'lympics are over, paralympics have taken over, friends are in town and they are back from a trip to Islay. Needless to say they have to experience proper whisky, now. :-)
Seeing as the first Friday of the month is the 7th, the outturn is not out yet. All the same, the bottles are there and can be tasted.
37.52 9yo 2002 Bottled Essence Of Gardens And Orchards (58.9%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 286b) (JS): nose: too young! Solvents, pills cabinet, vague fruit (peach?), butter (JP). Opens up in the long run to become quite animal. Is this a Clynelish? Mouth: vanilla and peppery custard. Cream, taffy (JP). Finish: nutmeg, pepper, a hint of chilli; good but simple. This is a lot better than the nose suggests, but not all that.
129.2 4yo 2007 Humbugs In A Horse's Nose-Bag (61.6%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Bourbon Barrel, 250b) (JP): you like Islay whiskies, boy? Try this one! Not a month has gone by since the first 129 came out and, already, a second is there. Nose: peat and meat, smoke and raw grain. Rather logical for a four year-old from Islay. Mouth: dryish and vaguely spicy. Finish: lots of grain, smoke and distant red fruit (strawberry?) Some prefer it to 129.1, but I preferred .1. 6/10
7.76 22yo 1990/2012 A Broad Canvas Of Fruity Colours (56%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 216b) (myself): nose: lots of custard, pineapple, peach and melon. Then vanilla takes over. Mouth: banana cake, pudding, custard; this is quite peppery too. Finish: more banana spunge cake, peppered melon and vanilla custard. This is excellent indeed!
G1.8 21yo 1990 A Bag Of Assorted Boiled Sweets (62.9%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead, 211b) (JP): JP wants something different rather than another manly and peaty malt from Islay. Ever had grain? This one, then! Nose: vanilla and marzipan. Mouth: nutmeg-sprinkled milk. Finish: long and peppery, with some coconut (JP). Another great grain.
36.59 12yo 1999 Honeycomb And Honeysuckle (58.3%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 221b) (JS): nose: bakery! Dough, doughnuts, rhubarb pie, cake. Mouth: some spices and pine cones. Finish: more bakery and white pepper. Not too complex, yet so good.
127.29 10yo 2001 Separates The Men From The Boys (63.8%, SMWS Society Cask, Refill ex-Sherry Butt, 73b) (me): first sherry-cask Port Charlotte bottled by the Society: cannot not to try it. Nose: smoked animal skin. Sherry pops its head out after a bit of airing. Mouth: fiery pepper, soft leather bags. Finish: leathery (I guess it is the sherry influence), animal (musk). Interesting. Not the best thing I have tried, though. I am reasonably convinced Fixou will go mad for it.
Excellent, relaxed time. Few customers, as usually on a Saturday, lots of socialising with the others and the staff. It was most interesting to introduce JP to this world: as a home-brewer, he is well versed in the art of transforming grain into booze, so was able to shed light on this and that on top of coming up with original tasting notes. Great to see JP & EP after five years.
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