25/05/2019 Campbeltown Festival 2019 After-party

Most of the day is taken up by something completely different, but I do wake up to two drams. It takes a while to find out what they are: pat gva poured me them yesterday, during my, ahem, lack of awareness, shall we say. In the evening, I decide it would be wise to try them before they go completely off -- fortunately, they spent the night under a business card.

Several fellow festival-goers are still in town, this morning, which prompts this exchange about AMcR's interventions. My interlocutor will remain anonymous, for obvious reasons.
Anonymous: "A man of few words."
tOMoH: "Is he, really?"
Anonymous: "Few words you want to hear, anyway!"

Fast forward to the evening.

Tomatin 1965/1989 (46%, Brae Dean Int. imported by Moon Import The Animals, Hogshead, C#124-125-126, 600b, b#428): twenty-six hours later, then. I really was not in a state to review, or even appreciate it, yesterday. Nose: squashed prunes, caramelised pears, poached pears, caramelised apricot compote, encaustic, furniture wax, teak oil and, perhaps, a distant whisper of smoke. Mouth: the wood influence is felt, here, and I suspect a sherry cask (I do not have the details in front of me as I write) -- varnish, furniture wax, precious wood, oxtail broth. There is even a dose of sulphur that stays under control. Finish: similar accents, with wood leading the dance, exotic wood, wood varnish, caramelised squashed bananas, a gently sulphury note, burnt wood, crushed prunes and hot cocoa. This is very nice, although it is too woody to score higher. I blame the overnight sojourn in the glass, since I seem to have been more impressed during our first encounter. 8/10 (Thanks for the dram, pat gva)

Glen Nevis 12yo (40%, Eaglesome Campbeltown Commemoration, b.1980s): you know the score. If not, read here. Where better to try this? We were on the site of the distillery today, where relics remain. Funny that many at the festival are probably not aware of that piece of Campbeltown history, walking past those buildings without noticing them. Not all of them are as obvious as the Benmore bus depot. Nose: squashed banana, coconut yoghurt, lemon drops, jack fruit, yellow passion fruit, ripe-pomelo skins, bergamot, satsuma peels,  white bread, freshly out of the oven -- woah! This one kicks almighty arse! Mouth: soft, accessible, but by no means simple, this has more squashed banana, vanilla pudding, warm, lemon-drizzled coconut yoghurt, honeysuckle. This is really lovely! The bite is also pretty impressive at this humble 40%. I would bet it contains a lot of Tamnavulin. Finish: soft and delicate, this one ends with notes of lemon-y custard, coconut cream, honeydew, pear pulp, quince, bergamot, ripe tangerines. The death brings a nice acidity to round it off. What a range Campbeltown Commemoration was! Hedley G. Wright is a hero. I cannot not wonder what happens when he hangs his boots, as jazzpianofingers put it so nicely -- however sad and/or distant that might be, it is inevitable. 9/10

Longrow 1973/1990 (46%, Brae Dean Int. imported by Moon Import The Birds, Hogshead, C#1731, 600b, b#87): hehe. Nose: that amazing point where peat smoke morphs into fruity mud. This has satsuma, waxy plum, apricot, tractor tyres. farmyard, a whiff of faded rubber, cut guava and dragon fruit. Mouth: mild. There is distant mud on the palate, but more importantly: fruit -- lychee, satsuma, squashed plum, cut peach, guava, dragon fruit again. Perfect balance and delicate mouthfeel. I am sure it was better when it was poured yesterday, but it is still pretty special. Finish: rubber and burnt wood open the dance, before the lingering impression becomes that of exotic fruit, lost on farmland. Muddy paths, mudflats, lychee, dragon fruit, earthy peach, white peach... This is amazeboulanger! 9/10 (Thanks for the dram, pat gva)