10/04/2023 Belgium #7: Try before they are empty

An eclectic selection of bottles that this group has not yet had, before all chances of trying them are gone. One is emptied tonight, two more have but one dram left in them.

red71, STL, Bishlouk, Gaija, JS and I meet virtually for this one.

Dram #1

Nose: "it smells old" (Bishlouk), it has lime juice and dust. STL and Bishlouk reckon it is an ancient bottling, while Gaija spots carambola. Marzipan (STL), dry and woody (Bishlouk).
Mouth: Bishlouk notes a watery side, as if it had gone off, whereas Gaija finds the attack rough and floury. It stabilises at second sip, yet it does not shake off a chalky feel entirely (Gaija).
Finish: spices (Bishlouk), pepper on the tongue. Classic profile (red71), well made, approachable, accessible, nothing surprising (STL).
Comment: a nice 15-16yo Speysider from thirty years ago. Wrong. Full notes here.

The Tyrconnell ★★★★★ Single Malt (40%, Andrew A.Watt & Co. imported by Fourcroy-Renglet, L2014, b. ca 2000) 8/10

red71: "Do you know which vegetable is the best to counter the effects of Alzheimer? The cucumber! A friend of mine got one up the backside ten years ago; he still remembers it!"

Dram #2

Nose: a grain? (Bishlouk) Spices, vanilla, wood (Bishlouk), old bottle, hot wax, ointment, camphor (Gaija), polished furniture (Gaija). A blend? (Bishlouk) "It makes me think of a Strathisla." (Gaija)
Mouth: thinned apricot juice, quite dry at the back of the mouth (Bishlouk).
Finish: Bishlouk reckons that the dryness lasts for a long time.
Comment: always loved this; still do. Full notes here.

The Tomatin 15yo (40%, Gordon & MacPhail for Il Sestante, b.1980s) 8/10

tOMoH: "I came across a bloke on Whiskybase whose name is Jean-Claude Van Dram."
Gaija: "I bet he does splits."

Dram #3

Nose: "this smells very, very good." (Bishlouk)  "It smells like the products at my dentist's." (red71) Flower stems (Bishlouk), "a sherry-matured Littlemill" (Bishlouk), menthol (Bishlouk). Aromatically exuberant (Gaija), with bubble gum and lavender (Gaija). Both Gaija and Bishouk find this very perfume-y and very evolutive. However, if Bishlouk is enthralled, Gaija is not yet sure whether he likes it or not. I find pencil erasers too. red71 detects resin, or retsina, the associated Greek alcohol, Bishlouk has wax.
Mouth: flower stems (Bishlouk), pèket à la violette (Gaija), sugary sweets (red71).
Finish: wax, long, resin-y, woody, full of retsina (red71). Bishlouk loves it. Upon reveal, Gaija is baffled by the alcohol integration; unwilling to believe it is 56.5%.
Comment: always a curveball, this. Really enjoyed the effect it had on the crowd, tonight. Full notes here.

Sonoma County West of Kentucky Bourbon N°2 2014/2016 (56.5%, OB, Barrel, C#14-0224, b#246) 7/10

Dram #4

Nose: vanilla (Bishlouk), an ultra-pronounced sweetness (Bishlouk). Gaija finds it fairly neutral, compared to #3. red71 has acetone and stencil ink (xylene), Gaija has lemon tart, and I settle on crêpes suzette.
Mouth: new-make-like pear (Bishlouk), a nice, creamy texture, after a sharp attack (Gaija). STL confirms that it starts off aggressive, then plateaus.
Finish: "very good, but the alcohol prevents a certain finesse from ever emerging." (Red 71) Gaija thinks the alcohol integration is a clear flaw.
Comment: JS and I are more used to a shower of praise, and disbelief at the age statement, followed by a request to buy multiple bottles of it. Ah, well. The beauty of trying the same whisky in different contexts. :) Full notes here.

Strathclyde 13yo 2001/2014 (64.4%, Chivas Brothers Cask Strength Editions, B#ST 13 002) 8/10

Bishlouk: "Our tastings aren't serious anymore. Not even 10 o'clock, last dram already."
STL: "You'll have time to shag."

Bishlouk downs 7.5 in one gulp.
Bishlouk: "RRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
tOMoH: "You OK?"
Bishlouk: "I thought it was my glass of water!"

Dram #5

Nose: a pine forest, light peat (red71). Gaija confirms. Tequila, mezcal (Gaija), something reminiscent of Longrow, Croftengea, or Kilkerran (Gaija). I find limestone or limescale.
Mouth: peat and smoke, though more smoke than peat (red71), and it is refined (red71). Chalk bordering on chlorine (Gaija). "It is not organic enough to be from Loch Lomond." (Gaija)
Finish: dry and soothing, elegant and warming.
Comment: this one also gets a different reaction, depending on where in the line-up it is. I have seen someone unwilling to finish it, once. Tonight, it works. Full notes here.

Convalmore 22yo 1984/2007 (52.2%, Gordon & MacPhail Cask Strength imported by Classic Wine Imports Inc., Refill Sherry Hogshead, C#1538, JG/CJG) 8/10

tOMoH: "J'ai du pin."
STL: "Du pain?"
tOMoH: "Du pin. Pas de la boulangerie; de la forêt."
STL: "Ah! Du pin, P-I-N. De la pine."
Bishlouk: "Parfait pour Pâques, lapine."

Dram of the day:
Bishlouk, STL: Sonoma County
red71: Convalmore
JS, Gaija, tOMoH: Tomatin

Good times, as usual. Loads of relaxed nonsense.

22/03/2021 Tyrconnell

It is the second day of spring. It seems fitting to have something spring-y.

The Tyrconnell ★★★★★ Single Malt (40%, Andrew A.Watt & Co. imported by Fourcroy-Renglet, L2014, b. ca 2000): one has to admire how this is advertised as both a single malt and a pure pot still whiskey on the label. It is, in fact, a Cooley in disguise, hence a (double-distilled) single malt. Nose: discreet, gentle and delicate, almost absent (who said: "boring"?), it ends up giving forsythia buds, kerria Japonica not yet in bloom, buttercups and other (yellow) meadow flowers. Behind that, a sweet note appears, perhaps not quite Turkish delights, yet it is definitely some kind of sweets that is augmented with a drop of rose water or orange-blossom water, so it certainly points towards the east end of the Mediterranean. Again, it is pretty toned down, but present. Swirling the whiskey in the glass helps other aromas come out, namely: hazel sap and crocus petals. Even later, the softly medicinal touch of muscle-strain-tape glue starts tickling the nostrils, accompanied by cuberdons and polished nutwood. An odd mix, perhaps, yet it works. It is remarkable how seasonal this one smells: it is lively, flowery and spontaneous like a child, yet also delicate and a little timid, as if not fully awake from the long winter slumber. Mouth: amazingly, it displays a soft bitterness that I would associate with the same muscle-strain-tape glue! Then, it is hazel sap, green-hazelnut paste, hazelnut liqueur and yellow flowers aplenty (kerria, forsythia, buttercups), and a drop of calamansi juice too. The second sip is all thin, juicy softness, reminiscent of white peach and white plum (not quite mirabelle plum), with a dash of white rum. It feels very clean and pure, with its thin, silky texture. More flowers emerge, with time, culminating in yellow-tulip petals. Finish: creamy, it has a lick of milk chocolate and hazelnut paste, as well as the yellow flowers and the bitter note of the palate -- this time, it appears to be almond liqueur, rather than green hazelnut -- and white-flesh fruits. Repeated sipping only helps solidify those flavours. It also brings up an increasing alcohol kick. Funny how it will often take several sips of a 60% dram to get used to it and make it seem lower than it is, yet several sips of a 40% whiskey make it seem gradually stronger. Wood spices (birch bark, crushed cedarwood sheets, coconut shavings) flirt with crème brûlée or panna cotta (they are different) and creamy celeriac soup. I have known this Tyrconnell for twenty years, probably. An excellent gateway drug that never disappoints. 7/10

31/10/2016 Three drams for Hallowe'en

Any excuse and adc is in town.

Tyrconnell 10yo (46%, ON, Madeira Finish, b. ca 2010): nose: wonderful notes of syrupy liqueur (Madeira, innit), a hint of nail polish or paint thinner, caramelised, roasted chestnuts on a winter market, hot candle wax, seal wax and perhaps hot peach compote. Later on, honey and waxy fruit shout louder and louder. Doughnuts too? Mouth: nuts, liqueur, nut liqueur; it is round and mellow, warming. Caramelised chestnuts again, a sprinkle of ground green pepper and soft chocolate spread. Finish: nut liqueur, chocolate-glazed Brazil nuts, chocolate-coated raspberries. This is wonderful! Probably my favourite Madeira finish ever, beating the Penderyn and even the mighty Glenmorangie. 8/10

Knockdhu d.1974 (40%, Captain Burn's Selection imported by Ryst-Dupeyron): this should be pretty safe... Nose: macerated wood (adc), old bookshelves, filled with faded, dusty books, gherkin in brine. Sea air? Well, close enough: it is the cap of a navy officer, battered by the fresh and salty winds, discoloured by the sun, and drying sweat. It evolves to disclose dark, spongy forest floor, then finishes with tanned leather and cured meat in a wine sauce. Mouth: salty indeed, it displays more brine and sea spray, whilst gherkins turn into an unctuous fruit compote. Later on, thick wine sauce notes wrap the whole thing. Finish: a little bit of all of the above, though it is soon eclipsed by powerful, dark cherry. As unexpected as it is good! Soaked cork, old staves and a damp wine cellar. Great surprise, this! 8/10

Supper is ready, we will finish tomorrow.

Safe, mate.