonicvince, who just blew his nose. Sugar and lemon, lemon vanilla, followed by a thin veil of sooty smoke (or smoky soot). Later, we have boiled-sweet wrapper, though not the sweets themselves. Mouth: oily, yet also mildly acidic, a mix of vanilla-ed sugar and lemon zest. The second sip has a gently-drying touch. Finish: soft, mellow, and elegant, with a very-mild bitterness of lichen on copper. Mostly, it is a lovely butterscotch-y affair. 7/10
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dom666: "There is still a bank branch there, I promise you. It's an ING." tOMoH: "Just like your jersey." |
red71: "This is a nose that has body."
tOMoH presents the actor that will forever be associated with the role of the famous spy: Se-an Cnocery
an Cnoc 13yo d.1989 (46%, OB Highland Selection Limited Edition, b#1375) (tOMoH): nose: dusty, herbaceous (sonicvince), dunnage warehouse, musty clay floors, old books in the loft (red71), hay (adc), rancio. adc finds the alcohol very present, at first. In the long run, we have dried pomelo zest, and a salty tang. Over time, farm-y tones appear, farm paths and muddy fields. Mouth: liquorice (dom666), syrupy, after a couple of sips (sonicvince). I find it oily, with the bitterness of olive pits. This is well integrated, and balances that soft bitterness with a delicious sweetness -- honey-glazed almonds, perhaps. It seems woodier at second sip, and reminds me of spelt seeds. Finish: chewy liquorice sticks (dom666 and sonicvince), vanilla ice cream (adc). It is a nice mocha cream by my account, though one that works perfectly for me. Nuts, almond shells, Brazil-nut shells, creamy black tea... It is warming, honeyed, and simply excellent. Wow! Looking forward to spending more time with this one. 8/10
Food enters the scene.
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| Salt-and-pepper leaven bread rolls |
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| Regular leaven bread rolls |
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Flandrien Grande Réserve Comté Grand Cru Gruyère des Grottes |
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Calvamembert Epoisse Crémeux affiné à la liqueur de noix Reblochon fermier au lait cru Saltufo |
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Boar pâté Duck mousse Venison pâté Pear, apple and grapes pâté Pâté crème (not pictured) Chanterelles pâté |
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| White pudding White pudding with cabbage White pudding with leeks White pudding with hazelnuts |
sonicvince presents: Moonarranker
Arran 10yo (46%, OB) (sonicvince): note the absence of "Isle of", or even "The" and "Malt". This is just "Arran". It also has an address in Dublin, which is certainly a way to distribute into the rest of the EU, post-Brexit. Nose: smashed overripe banana (soncivince), solvent (red71), porridge, and even a hint of brine. Later on, we have Custard Cream biscuits, coupled with candied lemon peels. Mouth: golden fields of barley, and a velvety texture. It is lively, but not overly so. I have a strong note of pepper, though I reckon it is from the (insanely-good) bread. It is drying and spicy over time, giving out ginger and lemongrass. Finish: powdered ginger and ground pepper sprinkled on lemon-y custard cream. Perhaps it has a pinch of dried sage too? Arran. Great quality, even at the entry level. 7/10
tOMoH presents: Inverleven Let Die (yes, I also believe we have had that before)
Inverleven 37yo 1973/2011 (49%, Chivas Brothers Cask Strength Edition Deoch an Doras, LD80819) (group): I will take notes another time. Too busy eating and enjoying the company. Nose: very, very, very good (red71, sonicvince and ruckus). Mouth: acidic sweets (Psycho). Finish: pecan nuts, cashew nuts (Psycho). 9/10
dom666: "God knows all. People from Antwerp know better. (Traditional Antwerp saying)"
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| The next two both require careful intervention |
dom666 explains that everyone knows James Bond, and wonders: "Is he Still Secret?"
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| Is he? |
Secret Stills 01.01 50yo 1955/2005 (45%, Gordon & MacPhail Secret Stills, Sherry Butt, C#1312) (dom666): I am under the impression we have this one fairly often. And then this very blog reminds me we have not had it in five years. Ahem. Nose: well, each time we try this, it has that incredibly-deep layer of shoe polish, precious woods and wood oils, evaporated cola, concentrated wood extracts, and class. Jägermeister (ruckus), wood smoke (red71), boot polish, and... warmed-up black-bin bags. Yes, seriously. It is even pleasant. Thirty minutes later, a bold wave of chocolate mousse mixes with the boot polish. Hours later, all traces of alcohol have made way for concentrated eye makeup and mixed peel. Mouth: sweet and pumped with iodine (adc), it also has musk, rancio, and leather (of course). The second sip unleashes liquorice bootlaces, or soft tyre. It is mellower, later on, with wax, and earthy, citrus-y notes. Finish: Black Balsam (ruckus), Koskenkorva Salmiakki, Angostura. It is long and spicy (ground galangal, sumac, ground cassia bark), more minty, in the long run, and softens, over the space of several hours, though it retains a clear earthiness, with potting soil and coffee grounds. I would give this masterpiece the top score, but it has that liquorice bitterness that I am less fond of, so no. 9/10
vs.
Secret Stills 01.02 21yo 1986/2007 (45%, Gordon & MacPhail Secret Stills, First Fill Sherry Butts, C#1361-1363, 1860b) (dom666): nose: close to hard-boiled egg and vinegar. It is not really sulphur-y, this time, which is great news (we had this once, before this blog existed, and, as can be deduced by the high fill level, we did not like it that much). A touch of butyric, or Parmesan, fusty cheese rinds, and very-dry bunches of flowers. Mouth: wow! Unexpectedly fruity, it has candied apricot and dried peach slices. The second sip is drier, giving ground peach stone, still with tatters of fruit clinging to the stone. Finish: it has a clear smoke that envelops bold fruits dunked in tar. This is so much better than any of those amongst us who have tasted it remembers! It went from a tarry sulphur ball to a gently-smoky, fruity number. 8/10
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| Spot the difference |
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| Brittle corks, those two |
Psycho: "Speculation, which is now called Biscoffication."
PSc accidentally knocks my glass of 01.02, and I end up licking the tablecloth. JS does the same with the milk pot. Perhaps I should drive.
Time for dessert.
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| The famous (and very light) chocolate bomb |
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| Looks just as rich when cut |
ruckus introduces: Daniel Craigellachie
JS and I: "Oh! It's not for Asta Martin?"
Craigellachie 8yo 2013/2021 (61.3%, Asta Morris, Refill Sherry Cask, C#AM067, 706b, b#367) (ruckus): nose: hugely animal from the off, leathery, musky, full of horse saddles, suede game pouches, fox's skins, and Iso Betadine. Mouth: medicinal and very strong. It has dried bandages or gauze, and a sweeter spot. It is pretty fierce, though -- punches a hole into the tongue. Finish: powerful and pungent, full of old, faded bandages, and stale medicine tablets. It is, naturally, very long and invading, a steamroller of a finish that numbs the tonsilses. Boom. 7/10
JS tells everyone that: You Only Glenlivet Wice
sonicvince [looking at the label]: "It is not for Quantum of Sole US importer?"
Glenlivet 26yo 1968/1995 (52.1%, Signatory Vintage selected by, bottled for and imported by Whyte & Whyte for The Spirits Library, Barrel, 95/137) (JS): my full notes are here. For today... Nose: so fruity (sonicvince), maple syrup (adc), tree grille (Psycho), lychee, and a whiff of coffee. Mouth: monstrosly fruity, today, choc-full of rehydrated raisins, figs, and prunes. Finish: more raisins and figs, but also blueberry, now. This easily tickles 9/10
red71 stands up with a cheat sheet. He explains he struggled with the theme, but picked this bottle up, added all the numbers on the label, and reached 4663. With that number in mind, he gives us a charade.
- I am often stored in a box
- I am a concern for public health
- In many countries, one needs a licence to use me
- I am often associated with steelworks
- My shape was improved in the XIXth century, benefitting from successive inventions
- I have played a major role in armed conflicts throughout History
- I often play a crucial role in police investigations
- I am a small and hard object, often made of lead, copper, or steel
- I am thrust at high speed, and my movement is triggered by a chemical reaction
- I am used in conjunction with another invention that changed the course of History
We guess correctly that red71 is talking about a bullet. He tells us James Bond has dodged 4663 bullets in his career to-date. Or, indeed, 4662, but this will be the 4663rd, he adds.
True, or is red71 full of shit? Who cares? He proves, once again, that, if you say something with enough conviction, someone will believe you. :)
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| Dodgin' bullets for a livin' |
Old Pulteney 2004/2020 (55%, OB Single Cask exclusive to Premium Spirits, American Oak ex-Bourbon Barrel, C#235, 240b, b#039) (red71): nose: salt, iodine, wax (red71), tea cake or gingerbread (Psycho), minty lozenges, and coffee beans. Mouth: hugely honeyed, which is one of the distillery markers, of course. Honey-glazed nuts, then, quickly, behind a strong spicy feel, we have the vivid bitterness of almond skins, stripping the teeth. sonicvince says vanilla, on the other hand. Further sips have Corinth raisins, and ground nigella seeds. Finish: huge, softly salty, full of honey and chocolate milk. Repeated sipping brings out almond liqueur, spicy, bitter, and injected with sugar. I love it. 8/10
adc observes that one of the James Bond Girls was played by Halle Berry (Bros)
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| Halle Berry Bros & Rudd |
Glenburgie 1983/2011 (56.3%, Berry Bros & Rudd Berrys' Own Selection, C#9806) (adc): an old favourite, this. Nose: wide, metallic, herbaceous, with a whiff of mocha chocolate. It is sweeter with time, thanks to the addition of a spoonful of caster sugar. Mouth: creamy, nutty, it has fresher fruits too, though I am too busy socialising to make note of them. Finish: long. 8/10
Psycho presents: Auchentoshan Connery
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| Auchentoshan Connery |
Auchentoshan 17yo 1999/2016 (55.5%, Cadenhead Small Batch, Bourbon Hogsheads, 498b, 16/199) (Psycho): another one we have not had in years (seven, to be precise). Nose: a dose of mint, and a lick of metal. In fact, after a while, it comes across as flinty, or marked with ground coffee, then dusty, butterscotch-y caramel. Mouth: flint dry, yet also caster-sugar sweet. It is very pleasant, leaning on the silky side, in terms of texture, yet it stops at oilskins, which is much more rubbery. It scrapes my mouth like windscreen wipers, while remaining sugary sweet, in a rum way. It emits a numbing, if comfortable, radiating heat. Finish: a bulldozer, it has a long finish that feels like a rum's, with coagulated lumps of caster sugar covered in lichen, and stored in a copper container that is also starting to oxidise. Subsequent sips are mellower, and immediately sweet, like a kouign-amann, or even a caramelised lemon-drizzle cake. Yummy! 8/10
dom666: "Of course. And since I don't do double-fisting..."
ruckus: "That's my glass."
tOMoH presents; Casino Royale Brackla
Only dom666, JS, sonicvince and red71 have this one. The others sadly have to get ready to leave. I will have it later, when everyone has left.
Royal Brackla 16yo 1970/1986 (57%, OB imported by Zenith, 3600b, b#0471): I take no notes (I have done so before), but it is astonishing to see how well it performs, even in this unfavourable position. Truly a work of art. 9/10
We have no time for the final two drams, but it does not stop sharing the connection to the theme.
tOMoH presents a whisky matured in a table-beer cask. Probably a blonde-table-beer cask -- a James blonde-table-beer cask. Full notes here.
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| Or is it this guy? |
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| This is Q |
sonicvince presents Laphroaig Quarter Cask, celebrating the character Q. No-one tries it tonight.
It is late, people are leaving to catch the train (the last one, in some cases), and I am exhausted, struggling to take notes while socialising. Bah.
Excellent tasting. Great whiskies, food, and bantz. I am simply sad it could not go on for another couple of hours. I am also sad we could not use the following puns
- Ghosted Reserve (for Spectre)
- The Glen Spey Who Loved Me
- St George Lazenby
- Two Longrow Never Die
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