28/04/2019 First and Last and Always

A couple of people called off, unfortunately, including birthday boy GL, but we press ahead regardless, as those tastings can never be too frequent.
The suspects: JS, PS, cavalier66 and yours, truly.

Seeing the modest turnout, I decide against my initial selection and go for miniatures.

Glencadam 1974/1991 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice) (me): the bottling date is extrapolated from the big bottle, as it is not written on this one in any way. This, by the way, is in theme because -- wait for it -- it is the first one I pour today! Also, it has a lowish fill level and I want to taste it. Nose: it smells powerful, regardless of the ABV, time in glass, and obvious evaporation. Olive oil (cavalier66), walnut oil, smoked toffee (PS), then the more expected cardboard -- expected in those first-incarnation, map-label Connoisseurs Choice bottlings. It even has something pickle-like, not formaldehyde, but not far off. Teak oil, roasted malt, warm pillows, a bunch of dried, faded flowers and tame coffee, towards the end. Mouth: teak oil and walnut oil. The texture is oily too. This one is oily and nutty, with a dollop of whipped cream and chocolate shavings, cappuccino style. Finish: long, assertive, slightly pickle-y, yet what comes out most are lovely notes of bitter chocolate. 8/10

JS: "On a one-point scale, it gets a one."

Edradour 10yo d.1972 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice, b. early 1980s) (me): there are two versions of this mini: one that reads "Highland Malt Whisky", another that reads "Pure Malt Whisky"; this is the "Highland Malt Whisky". Looking at the equivalent big bottles, one is 12 and the other is 10. The Highland Malt is 10. Although it is not written on the miniature, it is reasonable to think this is the 10yo. Detective work, TSA style! This is meant to be the first soapy dram for the guests and probably the last one they will ever want... But that is only an assumption. Let us see. Nose: trademark dusty cardboard, a little peat smoke, surprisingly, and soft perfume. PS calls it a tart's boudoir, and there is indeed a whiff of shampoo scent. Not so much overt perfume, in my nose. Mouth: mellow, it has a touch of sugar-sprinkled pastry... and then shampoo. Very coating, too. A pinch of black pepper completes the palate. Peppery shampoo, yay. Finish: coating, soapy, shampoo-like, with added fruit to make it less horrible. Still, this is horrible. Not as bad as the Cadenhead from a while ago, but horrible. I do finish mine, though -- for research, you understand. PS finishes cavalier's, probably to show how manly he is, whilst JS's is kept for posterity (for SW, really). 3/10

PS: "Maybe it was not as dire as you had expected."
tOMoH: "Edradire."

Eleuthera b.2001 (46%, Gordon & MacPhail for Compass Box, JA/IJJ) (PS): Eleuthera (cavalier66 gives a masterclass in Greek pronunciation, at this point, and it finally dawns on me that Luther and Éleuthère are the same name) is one of the first products that Compass Box released (alongside Asyla and Hedonism), and it is the first Compass Box that PS bought. Also, this is his last bottle of it. It is a blended malt containing Caol Ila and Clynelish, we are told. Funnily enough, Compass Box explicitly mention Gordon & MacPhail on the back label. Nose: waxy apricots, yellow plums, and fruit-tree embers. Lemon trees under the scorching sun, twigs and a burning bush of lavender. Mouth: soft and thin, it has apricot juice, though none of its texture (not nectar, then). The burning bush is still there, with the smoky Caol Ila reeling off in the background. Finish: peat, damp embers, wet wellies after a hike in the rainy fields. The death sees the apricot return, alongside ash. Nice, though it is a pity the mouth is so thin. The nose promised more. 7/10

Springbank 21yo b.2013 (46%, OB, 1680b, 13/01) (cavalier66): this is the first Springbank cavalier66 bought, and one's 21st used to be one's first adult birthday, back in the day. cavalier66 is so excited about this that he breaks the cork -- but manages to extract it like a champ. Nose: the trademark farm-y notes make way for blackcurrant and crushed blackberry. After a while, the farm paths and tractor tyres do appear, as well as burnt wood. It is striking how berry-driven this remains! Mouth: spicy, peppery (not overly so), with the same berries and blackcurrants, dried mud and a soft sweetness. Finish: farm-y, but again, this blackberry/blackcurrant wave comes through. Beautiful. I had it at 7, but will upgrade it to 8/10

Calling Dr. cavalier for surgery

We all agree this is a good dram, but that it is the wrong event for it. It is sanitised and needs a lot of time and repeated sipping. Polishing a bottle with friends while playing board games, one evening would be a better way to get to know this well and give it the appreciation it deserves. A handful of nerds trying n single casks at cask strength on an afternoon is not the ideal setting and it suffers a bit. PS calls it a grower, not a show-er. He is right.

Italian dried sausage and popcorn

Popcorn tortillas

Soundtrack: The Sisters of Mercy - First And Last And Always (of course!)

G5.1 34yo 1974/2008 Velvet fun (55.1%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 206b) (PS): this is a .1 and the first bottle PS bought after the arrival of then-SMWS manager JMcG. Considering how much I love G5.2 to G5.8 or so, I am excited to say the least. So much so I do not even realise until much later that this is not from the same parcel of casks -- it is a much older one. Nose: serious blackcurrant-cordial action, crème de cassis (blackcurrant liqueur), dark-cherry jam and pastry cases. Mouth: balanced, it has fruit turnover, apricot and blackcurrant. I mean: this is amaze-boulanger! Finish: long, vanilla-ed, soft, despite the noticeable jump in strength, and rich in blackcurrant and squashed blackberry. This is totally my type. 9/10

Soundtrack: Peter Murphy - Love Hysteria

JS pulls a mystery bottle from under the counter.

Carsebridge 28yo 1962/1991 (54.7%, James MacArthur Fine Grain Selection for the Mini Bottle Club, 180b) (JS): this was selected simply to accompany the next one. Nose: sweet and metallic -- that is a grain alright! Gocce Pino (pine-flavoured cough drops), pine cones, pine resin, sweet freshness. Mouth: very mellow, for the strength, fruity, oily (orange-blossom-infused olive oil) and pine-y. Finish: fruits of the forest (PS), pine resin, pine cones, soda water, tonic water even. Fantastic grain, this, even if my notes do not do it justice. 9/10

JS pulls another one from under the counter.

Ben Nevis 27yo 1963/1991 (54%, James MacArthur Fine Grain Selection for the Mini Bottle Club, 180b) (JS): datz right. A grain Ben Nevis. This is the grail for grain lovers (or the grain for grail lovers): Ben Nevis produced grain between 1955 and 1979 only, and was a very modest undertaking, by grain standards -- approximately 1,000,000 litres of spirit per annum, according to grainmeister PS. It was only bottled twice as a single, and this is the very first one. It is also the first Ben Nevis grain for everyone today. In case it is not clear: this is special. Nose: apricot flesh (cavalier66), hints of pineapple (PS), tinned pineapple, roasted pineapple, with even a touch of smoke. PS sums it up as zesty. It turns more metallic, with hawthorn and verbena, as well as lime, kaffir lime leaves, then seal wax and those perfume cones they used to burn in ancient Egypt. Mouth: it is spicy, with green chilli, crushed bay leaves and lots of fruit. Pears, peaches, apricots, mirabelle plums, but also petroleum (cavalier66) and some herbs. Finish: a huge fruity kick, it has roasted, tinned pineapple, smoked lime, kaffir lime leaves, bergamot, hawthorn, thyme and verbena. Since this morning, I have a new favourite film (Loro); now, I might have a new favourite grain whisky too. 10/10

Soundtrack: The Chameleons - The Radio 1 Evening Show Sessions

WTF?

cavalier66: "This was one of my favourite bands, at some point."
tOMoH: "Is that why you wear those crazy shirts?"
PS: "What is he trying to blend into?"
tOMoH [pointing at the Ben Nevis]: "This!"

Hanyu 1985/2006 Ace of Spades (55.7%, OB Cards Series, Hogshead finished in Sherry Butt, C#9308, 300b) (cavalier66): the ace, cavalier reminds us, is often represented by a 1, it is the highest regular card (the #1), the strongest of the aces, and this one is the highest single cask of the cards series (apart from the Joker Monochrome, I quickly correct him -- no need to thank me for pointing out your failures, I am like that). It is also the last time he brings it to a tasting, after carrying it to the Whisky Show after-party last year, and the Whisky Show Old & Rare after-party this year. Ha! Ha! Finally, Ace of Spades is the only Mötörhead song one always remembers. Nose: manure! Peat and sherry to an obscenely farmyard-like level, souped-up, rubbery cola, black shoe polish, a brand-new saddle and crushed berries. The smoke is subdued, but present alright, next to crayons, eyeliner, caramelised rhubarb, exotic wood and embers from that exotic wood, after it has been burnt, cow dung and farm paths. Mouth: more mellow than expected, it has dark cherries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries... and horsepower! The mellowness is replaced by assertive power, and it is rather punchy, in the long run. The farmyard action is still there, on the back seat, next to shy rubber. Beautiful. Finish: huge, sherried, it has similar notes of dark fruit, smoke, coal dust (PS), crayon shavings, exotic wood and some rubber. I hate to say it, but this is really beautiful. 9/10

Buffalo Trace 6yo 2005/2011 (64.3%, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac, 4 x Charred New White American Oak Barrels) (cavalier66): the number-one whiskey in the Whisky Bible 2013, as well as the first and last time cavalier66 paid attention to Jim Murray's recommendations. A rye whiskey, too, to have an original note last. Nose: chemical and medicinal in a gelatine-capsule kind of way. Barley snaps, confectionery, sweet shoppe, barley sugar, tarragon (PS). Mouth: sweet, very sweet, it has maple syrup, melted cane sugar, cream corn (PS) and some heat -- at that strength, it is hardly surprising. Finish: black liquorice laces, sweetness aplenty, barley snaps and honeyed beer (Barbãr?) This is nice enough and it adequately follows the big Hanyu, though it is clearly not in the same league. 7/10

Cracking afternoon! Time to call it a day, though. School, tomorrow.