01/06/2025 Masters of the Juniverse

It seems to be harder and harder to find a date that works for a tasting, but we still manage, albeit more rarely than I would like.

When we do have a date, it is perhaps as challenging to find a theme -- not for lack of ideas; rather for inclusivity reasons: it needs to be a theme that inspires guests, and one that is wide-ranging enough to allow rummaging in one's collection without the need for a new purchase.

JS observed that June is here, and, with remarkable flair for a good pun, she suggested Masters of the Juniverse.

JS, YM, OB, BA and MJ join me for an afternoon of dramming. JMcD calls off, unfortunately.

Just as I hoped, someone brings a figurine.
Just as I predicted, that someone is BA.

YM presents: Masters of the Jenevers (or Masters of the Junipers).

Jenever spelled with a 'g'

Zuidam 15yo 2008/2023 (38%, OB, American Oak Barrel, C#55, 284b, b#150): nose: pleasant and fruity, Bourbon-y (OB), it has similar notes to "that beer brandy that I actively hate, but I like this" (BA). This has citrus zest too. The second nose introduces a whiff of coffee. Mouth: a slap of honey, really. It is very Bourbon-y before revealing plenty of gin spices. All the same, those spices are well behind the Bourbon influences (vanilla, toffee). Finish: delicate, ripe with toffee, a hint of vanilla and mint drops. In the long run, juniper ends up peeking through as well. I like this better than the first time, I think. 7/10

tOMoH presents: Miodulok

Miodula Presidential Blend (40%, Mundivic, Oak Barrel, C#256, b#268): short notes for this. YM detects chocolate and nuts, MJ has holly, OB calls it sweet, while BA and I compare it to mead. Full notes here. 7/10

JS introduces: Prince Glenc-Adam

And if you think that sounds familiar, it is because JS used the same pun for another tasting in 2022. When the juice is so good, who cares that the pun is recycled?

Glencadam 14yo 1964/1979 (45.7%, Cadenhead): nose: YM says it smells nice (clearly inspired, our YM), while OB observes we are definitely switching gears, and calls out bruised apples (OB). Mouth: weedy and hoppy (BA), leafy and herbal, almost soapy, though it stays on the right side (OB). Finish: OB confirms the hoppy note in the aftertaste. My full notes here. 9/10

YM, when he read the email with the theme, wondered what a Juniverse is. He typed it into a search engine. One of the first results was a weird Japanese-anime blog of sorts. so he brought a Japanese whisky. Or, at least, a whisky sold by a Japanese company: none of us knows what it actually contains, yet we all reckon the marketing stories are hardly believable.

Kaiyō Japanese Sakura Wood (Cherry Blossom) (54%, OB Exclusive Single Barrel hand selected by Binny's Beverage Depot imported by Park Street Imports, Japanese Sakura Wood Cask, C#9921): nose: very fragrant, especially after the Glencadam (OB). It smells like the back of a lawnmower (BA), freshly-cut grass (BA), lilies (MJ). All that converges towards incense and somehow "reminds" me of a temple or a shrine in Japan, even though I have never been. It waltzes from ashy to leafy, from grassy to burnt wood. Later on, it pushes wafts of cask scents in a musty warehouse. Mouth: sharpish attack, with parched yuca leaves, dried bunches of flowers and incense ash. BA finds a certain sweetness that he attributes to the Sakura cask. "Damp wood, which is less my thing" (YM). The second sip has more ashes, and that gives it a clear bitterness. Finish: flower nectar, rather sweet. Perhaps honeysuckle sap? It retains a little of the ash of the nose, but it hardly compares. Wood dust and old, decaying staves come up with the second gulp. Another UFO from YM, really interesting, and, for me, enjoyable. 7/10

BA presents: The Adam Malt.
He adds that the bottle bears Sorceress-like wings, which is perhaps less far-fetched.

The Arran Malt 1999/2010 (54.6%, OB Anniversary Bottling for the 15th Anniversary of the Isle of Arran Distillery, Bourbon Casks finished in Amontillado Sherry Casks, 5640b): nose: it is almost game-y, wine-y, with sauce grand'veneur and oil cloth, none sickly, thankfully. Mouth: citrus-y, it has a clear orange-y note (YM). "I feel like I should get orange" (MJ). Discussion follows about suggestion from the orange box. Blush orange, wine-cured orange, dried orange peels. BA finds it flinty. The citrus-y elements really take off in the long run, not just zesty, but acidic too, with fresh oranges. Finish: long, warming, zesty and summery. This has a remarkable balance. It has more citrus upon repeated quaffing, and a sprinkle of white pepper. 8/10

JS [about K-pop]: "In the early acts, nobody could dance. It was pathetic and I loved it."

OB presents: Skeletormore

Tormore 27yo 1992/2019 The Dram With The Mash Tun Tokyo (44.6%, The Whiskyfind, C#101154, 276b): a bottle OB opened in 2022, but we did not give enough attention, then. Nose: metallic chocolate. This has hazelnut spread on a tin knife. The metallic bit is almost perfume-y, spirit-y, with a whiff of Teflon-plated baking trays. With time, it gains chicory infusion and waves of passion fruits. Mouth: mellow in a similar way to pouring honey left on a metal tray. Then, fruits start to grow, with cut peach slices and smashed apricots. It is a little warmer at second sip, yet still juicy, metallic, and amazingly fruity. Finish: long and fruity as hell. Here are warm mangoes, smashed apricots or apricot compote. It is a jammy, juicy, lush number, and it is excellent. I immediately think of the other beautiful expression we had recently. OB is as glad as I am to try this again in a setting in which it shines brighter than in 2022. 9/10

Family picture

MJ looks over his shoulder, spots the SMWS bottle that comes next, and asks if it would be appropriate for him to step in. He reveals an additional bottle from, he explains, a distillery that thinks it is the Master of the Universe.

24.156 12yo d.2008 Utterly unctuous (63,7%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Oloroso Sherry Butts finished in 1st Fill American Oak ex-PX Hogshead since 2018): nose: wine and chocolate, oily teak. One can also feel the relentless power under the bonnet. From that point onward, it is leather and burnt chocolate, as well as torched blush-orange peels. Mouth: drying, Oloroso-style, but also fairly fruity, with more of the same blush-orange peels. It is powerful, yet not ridiculously so, despite what my co-tasters of the day say. Perhaps there is a small note of fried egg at second sip, weird, but not a bother. Finish: long and powerful, it is also very, very bitter. Oh! not bitter as if sucking on a dandelion stem (do not try). No, it is orange peels, cured grapefruit rinds, mixed peel and Seville marmalade. 7/10

MJ talks about ortolan buntings that were part of François Mitterand's last supper.

YM [to OB]: "Have you had it?"
OB: "No. It's illegal."
tOMoH: "...and no Frenchman would do something illegal."

YM presents: Encounter of the exotic, which, he says, seemed to fit the He-Man universe. He adds that this was bottled for the Japanese branch of the SMWS, which was good enough a connection to the J-universe.

68.44 8yo d.2011 Encounter the exotic (57.3%%, SMWS Society Cask imported by Japan Import System, Re-Charred Oak Hogshead, 262b): nose: crazily, it feels punchier and stronger than the Macallan that came before. We have white wood and wood dust. Not much else. YM finds gooseberries. He is clearly inebriated. BA says he could drink this as a cordial. It has a strong metallic note, after a moment. Water somehow makes it even more neutral, with wood shavings soaking in water. Mouth: lemon zest mixed with vanilla shavings. Perhaps notes of golden grass? It feels as though the ABV prevents this from telling all its story. Let us add water, then... It turns fruitier, yet also bitterer. Finish: warm, dangerous, close to grainy in that I can see this going to one's head. The more one drinks it, the more sweet mint drops (dragées) come out. Water gives it an Indian-tonic vibe, with a similar balanced bitterness and tame fruit. This is good. 7/10

MJ departs (with a sample of the last dram).

tOMoH presents: Man-at-Ardmore

Ardmore 1992/2010 (49.4%, Malts of Scotland, Bourbon Barrel, C#5014, 185b, b#169): nose: soft leather, smoked raspberries, and the same Bouvier-des-Flandres scent I mentioned in relation to a Balblair, a while ago. Well, this is closer to the house that dog lived in than to the dog himself, but still. It is very farm-y, this, farm paths and mud patties. Mouth: mellow, creamy, it has raspberry-filled milk chocolate and a square of dark chocolate on the side, which adds a slight bitterness. Finish: phwoar! Smashed raspberries and dark chocolate. Lovely. Full notes here. 9/10

BA [about the new Dornoch distillery]: "It's in Dornoch. Nothing is more than ten minutes away [from anything else in Dornoch]."
tOMoH: "Ten minutes is even stretching it."
BA: "Dodgy knee, mate!"

tOMoH and JS present: Evil-Lynlithgow -- two of them, so that is Two Bad covered too. :-)

JS's was distilled in June to boot.

Linlithgow 25yo 1982/2008 (59.2%, Signatory Vintage Cask Strength Collection for La Maison du Whisky Collectors' Edition, Wine-treated Butt, C#2201, 388b, b#313, 8/513) (tOMoH): nose: sooty-and-a-half, it soon picks up a faint note of wine. Mouth: och! meow. It has yellow flowers, cut peaches, white plums... Phwoar? Finish: sooty fruits, mostly white peaches, and even passion fruits. Full notes here. Today, it is 9/10

vs.

Linlithgow 22yo 1975/1998 (51.7%, Signatory Vintage Silent Stills, C#96/3/01, 335b, b#243, 98/0632) (JS): nose: orchard fruits, roasted apples and nut liqueur. Mouth: it displays the St Magdalene austerity, combined with the fruits of the Lowlands. Extraordinary. Finish: sweet soot. Incredible orchard-fruit juice spilled over soot-y gravel. Phwoar again! Full notes here. 9/10

OB and YM prefer the 1982, while BA and I vote for the 1975. Both are phantastic. To think I used to not like mine that much...

tOMoH [to OB]: "I was sure you'd had the one for LMdW, but my blog says you haven't. But if you're sure you've had it, give it to someone else."
OB: "No. I'm not sure."

BA: "Neither of them is stabbing me behind the eyes, which is the effect many St Magdalene have on me."

BA: "How hard life is!"
OB: "How much does it suck, right now?"

BA presents: Orko-ney

An Orkney 16yo 2004/2020 (59.1%, Campbeltown Whisky Company Watt Whisky specially bottled for Watt Whisky Buds, 2 hogsheads married together in a Brandy Butt, 290b): nose: mud patties, cured apples, leather, and no wine stain whatsoever. Dried peat comes out later, as does crackly-dried plasticine. Mouth: strong, it is fresh, but also earthy. It has a generous dose of cracked black pepper. Chewing unleashes some fruits that I identify as blackberries. Finish: bog myrtles trampled into the mud. BA and YM find tinned peach, nectarine and artificial orange drink (YM). BA specifies it is Raspberry-Ripple Irn Bru. 8/10

We talk about undisclosed distilleries. YM jokes about the whiskies that are marketed as made at a distillery on the isle of Jura.

tOMoH: "There are two distilleries on Jura."
BA: "Yeah. Lussa makes gin exclusively."
tOMoH: "That's right. Still a distillery."
BA: "If you go to the hotel, the other building on Jura, you can taste it."

OB flatteringly announces that JS and tOMoH are the Masters of the Universe, so he brought a bottle he opened with us on the weekend in which he made that opinion.

Port Ellen 22yo 1978/2000 (60.5%, OB Rare Malts Selection, 4580b): nose: this is super mineral, brutal and relentless. It has leather, berries squashed in moccasins. Ashes too, elevated by chocolate, in the long run. Mouth: immediately austere, full of quarry dust, stone chippings and rusting tools. It is desiccating, sandy, and, at this strength, how could it be otherwise? At the same time, it is also strangely sweet, like only Port Ellen can be. That carries over at second sip. The mix of austerity and sweetness is simply staggering. It is saltier at second sip, with cockles and beach sand mixed with a sweetness reminiscent of brown sugar. Finish: huge, and it proves a timebomb, in that it starts off sweet, then blows up on the way back up the oesophagus. Earth and crème brûlée emerge at second gulp. It becomes saltier upon repeated sipping, but the overall mood does not diverge too much. It does gain a lick of chocolate, however. This is what one might call a killery. Like Killery Linton. Tonight, top score. 10/10

After that intensity, everyone is whiskied out. Another excellent afternoon has been had.

Happy birthday, JS!

06/05/2025 Industry Giants: Sukhinder Singh at the SWMS

Here we are again, for a tasting led by The Whisky Exchange's founder. With me are PS, DW, GT, YM, JMcC, JS and many others I do not know.

SS: "I became a member of the SMWS in 1989 (or 1990?) I loved it. This was heaven. I have amassed a huuuuuge collection of SMWS bottling, including most of the .1 [releases]. I think I am missing maybe twenty. By the way, if you can help me find them..."

Dram #1

Nose: lights, fresh, it has a whiff of pine-scented paste, not far from Gocce Pino, if less intense. There is also a fruity custard in there, or fruity yoghurt, and a dusting of confectionary sugar. Lemon-scented hand soap grows in intensity, soon followed by ripe-citrus segments covered in dust. Mouth: it is warm and pine-y, and it has a good dose of boozy cereals. That, in turn, is augmented with dried apple slices. The second sip is fruitier with little of the grassy-metallic profile I associate with the distillery (we have been told, by now). Finish: we are told the ABV, but, if the number is modest, this kicks booteille. It has ether and a vaguely medicinal note, closer to surgical alcohol than gauze or tincture of iodine. Perhaps we find dry Bourbon-cask staves, which is to say white-wood shavings, and a whiff of blond-tobacco smoke via retro-nasal olfaction.

Glencadam 11yo 2011/2022 Parcel No.10 (48%, Elixir Distillers The Single Malts of Scotland Reserve Casks) 7/10

Dram #2

Nose: ooft! This smells creamy. Caramel-flavoured whipped cream, melted chocolate, an emulsion of sorts, and crumbs from a crushed pine cone. It turns more pine-y with each sniff, then adds crystallised tangerine segments. We spot dried mushrooms and nuts upon second nosing. Mouth: extremely fruity, here, it has maracuja, mango -- phwoar! It dabbles with spices too, and the second sip comes with a pinch of chopped green chilli. Mostly, it keeps shouting cut maracuja and runny persimmon and peach, however. Finish: an explosion of tropical fruits in the finish. It kicks like a young'un, but mostly, it is wave after wave of tropical goodness. In the long run, those fruits are presented in a plastic container, which is an original take. Wow.

Tormore 23yo 1999/2023 (54.5%, Elixir Distillers The Single Malts of Scotland, Bourbon Barrel, C#5173, 197b) 9/10

YM [about the Tormore]: "It is the poor man's 117.3."

Dram #3

Nose: are the drams related, or do I have a one-track nose? (I have a nasty cold, so do not answer). This one is drier, with cocoa-bean shavings and tree bark, yet also a touch of pine scents, just like its predecessors. It turns woodier with time, and something else happens: Dextro Energy tablets emerge, fruity and chalky. Strangely, adding water increases that chalky impression, and adds a whisper of soft-boiled eggs. Mouth: a little syrupy and chocolate-y. In truth, it is a cascade of melted chocolate. Rich, coating without being cloying, it has oily nuts too. The second sip is dripping with chocolate. Water does not change it dramatically -- perhaps it gains even more chocolate, in a sauce form, now, then as a coulis, which is less thick -- at least in my mind. Finish: more chocolate coulis, melted chocolate ice cream, chocolate spread on plain crackers... Oh yeah! The ABV is quite impossible to guess. Good integration. Sukhinder declares it very fruity. I heroically guess the distillery (with a subtle hint).

71.106 11yo d.2012 Bellinis and bouquets (60.6%, SMWS Society Cask, 2nd Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 242b) 8/10

PJ: "We will have a short recession before the second half."
Punter: "Recession?"
PS: "Thank you, Donald Trump!"

Dram #4

Nose: this is flowery as a scented shampoo, yet it does not have the soapy bitterness that usually comes along. Forsythia and kerria, both kept in a plastic vase. Indeed, there is a lot of plastic action, as well as hot beverages. It also has a lick of fruit-tree wood. Mouth: waxy, polished. Here are physalis, greengages and Mirabelle plums, none too ripe, and even a drop of lemon juice, given time. Much later on, we have sawdust mixed with dried citrus zest. Finish: pepper and marmalade, squashed yellow fruit not quite ripe. It is long, loud, fruity, with a shy-but-clear bitterness. It lacks personality for my liking, perhaps. Later on, we find a fruity heat that is quite staggering.

Linkwood 14yo 2008/2022 (53.2%, Elixir Distillers The Single Malts of Scotland, Hogshead, C#804632, 153b) 8/10

SS: "Here is a clue: it is a Diageo distillery."
punter: "Does it have a visitor centre?"

Dram #5

Nose: expensive leather, faded suede, game bags, rancio, perhaps roast beef, and a whiff of soft smoke. Repeated nosing brings shards of glass, a woodworm-eaten wardrobe and ground wood spices (cinnamon and dried ginger, naturally). It then turns towards drinks cabinets, before welcoming touches of lychee, much later on. Mouth: wow! It is a lot smokier on the palate, with a whisp of mint and crushed pine cones. The mint morphs into a minty paste, fresh and lively. Oh! and this burns too, to be sure. Finish: big, it has a spoonful of honey, the smoke of a dried-herb fire, and a certain fruitiness -- roasted apples and quinces. The smoke persists, yet it is but a component, at this stage.

4.387 14yo d.2009 Sweet smoky dreams (62.4%, SMWS Society Cask, ex-Bourbon Hogsheads + 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel Finish, 228b) 8/10

Dram #6

Nose: ah! It is a rum. Full of glue, the kind that works less well for me. Despite trying really hard, I struggle to find anything past that glue. Melted plastic tubes and oilskins -- heaps of oilskins. Mouth: oilskins to the brim, with a fistful of dried pineapple cubes thrown in for shits and giggles. It becomes drier and more drying in subsequent sips, sucking moisture from the gob like hot shrink wrap. Finish: more plastic, its bitterness somewhat balanced by caramelised sugar and darkened burnt apple tart, until that turns into torched molasses. This really does not do it for me.

Black Tot Master Blender's Reserve b.2023 (54.5%, Elixir Distillers) 5/10

Sukhinder is very excited by that rum. He explains how old sailors contacted him in waves (see what I did?) to sell him their Navy rum (the one they received a ration of when on a ship), how that was the best rum he had ever tasted, and how Black Tot is the brand under which he sold that Navy rum. The current batches aim to replicate the profile, since the original stock is depleted or close enough, and rotate between the production of various countries (Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Granada). It is an excellent story; I simply do not enjoy the rum very much. Others do, much to my relief. I will not have to force it down.

GT: "The ration was a quart a day..."
tOMoH: "Which quantity did you say?"
GT: "A quart a day."
tOMoH: "You're telling me the sailors were given a litre [of rum] a day!?"
GT: "And a gallon of beer."
PS: "Two pints a day. We conquered the world with it. We just don't remember how."

The tasting ends. Some people leave, some stay for a chat. At some point, I need the loo. PS exits as I head in.

tOMoH: "Fuck you!"
PS: "Later. The invoice will be enormous."
tOMoH: "Unlike your dick."

(Yes, it is late.)

We talk about concerts. Kiss, Queen and others.

YM: "I wasn't cool enough, back then, to go to those shows."
PS: "Back then?"
tOMoH: "Hate to burst your bubble, but..."

On the way out, we spot MJ and IR downstairs, which prompts warm greetings, and delays the walk home. Fortunately, I know better than to share another dram with them. ZzzZzz. :-)

26/08/2023 Odds and sods

Many are still on holiday, or already back at work. OB, SOB, JS and I meet for drams nonetheless. Since it is few of us, we have small bottles and samples, and no particular theme.

SOB has early plans and joins us a little later.

The soundtrack: Cthulhu - Memories of Indochina

As an apéritif, OB has Glenrothes-Glenlivet 8yo (70 Proof, Gordon & MacPhail, b. ca. late 1970s), while I pour JS Tamdhu-Glenlivet 8yo (70° Proof, Gordon & MacPhail, b. ca. late 1970s).

SOB arrives, we tidy up the line-up, then start the real thing.

The soundtrack: Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials

OB observes that he met SOB for a Halloween tasting, so he brought two Glencadams -- for the Glencadams Family. Except he only has one, and his joke no longer works. JS comes to the rescue with a Glencadam of her own. Phew!

Glencadam 14yo 1964/1979 (45.7%, Cadenhead) (JS): nose: fresh, lemony, it has lemon mint, Mentos lozenges, a whiff of blonde tobacco, then blueberry Gummibärchen. Mouth: absolute perfection. This is a masterclass in balance, with lemon, tarragon, and mint freshness. Finish: extremely long and softly spicy. SOB finds it a lot of fruits and OBE (old-bottle effect). Coming back to it after the next dram underlines a certain bitterness, but all in all, there is little to argue about. I hope we have not peaked too soon! Full notes here. Today, it is... 10/10

vs.

Glencadam 39yo 1973/2013 (44.1%, The Whisky Agency The Perfect Dram, Bourbon Hogshead, 221b) (OB): nose: a lot more expressive and pungent, rich with tobacco, smoked blueberries, and strawberry liquorice. It also has straw, dried raspberry slices, and mushroom-y mint drops (of the crumbly kind). Further nosing brings out Tubble Gum, and, in the back, something almost fishy (I am somehow reminded of salty fishbones), as well as herbs (tarragon, mint). Mouth: mellow, and oh! so sweet, here are honey-glazed mint lozenges, and candied pistachios. Later on, it is chewing tobacco, and cough-relief eucalyptus powder. Finish: sweet again, it feels more compact and more concentrated than the 1964. That makes it a very long finish, teeming with dusty fruit, or ground fruit stones, which imparts a soft bitterness. Spectacular! 9/10

The soundtrack - FYC - The Finest / The Rare And The Remixed

Bowmore 10yo (43%, Prestonfield House Malt, b.1980s) (tOMoH): nose: mud, cockles, whelk, then a drop of brine or vinegar, and moist peat. There are some fruits too, mostly berries. Soot appears on the late tip, proper old school, like. Mouth: that ancient-whisky impression that only comes from glass ageing. Here are marmalade wet, hot metal spoons, and sooty fruits. Finish: big and bold (this is 43%!?), this is earthy and almost dry, now closer to scorched earth than to mud. Full notes here. 9/10

OB: "Definitely some OME."
JS: "OME? What's that?"
tOMoH: "Old Miniature Effect."
JS: "I only know OBE."
OB: "tOMoH uses it all the time."
tOMoH: "That's how I can tell who reads me and who doesn't. And you don't."
JS: "What's that chemical smell?"
SOB: "That's the OME."

SOB: "I can't put my finger on this, other than... I like it."
tOMoH: "I'm happy with that."

The soundtrack: New Wave Hits Vol. 11

JS attacks OB's delicious flan tart. We soon all follow her lead.

SOB brought a Glengoyne. Incidentally, I pulled one out before he arrived. We will have them at the same time.

Glengoyne 14yo b.2019 (unknown ABV, OB, Refill Hogshead + 1st Fill American Oak Bourbon Barrel + 1st Fill American Oak Sherry Puncheon + 1st Fill European Oak Light Sherry Puncheon + 1st Fill European Oak Dark Sherry Puncheon, C#24+3553+206+934+1927, 1b) (SOB): a vat-your-own Glengoyne from when SOB visited the distillery. He went heavy on the Bourbon casks, using very little of the Sherry-cask samples. Nose: although there is virtually no whisky from a Sherry cask in this SOB-special vatting, I find it richer than I expect from a Bourbon-matured whisky. It is buttery as a Glenrothes. Perhaps that is where I draw the (wrong) parallel with Sherry casks -- Glenrothes's buttery character comes from the spirit, rather than the cask, yet, since it is often matured in Sherry, I may associate that butter with Sherry casks. A dumb neural shortcut. Anyway, it opens up to reveal toffee, slightly overdone croissant, then sawdust. Mouth: fairly intense, with milky custard. The second sip feels a tad spirit-y, though aged spirit, if that makes sense. Cassia bark, burnt cake crust, and a lick of wood. Finish: long, coating, cinnamon-y, and gingery. The final note is that of a chicory infusion with oat milk. 8/10

vs.

Glengoyne 30yo 1973/2003 (52%, OB Single Cask, C#1540, 170b) (tOMoH): nose: it is an entirely different expression, at first sniff. Pine sawdust, yellow fruits... A few minutes in, berries invade -- strawberries, fresh and dried. The second nose has extremely-mild smoke, and forsythia, as well as a drop of mint-y gel. Mouth: ooft!  So bright. Peach nectar, some distant funk, and pressed fruits (plum, mirabelle plum, peach, white peach, unripe apricot, even greengage) are augmented by a lick of nail varnish. Finish: peach, apricot, mirabelle plum, quince paste, and jellies of all sorts. This is wonderful. Full notes here. 9/10

JS [looking at my notes for the Bowmore]: "Can't read that."
tOMoH: ""Me neither."
JS: "Does it read, 'marmalade'?"
tOMoH: "'Marmalade wet'. Like pea wet, in mushy peas."
JS: "The water that seeps out of the peas?"
tOMoH: "Yeah."
SOB: "Jus le Pea."

SC 73 10yo b.2023 (58.2%, SMWS The Society Cask, 1st Fill ex-Wasted Degrees Table Beer Quarter Cask Finish) (SOB): nose: it is a table-beer smack in the face to me, whilst JS thinks it is growing between FWP and soapy 1972 Edradour. Later on, I have gingery strawberry bubble gum, sweet, sparkly, and fruity at the same time. JS adds that it smells like liqueur. I spot a very faint, distant sense of nappy glue (which has everyone in stitches). It is a blink-and-you-miss-it thing, though. Soon, we are back in strawberry territory. The second sniff has lemony sparkling water. Mouth: potent, obviously (look at that ABV), it seems closer to a gin than to a whisky. Let us take stock, for a bit... Liquorice, rubber, menthol, juniper and cubeb pepper, candied pineapple cubes, dusted with a pinch of grated chalk, topped with myrtles. How interesting! Finish: the beer comes back and sparkles on the tongue, backed by a dose of wood. Warm beer, warm ginger beer, cinnamon, and a twist of lemon juice. This (likely/unlikely) Aultmore is divisive to say the least. Who else would release something like this? I like it a lot. Sadly, SOB does not. 8/10

The soundtrack: OMD - Dazzle Ships

Caperdonich 27yo 1974/2001 (50%, Douglas Laing The Old Malt Cask 50°, Refill Hogshead, C#DL475, 300b) (OB): nose: reminiscent of the 1973 Glengoyne from earlier, though hairier (OB says it is because of a heavier spirit; I only go with my instinct), warmer, almost uncomfortably so. We have straw bales, hay, menthol ('tis the day, innit!), and clods of earth and grass. Crummy Marseille soap also rocks up. Belatedly, we spot something plant-like, yet it is hard to identify. Mouth: more mineral than expected, and a lot bitterer too. We have black marble, beach pebbles (no other maritime note, however), perhaps liquorice. Later on, we see watercolour, and a spoonful of elderberry cordial. Finish: gently explosive, bright, it has honey and dark clay. The soft back of the palate throbs with desiccated stem ginger. This is very good, yet it is in the shadow of the competition, today. Still, I find it better than the sibling we had at CYWL. 8/10

The soundtrack: Zanias - Chrysalis

JS: "I just notice the Caperdonich is an OMC (Old Malt Cask). This here Scapa is an OMC. We just heard OMD. What next?"
OB: "My full initials are OMB."

tOMoH: "OMG."

Scapa 25yo 1975/2001 (50%, Douglas Laing The Old Malt Cask 50°, Sherry Cask, 540b) (tOMoH): nose: nail varnish and fermented prunes, a bit smothered by the Sherry. Mushrooms, marzipan, tree bark, dried peach peels. Mouth: chewy dried berries, sultanas, currants, elderberries, and blackberries, which bring a certain bitterness. Finish: dark-chocolate coulis, blackberries, blackcurrants, and shards of cassia bark. Lovely drop, not stellar. I feel more generous than the other time I had this. 8/10

The soundtrack: Der^ek Mar^in - Midnight Affair 3

Springbank 24yo (47.6%, OB for Springbank Open Day 2023, Oloroso & Port Oak Casks, 1920b) (SOB): nose: a farm-y Springbank! Concrete farm paths beaten by the sun, dust and dirt, crumbly earth and peat, hay bales, and... flexible glowsticks sold at a fun fair. Water mutes it a bit, but it ends up giving papier mâché, and it seems more lemony too, without being frankly fruity. Mouth: fairly intense, it glows on the tongue like embers, desiccates the gums, and melts the teeth. That is caused by a clear acidity that walks hand in hand with a nice fruitiness, unripe gooseberries and blackberries. Water makes it more accessible, with a dollop of peach jelly. Finish: again, citrus accompanies a combination of ashy embers, squashed plums, and pressed currants. SOB finds it a dank finish of mouldy warehouses, but I am not convinced. In any case, it warms one up, that is for sure! Water allows sooty fruit jams to shine -- always a great touch. It is stupendously drying too, yet remains excellent. 9/10

OB and SOB have to leave shortly, so we shrink the line-up to try just this one.

Linkwood 26yo 1975/2002 (56.1%, OB Rare Malts Selection, b#5373) (tOMoH): nose smoke from an old, dusty boiler. Mouth: drying AF, and hot. Once past that, we have hot jam from a red-hot cauldron. Finish: much fruitier than one would have thought, with all sorts of jams again, wrapped in a coat of hot embers. Lovely whisky. Full notes are here. I will miss this bottle when it is empty, which is imminent, now. 9/10

Another terrific afternoon.

15/10/2022 Adam & Eve

We are back again for a tasting revolving around every Christian's favourite power couple. JS, CB and Cavalier66 join me for a day of far-fetched links and general fun.

The soundtrack: Axiome - Field Guide To Alien Planets And Other Disco Balls

JS presents: Glenc-Adam. To boot, she tells us it is a fruity number, pointing at the famous apple.

Glencadam 14yo 1964/1979 (45.7%, Cadenhead): nose: it is a wonderful mix of marmalade and golden tin caps (of marmalade jars, it goes without saying), though it also has ground cardamom and ground sumac. Cavalier66 detects lime or lemon marmalade, while CB finds compote or preserve. A pinch of ground pepper gives a little spice to this occasionally flinty, mineral character (CB). Mouth: more vegetal (Cavalier66), prickly (Cavalier66), something that is balanced by sweet pumpkin (CB) and pumpkin seeds. CB reckons there is an almost-sulphury quality to this, even if it is not meant in a negative way. Finish: a lovely suppleness, with vaguely-metallic marmalade, as if a spoon had been left in the jar for a few days. Cavalier66 finds something smoky or burnt. He is clearly choking on his fag. Except he does not smoke. It is excellent, of course, even in this difficult first position. Full notes here. 8/10

The soundtrack: Lustmord - [Other]

Cavalier66 presents the children of Adam & Eve: this is a Cain-denhead with a gold l-Abel. Lolle.

Glentauchers-Glenlivet 39yo 1976/2016 (43.8%, Cadenhead Single Cask, 1 x Bourbon Hogshead, 180b): nose: subdued and tertiary (Cavalier66 in pretentious mode), dunnage warehouse, dusty iron filings, caramel-y toffee (Cavalier66). CB confirms it is confected. Cavalier66 adds that it shows cask and age. I have dusty toffee, and JS Werther's Original; Cavalier66 sees butterscotch everywhere, whereas JS enjoys its juiciness. Cavalier66 insists: this has a mix of boiled sweets and butterscotch. I add a whiff of wet cardboard. The second nose reveals baked or stewed strawberries and maraschino cherries. Mouth: unctuous at first, it starts shooting gentle wood spices -- cinnamon in a paste, crunched bay leaves, and furniture varnish (CB). The second sip has the bite of freshly-polished old leather, then caramelised strawberry jam, and a bit of rancio. Finish: refined, we all agree. Caramelised baked apple (Cavalier66), cinnamon, toffee. It is very long and luscious, voluptuous, even. More caramelised jam, sticking to the pot, dark and gently spicy. Outstanding, even after the amazing Glencadam. 9/10

Cavalier66 [about the new Cadenhead Club bottling]: "A Highland. Or is it an Highland? It depends if you pronounce the 'H' or not, in which case you might as well be in Ancient Greece. Anyway."

JS: "For some resaon, this pun card game, you can only buy from the US."
Cavalier66: "Brexit."
tOMoH: "Don't start."
JS: "Supply chains are broken, can't get a pun card game..."

CB presents Link-wood. A wood is where one might find a tree, in which one one might find an apple.

CB: "You thought there was another connection, tOMoH?"
tOMoH: "First Cask. Adam was the first man."
CB: "Ohhhhhhhhhh!..."
Cavalier66: "Yes, he was! In fact, he was the first human. And he appeared in the Genesis, which is the first chapter..."
tOMoH: "...of the Bible, arguably the first book."

Linkwood 21yo 1972/1993 (46%, Direct Wines (Windsor) Limited First Cask, Sherry Cask, C#14812, b#0068, 15129301): funny bottle code, eh? Unlike other Signatory codes. This is also a very-early First Cask, with the first livery, as the Balvenie we had last year. Perhaps not even bottled by Signatory? Nose: herbal and fruity this is a mix of rosemary and strawberry. Soon, a burnt smell overcomes all that -- and I mean a burnt-cake smell, not burnt paper. Crisp apple slices, lukewarm baked liquorice root, and a touch of hot metal and warm milk. The second nose is a tad more vegetal again, with cooked cabbage, now. Cavalier66 notes a farmyard dirtiness, at the back. It does feel a wee bit smoky, with subtle diesel fumes. Mouth: interestingly, it has a striking fruitiness, but also a clear chargrilled-meat touch. Juicy, somewhat spicy, reminiscent of warm and peppery apricot compote. Finish: bright, fruity and fairly sweet, we now have baked and caramelised apple slices. Apple compote, even. There is even a minty note. This tasting is getting better and better. 9/10

The lot of delicious cheeses

The soundtrack: Roxette - Tourism

Cavalier66 presents a Nectar bottling, because he associates nectar with apples. Besides, it is a whisky from Ireland, what must be the most catholic whisky-making country in the world. Finally, there is a biblical scene on the label.

Cavalier66 [sniffing the bottle]: "How did they make this smell?"
tOMoH [miming]: "By milking Adam, clearly."

Ireland 27yo 1988/2015 (49.5%, The Nectar of the Daily Drams joint bottling with La Maison du Whisky): nose: overripe peach and nectarine (Cavalier66), and mango (almost). Yes, there is a flood of overripe peach, and also persimmon, jackfruit, and apricot. Velvety peach skins become prominent, then it flirts with pink grapefruit (CB). It has a tiny pinch of ash or acetone-cleaned windscreen wipers that suddenly let through lichen on tree bark. The second nose seems less fruity, sadly. Mouth: oily on the palate, but gorgeously oily (Cavalier66). Proper citrus oil (CB). A lick of incense and lots of tropical stone fruits, really. It is faintly bitter at second sip: the fruit stones and incense become louder, and here are grapefruit peels. Finish: big, fresh, with spearmint, and lots of milk-chocolate-coated fruits. Grapefruit, papaya, mango skins and dried pineapple shavings. Well, this is incredible, is it not? 10/10

Cavalier66: "Sometimes, I wonder how much you can drink, before you get overwhelmed by this fruit."
tOMoH: "You can leave the bottle here, if you do not like it."
CB: "I think this is a strong contender for Jaffa Cake pairing."

Cavalier66 guesses the next link, which is presented by JS -- Glenl-Eve-t.

Glenlivet 26yo 1968/1995 (52.1%, Signatory Vintage selected by, bottled for and imported by Whyte & Whyte for The Spirits Library, Barrel, 95/137): nose: the most cask-driven one, so far. Indeed, it has sawdust, ginger powder and dry orange peels, ground into a powder. Mouth: a pronounced acidity, with grapefruits (white and pink), sweet lemon (CB), not-so-sweet lemon (Cavalier66), and sour wood (Cavalier66 again). The second sip is a mix of gunpowder and dried citrus segments, as far as tOMoH can tell. Finish: long, tangy, citrus-y, with a discreet Aspirin bitterness in the back. Excellent. I like it even better than the other day. 9/10

The soundtrack: Peat & Diesel - Light My Byre

tOMoH presents the dram that gave him the idea for the theme, Glenc-Adam. Except I cocked up, and what I remembered to be a Glencadam is in fact a Glen-Allah-chie. Let us say that Allah is a central character in another religion of the Book.

Glenallachie 14yo 2000/2014 (57.3%, Chivas Brothers Cask Strength Edition, B#GA 14 006): nose: more lactic and butyric. CB has marzipan and white chocolate, whilst Cavalier66 settles for baby sick (he just loves it). For me, it is porridge and raising sourdough, milk that has been left out of the refrigerator all night. Mouth: white chocolate indeed, marzipan, Parmesan. It still has a pronounced lactic side, but also a bold, spicy kick. Finish: porridge, cereal dust. It turns a little juicier over time. Short notes, since I took detailed ones not too long ago. It stands out in the line-up as a totally different profile, but the quality remains high. 8/10

The soundtrack: ASC & Inhmost - Dimensional Space

CB presents a Clynelish, which, in Gaelic, means sloped garden (of Eden). Simultaneously, JS presents Cottage garden (of Eden) beside a church -- and what is a church, if not Adam & Eve's father's house?

Clynelish 26yo 1993/2020 (52.7%, Càrn Mòr Celebration of the Cask, Bourbon Barrel, C#11215, 173b): we note the new packaging of this collection. JS regrets the sobriety of the older livery. Nose: oh! that smells creamy. A bowl of custard spilled on a split rock, then margarine. Gradually, tangerine slices grow in power. There is something clearly sweet, after a while, so sweet it might just be caster sugar. And then custard comes back with a vengeance -- chocolate custard. Mouth: apple juice (CB), slightly-cheap apple juice (Cavalier66), Sunkist (CB). Soon, citrus and wax take control (Cavalier66), yet the texture remains creamy (CB). It is crisp, ripe with a mix of apple and tangerine. The second sip adds a pinch of ground pips (which spells bitterness, that is right). Further sips are sweeter and more acidic again, underlining the fruits that are now very clearly of the citrus varieties. Finish: the fruity ride goes on, and once more welcomes a soft acidity. Ponkan, tangerine, mandarin join forces and provide the acid that easily dominates whatever remnants of custard there could have been. It is a creamy finish, but in a fruit-nectar way; it is not at all related to custard cream, at this point. Excellent. 8/10

vs.

26.93 28yo 1984/2013 Cottage garden beside a church (56.3%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Refill ex-Sherry Butt, 352b): similar age, but distilled a decade earlier. Nose: a totally different beast that displays a lot more ash and blue oranges. If that reads austere, it is because it is. Only deep nosing reveals a fleeting fruitiness, far into the sinuses, in amongst flint. There is soot too, metal filings, and hot cauldrons. Mouth: it seems more approachable here, with lots of gorgeous mandarin segments (though they are not far from turning blue), interwoven with incense sticks. Repeated sipping shows a more-gingery side and also displays mace. Finish: phwoar! Stewed citrus, covered in incense ash. This finish is never-ending, and brings back wave after wave of citrus. And ash. And citrus. And ash. And... Oh! and mace. Stupefying. As good as ever. 9/10

Cavalier66: "Is this Roxette's early stuff?"
tOMoH: "Their prog era."
JS: "Prog-xette."

CB presents Tormore, a distillery that is well known for its garden (of Eden).

Tormore 20yo 1996/2016 (57.4%, Gordon & MacPhail Cask Strength The Whisky Exchange exclusive Bottling, Refill Bourbon Barrel, C#5655, 160816): nose: chocolate and hazelnut paste. Oh! dear, this is such a good start. A bowl of chocolate custard, augmented with a spoonful of hazelnut paste, served with a mug of lukewarm cocoa. Someone else at the breakfast table is drinking a cup of chicory infusion, but it does not distract much. A basketful of fruits rest on the table, very ripe; persimmons, plums, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, peaches so ripe they melt if you only look at them. The second nose sees some cardboard and papier mâché, laced with Kwatta chocolate paste. Cavalier66 finds it tropical elements. Mouth: fresh and milky, here are coconut milk, hazelnut milk, macadamia milk, with tatters of soft, fleshy fruits (peach, persimmon, yellow plum). We have a dollop of melted milk chocolate in the background, never intrusive, but adding a welcome dimension. It is powerful too -- the highest ABV today, and that is noticeable, albeit approachable. Further sips increase the heat like green chilli -- a time bomb. Finish: meow. Cavalier66 was right: it does have lovely tropical fruits, here too. Persimmon, of course (it is expected, by now), yet also dragon fruit, squashed banana, guava. That is still punctuated by dashes of chocolate milk for maximum happiness. The undeniable heat may be provided by chilli seeds that would be nutty and creamy as sesame seeds -- or halva, to be more accurate, a halva made of chilli seeds. Now, there is an idea!... Perhaps my score is generous, but I am seduced, today. 9/10

What a line-up! Phantastic quality from beginning to end.

And this is why the gulls were agitated, today!