05/08/2026 A triplet of Chichibu at Bar Lotus

JS and cavalier66 join me for what is supposed to be a modest night out, but will go on much later than expected. cavalier66 who cannot even remember how long he has been home alone, is determined to make it count too and orders only the most prestigious. He is there first, enjoying a dram of Highland 49yo 1976/2026 (45.1%, Thompson Bros. specially bottled for Dornoch Castle, Hogshead, C#SR26050, 140b) which he seems to like.

JS discovers there is an offer on flights of Chichibu, so she chooses one such flight. There are twenty-or-so Chichibu on the menu, you see? And that is before cavalier66 points out there are thirtyish more on the other side of the page.

Whilst she chooses, I peruse the shelves. cavalier66 has another.

Talisker d.1970 (53.1%, Gordon & MacPhail, b.1980s)

Nose: very peaty, with a lick of tropical fruits in the back. It then turns tertiary, much to cavalier66’s pleasure, with forest floor, mushrooms and dead leaves. It also starts smelling of pepper. A promising nose, at any rate.

Ah! We have a selection.

Chichibu 2015/2021 (63.3%, Venture Whisky exclusively bottled for Spirits Shop Selection, imported by Hua Yang International Exhibition, Bourbon Barrel 2nd Fill, C#5497, 223b)

Nose: pretty powerful. It is spirit-y and a bit mute, really. Potato salad? Water barely opens it up. We have bandages, wet with white-fruit juice, perhaps.

Mouth: very strong, it cauterises the mouth. Gauze soaked in ether. Adding water strikes a better balance: more fruit (baked plums), but that is still subdued.

Finish: powerful and disinfecting as to be medicinal. Antiseptic. JS finds it peppery. Water makes it fruitier, but also rather dry -- how ironic! cavalier66 detects banana. I am less convinced.

Score: 6/10

Chichibu 2015/2022 (61.7%, Venture Whisky exclusively bottled for Spirits Shop imported by Hua Yang International Exhibition, Bourbon Barrel 2nd Fill, C#5494, 183b)

Nose: more custard-y, it also has an allure that reminds tOMoH of the fun fair in Huy. The smell of fried doughnuts mixed with that of grilled sausages, perhaps? Stale industrial bread? That gives way to freeze-dried raspberries. Water does not really change the nose. Maybe it adds plastic grapes.

Mouth: super dry and a notch meaty (roast beef), it is also fairly salty. And strong, it goes without saying. With water, it becomes a tad fiery.

Finish: still pretty strong, yet it now also exhibits fruits -- Sauvignon Blanc grapes, ash-dry and bitter, devoid of the sweetness often associated with the term ‘fruity’. Water releases a bit more fruits, but it remains a fiery, drying number. cavalier66 even calls chilli. He is not wrong.

Score: 7/10

Talisker 47yo b.2026 Magma (48.8%, OB, Refill American Oak > Volcanic Toasted American Oak, 622b, b#310)

Nose: marsh-like, quagmire (giggity giggity), it has an overdose of vegetal peat, lichens, dried algae, dried mosses. Marshmallow (cavalier66) -- “or marshsmooth” (tOMoH). It is too peppery, according to cavalier66.

cavalier66: "Two supermarket whiskies in the same evening..."
JS: "The Tesco tasting!"

Chichibu 2014/2023 The Tree In The Forest (63%, Venture Ichiro's Malt exclusively bottled for Shinanoya distributed by Japan Import System, 2nd Fill Bourbon Barrel, C#3551, 191b, b#54)

Nose: this is more welcoming. It has baked sweetcorn and confectionary sugar. In fact, it is Destrooper butter crisps. Water allows dirty fruits to shine very brightly (peaches, rambutans), along with dirt and mud.

Mouth: oh! It is peaty. The manager had told us, but I had forgotten. Elegant smoke in an engine room, perhaps a hot motor (Aston Martin). It also has yellow fruits rubbed against galvanised metal (iron or zinc). With water, it sees more fruits and ashes, maybe burnt wood, and also a forest-fruit smoothie.

Finish: peaty and fruity. Plums dragged through an extinguished fireplace (soot, ash, charred wood), then rubbed on zinc. Water makes it linger and stick like a thick smoothie cut with mouthwash.

Score: 8/10

cavalier66: “Oh! wow, very different. I have been drinking old. I know it sounds…”
tOMoH: “Do you want a dickhead glass?”

The manager recommended water to open these Chichibu up when he brought them to the table. At first, I thought it was presumptuous to assume we were not familiar with 60+% whiskies. But coming out of the place, I seem to be more under the influence than I expected. Very glad JS did not go for a margarita on top of that. I really do not need another unit of alcohol tonight!

I enjoyed this to Bar Lotus visit it more unequivocally than the previous. It works better as a bar than as a vessel for tastings, I find. It also reminds me of those bars we went to in Korea, with dimly-lit atmosphere that make for dark pictures, and very few others drinking whisky.

24/06/2026 Chichibu

It is hot and humid, which, I have read, is how Japan tends to be at this time of year.

Chichibu 2009/2012 The Floor Malted (50.5%, OB Ichiro's Malt distributed by Japan Import System imported by Number One Drinks, 8800b, b#8142): nose: soft, elegant, classy and a little fruity. We have umeshu, plum juice spilled on wooden decking, and an odd mix of watercolour and paint thinner, a mix that may well hint at leather boots. Deeper nosing focuses on turpentine, for a second, then brings us back to fruits. Grapes and nectarines join plums, with greengages on the fringe. A drier undercurrent becomes perceptible: dry-brushing, the residue in a glass of evaporated turpentine, or even a bale of straw in a barn heated by the sun. The second nose doubles down on paint thinner, and it is remarkable that it does not turn too heady or off-putting. Watercolour and waxy plums, followed by a pinch of ash, help balance it. Mouth: umeshu indeed, or magkeolli, even. It is very reminiscent of those Asian wines, unctuous, creamy, fruity. Chewing adds a drop of paint thinner, but it retains a creamy texture. This has a delicate, dry bitterness that is not too far from chewing a straw, vegetal and cereal-y at the same time. Fruits are less perceptible, but it does have unripe plums. The second sip feels waxier and juicier, with plump green grapes, nectarines and greengages. We also detect a glass of magkeolli enjoyed at a candle-lit table. The straw from earlier transforms into ash. Finish: it mixes the bitter crunch of straw with a minty vanilla to resemble nothing else, or, at least, nothing obvious. It is a long, refreshing finish, once more reminiscent of magkeolli. The second gulp has half-burnt fruit stones, tatters of flesh still attached. Strangely enough, the "refreshing" aspect of the first gulp turns almost abrasive, the way ashes can be. All the same, it is simultaneously coating and soothing, as if the ashes were from burning scented wood or incense. 7/10 (Thanks for the dram, EG)

14/06/2026 The after-party

Sure, we had a mad dash for bottles last night, but those who are still around (adc, JS, elskling, EG, ruckus, EJ, sonicvince, Psycho, pat gva, YdS, PS, Gaija, tOMoH) meet up at various stages to enjoy more whisky at a reasonable pace in a drop-in setting.

But first, brunch at Kafé Kübe, which OB and CB join.

I arrive almost an hour late, owing to two
hundred glasses to clean
(a Dornoch copita and a stemless Highland Park are nowhere to be found)

Spinach and halloumi beigel

EG explains: whisky

With some food in, we head to tOMoH Towers for drams. The idea is to spend quality time with friends, so notes are scant.

Freestyle

Glenmorangie 10yo (43° Gay Lussac, OB imported by Schutz & Cloos, b. ca. 1985) (Psycho): a well-known dram that still does the trick. 8/10

House of Scotland 8yo (43°, House of Scotland imported by Bergia di T.&E. Arango, b. ca.1980s) (elskling)

Nose: soft and dusty, it has lots of OBE, but is mostly discreet. The likes of jam jars show up, as does lemon marmalade.

Mouth: mellow and berry-like, it has vanilla custard and a pinch of ashy dust.

Finish: long, with a touch of tobacco and grilled honey -- as in: honey slathered on bread, then toasted.

Comment: very good old dusty hailing from a blender/bottler in Campbeltown.

Score: 8/10

MV and AL who could not be here this weekend, call at this stage to sing a song.

103.12 30yo 1972/2003 Caramel and eucalyptus (53.3%, SMWS Society Cask) (EG)

Nose: burning fruits. Apricots ablaze.

Mouth: baked apricots, some of which dried, others juicy, a tad bitter.

Finish: more juicy goodness, yet it has a minerality too and a bitter side.

Comment: even SMWS guru PS does not recognise the distillery number. Upon reveal, I realise I have chased these old Lochnagars before, never successfully.

Score: 9/10

Kawasaki 33yo 1976/2009 (65.6%, Chichibu Ichiro's Choice imported by The Number One Drinks Company, Refill Sherry Butts, 432b, b#283) (PS)

Nose: flames, ragged leather and burnt flesh (PS, in facetious mode -- that would be the motorcycle namesake). Burnt tyre, petrol and engine oil, yeah? (tOMoH follows suit). sonicvince emits a simple "Mmmh!" Apple and tinned pineapple (sonicvince and PS). It feels very Sherried to me, with prunes and kerosene, perhaps a dash of coffee.

Mouth: rancio, earth, and fewer prunes.

Finish: long, it rolls out blackberries, blackcurrants and dry warehouse clay.

Comment: twelve years have passed since we had our first Kawasaki. I prefer this one, I think. Of course, it is now unobtainable, much to everyone's chagrin.

Score: 8/10

Essy approves of Kawasaki

Glenglassaugh 30yo 1976/2007 (45.3%, Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection, Hogshead, C#2381, 260b, b#226) (PS)

Nose: surprisingly mineral, it has peach yoghurt and sawdust from a circular saw.

Mouth: jammy and fruity, it has peach jelly and thin fruit juice.

Finish: lovely fruity profile balanced with a sip of black coffee.

Comment: this has been on my list of things to try since it came out. Glad to have a chance.

Score: 9/10

PS: "This is far from being a substandard dram."

Chichibu 2009/2012 The Floor Malted (50.5%, OB Ichiro's Malt distributed by Japan Import System imported by Number One Drinks, 8800b, b#8142) (EG)

Nose: it is a tad indistinct, with custard and fruity flowers.

Mouth: fresh and mineral, it tastes like fruits cut on slate.

Finish: lovely fruitiness, mostly peaches and nectarines.

Comment: another good Chichibu.

Score: 8/10

JS pulls out her own Chichibu London Edition b.2023 (51.5%, OB Ichiro's Malt imported by Speciality Drinks, 1949b, b#1843) to compare it with the above. The opinions are divided on which is better than the other. EG and I prefer JS's (notes here). pat gva prefers EG's.

EG pours his Real Dry sparkling white wine. Alcohol free (0.5%), it is meant to reset the palates and refresh the minds.

pat gva: Is that prosecco?"
EG: "Do I look like an Italian?"

Psycho tells a daft story. pat gva laughs so hard he chokes.

EG: "Too strong for you? 0.5%?"

Random nibbles
Nachos, biltong, nuts

3.217 16yo 1997/2014 A delicatessen shopping basket (55.6%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Sherry Butt, 609b) (EG)

Nose: farm-y and salty. One could say 'saltmarshes' with confidence.

Mouth: pearl onions, smoked prunes, smoked figs.

Finish: beautifully mellow, with a lick of smoke.

Comment: wow!

Score: 8/10

Gaija enters the scene and pours us a surprise one.

Mystery dram (Gaija)

Nose: super herbaceous, it has heather twigs, oregano and mizunara staves.

Mouth: juicy, a trifle pine-y, with a dollop of mountain-flower honey.

Finish: aromatic, it has oregano, twigs, bracken and dried roots.

Comment: we narrow it down to a middle-aged Bowmore for travel retail, but not the exact bottling, nor even the range. I trawl through my sample boxes to find another, similar expression, to no avail. Must have emptied it.

Bowmore Aston Martin 22yo b.2022 (51.5%, OB Masters' Selection, 12800b) 8/10

Gaija's Glenglass-socks

Bunnahabhain 1989/2001 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail The MacPhail's, JA/ACC) (Psycho)

Nose: gas, sewers, pickled onions.

Mouth: mellow, juicy, it develops a chalky, eggshell-y side.

Finish: soft, it dishes out orange pulp and pepper-topped custard.

Comment: one we have had several times. It is a competent effort. Others appreciate it more than I do. Of course, the competition is fierce, today.

Score: 7/10

ruckus and EJ join the gang.

3.213 18yo Fresh, inviting and energetic (56%, SMWS Society Single Cask) (JS)

Nose: dry and citrus-y, it has orange peels and the bitter oil that comes with that.

Mouth: citrus-y, crystalline, it veers towards leather.

Finish: sweet and citrus-y, it showcases cherries (EJ), candy sweets (JS) and Mon Chéri (EJ).

Comment: JS pulled this out last minute to have it against 3.217. They are wildly different. Full notes here.

Score: 8/10

PS asks if he may open the door for air. YdS is fanning herself with a napkin.

JS: "I'll give you a fan."
pat gva: "She's got a fan. It's Chinese."
YdS: "It's not Chinese. It's international."

EJ: "How do you pronounce it? Glen-glass-ow?"
PS: "Glen-glass-okh."
EJ: "Glen-glass-sock."
Psycho: "Kh. Like Mo-kh-ammed."
JS: "That is why you get stopped at airports!"

Poit Dhubh 30yo b.2006 (43%, Pràban na Linne 30th Anniversary Edition, b#230) (tOMoH)

Comment: pat gva and elskling show no interest at first and are dubitative when I insist. They seem pleasantly surprised when they finally do try it. Full notes here.

Score: 8/10

ruckus teases EJ about ageing.

tOMoH: "What are you doing with this guy?"
JS: "He's very competent in his cooking skills."

Invergordon 37yo 1972/2009 (46.6%, Càrn Mòr Celebration of the Cask, Bourbon Barrel CC#60478/63675, 259b, b#236) (JS)

Comment: chemical to start with, it paves the way for peach and almonds (pat gva). ruckus finds blackcurrants. Full notes here.

Score: 8/10

D.town 33yo d.1979 (56.3%, Cadenhead Cask Ends, 3rd Fill Bourbon Cask, 1b) (tOMoH)

Comment: full notes here.

Score: 8/10

Psycho: "Why are you looking at me like that?"
EJ: "Because you're sexaaaaaaaay."
ruckus: "She's very good at lying."

Others have the following in no particular order.

Glenlochy 29yo 1980/2010 (52.8%, Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection, Hogshead, C#2649, 265b, b#71) (tOMoH)

Inver-Regal (43° Gay Lussac, J.H. Wham & Son (Largs), for testing purposes only, b. pre-1991) (tOMoH)

Pittyvaich 14yo 1986/2001 (43%, Ian McLeod Chieftain's, Hogsheads, C#9519-22, 1074b, L1212BB 3 11 58) (tOMoH)

Laphroaig 28yo b.2018 (44.4%, OB Limited Edition, Quarter Casks + Bourbon Barrels + Sherry Butts) (tOMoH): especially for Psycho, who had left when we tasted it last month.

Abhainn Dearg b.2023 (61%, OB X Cask Type, PX Cask) (tOMoH)

Braes of Glenlivet 22yo 1989/2011 (60.2%, The Scottish Liqueur Centre Càrn Mòr Celebration of the Cask, Bourbon Hogshead, C#1051, 267b b#69) (JS)

Bladnoch 20yo 1990/2011 (60.6%, The Scottish Liqueur Centre for Càrn Mòr Celebration of the Cask, Bourbon Barrel, C#30005, 194b, b#131) (JS)

(pat gva asked about Càrn Mòr, yesterday)

Laphroaig 10yo (90 U.S. Proof, OB imported by Julius Wile, b.1975) (pat gva)

Bruichladdich 20yo 2001/2021 (53.1%, Sansibar-Whisky, Sherry Hogshead, 318b) (elskling)

It is close to 20:30 when the last ones leave. Precious moments.

25/04/2026 The Whisky Fair (Day 1 -- Part 2)

There is one more stand to visit urgently.

Imperial 26yo 1996/2022 #6 (48.1%, Maltbarn The 26, Bourbon Cask, 51b)

Nose: forsythia, daffodils, unripe peach. It has a bit of dust in the back, and baked goods (JS).

Mouth: pillow-y, flowery. This has yellow-tulip petals and daffodils. It becomes slightly drying, after a while.

Finish: more yellow magic; unripe peaches and apricots mixed with daffodils.

Comment: phwoar!

Score: 9/10

Glentauchers 31yo 1989/2021 No. 177 (43.4%, Maltbarn, Bourbon Cask, 100b)

Nose: more flowers (honeysuckle, jasmine, buttercups) and soft fruits (apple cubes). Fruity-minty notes grow in intensity.

Mouth: full-bodied, it has buckets of yellow flowers bathing in yellow-fruit juice, and a few jasmine buds to spice things up.

Finish: bright yellow, flowery and delectable. It goes from flowers to fruits more clearly with each sip.

Comment: stunning.

Score: 9/10

Highland Malt 38yo 1983/2021 #2 (51.4%, Maltbarn The 26, Sherry Cask, 48b)

Nose: rich berries and tobacco with what could be cedarwood sheets to give the whole a structure on which to lean.

Mouth: berries jam, rancio, blackcurrants. It has some power as well! Once the palate gets accustomed to that, carambola enters the scene.

Finish: long and assertive, full of berries. Subsequent gulps add all sorts of custards.

Comment: excellent. My score may be a little generous, but...

Score: 9/10

Highland Park19yo 2003/2021 #5 (51.8%, Maltbarn The 26, Bourbon Cask, 48b)

Nose: leather and suede, horse's hair. Suddenly, salt water comes in.

Mouth: softer and fruitier than expected, it has chewy sweets kept in a suede pouch.

Finish: yup, chewy fruit sweets eaten from a leather pouch.

Comment: beautiful.

Score: 8/10

Ben Nevis 29yo 1996/2026 No. 265 (47.6%, Maltbarn, Bourbon Cask, 152b)

Nose: pine scents alongside timid mango and papaya. With a little breathing, it turns into a bowl of fruits, with carambola and guava the loudest, We have soot in the background as well.

Mouth: big, bold, fruity. Carambola, guava, papaya. It is acidic and cleansing, not stripping. 

Finish: not that long or explosive, but so fantastically comforting. Fruits everywhere.

Comment: gawjus.

Score: 9/10

Time to move again. Or time to eat something, actually. There is a catering company on the terrace. I order a vegan Mediterran Flammkuch.

Her: "With or without ham?"

It is a dreary wrap with uncooked vegetables on top,
but it fulfills its mission adequately: lining the stomach

Back to the grind. We stop by MW's stand.

MW: "Have you tried this Macallan?"
tOMoH: "No. Macallan, you know..."
MW: "This is a good one."

The Macallan 10yo b.2000 Cask Strength (58.8%, OB, Sherry Oak Casks, MDR103)

Nose: decaying oranges, pickled red onions.

Mouth: earthy, bitter, bold, fruity.

Finish: huge, it has caramelised red onions, sweet and luscious.

Comment: I was not convinced I would like this, but I do.

Score: 8/10 (Thanks for the dram, MW)

Hi SA.

Bushmills 34yo 1991/2025 No.099 (46.2%, The Whisky Blues joint bottling with Abyss Whisky Bar, 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel, C#11534, 137b)

Comment: SA insists I must try this. It is a masterpiece of Irish fruitiness. 10/10 (Thanks for the sip, SA)

And here is the bottler

Ichiro's Malt b.2015 (58.6%, Venture Whisky for Lady Jane 40th Anniversary Booze & Jazz supported by Shinanoya distributed by Japan Import System, C#4077)

Nose: hay and mint infusion.

Mouth: oof! Fire. There is a note of straw, muesli and porridge.

Finish: long, it has hot pastry, sweet, yet balanced.

Comment: lovely.

Score: 7/10

We meet Mr. whiskynotes.be himself. He tells us he knows this blog, which I do not fully believe, but it is very kind of him.

PH pours me this:

Kilchoman 4yo 2007/2012 (59.3%, OB Single Cask Release for The Nectar, Sherry Cask, C#455/2007, 330b)

Comment: cannot say it is really my bag, but a competent smoked-mud effort.

Score: 7/10 (Thanks for the dram, PH)

We move again.

09/02/2026 Chichibu

Chichibu London Edition b.2023 (51.5%, OB Ichiro's Malt imported by Speciality Drinks, 1949b, b#1843): nose: it is not very expressive, at first. A whiff of frankincense, a whisper of sandalwood, old wooden sandals... This has a Shinto-temple allure to it, but it does not boast, to say the least. A few seconds' breathing help promote oiled wood (mahogany, rosewood, cherrywood), then a a flavourful, unlit cigar -- unless it is fruity pipe tobacco, Ash jumps on the bandwagon for a good old party. The second nose takes me back to the village shop near my childhood home; it sold most everything, but the dominant smell was that of candy of all kinds, mingling with that of clean-but-outmoded floor tiles. At least, that is how I remember it. This even has a slight animal scent that plays peek-a-boo: leather, full-fat cream past its prime, or slightly rancid sweat. Mouth: roasted apple pips, upon entry, then much smokier tones when chewing. A stealthy sweetness follows. Smoked Haribo gummies, if that makes sense. It is at once hot and very pleasant on the tongue, owing to that sweetness. And it is really Gummibärchen. No caster sugar, no Demerara, no cane sugar, no Golden Syrup. Just unadulterated Gummibärchen (yellow or orange, to be precise, which suggests they are citrus flavoured). The second sip is a tad more acidic. Oh! it is not quite vinegar-y; more pressed currants augmented with just a drop of pickled-red-onion brine. Chewing, once again, releases sweeties, though perhaps with a darker-citrus flavour., this time: orange, blush orange, gac fruit). It is not exactly wine-y, but it points in that general direction. It turns very-slightly fizzy in the long run and adds sultanas. Finish: Gummibärchen and smoke are so tightly knit that they actually form an elegant whole rather than two parts. It has a delicate mineral aspect too, softly drying, especially perceptible on the front half of the tongue. A little later on, it gives crystallised citrus segments or very-dry, hardened mixed peel and a discreet note of faded leather. The second gulp brings forth currants and dried cranberries, and swaps the mineral side for grated charcoal. The more time passes, the more reminiscent this is of the 1970s. Oilcloth on the chipboard kitchen table, beige-and-orange curtains, unhealthy snacks, cigarette smoke clinging to everything. It has its charm. It reclaims its earlier elegance after a while, which is just as well. Let us be frivolous and give this a high score, today. 9/10 (Thanks for the dram, JS)

15/11/2025 OB the Ba(n)ker

OB is sadly leaving the country for the Land of Inferior Chocolate. We cannot let him go without one last hurrah.

cavalier66, JMcD, SOB, YM, WhiskyLovingPianist and JS join me to wish OB farewell.

With enough whisky to make sure he never reaches his destination

With the number of whiskies and guests, much time is spent on logistics, banter and rushing through drams. Notes are consequently succinct.

The soundtrack: Cthulhu - Le sortilège

cavalier66 opens fire with a North of Scotland, which is as far away from OB's destination as any Scottish distillery can be. It is 44% ABV, which is OB's age today -- or 44.4%, to be precise, two third of 66.6, the Devil's number. cavalier66 argues that OB is selling his soul to the Devil by going to Neutralandia, and will turn into a full devil himself. The label, in pure Douglas Laing fashion (the parent company of Hunter Hamilton), tells of great expectations, which is what OB has for that new life, and of a great single blend -- and cavalier66 adds that OB is a great man we are losing.

cavalier66: "If I remember correctly, the nose is more impressive than the rest."
YM: "Should we put it into a dickhead glass?"

North of Scotland 39yo d.1966 (44.4%, Hunter Hamilton The Clan Denny, C#HH2240)

Nose: raisins, dusty sultanas, dried peach slices. It has a whisper of cured meat, honey-glazed pork roast or such. Beyond are vanillin and candied citrus. Perhaps a sprinkle of white-wood dust too. More and more pineapple and papaya cubes emerge with time.
Mouth: candied orange segments ride on a fairly-thin body, then we get pineapple cubes dunked in marmalade augmented with a dash of wine.
Finish: an explosion of raisins and resins, and the most distant dark-wood sawdust -- an old shelf sawn in smaller chunks. It has tannins, though they merely add to the complexity.
Comment: wonderful old grain. Cue memories of a time when these were "just there" and no-one was buying them. What a way to start! 9/10

tOMoH explains that OB is e-Scapa-ing from London.

Scapa 19yo 2000/2019 (49.9%, Chivas Brothers Distillery Reserve Collection, 1st Fill Barrel, C#26, 312b, b#38)

Nose: bakery scents (WhiskyLovingPianist), brighter (cavalier66) and chalkier (WhiskyLovingPianist) [than the previous dram]. For me, it has sweet grapes, nectarines and a spoonful of honey.
Mouth: it has body and acidity to complement a clear custard-y profile.
Finish: long, sweet and citric, with calamansi and Ugli fruit playing first and second trumpets.
Comment: WhiskyLovingPianist teases that Scapa is a lower-tier distillery, but really, everyone agrees this is "not bad," even if they are in denial about its true greatness. My notes are here. 9/10

cavalier66: "A little bit of soap in this. Is it just me?"
tOMoH: "Just you."
WhiskyLovingPianist: "Soon as you said it..."

The soundtrack: Cthulhu - Chronicles of the red sun

SOB explains that the theme, OB the Ba(n)ker, made him think that bakers no longer use imperial measures, but that bankers still occasionally talk of shillings or guineas. He therefore brought an Imperial.

Imperial 26yo 1994/2020 An ever changing world of impossibility (45.3%, The Whisky Exchange for Whisky Show, Barrel, C#5874, 198b)

Nose: pure ozone photocopier (cavalier66), citrus (WhiskyLovingPianist), glossy magazines, ozone indeed, vine leaves and flowers -- chiefly carnations.
Mouth: photocopied flowers (cavalier66), certainly glossy magazines. This is boldly flavourful and a trifle bitter.
Finish: creamy, custard-y, long and fudgy. The death brings a hint of mocha-y rubber or rubbery mocha -- who knows?
Comment: excellent. More nostalgia about Imperial (tsk! WhiskyLovingPianist again). I have to remind him that the ones that came out twenty years ago were not all stellar. This one is excellent. 9/10

tOMoH: "Glossy magazines."
cavalier66: "Top shelf."
WhiskyLovingPianist: "Oh..."
cavalier66: "Don't go there!"
tOMoH: "Are the pages stuck together?"

Gruyere, a cheese from OB's destination

WhiskyLovingPianist: "I think Mark Watt owns most of the Imperial that came out around that time."
cavalier66: "Wasn't it Elixir [Distillers]?"
WhiskyLovingPianist: "He bought it in bottles."

Alp Blossom, with the Alps having a foot in both France and Switzerland
(and Italy, Germany and Austria, but EG, MV and JH are not here)

cavalier66: "You can barely tell you're drinking alcohol at all..."
OB: "One could say: fruit."
SOB: "Write that down, tOMoH!"

WhiskyLovingPianist brought houmous and guacamole.
The latter turns out to be green tzatziki

OB opens, then closes the next bottle.

OB: "Ah! Okay. I've had bad luck with broken corks, lately..."
tOMoH: "So you put the cork back in to double your chances."

cavalier66 also brought beetroot-cured smoked salmon

OB presents his favourite bottle of whisky. Not his favourite whisky, not his favourite bottling, but his favourite bottle. He tells the story of how he acquired it, how he randomly met the bottler in a bar in Japan, and rolls out more incredible anecdotes all linked to this.

Tomatin 38yo 1976/2015 (47%, OB imported by Japan Import System for Whisky Hoop, C#31, 190b)

Comment: I know this from a previous encounter and take no note, today. It is still amazeboulanger. 10/10

OB: "Switzerland, as a tourist destination, makes no sense, because it is so expensive."
cavalier66: "And a bit boring, to be honest."
tOMoH: "Unless you want to ski."
cavalier66: "Even then, skis resorts are a bit boring."
WhiskyLovingPianist: "It's all downhill from here!"

JMcD: "Last time, there was a debate about chocolate..."
tOMoH: "No, there wasn't. No Swiss was here, so, no, there could have been no debate [about who makes the best chocolate]."
OB: "That's right. The best chocolate is French."
JMcD: "Wait! French?"
tOMoH: "Only for those who think that Belgium is a province of France."
cavalier66: "Well, half of it is..."

JMcD presents a whisky from the Old Bakery distillery.

Old Bakery 8yo (47.2%, Old Bakery Distillery for Gerry's, American 40% Toasted Oak ex-Bourbon Casks finished in Cuban Rum Barrels, b#7B)

Nose: cucumber juice poured on rubber, a new snorkel, nail polish thinner, with lemon rinds in the back and cypress resin.
Mouth: oh! yes, this has a strong rum-y side, with rubber, hevea brasiliensis and chewy wood, cork style.
Finish: bold, rubber, with enough pineapple to fill a wheelbarrow.
Comment: ideally placed, after the previous glories: so different it not only stands out, but stands its own. 7/10

The words on the label make little sense, on the other hand

WhiskyLovingPianist: "Dave Broom's Atlas. First edition, there were 3,500 whisky distilleries. Latest edition, there are 5,000."
tOMoH: "And that's just in Scotland! Nay! The Highlands!"
WhiskyLovingPianist: "Just in Glasgow!"

SOB notices that cavalier66's shirt is covered in Drambuie bottles.

JS: "How is this Drambuie thing?"
YM: "It's sweet and flavoured with herbs."
tOMoH: "It's called aqua vitae -- or uisquebaugh."
WhiskyLovingPianist: "You're such a ninja."

WhiskyLovingPianist wanted to pour the following bottling, Pink wafers in a ladies hat shop, and suggested Bundt Day / confectionary as a theme to be able to do so easily.

48.41 25yo d.1988 Pink wafers in a ladies hat shop (48.3%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 239b)

Nose: it starts off woody, if not plank-y. Dusty shelves and dried staves. It quickly opens up to reveal orchard fruit -- conference pears, poached apples, and a whiff of dried rosemary too. The second noses serves peaches.
Mouth: lemon-y and herbaceous, it has calamansi juice and limoncello, pineapple turnovers sprinkled with dried rosemary, then cypress branches coated in Golden Syrup. The second sip has a bitter lick from the rosemary, and that complements the fruit well.
Finish: pastry aplenty, still with a softly-bitter-herbaceous note. It is essentially peaches and herbs.
Comment: lovely. The bitterness will prevent a higher score today, but in other circumstances, who knows? 8/10

JS: "WhiskyLovingPianist, what is that bread you brought?"
WhiskyLovingPianist: "Heritage sourdough."
JS: "Oh, really? Is it made with Maris Otter and brewer's yeast?"
WhiskyLovingPianist: "Yeah, and the Thompson Brothers' spit."

The soundtrack: Cthulhu - Beyond the gate to the eternal slumber

tOMoH explains he looked for a Swiss bottling. The only one easily accessible was this Arran bottled for a Swiss festival. He added the Barrel Bonfire, because OB is making a bonfire of his London life, at the moment.

Arran 17yo 1997/2014 (51.6%, The Whisky Agency & Acla da Fans Acla Selection specially selected for Whisky-Schiff Zürich 2014, Refill Sherry Cask, 120b)

Comment: a citrus malt, especially the finish. Full notes here. 8/10

vs.

Arran 11yo b.2024 Edition 2 -- Barrel Bonfire (50%, OB The Signature Series, Peated Quarter Casks, 14822b)

Comment: full notes here. 8/10

WhiskyLovingPianist: "This is really pastry. It is almost in the Nordic- sorry! in Nordic Zone of Whisky Show. Did you go to Nordic Zone of Show, SOB?"

OB presents a Brora from his birth year, because he wants to finish the bottle before he leaves.

Brora 27yo 1981/2009 (51.3%, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld, C#291, 330b, b#76)

Nose: ashy and waxy, it has nectarines and bubble gum of some sort.
Mouth: acidic and ashy, it also has a touch of yellow fruits. I find it very bitter in the long run.
Finish: more ash and wax, soot, desert dirt. WhiskyLovingPianist calls it sugary, almost sherbet-like.
Comment: WhiskyLovingPianist says "lovely" and "comfort," while cavalier66 says it is almost more Clynelish than Brora. I find it delicious. Better than previous times (here and here), in fact. 9/10

cavalier66: "I've had some that were not as good. It wasn't Duncan Taylor -- who was it?"
tOMoH: "Chieftain's and Dun Bheaghan. Ian McLeod and Wm. Maxwell."
WhiskyLovingPianist: "Yeah, they were quite poor."
cavalier66: "I've had three or four of those, and..."
tOMoH: "Do you want a dickhead glass to say that?"

SOB went for the banker side and brought a Springbank. In a Madeira Cask. He also brought Madeira, tough not the one the Springbank was aged in.

Barbeito Madeira Bastardo Duas Pipas (unknown ABV, OB Reserva, B#2, C#46+735)

Nose: butter not far from turning rancid, pressed raisins (sultanas, to be accurate), dried figs, then it turns drier, earthier
Mouth: earthy-mushroom-y profile submerged by dried dates and prunes. It is syrupy at second sip, almost cloying. Then, that dissipates and leaves Manzanilla and prunes.
Finish: coating, incredibly sweet, with rehydrated dates and figs. Incredibly, it is sweeter and juicier at second gulp, with Smyrna and cloudberries or salmonberries.
Comment: pleasant, and an adequate break in the line-up to recalibrate. 7/10

vs.

Springbank 8yo 2017/2025 (54.7%, OB Springbank Society, Fresh Madeira Cask, 1761b, 25/169)

Nose: it is dramatically farm-y with a mineral touch. We have sun-baked farm paths, tractor tyres in the summer, with a rubber that suggests quite a bit of Madeira indeed. Then, it peddles walnut stain, peppery earth, dark-strawberry (Benihoppe, Camarosa) coulis, and black bun dragged through a dry field. A drop of water reveals a scrumptious berry paste and increases the lovely fruitiness.
Mouth: oh! my, this is so farm-y. Peppery clay pots dragged through a field of dark earth. That pepper is strong! Is this a mislabelled Talisker? Water adds loads of wine-y fruits such as lychees and peaches.
Finish: strong, dark, peppery again. Juicy prunes, Corinth raisins, and, especially, a lot of earth and chilli peppers. Even with water, it remains on the side of earth and prunes, with only the spices taking a bit of a subtler front.
Comment: JS is not a fan -- too farm-y and impacted by the Madeira. I find it works well. 8/10

JS says she chose the next bottle, because OB is leaving UK to go to CH-i-CH-ibu. I add that OB is our resident expert on all things Japanese.

SOB: "Chichi-bye?"

Chichibu London Edition b.2023 (51.5%, OB Ichiro's Malt imported by Speciality Drinks, 1949b, b#1843)

Comment: I take no notes to avoid being too behind. It is well liked all round. For today, it is 8/10

WhiskyLovingPianist: "What does 'CH' stand for?"
tOMoH: "Chwitcherland."
cavalier66: "Canton Helvetica."
tOMoH: "Confédération helvétique."

cavalier66: "Do I detect a touch of red-wine cask?"
tOMoH: "Is that your glass of Madeira?"

cavalier66 checks online and confirms the Chichibu was partly matured in wine casks.

WhiskyLovingPianist: "When was the last Show you attended?"
tOMoH: "2018."
cavalier66: "No. When was last Show you attended."

From here on, we (attempt to) stop saying the word 'the'. For each 'the', the person who said the word has to pick a sample from OB's bag o' tricks. It leads to hilarious situations. That lasts until OB's bag is empty.

The soundtrack: Cthulhu - Chronicles of a pandemic

YM looked for an OB to bring (Official Bottling), but could not find an interesting one. He looked for a connection to bankers; none. Oban? He does not have any. So he took this bottling.

tOMoH: "It reads 'pudding' on the label. OB baked pudding."

Speaking of which...

9.210 17yo d.2003 Nostalgia-filled trifle pudding (56.7%, SMWS Society Cask, 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 205b)

Nose: apple pie? This is really, really closed, at first nosing. There are blackcurrants in the medium run, I suppose, maybe vapours coming out of a baker's oven too. Water opens it up and it releases perfume.
Mouth: hot marmalade, lemon marmalade, even, green chilli, split stones and orange peels so hot they are barely recognisable. This is hot. Water brings orange juice.
Finish: long, a tad metallic and hot again, with sage and bitter orange rinds. Water mellows it down. It becomes juicy and fruity.
Comment: challenging today, this will likely improve in the open bottle. 7/10

OB pulls one out that he wants to share before he leaves the country, especially with cavalier66, the only enthusiast in town who has never had it. Yes, the theme is a lot easier for some people than for others, is it not?

117.3 25yo 1988/2013 Hubba-bubba, mango and monstera (58.5%, SMWS Society Single Cask, 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 199b)

Comment: I skip it and keep it for later.

For the next one, cavalier66 has a whisky distilled in 1981, which is OB's year of birth. It is a Rose-bank(er), from a lost distillery -- "and we are about to lose OB" ("to alcoholism," adds WhiskyLovingPianist). cavalier66 explains he had preselected several bottles to pick from. This is the one that OB guessed correctly, so he brought it.

Miraculously, the cork does not give in

Rosebank 25yo 1981/2007 (61.4%, OB Natural Cask Strength, 4710b, b#01138)

Nose: musty warehouses, soaked corks, mushrooms in planters. Later, it is a ball of cat's hair, warming. It also has gum. It promises to be drying (it singes the nostrils), with hot blankets and herbs on cobblestones.
Mouth: fiery, it has quarry dust, strawberry-flavoured toothpaste, and a lot of red flowers (carnations, peonies, begonias, dahlias).
Finish: huge. Flowers on fire. There is a fair amount of fruits too, baked nectarines in front.
Comment: at last, tOMoH tastes this legend. It is very good. However, for the price it commands, one can obtain better things (including other from the same distillery), in my opinion. This confirms that 1981 is not tOMoH's favourite year for Rosebank. The Rare Malt is also too hot for its own good. Still... 9/10

cavalier66: "I'm trying to think of what it reminds me of. I think it reminds me of itself."

YM chose a bottling called Spices and syrup, which are things one might use when baking.

94.30 11yo d.2011 Spices and syrup (62.1%, SMWS Society Cask, 1st Fill #3 Char Barrel, 224b)

Nose: toffee and milk chocolate. WhiskyLovingPianist detects English rye whisky. Obviously drunk. Well, there is a soft lick of Irn Bru on a sheet of metal, I suppose, which spells rye. Further nosing has warmed cardboard and chocolate slabs on a wood plank.
Mouth: ooft! it is a little grain-like, with melted chocolate that gets added chilli pepper over time. The second sip has quarry dust, heat and a little fruit.
Finish: hot and softly metallic, with dark chocolate and aluminium cans. Hot Dr. Pepper, cassia-bark splinters, later on. It is a bit drying, though that is tolerable.
Comment: I really like this. 8/10

WhiskyLovingPianist: "You could try Rosebank for free at th-... at Show."
cavalier66: "No, you can say it, now."
WhiskyLovingPianist: "Not for Show!"

JS points out that our guest is OB a(n asset) Manager('s Dram), rather than a banker.

Oban 19yo (59.5%, OB The Manager's Dram, Refill Cask, SE 102, b.1995)

Comment: a dram I know very well and, therefore, take no notes for. It is universally liked, and as good as it always is. Incredible how well it fares, at this late stage, after the heavy hitters. 9/10

WhiskyLovingPianist observes the ABV is high, yet well integrated.

WhiskyLovingPianist: "It's almost as if we didn't just have eighteen drams!"

cavalier66: "This is rather good."
tOMoH: "What a shocker! Kept a decent dram for last!"
cavalier66: "Well, it comes after..."
tOMoH: "Sixteen drams."
OB: "Huh?"
tOMoH: "One of them was a Madeira."

cavalier66 gets up and prepares to let his offspring in, who forgot the key."

tOMoH: "You'll want to stay a little longer."

I remind OB and cavalier66 that, in 2017, they left a tasting early and missed a dram, which only JS, GL and MR ended up enjoying. cavalier66 knows immediately and exactly what I am talking about. Time to pour it again.

cavalier66: "And it is from 1981. OB's year!"

Lochside 30yo 1981/2011 (54.9%, Cadenhead's, Bourbon Hogshead, 246b, 11/396)

Nose: olive oil and fruits (cavalier66). It is fruits in various stages of ripeness (WhiskyLovingPianist).
Comment: I reviewed this masterpiece yesterday (quality check, you understand), so no notes today. 10/10

WhiskyLovingPianist: "It's when the tropics become dusty."
YM: "this, I think, you could snort."
cavalier66: "I know the word to describe this whisky: 'exquisite'!"

I still have a dram, which I kept for now.

117.3 25yo 1988/2013 Hubba-bubba, mango and monstera (58.5%, SMWS Society Single Cask, 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 199b)

Comment: it still rawcks, even after the glorious Lochside. Fuller notes here. 10/10

Well, that was an epic send-off. Goodbye, OB! Come see us again!

In pure English fashion, cavalier66 left us half a bite of pie.
Could not possibly finish it; that would be rude!