26/11/2023 James Bond

Two dates in the whisky calendar count more than others, for die Heimatgruppe: Burns' Night, and dom666's birthday bash. Today is the latter. There is even a (manageable) theme, this year. (Remember last year's "theme"?)

For practical reasons, he hosts at adc's again, and if we have to regret the absence of Gaija, STL, Bishlouk, and kruuk2, we should have plenty to drink with what Psycho, PSc, red71, JS, dom666, ruckus, adc, sonicvince, and tOMoH have brought to the table.

A lot, obviously.

PSc quickly declares that there is no link between his first bottle and the theme, but that he wanted to bring said bottle out of curiosity. ruckus carefully studies the label and tells us the whisky was matured in a barrel. Close enough to Barry, for John Barry(l), who composed the James Bond theme.

Whisky Ardent (40%, OB, Banyuls Barrels) (PSc): nose: Stroh (PSc), burning alcohol (red71), apple turnover (Psycho, who just had one for breakfast). I find it a bit green, with a rubbery touch at the back of the sinuses. Mouth: sugar (PSc), cough syrup (adc, PSc), ye olde sweet shoppe (PSc). It is very sweet indeed, with caster sugar turning mouldy green, and medicine capsules. Finish: incredibly close to cough syrup, sweet, vaguely liquorice-y, and teeming with a minty gel. Not exactly a legendary dram, but a decent enough starter. 6/10

[dom666 talks about his collection of glasses to ruckus]
tOMoH [to ruckus]: "You can stop him, if it's not interesting."
ruckus: "There you go."

ruckus [about his recent travels]: "I've been back for two days."
adc: "Where were you?"
ruckus: "Gujarat."
tOMoH: "Le pays préféré des femmes. Parce que, là, les goujats ratent."

sonicvince arrives, delayed by train disruptions.

PSc presents: Dr. Knockad-No. And, if that does not Knockan-do it, PSc has prepared a list of (Knockan-dodgy) alternatives:

• A Knockando to a Kill
• Licence to Kill a Knockando
• Knockando Another Day
• Quantum of Knockando
• Knockando Royale
• No Time to Knockando
• A Knockando is not Enough
• Knockando Never Dies

Ahem. Let us stick with Dr. Knockad-No, shall we?

Naturally, the cork breaks, and PSc outsources the removal to me. I manage like a pro. Not my first.

Knockando 12yo 1987/1999 (43%, OB) (PSc): nose: "it smells of tissue," says sonicvince, who just blew his nose. Sugar and lemon, lemon vanilla, followed by a thin veil of sooty smoke (or smoky soot). Later, we have boiled-sweet wrapper, though not the sweets themselves. Mouth: oily, yet also mildly acidic, a mix of vanilla-ed sugar and lemon zest. The second sip has a  gently-drying touch. Finish: soft, mellow, and elegant, with a very-mild bitterness of lichen on copper. Mostly, it is a lovely butterscotch-y affair. 7/10

dom666: "There is still a bank branch there, I promise you. It's an ING."

tOMoH: "Just like your jersey."

red71: "This is a nose that has body."

tOMoH presents the actor that will forever be associated with the role of the famous spy: Se-an Cnocery

an Cnoc 13yo d.1989 (46%, OB Highland Selection Limited Edition, b#1375) (tOMoH): nose: dusty, herbaceous (sonicvince), dunnage warehouse, musty clay floors, old books in the loft (red71), hay (adc), rancio. adc finds the alcohol very present, at first. In the long run, we have dried pomelo zest, and a salty tang. Over time, farm-y tones appear, farm paths and muddy fields. Mouth: liquorice (dom666), syrupy, after a couple of sips (sonicvince). I find it oily, with the bitterness of olive pits. This is well integrated, and balances that soft bitterness with a delicious sweetness -- honey-glazed almonds, perhaps. It seems woodier at second sip, and reminds me of spelt seeds. Finish: chewy liquorice sticks (dom666 and sonicvince), vanilla ice cream (adc). It is a nice mocha cream by my account, though one that works perfectly for me. Nuts, almond shells, Brazil-nut shells, creamy black tea... It is warming, honeyed, and simply excellent. Wow! Looking forward to spending more time with this one. 8/10

Food enters the scene.

Salt-and-pepper leaven bread rolls

Regular leaven bread rolls

Flandrien Grande Réserve

Comté Grand Cru

Gruyère des Grottes

Calvamembert

Epoisse

Crémeux affiné à la liqueur de noix

Reblochon fermier au lait cru

Saltufo

Boar pâté

Duck mousse

Venison pâté

Pear, apple and grapes pâté

Pâté crème (not pictured)

Chanterelles pâté

White pudding
White pudding with cabbage
White pudding with leeks
White pudding with hazelnuts

sonicvince presents: Moonarranker

Arran 10yo (46%, OB) (sonicvince): note the absence of "Isle of", or even "The" and "Malt". This is just "Arran". It also has an address in Dublin, which is certainly a way to distribute into the rest of the EU, post-Brexit. Nose: smashed overripe banana (soncivince), solvent (red71), porridge, and even a hint of brine. Later on, we have Custard Cream biscuits, coupled with candied lemon peels. Mouth: golden fields of barley, and a velvety texture. It is lively, but not overly so. I have a strong note of pepper, though I reckon it is from the (insanely-good) bread. It is drying and spicy over time, giving out ginger and lemongrass. Finish: powdered ginger and ground pepper sprinkled on lemon-y custard cream. Perhaps it has a pinch of dried sage too? Arran. Great quality, even at the entry level. 7/10

tOMoH presents: Inverleven Let Die (yes, I also believe we have had that before)

Inverleven 37yo 1973/2011 (49%, Chivas Brothers Cask Strength Edition Deoch an Doras, LD80819) (group): I will take notes another time. Too busy eating and enjoying the company. Nose: very, very, very good (red71, sonicvince and ruckus). Mouth: acidic sweets (Psycho). Finish: pecan nuts, cashew nuts (Psycho). 9/10

dom666: "God knows all. People from Antwerp know better. (Traditional Antwerp saying)"

The next two both require careful intervention

dom666 explains that everyone knows James Bond, and wonders: "Is he Still Secret?"

Is he?

Secret Stills 01.01 50yo 1955/2005 (45%, Gordon & MacPhail Secret Stills, Sherry Butt, C#1312) (dom666): I am under the impression we have this one fairly often. And then this very blog reminds me we have not had it in five years. Ahem. Nose: well, each time we try this, it has that incredibly-deep layer of shoe polish, precious woods and wood oils, evaporated cola, concentrated wood extracts, and class. Jägermeister (ruckus), wood smoke (red71), boot polish, and... warmed-up black-bin bags. Yes, seriously. It is even pleasant. Thirty minutes later, a bold wave of chocolate mousse mixes with the boot polish. Hours later, all traces of alcohol have made way for concentrated eye makeup and mixed peel. Mouth: sweet and pumped with iodine (adc), it also has musk, rancio, and leather (of course). The second sip unleashes liquorice bootlaces, or soft tyre. It is mellower, later on, with wax, and earthy, citrus-y notes. Finish: Black Balsam (ruckus), Koskenkorva Salmiakki, Angostura. It is long and spicy (ground galangal, sumac, ground cassia bark), more minty, in the long run, and softens, over the space of several hours, though it retains a clear earthiness, with potting soil and coffee grounds. I would give this masterpiece the top score, but it has that liquorice bitterness that I am less fond of, so no. 9/10

vs.

Secret Stills 01.02 21yo 1986/2007 (45%, Gordon & MacPhail Secret Stills, First Fill Sherry Butts, C#1361-1363, 1860b) (dom666): nose: close to hard-boiled egg and vinegar. It is not really sulphur-y, this time, which is great news (we had this once, before this blog existed, and, as can be deduced by the high fill level, we did not like it that much). A touch of butyric, or Parmesan, fusty cheese rinds, and very-dry bunches of flowers. Mouth: wow! Unexpectedly fruity, it has candied apricot and dried peach slices. The second sip is drier, giving ground peach stone, still with tatters of fruit clinging to the stone. Finish: it has a clear smoke that envelops bold fruits dunked in tar. This is so much better than any of those amongst us who have tasted it remembers! It went from a tarry sulphur ball to a gently-smoky, fruity number. 8/10

Spot the difference

Brittle corks, those two

Psycho: "Speculation, which is now called Biscoffication."

PSc accidentally knocks my glass of 01.02, and I end up licking the tablecloth. JS does the same with the milk pot. Perhaps I should drive.

Time for dessert.

The famous (and very light) chocolate bomb

Looks just as rich when cut

ruckus introduces: Daniel Craigellachie

JS and I: "Oh! It's not for Asta Martin?"

Craigellachie 8yo 2013/2021 (61.3%, Asta Morris, Refill Sherry Cask, C#AM067, 706b, b#367) (ruckus): nose: hugely animal from the off, leathery, musky, full of horse saddles, suede game pouches, fox's skins, and Iso Betadine. Mouth: medicinal and very strong. It has dried bandages or gauze, and a sweeter spot. It is pretty fierce, though -- punches a hole into the tongue. Finish: powerful and pungent, full of old, faded bandages, and stale medicine tablets. It is, naturally, very long and invading, a steamroller of a finish that numbs the tonsilses. Boom. 7/10

JS tells everyone that: You Only Glenlivet Wice

sonicvince [looking at the label]: "It is not for Quantum of Sole US importer?"

Glenlivet 26yo 1968/1995 (52.1%, Signatory Vintage selected by, bottled for and imported by Whyte & Whyte for The Spirits Library, Barrel, 95/137) (JS): my full notes are here. For today... Nose: so fruity (sonicvince), maple syrup (adc), tree grille (Psycho), lychee, and a whiff of coffee. Mouth: monstrosly fruity, today, choc-full of rehydrated raisins, figs, and prunes. Finish: more raisins and figs, but also blueberry, now. This easily tickles 9/10

red71 stands up with a cheat sheet. He explains he struggled with the theme, but picked this bottle up, added all the numbers on the label, and reached 4663. With that number in mind, he gives us a charade.

1. I am often stored in a box
2. I am a concern for public health
3. In many countries, one needs a licence to use me
4. I am often associated with steelworks
5. My shape was improved in the XIXth century, benefitting from successive inventions
6. I have played a major role in armed conflicts throughout History
7. I often play a crucial role in police investigations
8. I am a small and hard object, often made of lead, copper, or steel
9. I am thrust at high speed, and my movement is triggered by a chemical reaction
10. I am used in conjunction with another invention that changed the course of History

We guess correctly that red71 is talking about a bullet. He tells us James Bond has dodged 4663 bullets in his career to-date. Or, indeed, 4662, but this will be the 4663rd, he adds.

True, or is red71 full of shit? Who cares? He proves, once again, that, if you say something with enough conviction, someone will believe you. :)

Dodgin' bullets for a livin'

Old Pulteney 2004/2020 (55%, OB Single Cask exclusive to Premium Spirits, American Oak ex-Bourbon Barrel, C#235, 240b, b#039) (red71): nose: salt, iodine, wax (red71), tea cake or gingerbread (Psycho), minty lozenges, and coffee beans. Mouth: hugely honeyed, which is one of the distillery markers, of course. Honey-glazed nuts, then, quickly, behind a strong spicy feel, we have the vivid bitterness of almond skins, stripping the teeth. sonicvince says vanilla, on the other hand. Further sips have Corinth raisins, and ground nigella seeds. Finish: huge, softly salty, full of honey and chocolate milk. Repeated sipping brings  out almond liqueur, spicy, bitter, and injected with sugar. I love it. 8/10

adc observes that one of the James Bond Girls was played by Halle Berry (Bros)

Halle Berry Bros & Rudd

Glenburgie 1983/2011 (56.3%, Berry Bros & Rudd Berrys' Own Selection, C#9806) (adc): an old favourite, this. Nose: wide, metallic, herbaceous, with a whiff of mocha chocolate. It is sweeter with time, thanks to the addition of a spoonful of caster sugar. Mouth: creamy, nutty, it has fresher fruits too, though I am too busy socialising to make note of them. Finish: long. 8/10

Psycho presents: Auchentoshan Connery

Auchentoshan Connery

Auchentoshan 17yo 1999/2016 (55.5%, Cadenhead Small Batch, Bourbon Hogsheads, 498b, 16/199) (Psycho): another one we have not had in years (seven, to be precise). Nose: a dose of mint, and a lick of metal. In fact, after a while, it comes across as flinty, or marked with ground coffee, then dusty, butterscotch-y caramel. Mouth: flint dry, yet also caster-sugar sweet. It is very pleasant, leaning on the silky side, in terms of texture, yet it stops at oilskins, which is much more rubbery. It scrapes my mouth like windscreen wipers, while remaining sugary sweet, in a rum way. It emits a numbing, if comfortable, radiating heat. Finish: a bulldozer, it has a long finish that feels like a rum's, with coagulated lumps of caster sugar covered in lichen, and stored in a copper container that is also starting to oxidise. Subsequent sips are mellower, and immediately sweet, like a kouign-amann, or even a caramelised lemon-drizzle cake. Yummy! 8/10

Psycho: "dom666, do you have a glass?"
dom666: "Of course. And since I don't do double-fisting..."
ruckus: "That's my glass."

tOMoH presents; Casino Royale Brackla

Only dom666, JS, sonicvince and red71 have this one. The others sadly have to get ready to leave. I will have it later, when everyone has left.

Royal Brackla 16yo 1970/1986 (57%, OB imported by Zenith, 3600b, b#0471): I take no notes (I have done so before), but it is astonishing to see how well it performs, even in this unfavourable position. Truly a work of art. 9/10

We have no time for the final two drams, but it does not stop sharing the connection to the theme.

tOMoH presents a whisky matured in a table-beer cask. Probably a blonde-table-beer cask -- a James blonde-table-beer cask. Full notes here.

Or is it this guy?

This is Q

sonicvince presents Laphroaig Quarter Cask, celebrating the character Q. No-one tries it tonight.

It is late, people are leaving to catch the train (the last one, in some cases), and I am exhausted, struggling to take notes while socialising. Bah.

Excellent tasting. Great whiskies, food, and bantz. I am simply sad it could not go on for another couple of hours. I am also sad we could not use the following puns

• Ghosted Reserve (for Spectre)
• The Glen Spey Who Loved Me
• St George Lazenby
• Two Longrow Never Die

Next time, eh?

23/10/2023 & 19/11/2023 Belgium #8

A tasting in two parts. The first instalment took place on 23rd October, and included JS, dom666, Gaija, STL, Bishlouk, red71 and me. The second part was on 19th November, with kruuk2, adc, Psycho, sonicvince, JS and me again. This is a synthesis of both those dates.

red71: "How many glasses do you have behind you, dom666?"
dom666: "856 in my collection, and four in the Condroz region. But if you look above, you can see my bottles of whisky."
red71: "Pity it is not a few glasses and 856 bottles of whisky!"

23/10/2023

That preamble behind us, we start. It quickly turns out that red71 has poured the wrong series of samples: he poured the five that STL passed all of us in January 2022, but has not yet organised a session to drink.

Dram #1

Nose: a lick of smoke (Bishlouk), a faint note of sulphur (dom666), or even a gas leak (Gaija). Bishlouk finds it shape-shifting, while red71 spots wet rocks. There are also passion fruits (Gaija), dishwashing detergent (STL), and soap-making (STL). When STL says the second dram smells soapy too, he accuses his partner of cleaning the glasses in the dishwasher. The second time, I find it fresh and almond-y, with mixed peel. Others find it woody (kruuk2) and citrus-y (adc, who adds: not orange, not grapefruit). sonicvince confirms dried citrus peel, while adc detects lemon curd.
Mouth: more smoke here (Bishlouk), lime (Gaija), astringent and young (Bishlouk), with a pear note (Bishlouk), Gaija finds it an oily texture, as well as malt and white wine. The second session brings a touch of burnt caramel, carried by an otherwise fruity/woody structure. The texture is custard-y (adc), and it has a gently-bitter woodiness. It has a fleeting impression of biting into a 90%-cocoa chocolate bar (sonicvince), unless it is salted caramel (adc).
Finish: lightly peaty or smoky in the style of Cooley (Bishlouk), agave-like new make (Gaija and Bishlouk). long, Just as long on the second date, muddy, and ripe with humid pine cones. JS finds it punchier on the second night, and it retains the soft wood bitterness from the mouth -- that remains perfectly palatable. On the late tip, adc calls it flowery, or perfume-y à la Nina Ricci.
Comments: the first Balmenach for dom666 and red71, they tell us. adc does not think she has had one before either. Full notes here.

Balmenach 25yo (43%, Glenkeir Whiskies Glenkeir Treasures The Gold Selection, 213b) 8/10

Psycho: "the Old Man of Huy always drinks with Impatience or Moderation. Depends which one is there at the time."

Dram #2

Nose: lychee and pear (dom666), a grain or a Bourbon (Bishlouk), good-quality wood (Gaija), lychee and soap (red71), something very fresh (STL), and a floral character, with violets and lavender (Gaija). STL is the only one to detect pine wood, though Gaija has a sauna and humid wood, when prompted. adc claims it smells like the sea near Distiller's Cave on Mull. Coconut and varnish (sonicvince), a lick of grain whisky (kruuk2), walnut (Psycho). It becomes saltier pretty quickly (sonicvince), with brown algae (adc), sawdust (adc), faint gingerbread in the back (sonicvince), and a hint of tobacco (sonicvince).
Mouth: Bishlouk sticks with Bourbon flavours, Gaija is in the midst of a flowery meadow, one that has lavender again. Greasy and oily (kruuk2), Fruit-Tella, lemon-, strawberry-, mandarin-flavoured Fruit-Tella, to be precise (adc), very thick, pure fruit squash (sonicvince), Carambar (sonicvince).

Finish: liquorice (STL), liquorice allsorts (red71). kruuk2 observes that it is not an extraordinary finish, while sonicvince notes a long one that sparkles a bit.
Comments: Bishlouk goes for the American again, and feels vindicated that he identified the provenance, if not the type of spirit (it is a single malt, when he guessed Bourbon or Rye). This proves very, very popular, on the first night. adc says it is good, but she preferred the Balmenach. Full notes here.

St. George Single Malt Whiskey Lot 17 (43%, OB, B#SM017, b.2017) 7/10

dom666: "I have two dishwashers: left hand, right hand."
tOMoH: "Wax on, wax off."
[I clap]
dom666: "Don't get upset."
tOMoH: "There's a small fruit fly around me. Really annoying."
dom666: "Catch it with chopsticks, to keep in theme."

Mrs. sonic appears in the frame.
tOMoH: "Bring your kids next weekend. I forgot how old they are."
Mrs. sonic: "Nineteen, fifteen, nine."
tOMoH: "Yeah, nine is perhaps a bit... exactly the right age to start drinking whisky!"

Dram #3

Nose: Haribo Banana and banana bread (Gaija), Corinth raisins (STL), lightly-smoky toffee. Bishlouk finds it Bourbonesque on the nose -- he is probably still under the influence of his breakfast pint of Four Roses. A shy nose, according to adc. No-one believes me, when I detect frangipane, though adc ventures walnut flour. Pear peelings (sonicvince), pear marmalade (eh? kruuk2), Sirop de Liège (kruuk2), then a burst of ripe white peach.
Mouth: banana alright! Soft, spongy, spicy (Bishlouk), and aggressive on the tongue (dom666). Caster sugar and cooked sugar (STL), and a gently-bitter note of Amaretto (STL). A sweet (sonicvince), custard-y attack (Psycho), with a minute bitterness (liquorice, or blue Boule Magique), fairly numbing.
Finish: pomelo zest and smoked toffee. A bit of a one-trick pony, though an agreeable one (Gaija). Bishlouk finds it a grain aspect, though not in a single-grain way, rather a blend. It does indeed have a subtle bitterness akin to almond skins. A rather aggressive, or numbing finish (adc), augmented with Brittany shortbread (adc), and ashes (sonicvince), dry and astringent (kruuk2). Pan-seared pears, caramelised tart apple (Psycho).
Comment: divisive to a degree. Some marvel at how different it is from the other two. I still love this. Full notes here.

Clydeside 3yo 2018/2021 COP26 / Glasgow (46%, OB, American Octaves finished in American Bourbon Barrels, 1500b, b.2021, CBSCS 10092) 8/10

We talk about quarter casks. red71 unearths this comment, which still makes me giggle.

adc: "Quand je dis 'agressif', c'est que ça endort les papilles."
kruuk2: "C'est l'heure de la sieste, pour les papis."

Dram #4

Nose: more classic (Bishlouk), it smells stronger in alcohol (red71). Riesling (Gaija), dry and lemon-y, it has green tea too (Gaija). red71 calls it not charming, austere, even, whereas I detect marzipan/frangipane, or scented plasticine. Fruit compote (sonicvince), mint and ozone, dusty cardboard (adc), light and fruity (JS). Corrugated cardboard (adc) makes for a disappointing nose (adc).
Mouth: it is silky as a caress (red71), despite a very mineral side and swimming-pool chlorine (STL). Lastly, red71 identifies a soft bitterness. On the second date, we find it chewy, fruity, and borderline chalky, after a minute of chewing.
Finish: pear and agave (Bishlouk) that make the same Bishlouk think of a young whisky, but he dares not say. STL finds it very feminine and elegant; Gaija insists on elegant and adds less-is-more. Very fruity (sonicvince), a cocktail of Fruit-Tella (adc), with fleeting bites of a strong coffee bean (sonicvince). It moves away from the fruits in no time (sonicvince), or is hard to pin down (kruuk2). Psycho discovers pink peppercorns.
Comment: a bottle I will miss when it is empty, which shall not take long. Full notes here.

Inchgower 20yo 1990/2011 (46%, Angus Dundee for The Whisky Castle Cask Collection No. 15, American Oak Cask, C#6987, 264b) 8/10

Psycho: "Tu peux parler de baies pour n'importe quel poivre. C'est pour ça qu'on parle de steak aux trois baies."
tOMoH: "B-b-beefsteak!"

19/11/2023

Psycho: "If you want to laugh a bit, kruuk2, I still have a bottle from that trip to that shop [fifteen years ago]."
kruuk2: "Do you?"
sonicvince: "Doesn't look like he's laughing much..."

Dram #5

Nose: olive oil, rubbish bins (red71), stinky cheese and garlic (Gaija, who ventures a Ballechin, or a Ledaig). Later on, it is smoky citrus zest, then hay. Gaija likens it to some bacteria his colleagues work with at the lab. Corrugated cardboard (adc, of course), hive paper (adc), cow dung (adc). kruuk2 confirms it has a countryside feel, with farm paths and pastures. For me, it is burnt hazel shavings.
Mouth: hay, lime, pomelo, and sweetened papier mâché. Much more pleasant and fruity in the mouth (sonicvince and kruuk2), this has rancio, old ink, and burnt quince or pear peels.
Finish: hay, pomelo, lime. It is acidic, bitter, rustic, spicy (Bishlouk), and lovely. adc still detects cow dung here, though sonicvince calls it metallic and fruity. Cough lozenges (Psycho). It is long (sonicvince), with some spices (kruuk2), and mukhwas, straight from a 1980s Indian restaurant in Liège (read: perhaps not the most authentic).
Comments: full notes here.

Imperial 1976/2005 (46%, Berry Bros & Rudd Berrys' Own Selection imported by Charles Hofer, C#10171) 8/10

red71: "It could be a Ledaig. It is possible that I identify one [tonight]!"
STL: "tOMoH is sporting an embarrassed smile..."
tOMoH: "That's because I lost my trousers."
dom666: "Did you spend the holidays on Skye?"
tOMoH: "That was you, remember."
dom666: "I didn't lose my trousers. I fell into the sea."
[dom666 then had to drop trousers to air-dry them, which took hours. Of course, he did not have a spare pair.]

kruuk2: "Let's lobby Fruit-Tella so they make a cow-dung sweet!"

Great times. This is a format that really works wonders for me.

09/11/2023 An evening at Cobbler

An impromptu visit to this charming bar in Seoul. No notepad means no extensive note-taking, just the social experience and overall impressions.

JS, JWB and I arrive well after JWB said we would, yet they retained a table for us, which is pretty helpful, as punters are lining up to get in. As we sit down, we notice nibbles on the table -- yay!

A quick peek over my shoulder reveals a well-stocked bar, though the dim lighting does not make for easy identification. We spot a couple of Wilson & Morgan offerings, as well as a trio of Nectar of the Daily Drams, and some Artist bottlings, a collection by La Maison du Whisky. Most unexpected.

The bartender sends us his colleague, who seems more aware of what is available: no menu, she says, but she will happily recommends something, based on our taste. We point out the bottles whose labels we recognise, and ask for more information. She helpfully brings them to the table so we can peruse at our leisure.

After twenty seconds converting prices in our heads and debating the potential qualities of each bottle, it dawns on me that the most sensible thing to do is to ask for something we cannot try in Europe -- Korea-exclusive bottlings. They have a selection of those -- at least half a dozen of them, in fact.

We start with three of them.

The English 2013/2022 (59.7%, OB Single Cask Release South Korea Exclusive, Sauternes Cask, C#B1/0799, 269b): gotta love the typo in "Sauternes". This is sweet and powerful, and, all in all, super pleasant. The surprise of the night, without a doubt. 8/10

Caol Ila 12yo 2010/2023 (54.8%, Bartels Whisky Highland Laird Korean Exclusive, C#318451, 323b, b#224): simple-ish young Caol Ila. It does what it is expected to do (smoked seaweed, anyone?) very well, yet it is perhaps a bit predictable. 7/10

Macduff 11yo 2011/2023 (63.7%, Bartels Whisky Highland Laird Korean Exclusive, C#900353, 317b, b#122): honey-glazed walnuts, oily precious woods. Despite the fierce strength, it goes down like water. In fact, I reckoned it had to be low 50s. Superb. 8/10

Favourite:

• JS: The English Whisky
• JWB: Caol Ila -- the predictability is exactly what he likes about it
• tOMoH: Macduff

We are offered a delicious whisky-based cocktail. The hell if we can identify it, though. "Rob Roy," I say, showing all my ignorance, when it comes to cocktails. JS reckons it is a Manhattan. She may well be right. JWB obtains the answer. I swiftly forget it. Ahem.

All of a sudden, a strong smell of incense invades the place. JWB calls it a faux pas, and brings the mistake to the attention of the staff. It is not incense, but grilled beef that they grill using some aromatic wood blend. Also, that beef is for us. Ahem.

Second round.

Benrinnes 22yo 1996/2019 (51.4%, Signatory Vintage for La Maison du Whisky Artist Collective #3.1, 3 x Hogsheads): archetypal Benrinnes with pine needles and pine nuts. Excellent. 8/10

Clynelish 26yo 1995/2022 (57%, Signatory Vintage for The Nectar of the Daily Drams imported by the Nectar): powerful, complex, with precious woods, lacquers, and a faint note of burnt rubber. The irony, though, to fly twelve hours then drink a whisky from a Belgian bottler... 9/10

Glen Scotia 5yo 2016/2022 (56.8%, OB Exclusive Cask specially selected for South Korea, First Fill Oloroso Hogshead, C#21/769-5, 246b): sweet, approachable, though JWB finds it a notch of rubber too. 8/10

Favourite:

• JS: Clynelish
• JWB: Benrinnes
• tOMoH: Benrinnes

What a great night out, full of unexpected drams, in this part of the world. Prices reflect the distance, but if one sticks to the exclusives, it is certainly worth a visit. Not to mention all the extras that seem to be included in the price of the whiskies. Will definitely come again, given the opportunity.