27/04/2024 The Whisky Fair (Day 1 -- Part 2)

The story started here.

From the balcony, it all seems less hectic.
It is a trap, though, as it is also a time syphon.

At least, some are making the best of their visit

From up there, we spot CD's stand. A few moments later, we are with him an PG.

Islay 25yo b.2024 (47.9%, C. Dully Selection imported by Sansibar Whisky, Bourbon Barrels, B#CD 24-88, 357b, b#281)

Nose: smoked pork, bacon, and a touch of smoke before varnished wood rocks up.

Mouth: ink and Iso Betadine, then mouldy cherries.

Finish: big, but elegant, medicinal, farm-y. It dies on a note of dark cherries.

Comment: well done, CD. 8/10 (Thanks for the dram, CD)

Teacher's Highland Cream (86° Proof, Wm. Teacher & Sons sole agents for the USA Schieffelin & Co., b.1940s)

Comment: creamy alright! This is super buttery and soft, a little fruity, and surprisingly elegant, for what is allegedly full of Ardmore, a distillery that can be robustly rustic. 9/10

With the silhouette of Ardmore
on the back of the label

Everyone is surprised when they hear that JS and I are here for the first time. I have to spell out to them that we were Limburgins, until today.

Jwhatshisname and JS

Jwhatsislasname [remember him?]: "How did you know [it was me]?"

CD: "The pin. I will pin you down later, baby."

tOMoH: "Shall we leave?"

CD: "No! Please don't!"

Old Rhosdhu 30yo 1994/2024 (48.6%, C. Dully Selection)

Nose: meadow flowers, cut flowers, cut pears, then coconut aplenty, and some herbs (sage, oregano).

Mouth: sharper and more acidic than expected, filled with ground flint and dried lime zest.

Finish: big, fruity, creamy, it is a bit of an explosion, really. Sweetened green citrus fruit.

Comment: enthusiasts tend to ignore those Rhosdhus. Guess who will be disappointed, in a few years' time? 9/10 (Thanks for the dram, CD)

Longmorn 34yo 1973/2007 (54.4%, Gordon & MacPhail Cask Strength, First Fill Sherry Butt, C#3649, JG/AIG)

Nose: varnish and lacquer. Then, it is... spinach!?

Mouth: extractive and lactic. Intense, challenging.

Finish: long, sweet, a tad bitter. Here are rubber and coffee.

Comment: a bit much for me, and, considering how much these go for, these days, that is a relief. 8/10 (Thanks for the dram, Jwhatsislasname)

 

St. Magdalene (Linlithgow) 32yo 1982/2015 (58.1, Cadenhead, Butt, 282b)

Nose: phwoar! Mineral, flowery and fruity at the same time, like only St Magdalene can be. It has dried lime zest to boot. Some may think that makes it even more challenging.
Mouth: yes, similar thoughts. It has rock-hard lime zest and flint chippings.
Finish: huge, like a slap in the throat. We soon have lime zest served on slate, and some lichen, foolishly trying to get some attention.
Comment: not the first time we try this, and it is always a (challenging) pleasure. 9/10 (Thanks for the dram, CD)

elskling catches up to us.

Clynelish 5yo (43°, OB distributed by M. Di Chiano)

Nose: musky, mustardy (elskling), and mineral -- I find flint. It may have a whisper of pickled onions too; it is hard to tell underneath all that musk.
Mouth: fresh, fruity. The initial impression is that of cut peaches. Then, it shifts to a a dusty-sandy profile.
Finish: very big for the modest ABV, rocky and full of sands.
Comment: these old Clynelishes are incredible. 9/10 (Thanks for the dram, elskling)

Glendullan 18yo b.1989 (64%, OB The Manager's Dram, Sherry Cask)

Nose: super woody and extractive. Wood glue, pickled onions, and varnished walnut shells.
Mouth: cloying, incisive. The second sip is a little more approachable, though still brutal.
Finish: woody, spicy, nutty and extractive again, desiccating.
Comment: overly woody for my preference. 6/10 (Thanks for the dram, GN)

Loch Lomond Inchfad 17yo 2005/2022 (55.5%, C. Dully Selection, Bourbon Hogsheads, C#408/411/412, 281b)

Nose: earthy, farm-y. Here, we find river dredgings, dried on the riverbank.
Mouth: the earth is a lot damper on the palate, not quite mud, but greasy, loamy soil. In fact, it turns citrus-y, with grapefruits, white and pink, and blush oranges.
Finish: yes, lots of citrus -- red grapefruits, blush oranges, pomelos. This is creamy and excellent.
Comment: another corker from the unloved distillery. 8/10 (Thanks for the dram, CD)

Bowmore 18yo d.1971 (57.3%, Sestante, Sherry Wood)

Nose: very inky, blue and black inks, tar, engine oil (PG), Barbour grease. Later, we have nori, with funky fruit in the back.
Mouth: Oh! Veeeeeery briny, savoury without being meaty, a tad musky, with decayed fruit on the roof of the palate.
Finish: soot sprinkled on decayed fruit.
Comment: is there anything else to say? 9/10 (Thanks for the dram, PG)

Glen Garioch 12yo 2011/2023 Private Edition No.1 (52.5%, The Whisky Agency Rotten Glasses for Korea, Barrel, 120b)

Nose: waxy, plasticine-y, then comes a mix of flowers, fruits, and scorched earth mixed with bubble gum (PG) and chocolate (CD).
Mouth: creamy AF, this has mushy peaches, a smashed-avocado-like texture, sharon persimmon, and a dusting of dried sage.
Finish: long, but mellow and buttery. Steamed apricots, thick and coating.
Comment: sadly sold out by the time a decision is made. 8/10

PG [upon discovering GB has a sample of a legendary bottle at his stand]: "How much is the Largiemeanoch?"
tOMoH: "350€. Don't."
PG: "I could drink two other drams, for that price."

Tobermory 24yo 1994/2022 (47.2%, C. Dully Selection, Sherry Butt, C#11628, 215b)

Nose: quite a lot of pickled onions, strangely, followed by horse's hair and quarry chippings. Not an easy nose, this.
Mouth: hay, meadows, well, a grassy mouth.
Finish: long.
Comment: as the attentive reader can tell, tOMoH is rather, ahem, distracted, at this point. This is good enough, though. 7/10 (Thanks for the dram, PG)

Jwhatsislasname: "Here is EG's special blend. He is sending me the recipe by voicemail -- inch'Allah, one day."

It is another dry and farm-y number, with horse's hair, some of it braided. Posh horse.

Tobermory 24yo d.1994 (49.8%, C. Dully Selection specially selected and bottled for Sansibar-Whisky, Sherry Butt, C#10942, 78b)

Nose: overripe currants and caramelised apricots.
Mouth: ooh! Drying. Fruity, but drying. A Fino cask? Oloroso, I am told. Hard to believe. Ashy sultanas and raisin stew.
Finish: very sherried, yet also well balanced, sweet, ashy, it has pressed golden currants and sultanas.
Comment: another good one, if not something I would run after myself. 7/10 (Thanks for the dram, CD)

SA, JSi and HT join us

Glen Garioch 30yo 1991/2022 Edition No 65A (41.4%, Decadent Drinks Whisky Sponge, 10y in Refill Hogshead + 20y in 1st Fill Port Barrique, 175b)

Nose: intense, strong wood varnish.
Mouth: rancio and elderberry liqueur, thick and gently drying.
Finish: soft, sweet, full of sultanas, currants, and prune juice.
Comment: is it a Glen Garioch day, or what? Between this, The Whisky Agency's, and the Swisskies talking about the 1971 Samaroli they had six years ago, it would appear that way. 8/10 (Thanks for the dram, SA)

All day, I pour Fettercairn 28yo 1988/2017 (48.9%, The Nectar of the Daily Drams special edition for TastToe, 16/06009) (notes here) and StilL 630 4yo Missouri Straight Bourbon b.2019 (45%, OB Bill 266, B#10, b#177) (notes here).

On the way out, I realise they sell supermarket whiskies too.

Read on here.