17/06/2018 Winding down

After yesterday's event, many of the attendees pop in to drop things off, say good bye or carry on. It is a much more relaxed affair, and I mostly take no notes, not even of who has what. With a few exceptions.

sonicvince comes and goes, to catch his early train. He is replaced by dom666, kruuk2 and JK, who have a cheeky starter dram. CD, PG, EG and CB go straight to the lunch place... and are turned away, because it is fully booked. We have a backup plan, no guarantee it will work out. CD phones in.

CD: "We are at the venue. Are you coming?"
JS: "No, the place is fully booked. Join us here, we will go to the backup place together."
CD: "It's a bit far. There is a McDonald's down this road; why don't you join us there?"
JS: "Well, we thought we could have some whis--"
CD: "We'll be with you in two minutes!"

And indeed they arrive. I tease CB that I have been inviting him for ten years, and when he does show up at last, he is driving and cannot drink.
We start with Littlemill 28yo 1985/2013 (50.5%, Robert Graham Treasurer Selection, C#99, 230b), which is hugely appreciated, and carry on with a couple of others. I remember Glen Moray 19yo 1998/2017 (55.5% Cadenhead Authentic Collection 175th Anniversary, Bourbon Hogshead, 240b) and 35.59.
I call JH, who reminds me that he is on his way to the airport and not coming with us. We all finish our drams and leave for lunch.
The intention was to try the Shoreditch Grind, but on the way, The Eagle seems a better option: it is open, there is room, and it is quiet, at this time. We go in.

Left

Right

And centre

Lots of silly nonsense ensues. The Swissky Mafia is in full entertaining form, and everyone else is in a jolly mood too. EG orders wine; his perfect Italian pronunciation destabilises the waitress, which amuses us. I realise then that OB is not here. I text him: he just went for a run and will not join us until later.

Killer chicken

The food arrives. The Sunday roast tradition is well respected, with EG, CB, kruuk2, JS and I I taking the roast chicken (which is to die for) and the inferior-chocolate makers opting for beef stroganov. JK has a burger and dom666 takes the fish and chips -- and displays the hugest smile I have ever seen him sport when he discovers his minuscule timbale of peas.

"Go easy on the vegetables!"

"Chi va piano va sano è lontano," says EG when he sees how I destroy the roast chicken when everyone has long since thrown in the towel. JS replies that, "this chicken didn't die in vain." tOMoH leaves no chicken behind, yo!

And then, OB arrives. CD wants to stay here to watch the football and meet up with SA. A few seconds later, he wants to meet up with SA outside the tube station, come to mine for drams and check the score on his phone once in a while. Good. 'Whisky' is the key word, here. :-)

"Let me pay!"

Off we go, quickly followed by CD, PG, JS, EG and CB, who collected SA.

Again, I take no notes, not even of who has what. We talk about some brand I do not remember, and I call it a little vulgar. For some reason, it reminds me of the Gipsy Kings, which we promptly sing along: "Vulgaaaaare! Oh-ho! Cuntaaaare! Oh-oh-oh-ho!"

OB immediately asks for EG's expertise on fake bottles (EG is Italian, after all). He produces a recent-ish purchase that bears no ABV, volume, or bottle number, and which perplexes him. EG and CB inspect it closer, looking for glass engravings, market indications, embossing or any clue. We are all puzzled by the fact it has a French import disclaimer on the back, but an Italian tax stamp. CB ventures that the French disclaimer might have been used throughout the Continent, while I suspect the lack of an ABV, volume statement and bottle number might suggest a prototype label for a promotional bottle-shoot -- commercial bottle pictures are sometimes made with incomplete labels, which are then doctored in post-production to contain different details, depending on which market the picture is for (e.g. 750ml and ° Proof for America, 70cl and % ABV for Europe). We simply cannot reach a definitive conclusion, even when I pull out Ulf Buxrud's book that contains a picture of the exact same bottling, but bearing all the information missing from OB's bottle.

CD: "Whenever PG or I think we are becoming too geeky, we remind ourselves there are JS and you.
You are on a different level. This proves it again."

OB swiftly pulls out another bottle, opens it and pours it to all. My notebook comes out.

Brora 27yo 1981/2009 (51.3%, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld, C#291, 330b, b#76): nose: dry earth, gently farm-y. Soon, peaches show up, but also Turkish delights, baby cream, blusher and more earth. It is rather earthy, this, despite the others thinking it is less robust than earlier vintages (but more than later ones). Mouth: dry, chilli-laden and full of hay and earth. Finish: long, warm and earthy. 8/10

dom666 and kruuk2 have to leave to catch their train. Unfortunate timing, though: CD's jaw drops alongside everyone else's, when OB brings back the suspicious bottle to the surface and opens it with no ceremony at all.

And breaks the cork, proving it is not a fake

Port Ellen 22yo 1978/2000 (60.5%, OB Rare Malts Selection, 4580b): nose: violently citrus-y, it has limestone, acidic lemon and a medium veil of peat smoke. Mouth: huge, beastly, but pretty elegant at the same time. This is very lemon-y, with more lemon on limestone and the effervescent reaction that comes out of it. The peat is subdued, but the alcohol is not. Finish: big, rip-roaring, with lemon juice, peat smoke, more mineral -- limestone with lichen on it. This is excellent and deserves a very strong 9/10

CD: "It's got that dirtiness!"
tOMoH: "No, that's you opening your mouth!"

A little dance move, courtesy of OB

EG, SA, CB, CD and PG take a bow to catch their respective transportation.

Port Charlotte 12yo 2003/2016 (60.4%, OB for Passionnés du Malt and Friends, Bourbon Cask, C#0816, 241b): another OB exclusive. JML delivered it to him yesterday, and here it is already. Nose: leather, cow stable, a farmer's boots, shoe polish and lots of smoke. Mouth: strong, with burning straw and barley sugar. Finish: ink, leather, faded by the sun, lots of shoe polish and a big hit of smoke. This has a glowing reputation, and it is very good indeed. 8/10

vs.

Port Charlotte 14yo 2002/2017 (60.1%, The Creative Whisky Company The Exclusive Malts, Sherry Hogshead, C#1140, 228b): I still have some of it from last year and decide now is the time. Nose: nail varnish and a relentless farmyard influence. Later on, strawberry in chocolate start rocking. Mouth: leather, farm paths, tractor tyres. The ABV is certainly felt! Finish: dark fruit, liquorice, leather, tractor saddles and oil. This is still great. 9/10

OB has to leave, as does JK. Time to wash up, shower and catch up on sleep -- tomorrow is a school day.

What a weekend! Thanks to all for making it such an unforgettable experience!