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.