09/03/2024 Dune Part One

With the second film in cinemas since last week (BA and OB have already seen it, JS and I are seeing it tomorrow), now is an ideal time to use Frank Herbert's universe as a theme.

The soundtrack: Cthulhu - Arrakkian Junkies

tOMoH presents: Tam-Dune.

Tamdhu 33yo 1969/2003 (40.5%, Hart Brothers Finest Collection) (tOMoH): the nose is elegant and fruity from top to bottom, with citrus-y custard. The palate is nicely spicy, yet balanced, while the finish has lovely stewed tangerine segments. My full notes are here. Today, I will upgrade it to 9/10

OB: "This next one is a blended malt. In French, we would call that a mélange." (An obvious nod to the spice mélange.)

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 40yo d.1977 (42.9%, Thompson Bros., Sherry Casks, 150b) (OB): nose: well-caramelised stewed tangerines, borderline shoe polish, blackened banana skins. It has a touch of liquorice too, and perhaps some panna cotta on the second nose, as well as an odd, very discreet whiff of hemp. Mouth: a tad drying, it has caramelised apricot stained by the stone. It turns fairly mineral, with quarry chippings, yet that is balanced by more fruit. The second sip is juicier, fresh and vibrant. Grape juice, augmented with drops of grapefruit juice. Finish: very pleasant, it has just the right oomph. A nice acidity of citrus, and a faint bitterness, like grapefruit peels. The following gulps are more caramelised, with barbecued honey-glazed grapefruit skins. I like it better than I remember. That is: I am convinced that I have tried this before, yet I cannot find any evidence 8/10

tOMoH: "It's growing on me, that mélange."
OB: "Your eyes are getting bluer."

BA cocked up his choice of socks

BA presents a whisky from Israel, which is in a desert, just like Dune.

Milk & Honey Classic (46%, OB, b.2021) (BA): nose: marzipan and frangipane, then candied tangerine segments, and newly-oiled birch shelves. It is distinctly woody, yet it is a honeyed style of wood. The second nose has a  serving of grated cedarwood sheet. Mouth: a vague woody bitterness, and, again, a lot of honey, slowly setting. It is slightly drying, after a while, but mostly velvety and unctuous. I love it more with every sip. Finish: warming and pleasant, with more setting honey, and creamy body butter. It is long and relaxing. I would have loved to hate this (because, really, who needs more temptation?), but it is, in fact, very good. 8/10

The soundtrack: Silence - IV

JS presents: a Dune Eideann bottling of Dune-glass.

Dunglass 22yo 1967/1990 (46%, Dun Eideann imported by Donato & C., C#1893-6) (tOMoH): nose: flowery (OB), soapy (JS), yet it retains a malty backbone (OB). I have pot-pourri, flowers and a lick of soap indeed. "This nose is not too offensive," says OB. Mouth: violet sweets, which works for me. Finish: boiled sweets and melted milk chocolate -- loads of it. It is very particular, but I like it. Much more than the first time, in fact (notes here).  JS is not a fan. 7/10

BA produces a bottle that is obviously an industry sample called Wolfcraig. Leftover from a competition, in which BA was a judge. He ventures that the logo looks a bit like the crest of House Atreides.

And indeed...

Wolfcraig 30yo Premium Blend (46.3%, OB) (BA): hot marzipan and crispy bacon. What? Next are minty wood splinters, then, suddenly, plasticine. It then has a touch of linen and warm oilcloth lining. A few cuberdons in the second nose, and some kind of blueberry paste. We find some wood too, and a chemical fruitiness I associate with bubble gum. Mouth: well, it is not soapy per se, but it does have a flowery note, part dried lavender, part pot-pourri, part heather, part melted chocolate again. How odd! Am I particularly sensitive to melted chocolate, today? The second mouth is astonishingly-more drying, with stone filings and ground olive stones. Finish: wide, it has chocolate, though lavender-infused chocolate. It has a great balance, some spices, and an enjoyable complexity. The second gulp has more chocolate, even. This is not blinding, yet one has to admire the skill of Richard Paterson for putting something like this together (credit to Ian Macmillan too, of course). JS finds it too round, while I, in the long run, bump it up one point. 8/10

The soundtrack: Cthulhu - Travelling without moving

tOMoH unveils a Dallas Dune. Also, Dallas is in Texas, parts of which are deserts.

45.19 31yo 1975/2007 Foreplay whisky (45.6%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill Barrel) (tOMoH): nose: "rather good" (BA), polished oak (BA), "reminds me of Glen Mhors I have had" (BA). Old jams and smoky marmalade on the palate, very satisfying. It has a jammy and juicy finish, with a softly-austere touch. JS finds strawberry jam, while I have a drop of shampoo (much less than last time -- full notes here). I like it more today. I am tempted to go to 9, but will calm down. 8/10

BA shows the next bottle and explains: "This is in theme, because it's nice. I hope."
JS: "Also, your name is on it..."
BA: "Yes. And there is a mention of axles. Axles of Dune's battle tanks."
tOMoH: "Ballechin. Or ball aching, as I like to say."
BA: "Bally chin, too. Plus, a sponge soaks up water, and makes things dry. Dry like Dune, the sand planet."

We sadly all miss the obvious Gurney Hallec-hin.

Ballechin 15yo Second Secret Edition (48.5%, Decadent Drinks WhiskySponge Secret Edition, 121b) (BA): nose: hay bales, straw, bacon. It turns more farm-y, after a moment, with cow stables, horse saddles, and mud patties drying in the sun. OB calls some butyric action. The second nose has more bacon, and earth. In the back of the sinuses, something slightly medicinal appears, perhaps ether. Mouth: liquorice root (OB), swede (JS), caster-sugar-coated turnips, honey-cured bacon, baked clay. Ink and ash appear at second sip, with a chopped red chilli in tow. We also detect a few grains of toasted barley. Finish: long, balanced, it has roasted apples, charred apple cores, Verdigris, and lichen on staves. This one is not totally my style, yet it is good. I like that it is bottled at this low ABV, as opposed to some of the jaw-tearing Port Charlottes with a similar profile. 7/10

JS: "I recognise this... Hecker."
tOMoH: "Yup."

JS: "Tim?"

tOMoH: "Woody Wood P. Hecker."

Time for some kouign amann, courtesy of our in-house baker, OB

The soundtrack: Dune - The Alliance EP

OB presents a Clynelish bottled by Duncan Idaho Taylor.

Clynelish 23yo 1988/2012 (49.8%, Duncan Taylor Dimensions, Oak Cask, C#4546, 273b, b#163) (OB): nose: fruity white wine (Riesling?), maybe even Schorle. Indeed, although fruity, the nose is a little subdued, as if cut with water (which is known as Schorle in German). It is also rather mineral, and has a touch of exotic wood too (mahogany or teak). Waxy plasticine timidly takes off, after a bit. The second nose has smoky seal wax, and stale stamp glue. Mouth: citrus-y custard, custard-y citrus. Calamansi, oroblanco, pomelo, ugli fruit. It grows more acidic, over time, though still on the mandarin side of citrus. No fierce lime or grapefruit here. Finally, it gets stone dust, stuck in drying wax. The second sip feels sweeter. Finish: wide and warming, with a stewed-apricot note lingering on the tonsils. We also find warm peach slices, melting in the mouth, and coating the palate. In the long run, there is a faint metallic touch too. I enjoy this immensely, today, and will rate it accordingly generously. 9/10

The soundtrack: The Gesualdo Six / Owain Park - Byrd - Mass For Five Voices

BA: "Do you mind if I take a picture of this Clynelish to post it on our WhatsApp group?"
OB: "I don't mind you doing anything with the bottle, except finishing it."
tOMoH: "You'll notice he did not mention anything about inserting it in your rectal cavity..."
BA: "I was just about to say that."

Following International Women's Day, JS focuses on Dune's main female protagonist: Ardnamur-Chani.

Ardnamurchan 2015/2020 (59.5%, OB part of the Ardnamurchan first aid kit, ex-Oloroso Hogshead, C#AD/CK.670-16/10/15) (JS): JS finds it alright, yet pretty intense. I love it and give it the same generous score as before. My full notes are here. 9/10

Excellent little tasting with some original drams of high quality. And quality dodgy puns.

06/12/2022 Dunglass for St Nicholas

If you think the fact that "Dunglass" and "St Nicholas" have four letters in common is a coincidence, think again.

Dunglass 22yo 1967/1990 (46%, Dun Eideann imported by Donato & C., C#1893-6): nose: we have all sorts of confectionary (sherbet, flying saucers filled with citric powder, edible wafer paper), but also crayons, and chamomile hand cream. A minute of breathing pushes it towards flowery perfume, with white lilac, kerria Japonica, wilted lavender, liquid laundry detergent and paper paste. I can already see why this has such a reputation... Further nosing reveals shampoo (Garnier Ultra Suave, which, incidentally, is also chamomile-scented), old-school hand-soap bars, the likes of which have not been found anywhere since everyone who was a grandmother in the 1980s has left this world. On the late tip, we return to confectionary, this time with chemical-tasting, chalky lemon-mint crumbles. It is really flowery shampoo that dominates, though, and for anyone who dislikes that, this will be way over the top. The second nose has traces of a faded-leather handbag (one with fringes), picks up some heat, yet soon comes back with shampoo. It feels as if wax had been added to the shampoo, yet that hardly makes a difference, really. Melted plastic and a drop of diluted nail varnish on white wood round off this nose. Mouth: Jacob Ree-ZOMG in a tutu! This is soapy and hilarious. Here are the shampoo and liquid laundry detergent from the nose, flowery and soapy, in which someone would have poured a cup of confectionary sugar. Weirdly, that makes it almost tolerable. Lemon-mint crumbles, flying saucers, lavender powder, crushed chamomile pistils, furniture polish from a spray can, golden nail lacquer (Mabelline Bold Gold), and, well, minty shampoo. Between the Garnier Ultra Suave and golden nail lacquer, it is very much a yellow whisky, to my mind, in line with a 1972 Edradour, perhaps slightly less, *ahem*, difficult. It has got some spiciness too, though it is hard to tell what. Ground mace? Sumac? Repeated sipping displays a rubbery-plastic note. Finish: long and coating, the finish reignites the Garnier Ultra Suave mood, and has less sugar than the palate -- although there is still some. The second gulp adds crushed malaria tablets, such as Nivaquine or Paludrine, which probably spells quinine. It seems cut with a pinch of sugar, and that makes it slightly less vile than those tablets. Perhaps it is Alka-Seltzer gratings, after all. In any case, it is entertaining! Retro-nasal olfaction welcomes a pinch of ash, which seems apt: if Fight Club has taught the world anything, it is that soap is made of human fat and ash. Last but not least, the ash reverts to (discreet) burnt hazel wood. Unexpected. Right, this is not that bad, but it is also not good. It does, however, procure a lot of fun. I really, really enjoy this sort of nonsensical whiskies, from time to time. :-) 5/10 (Merci St Nicolas)

18/02/2017 The Whisky Show Old & Rare (Day 1 -- Part 1)

Here I am.

To say I did not want to be here would be an understatement. A dream-dram-only Whisky Show? In Glasgow? It is one thing to try the best dream drams at an all-in festival, when it is within walking distance; paying for travel and accommodation for the privilege of, then, paying to get into what is essentially a large pub is another.
In other words: I did not like the concept. Irrespective of the lobbying by the Swissky Mafia, JS, BA, EG, MR, I would not go. There. That is how childish I can be.

That said, it turned out I had to be in G-town around the date. It probably would not hurt for it to be that weekend. I could then catch-up with friends outside of the show. Not inside -- no way!

And then, they announced the exhibitors. And then, what each of them would bring. It was not until the very last few weeks, though, that they started putting price tags on those drams that would be available. It started making some kind of sense.

I still felt annoyed at the arrogance of organising up north, far from London, where so many enthusiasts seem to reside. I would only consider going one day -- the quieter Sunday. Tickets were not selling fast anyway.

And then, BA told us a few weeks ago that there were few tickets left for the Saturday. Scarcity creates desirability, for tOMoH.
Tickets were bought. I would go on the Saturday and, if it turned out to be good (I knew it would not), Sunday would still be an option.

And then pat gva announced he was going. At last, a chance to meet him.

And here I am. JS and I took the 6:05 train into Glasgow, which we reached at 10:59. We barely had time to drop our baggage at the hotel, then straight into the queue.

Meet thy neighbours

Here I am indeed, against my will, with an empty stomach, and giddy with anticipation and lack of sleep. The Swissky Mafia boys are right in front of us in the queue. The parade starts: MR, BA, EG, ST, PT and others pass us by and say hello. The atmosphere is relaxed. So relaxed it takes me another thirty minutes to realise that I left my camera in my suitcase. Good start.

Once in, I observe how small the venue is. Away with Old Billingsgate's corporate-fair feel. This is a cosy Victorian reception hall in a once-grand hotel. The attendance is also probably ten-to-twenty percent of London's. And the geekiness reaches levels I have never seen outside of the Bowmore masterclass, last year.

The Skinner stand

But we have work to do. This is a festival. Notes will be short. MR brings this.

Laphroaig 15yo d.1968 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice): I take no clever notes other than it is very good, delicate and refined, obviously a 1960s distillation.

We spend time with EG and try this.

Highland Park 22yo 1957/1979 (45.7%, Samaroli, 360b): nose: caramelised marzipan. Mouth: velvety, with caramel sweetness. Finish: wet, burnt wood emerges. The finish kills this otherwise good dram. 7/10

While sniffing the HP, I notice a group of two or three on my right. One is a proud Scot (kilt, yellow-arctic-fox-skin sporran and all), but I recognise the other. As I prepare my opening line, he pulls a bottle from his bag. I almost faint.

'We have not even met yet and you are already showing off!' I tell pat gva. We shake hands and he promptly offers me a pour.

Jura 20yo 1966/1996 (86 U.S. Proof, R.W. Duthies selected for Corti Brothers imported by Pellegrini Imports): this is only the most desirable Jura ever bottled. I never thought my flasks* would rival whatever pat gva would bring, but this is humbling. :-D Nose: holy cow! Fruit, chocolate, marzipan, then light tobacco. Mouth: drying and fruity at the same time. Mango. Finish: leather, mud, and lots of fruit. 10/10 (Thanks pat gva)

* I pour the following from my flasks all weekend:

G4.1 29yo 1979/2008 (53%, SMWS Society Cask, 236b)
Scapa 14yo 2000/2014 (53.9%, Chivas Brothers Cask Strength Edition, B#SC 14 008)
Longmorn 19yo 1992/2012 (46%, Acorn Friends of Oak, 120b)

That was a decent start!

Lochside 20yo d.1965 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice): nose: rubber and lots of fruit. Mouth: drying rubber, more fruit. Finish: fruit, fruit, fruit. There is still a small hint of rubber that does not detract from the fruity goodness. 9/10

Meet Thomas Krüger of whiskyauction.com. I advise him to try the Bowmore SLTN -- remember we tried that in December. He says it is going to be a fruity Bowmore from the 1960s, full of papaya and mango and that he does not need that. If he wants fruit, he will drink fruit juice, thank you very much. We need more people like him in the world!

Lion's stand

Meet Menno, whiskybase.com owner and Littlemill collector, who just got a glass he does not care for. He lets me try it.

Dunglass 1967/1988 (46%, Brae Dean Int. imported by Moon Import The Animals, C#3447-050, 600b, b#10): I find lots of dusty fruits in this. The soapiness everyone complains about is there, yet it certainly does not bother me, nor does the distant smoke. In fact, I like this a lot.

St Magdalene 20yo 1963/1984 (92° U.S. PROOF, Cadenhead): nose: it has the flintiness of a traditional St Magdalene, combined with lots and lots of fruits... and plasticine. Mouth: pencil shavings, then plasticine again, hot wax, varnish, plums. Finish: long and passionate like a young-lovers kiss, it has more wax and plasticine. 10/10

Dallas Dhu 1962/1979 (92° U.S. PROOF, Cadenhead): nose:an explosion of fruit -- ripe apricot, apple compote, gooseberry. Mouth: milky and fruity again. Finish: long, fruity, with greengages and apricots. Crikey! those dumpies. 10/10

Bowmore 35yo 1966/2001 (43.7%, Hart Brothers Finest Collection): the notes are not on this blog, but it was another HB that opened my eyes to the wonders of 1960s Bowmore -- a 34yo from 1966. Trying this is almost akin to confronting memories of early emotions. Will it live up to the expectation? Nose: fucking hell! Of course, it does. Pink grapefruit and mango bring tears of bliss. Mouth: pink grapefruit juice and a subtle hint of rubber. Finish: pure pink grapefruit juice. This is humbling. Probably the dram of the show, for me. Meow. 10/10

Rare Ayrshire 40yo 1975/2015 (47.1%, Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection Rare Reserve, Bourbon Barrel, C#3421, 166b, b#6): Signatory Vintage, in pure Signatory-Vintage fashion, brought out the goods. A Glenisla, a Craigduff, a Glenlochy, a Ladyburn (this one), a Glen Mhor, an old Caol Ila... Having tried most of them previously, I go with this Ayrshire. Nose: buttery and flowery, it opens up to reveal peach flesh. Mouth: hotter than expected, with a burning stew of yellow flowers. Finish: ink, pencils, and lots of buttery fruits. 9/10

Aberlour 25yo 1964/1989 (43%, OB, 10000b): I have been curious about this one for a while. Nose: dark chocolate, cocoa, gentle coffee, Jaffa Cakes -- no! PiMM's. Mouth: unctuous, with chocolate and orange -- PiMM's again, then. Finish: chocolate cake, easy and simple. Beautifully made. 9/10

pat gva, on a mission, introduces me to everyone I do not already know. Right now, it is Italy's turn. Most notably, I meet Nadi Fiori, of Meregalli, Intertrade and High Spirits fame. In a way, the man who invented single cask, cask strength whisky -- though it is unclear whether he or Silvano Samaroli was the first.

Ardbeg d.1974 (46%, La Réserve, C#3345, b#0037): nose: ink, old grease, metallic tools and a farmyard. Mouth: inky as fook. Finish: this is an ink explosion, old ink from a fountain pen, or even nibs dunked in an inkwell. Most interesting. 8/10

As a side note, pat gva is excited about another Ardbeg. Imagine! He has tried it before, but this is... the American bottling! :-)


Convalmore-Glenlivet 30yo 1962/1993 (46.5%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection): nose: hazelnut, balanced wood, old oil, old vinegar. Mouth: velvety and nutty -- chestnut purée? Finish: nutty and fruity, with wonderful notes of vinaigrette. 9/10

JS tries this. I only nose it.

Time for food. I have not eaten for over ten hours and we all reckon it would be foolish to carry on without fuel.

Continue reading here.

This picture is not staged.

19/07/2015 Rare and disappointing

Sunny day at the Old Man's. It calls for a celebration dram. One is waiting for precisely such an opportunity. It is a recent addition to the family, but the fill level is scarily low. Probably best to not delay consumption too much.

Woops!

Dunglass 5yo (43%, OB, b. 1970s): it hardly gets rarer than this, you will agree. For the record, Dunglass is the lightly peated version of Littlemill that was produced between 1967 and 1972. The proprietors have released this one at 43% and another version at 40% which might not even be a single malt. There are four expressions bottled by the indies, and that is it. Dunglass has a horrible reputation amongst the few people who were (un)lucky enough to try it. A certain Jim Murray even famously gave 17/100 to one of those expressions, commenting that Dunbartonshire probably ran out of soap for weeks after producing that particular cask. The fill level of this mini is pathetically low and the liquid is as cloudy as a drunkard's morning piss. Let us hope we will not suffer from poisoning! Nose: soap, shower gel, bubblebath. Not just any soap, mind! Pink grapefruit and mango-scented. Cut, juicy apples also fill the nostrils. Knowing that the whisky is lightly peated, I can sort of imagine a thin veil of smoke in the far distance, but it is probably my mind playing tricks. Mouth: watery. This has little alcohol left in it. I would bet it is below 10%. Slightly soapy, I suppose, with notes of shampoo, yet it would be unfair to to go further than that. This is no longer whisky. Finish: the same -- not whisky. The dominant notes are shampoo and wet campfire, after a night of rain fall. How unfortunate! This was very promising, before it collapsed. I cannot decently score this. I will have to procure another bottle.