27/01/2018 Burns' Night 2018: the Walloon tasting

Because why not? It will make sense in a minute and, of course, a little knowledge of Wallonia, Walloon and Walloons helps, here. Failing any knowledge of those topics, it is pretty certain this edition will see good whisky poured.

And haggis served!

The suspects: kruuk2, adc, JS, dom666, Psycho, sonicvince, ruckus, Bishlouk and tOMoH.

Loaaaaaadsa whisky!

I build the line-up. As soon as I am done, Psycho announces he has to leave early and will take his bottle away with him. It goes straight from last place to first and we therefore start with it as an apéritif, to accompany bruschetta and smoked-salmon toasts.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen...

The soundtrack:

Psycho presents: Julos Beaucarne - La Petite Caol (for La petite Gayole)

Caol Ila 33yo 1984/2017 (54.5%, Cadenhead Authentic Collection 175th Anniversary, Bourbon Hogshead, 144b, 17/339): because it is always a good idea to start off a tasting with a 33yo, cask-strength Islay whisky, is it not? :-) Nose: balsamic vinegar, superb olive oil, fishing nets, capers and warm tomato sauce -- is this putanesca sauce? Smoked mussels are here too. Mouth: chargrilled toasts, anchovy paste and black olives. Finish: charcoal, a spent log fire, cockles, fishing nets again. This is won-der-ful. A tough act to follow! 9/10

Food is served. A turnip soup that everyone agrees is excellent.

sonicvince presents: a Walloon distillery (Lambertus is in Raeren, in Wallonia)

Lambertus 10yo (40%, OB): we had this one years ago, and I remember liking it. Nose: sweet, it has powdered sugar, toasted coconut, yoghurt and blackberries. Mouth: soft, sweet, yoghurt-y, with coconut paste, blackberry and blackcurrant. Lovely palate, this. Makes me think of Invergordon. Finish: more blackcurrant, blackberries, blueberries. The last note is soft and sweet. 8/10

tOMoH presents: Kéne clette! (meaning: how incompetent!)

Kinclaith 1968/1995 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice, ID/DIB): one of the few GMP offerings for which the code does not match the bottling date, suggesting the label (upon which the code is printed) was printed at the tail end of 1994 and the bottle was filled early in 1995. First Kinclaith for everyone, bar JS, adc, dom666 and myself. Nose: it oscillates between lemon and kumquat (adc), while I reckon it is satsuma, as well as a hint of banana, whiffs of burnt rubber and warm caramel. Mouth: balanced, it has oranges and burnt wood, a drop of lemon juice and PiMM's (the far superior incarnation of Jaffa Cakes, for our readers outside of PiMM'slandia). Finish: long, it has burnt orange peels, burnt caramel and PiMM's, which means orange and dark chocolate. It is almost bitter with orange, towards the end. In any case, it is excellent. 9/10

The soundtrack:

New decoration, by the way

tOMoH presents: to come from Liège, half of us had to follow the Meuse to Huy (self-explanatory)

MossTowie 18yo (40%, Sestante, b.1980s): this really is a Lomond-still Miltonduff, in case that was not clear. Those stills were only in place between 1964 and 1981. Many tonight reckon this is their first Mosstowie, forgetting that we had one several years ago (C#5816). Nose delicate, with cocoa, coffee -- no! it is sticky toffee pudding, with chocolate and Atholl Brose. Mouth: milky, yoghurt-y, it has coconut milk and varnish. Finish: caramel, pralines, chocolate coulis, woody water and a dash of pepper. The finish is nice, but not very long. 8/10

ruckus (about the music): "Depeche Mode. Pas très wallon, ça!"
sonicvince: "En Wallonie, on aime les training peau de-pêche!"

Main course is served: haggis (exploded in the oven), vegetarian haggis, parsnip purée, swede, leeks and potato gratin, potato gratin.

kruuk2 presents: Vasti fé Arran-gie (from: vasti fé arindjî, meaning: go stuff yourself)

The Arran Malt 18yo (46%, OB, b. ca 2017): nose: vinegar from Modena, sticky toffee pudding, grapefruit peels. Mouth: slightly acidic custard and Atholl Brose (again!?) Finish: big, it has lots of pepper, lemon juice and grapefruit. Those official Arrans are really well made, are they not? 8/10

vs.

Glenmorangie Cellar 13 (43%, OB, 2nd edition): nose: bizarrely, it has a drop of coffee (never happened before), as well as the expected golden syrup and manuka honey. Mouth: soft, with lots of honey, peaches in syrup and a few wood splinters. Finish: creamy, with custard and coconut water. I have always liked Cellar 13; thirteen years on, it has not changed. 8/10

JS presents: Toma-ti n'y es nin, séés-tante (from: ti n'y es nin, séés, meaning: you don't get it, do you?)

The Tomatin 15yo (40%, Gordon & MacPhail imported for "Il Sestante", b.1980s):  nose: closed at first, but a few minutes of breathing help fruit come out (cherries, pears and squashed apples), masking a tiny hint of sulphur and warm wood. Mouth: milk, dark cherries, redcurrants. The palate is warm and gently smoky, full of fruity yoghurt. Finish: very complex, it marries fruit, caramel and a bit of smoke (!), with dark-chocolate-coated marshmallows. Another killer Tomatin. 9/10

kruuk2 (about the music): "Ah! This is well-known."
ruckus: "Is it Front 242?... Ah, no, it's me." :-)

Dessert is served.

That cake

sonicvince presents: Nic, k'a co fé? (meaning: Nic, what have you done again?)

Nikka Coffey Grain (45%, OB imported by La Maison du Whisky, 6/02G341337): nose: typical grain, with lots of coconut, vanilla, yoghurt and milky custard. Mouth: again, soft, silky, custard-y with, perhaps, a tiny metallic edge. Finish: lovely wood-driven grain, with tons of custard, coconut and yoghurt, as well as a pinch of verbena. 7/10

ruckus presents: Braine-l'Alleud-chie (from: Braine-l'Alleud, in the middle of Belgium)

Glenallachie 1992/2009 (46%, The Scottish Liqueur Centre The Càrn Mòr Vintage Collection, Barrel, C#587, 953b): not every day that we try an 'allachie. Nose: Grany Smith apple, a hint of coffee liqueur and... Alka-Seltzer. Mouth: gentle, with acidic apples here too, crisp and lively. Apple-flavoured wine? Cider? Bubbly? Finish: dry and short, it leaves warmth in the back of the throat, like a good brut Champagne. Pleasant enough. 7/10

tOMoH presents: Glen Esk-e c'est tot? (from: est-ce que c'est tout? meaning: will you stop it?)

Glen Esk 1982/1995 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice imported by LMDW, IE/DBD): I had several Esks to choose from, but I picked this one, because it was distilled in 1982... when Standard de Liège was champion of the league. Nose: sulphury, cardboard-y, "it sticks to the teeth," says sonicvince. Rotten plums. After a few minutes, fresher fruit comes out (ripe plums), and then smoke. Mouth: caramel, chocolate and smoky water. Finish: a bit short and indistinct. It probably suffers from its low ABV. Praline, liqueur, cardboard. Not an easy malt, but I like it anyway. 7/10

ruckus presents: Knap-oog Castle, which he says is Dutch for le Château de Beloeil (at a push) (Beloeil is a town in Wallonia, which, unsurprisingly, has a castle)

Knappogue Castle 12yo (46%, Castle Brands Special Barrel Release bottled exclusively for K imported by Castle Brands NY, 216b, b#210, L15 004 200 10:57): nose: berries aplenty and juicy peaches. Mouth: an interesting bite, with lots of fruity syrup and elderberry cordial. Finish: fruity pastry, chou dough, apricot turnovers and peach syrup. 9/10

JS presents: Oufti-ling (oufti is not translatable; the closest is: ooft)

Teeling 21yo 1991/2014 (46%, Teeling Vintage Reserve, Bourbon Barrels, Finished in Sauternes Casks, B#3, 5000b, b#2663): liquorice, earth and distant fruit. Smoked ham (JS), green grapes. This is not the fruity extravaganza I expected. Mouth: creamy, with fruity syrup, peach liqueur and a touch of chilli. Finish: hiking boots, decaying tropical fruit, Parma ham on melon slices and mango slices. Breathing will probably open this up to reveal more fruit, but it is already amazing. 9/10

Quick line-up reshuffle to allow adc to hit the sack soon.

adc presents: E-25 (the motorway from Liège to Luxemburg; look at the picture)

93.78 25yo 1992/2017 Like a vintage dessert wine (53.3%, SMWS Society Cask, 2nd Fill Oloroso Butt, 186b): nose: lots of leather, varnish, glue, wonderfully refined sherry maturation, earth and drying paint. Mouth: polished furniture, walnut oil, argan oil, furniture wax, apricot juice. Finish: long, with, again, the effects of a wonderful sherry maturation, slightly drying, it has rancio, leather and fortified wine. 8/10

Bishlouk presents (brace yourselves): Fexhe-le-Haut-Cloch-side (from: Fexhe-le-Haut-Clocher, a village in Wallonia)

Good effort for a first participation, but he does not stop there. Near Fexhe-le-Haut-Clocher is the Belgian Owl distillery, whose new stills are from Caperdonich. Caperdonich was in Rothes, which is close in name to Rotheux-Rimières, in Wallonia. Rothes is a two-hour drive away from the coast. In two hours, one can drive from Huy to Koksijde. -sijde is the Dutch equivalent of -side, from Loch-side. Koksijde/Coxyde is also the most French-speaking town on the Belgian coast. Full of Walloons, it is.
One would think he would stop there, but not so.
Lochside was a brewery from 1781 until 1957 -- another obvious common trait with Wallonia, home to so many breweries. Finally, Lochside used to belong to DYC, a Spanish distillery during the Franco years. Spain is the choice destination for the most Walloons, leading to several songs about the fact (as played in the mixes above).

Good to see someone took the theme very seriously indeed! And yes, of course, Bishlouk wanted to bring a specific bottle and shoehorned it into the theme as best he could. In any case, we laugh a lot.

Lochside 48yo 1964/2015 (41.2%, The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. The Cooper's Choice, Sherry Butt, C#6799): the mathematicians amongst our readers will observe that the age does not match the dates. The whisky was so low in alcohol that it was put into flagons in the early 2010s. No ageing officially takes place outside of wood, so the age remained static from then on. Those flagons were eventually bottled in 2015. Nose: a walk in a pinewood forest, after a gentle spring rain. Chocolate paste on toasts, roasted cereals, bubble gum, sizzling blackberry compote. Woah! Mouth: jammy and fruity, with caramelised compote and orange marmalade. It turns softly drying with sherry-like fruit and rancio. Finish: a hint of rancio, the acidity of unripe redcurrants and... more currants. Lochside has always been one of my favouritest grains, and this (yes, it is a Lochside grain) is no exception. 9/10

We devour the cheese Bishlouk bought on Arran with home-made jam, cured with a fiery sherried Ledaig. Yum!

The soundtrack:



At last, we are about to discover why dom666 brought a flipping sock to this tasting!

dom666 presents: Je tends le bas de laine, on prendra le dram 33 (paraphrasing Brel's: "J'attends la Madeleine, on prendra le tram 33")

A this stage, dom666 realises he brought... the wrong bottle. This one is not 33yo and therefore makes no sense. I refuse to drink it. But really, I do not.

Ardbeg 31yo 1972/2004 (44.2%, OB Single Cask for Belgium, Bourbon Hogshead, C#3038, 148b): nose: marvellous, with dried hay, dried mango slices, a gentle bubble gum touch, fishing nets and even ink on old parchments. Mouth: hot, it has chilli, burning hay, dried-apricot and dried-mango slices, and also a pinch of dried earth. The texture is creamy. Finish: spent embers, ashes, scorched earth, hay bales and unripe currants. I used to think the vintage vattings were superior to these single casks, but this is the second in a row that blows me away. Perhaps they simply needed twelve years of breathing in the bottle to give their full potential? I love it, tonight. No barley tone, only old-school complexity. Stuart T. certainly knew how to pick a cask! 9/10

The second cake enters. adc disappears.

What a mistake-a to make-a!

dom666 presents: Je tends le bas de laine, on prendra le dram 33 (paraphrasing Brel's: "J'attends la Madeleine, on prendra le tram 33")

Yes, he is good, our dom666, but he likes to repeat the jokes. He also breaks the cork. :-)

Port Ellen 33yo 1982/2005 (55.7%, M & H Cask Selection, Bourbon Cask, 240b): being 33yo, this is actually in theme, unlike the Ardbeg. Nose: superbly refined smoke, with fishing nets and... toothpaste. Peppermint? Mouth: very strong almond liqueur, dark pralines, smoked mussels, a trawler's diesel engine and fishing nets again. Finish: nice, with burnt hay and lots of liquorice -- lots and lots of it. This is almost sickly. Hot sand, wood varnish, sea water. Good, not great. It is always interesting to try a Port Ellen, of course, yet this is not the best of them. The liquorice hints at it being left in the wood for too long. It still deserves 8/10

JS marvels at dom666's pours.
Of Port Ellen, no less

Bishlouk leaves us. He is helping someone move in a few hours. The fool.

I am behind in drinking, and am kept busy with the official line-up. Some have left things behind that need clearing. The others have:

G5.5 18yo 1993/2012 Rich, sweet and comforting (65.4%, SMWS Society Single Cask, Virgin Toasted Hogshead, 243b)

117.3 25yo 1988/2013 Hubba-bubba, mango and monstera (58.5%, SMWS Society Single Cask, 1st Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, 199b)

Port Charlotte 14yo 2002/2017 (60.1%, Creative Whisky Company The Exclusive Malts, Sherry Hogshead, C#1140, 228b)

North British 45yo 1963/2009 (50.7%, Signatory Vintage Rare Reserve, Hogsheads, C#117362 + 117363 + 117365, 290b, b#19)

JS leaves in the middle of this after-party, while we soldier on until 5:30.

I am next to last in getting up in the morning (after five hours of shaky sleep), and offer a breakfast dram. We have Banff 35yo 1975/2011 (42.4%, Douglas Laing Old & Rare A Platinum Selection, 158b, b#149).

Dram of the day:

dom666: Caol Ila
kruuk2: Ardbeg
ruckus: Kinclaith
Psycho: tbc
Bishlouk: Lochside
sonicvince: Kinclaith
adc: Kinclaith
JS: Tomatin and Port Ellen
tOMoH: Kinclaith

Excellent times, once again. Hard to believe we have been celebrating the bard for thirteen years, now.

23/11/2014 Films and Books

The traditional November tasting is one of the biggest privately hosted rendez-vous of the year, in this little circle. Shits and giggles to look forward to, as well as good whisky.
The theme today? Following the silly nonsense and unsuspected good results of the recent Youtube tasting, this one is dedicated to films and books. Any whisky that references a film or book title, its author/director or main cast. The dodgier the puns, the better (have you seen the tagline to this blog?)

New decoration too

The suspects: sonicvince, kruuk2, dom666, adc, JS, PSc, the great return of MQ and myself. Psycho makes a late appearance, after almost everyone has gone. The reason for his delay is his Sunday-afternoon knitting jamboree, which he attends religiously, wearing oven mittens.

It takes a while for everyone to reach the venue and we end up starting around 14:00, rather than the advertise 12:00. Oh, well. On we go.

A pedestrian line-up of 15 drams

sonicvince presents: Le Vélo de Ghislain Lambertus

Pedestrians piss off!

Lambertus 10yo (40%, OB): we had this one for Burns Night this year and it was very well received. What will it give as an aperitive? Nose: plum and marzipan, mostly, with a coat of vanilla for good measure, and butterscotch (adc). Mouth: pudding, vanill arice, rice tart, custard. Finish: lightly spiced vanilla bread and butterscotch. This is charming indeed, modern, enticing. We love it. 8/10

adc presents the only book of the day: Tomatintin au Pays de l'Aberlour Noir

Moulinsart, get in touch before you send me the lawyers, will you?

Tomatin 12yo (43%, OB, b.05/08/2014): everyone mentions Attack of the Killer Tomatins and Fried Green Tomatins, which annoys adc who does not know those films. This book title is better, though. Tomatin has become a well-appreciated distillery amongst us, for the last three years or so, after having had exactly none at all in our prior decade of tastings. Nose: fresh, green, a salad with the bitterness of citrus peel. It becomes slightly metallic, after a moment. Mouth: pretty neutral, then opens up to release lemon juice and milk chocolate. Finish: milk chocolate, caramel (kruuk2). Rather short finish. This dram will not save the world in a million years, but it is pleasant enough. 7/10

Aberlour 16yo (40%, OB, b.26/05/2014 LKPH1918): for years, I have been willing to try this one at festivals. For years, I failed miserably, due to so many more exclusive bottlings being offered on the same festivals. Finally my chance! Nose: vinegar, dry wood, butterscotch, some shoe polish, then some odd spice (black cardamom, sumac, Espelette pepper, and the less obscure cinnamon). Mouth: not too thick, but coating, with caramel and cloves. Finish: cocoa, dark chocolate. Very nice, this. Most suspects prefer it to the Tomatin. adc does not, today. I reckon they are the same level of quality myself. 7/10

Even this early in the game, kruuk2
feels the need to double-fist

kruuk2 presents: The Balblair Witch Project

Balblair 1989/2001 (46%, OB): we have had this one previously. We like coming back to well-known drams and see how our perceptions of them evolve through time. Nose: orchard fruit (Bramley apples abound), then lots of citrus. How different from the usual hay stacks we were getting from this one! Mouth: milky, with vanilla and butterscotch. Finish: caramel, chocolate pudding, some herbs at last. This is very different, today. Much less herbaceous and much more rounded and smooth (as in: easy). Lovely. The best of the day, so far. 8/10

sonicvince's favourite plate

Food enters: pâtés, sausages, cheeses, breads.
sonicvince: "As far as cold cuts are concerned, the harder the better." dom666: "Are you coming out?"

Truth be told, the food is extraordinary. A raisin-and-nut bread is particularly appreciated, as are the duck terrine and the St Agur. We all overindulge.

Unfortunately, MQ, who has not come to those shindigs in years, forgets that we drink whisky while we eat and only pours his once everyone is finished.

MQ presents: Jura Superstition

Jura Superstition (43%, OB, L4204, b.23/07/2014): Jura is not often represented, since many of us are not big fans of its leathery notes. This one, we have not had in years. Nose: light smoke (as said on the box), cut apples, not much leather. Phew. Mouth: this is a bit of a trainwreck, to be honest. White vinegar with smoky wood. Finish: old leather, now, with peat smoke and smoked paprika. Not too taken. 5/10

PSc finally joins us with two bottles we will never get round to trying: Dalwhinnie the Pooh (15yo, OB) and Glen Elgin Brockowitch (12yo OB).

We switch gears.

JS presents: Good Longmorning, Viet-Nammochmore

Longmorn 19yo 1992/2012 (46%, Acorn Friends of Oak, 120b): JS bought this one because of the beetle on the label (and because the Lochside from the same collection was really superb). Nose: a broth of bathing dried fruit, peach and apple peel. Mouth: round and balanced, with a dash of creamy orange juice, mixed with almond milk. Finish: black pepper in orange pulp, with a dash of grated pistachio and cardamom. The whole is then poured on milk chocolate. Gorgeous. Might go to 9 upon second tasting. 8/10

64.32 10yo 2001/2011 Nutty Delight (59.1%, SMWS Society Single Cask, First-Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel, 245b): nose: vanilla, caramel, sawdust, coconut and tequila frappée (salt, tequila, lemon). It is oak-driven, of course, but to think some do not like this profile! With water, pear crumble through and through. Mouth: hot! Spicy! First cask strength today, and it is a contrast. Finish: lots of caramel coulis on custard, or vanilla flan. Lots of hot spices too. 8/10

The next three, I let the lot taste blind, so as to not set expectations. They are tasted in the order of the film title, without my saying either what they are, or the film they compose.

the Old Man of Huy presents: Lockside, Stockia and Two Smoking Abarrelour (no shame, though credit to JS for giving me that one)

Lochside 46yo 1964/2011 (42.1%, The Whisky Exchange, C#8970, 139b): this one needs no introduction on this blog: it is in my top three of all time. Everyone has had it, bar PSc and Psycho (who is not here yet). Even MQ was tasting it when we arrived (dom666 has it too). adc hates it, but that is life. She smells tyre in it, today. No-one recognises it, at this point, which amuses me. It is important to have it today, since we have not had it in the context of a tasting, my bottle is almost empty and the age is symbolic. Nose: grain! (kruuk2) Dunnage warehouse, lichen, and then fruit, fruit, fruit! Mouth: jammy, with the acidity of citrus juice and the exuberance of exotic fruit. Finish: I will need to review this properly, at some point. Today, it is merely a gigglefest of passion-fruit slaps. As my friend DK said last week, 'one blend to rule them all.' Even adc changes her mind and finds it awesome. 10/10

Glen Scotia 17yo (40%, OB, b. ca 1999): another one we have not had in years. dom666 then found it tasteless and watery. Today? Nose: metal at first, then a cascade of pears! Some herbs -- rosemary, to be accurate. Mouth: the bitterness of sage, alongside custard greatness. A weird combination, but it works! Finish: short and sweet, with more pears and fruity goodness. This is balanced and girly, easy to drink, very pleasant. Love it. 8/10

Aberlour 23yo 1989/2013 (54.9%, Cadenhead Small Batch, Bourbon Hogsheads, 522b): nose: thyme, dried sage, dried tree bark. It subsequently opens up to reveal caramel poured on vanilla custard and crème brûlée. Complex and intriguing. adc detects tyre again. Mouth: what a ride! Bitterness, acidity, saltiness all swirl in the mouth in an evil saraband. Finish: again, so many impressions at the same time! Hot, green chilli, bay leaves, vanilla and toasted coconut (keep it in the mouth long enough, if you do not believe me). Love it. 8/10

dom666 presents Katherine Hepburn in The Littlemillister

Talisker 6yo 2008/2014 (46%, Langside Distillers Hepburn's Choice, 362b): we tried this one at the Show, this year. Of course, dom666 bought it, since he loves supermarket whiskies. Nose: smoke, black tea, salty air. Surprising, seeing as it started with a full-on leather belt assault. Mouth: smoky, yet sweet. Sugary, even. Finish: smoky and indeed very sweet. Pretty much unlike any other Talisker I have had. 7/10

Littlemill 16yo 1991 (53.8%, Creative Whisky Company Exclusive Malts, C#166, 251b): yet another we have not had for yonks. Last time was at a Burns Night before this blog existed. Nose: lovely pastry, with lots of fruit (apple, mostly). This smells close to a grain, today, strangely enough. Everyone loves it, except adc, who detects tyre in it. I reckon she has been drinking. Mouth: gentle and appealing, with pastry again -- jammy scone, sprinkled with grated ginger. Finish: this is truly a grain, at this point. Blueberry jelly, pastry and glorious goodness. 9/10

Give us this day our daily cake

After much nagging, cakes finally appear on the table (apple and poppy seeds, courtesy of adc, chocolate, bought by dom666). We are so full they last longer than usually. Still not very long.

kruuk2 presents: Coban Ledaigstructeur (the Destroyer, dubbed in French)

Oban 14yo (43%, OB, L1187CS000 00681917): now, that is a distillery we have not had very often. Considering how much is released in the wild, it is hardly surprising. Nose: buffalo saddle and iodine (adc). Mouth: neutral enough, with faint whiffs of algae, then caramel-y water. Or watery caramel? Finish: coastal, now, with sea air, seaweed and cocoa. Not extraordinary, but well pleasant. I suppose that is what one would expect of a flagship bottling. 7/10

Ledaig 10yo 1993/2000 (43%, Signatory Vintage, C#114, 431b): an old acquaintance, this Ledaig is legendary for us. The one that prompted the unforgettable, 'Ledaig, même sur les crêpes, c'est dég.' The one that put everyone off Ledaig for good. It is a hard battle to now prove them wrong. Although most Ledaig today are good, you do not simply undo what ten years of negative thoughts do to one's perception. Anyway, is this still as terrible, now it is almost empty? Nose: neutral again (maybe I am toasted), though there is a hint of diesel in the distance. Mouth: Acidic and rather stripping, even though, at 43%, it is not particularly powerful. Finish: warm, with notes of fireplace, diesel, ship fuel and a fishing harbour. This is really ok, now. Time to empty it, before the legend gets tarnished in our minds. :) 6/10

Final dram before we slowly disband.

Scribble, scribble, scribble

sonicvince presents: Bowmore Tempest (because there has got to be a film with Tempest in the title, innit)

Bowmore 10yo Tempest IV (55.1%, OB Small Batch Release, First Fill Bourbon Casks): we have been saying for years that we need a tasting with the first four Tempests, which we own. sonicvince grew tired of waiting and brought this one today, providing a meek effort to squeeze it into the theme. Yay! Nose: this is a farmyard, full of mud, manure and a surprising amount of citrus. Pink grapefruit, to be precise. Mouth: strikes a superb balance, it oscillates between mud and orange quarters. Finish: wow! This is much fruitier than expected. Peat smoke, mud and citrus, there is the jist of it. Lovely, this is. Cannot wait to try the four batches back to back!. 8/10

Psycho finally joins in and plays catch-up.

Things get slightly blurry, from here on

Epic tasting, as per usual. A roller-coaster of a selection, surprises aplenty, even amongst those whiskies we supposedly knew. The food was brilliant again.
The conversation took a while going, strangely enough (there were difficult news to deliver, granted), it lingered on sterile political debate for a short while, but it mostly ended up in friendly nonsense. Only the timing could have been better: incorrect assumptions regarding everyone's showing-up time, and long-ish wait to start the work. The food also came in sluggishly (I was ok, but sonicvince was starving) and desserts had to be summoned several times. In fact, we never got round to eating the third dessert at all.

Still a cracking time, roll on the next one.

Not all the glasses were in such good taste