I may need to buy a cabinet to accommodate all this as my kitchen worktop is getting a little full…
Flatmate’s whisk(e)y collection. Yeah!
Many a whisk(e)y in my room! Hence my perpetual drunkenness.
This evening consists of a dram, some smoked salmon, a pack of Arran oatcakes and a variety of quality cheeses. I almost feel like an adult.
I may need to buy a cabinet to accommodate all this as my kitchen worktop is getting a little full…
The Diageo-Claive Vidiz Collection. The Largest Collection of Scotch Whisky in the World.
Won these in the staff raffle at work today, £80 worth of whisky for £20 - not bad!
The Laphroaig 10 needs no introductions. Heavy peat smoke and iodine (think the smell of plasters in your first aid kit!) dominate the nose which also has hints of liquorish and light citrus. The palate is big peat, seaweed, and more iodine. Some citrus and oak work their way in to a dry finish.
The Hakushu 12 on the other hand was a new one to me. No stranger to Suntory whiskies, I’ve been very impressed by the Yamazaki range and was excited to get my hands on this bottle from a sister distillery.
The nose opens with freshly cut apples, pears, hay and a whiff of smoke. The palate is crisp pears, citrus and gentle cut grasses. The gentlest touch of smoke permeates and toasted barley malt makes an appearance. The finish is medium, smooth, with fruity sweetness and a touch of spice.
The Laphroaig isn’t really the dram for me (I’m a Lagavulin boy!), but the Hakushu is a real treat!
Had a nip of my Edradour Ibisco today. Tasty cask-strength goodness.
Ardbeg Galileo
Possibly the best advert for Scotland you’ll ever see.
Ardbeg Alligator, a true Islay dram.
Just settling down to a wee dram of the good stuff. A friend was moving away and couldn’t take all his whisky, so I picked up this half-bottle for a pittance.
~
Springbank distillery never ceases to disappoint. This 15yro has all the fruity, almost grassy notes of its 10yro sibling, but is emboldened with a much spicier, sherried character.
Preliminary tasting notes:
The nose is fruits and caramel, toasted cereals and the soft warmth of demerara sugar accompanied by the slightest whiff of smoke.
The palate is full-bodied, spicy and nutty. Notes of citrus fruitiness, raisins, the tiniest pinch of salt and significant sherried sweetness.
The finish is long and satisfying with chewy hazelnuts, fruits and the subtle aroma of huffed-out candle smoke.
Whisky Old Fashioned made with Auchentoshan Three Wood and chocolate bitters.
Fucking divine.
Hogmanay Supplies
This should be a New Year to remember.
Bastard Diageo are discontinuing my favourite fucking whisky for at least a year. Fuck them. Fuck them right in the ear.
Poor Mortlach 16, a victim of its own tastiness. It gets used as the primary constituent malt in Johnnie Walker Black Label, which as the worlds best selling whisky, means there’s none left for peeps like me who want the single malt!
- Jura 16.
- Lagavulin 16
- Tea
- Doritos
- American Spirit
- Lucky Strike
- Marijuana
- Leather Bondage Collar
Standard night.
Tried this last night at the tasting. It is effectively the cask strength version of the 7-9yro Auchentoshan classic, but not chill filtered.
For me, certainly more interesting than the standard classic. Similar flavours with a kick and longer finish.
Named after the tool which is used to test whisky from the cask, a limited series of 100 miniature valinches (sp?) have been released along with stands made from discarded American oak bourbon casks.
And at under £40 it’s a bargain cask-strength scotch malt.
