Postby Reggaeblues » Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:14 am
What's with the page? It's gone all W - I - D - E on me!! I have to scroll across to see who's posting!
Anyway, GREETINGS and and all! This will be my only posting tonight, as
I'm currently resting my ears whilst mixing a new tune in the studio(no gig tonight!). I'm also preparing to host a small tasting to honour a friend's birthday tomorrow night, with his family, by sampling various malts as I "do my thing."(And women say men can't multitask! B*ll*cks! I'm living proof!!)
Anyway...my guests are not really whisky "buffs" , so it has to be a bit accessible...
I've chosen the following:
1 Glenmorangie "Standard", a nice meet and greet dram.
2 Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or as recommended by SOI and bought for the tasting. My first bottle, opened yesterday, , and I'm not disappointed!
Toast on the nose...toasted cereal with a touch of spice, like a cinammon roll not quite overdone!
Tastes like the standard on steroids - the distillery character shines through, but thicker, sweeter...with a sandalwood dryness like the 15 YO, balanced with the sweet wine casks. Hints of tropical fruits and a dab of custard on the finish. Love it!!
3: Talisker. I tried the end of a 10. It's been awhile...this is so clean, there's a sweetness of red fruit and melon against a smoked background, like sucking a pebble on the seashore. Reminded me of a Bowmore...
Tomorrow I will ceremonially open an 18 I've had for months...bought from Waitrose for £30(before it burnt down, along with all those fine malts, in Banstead last night)!!
4.He likes Ardbeg 10, so, We'll finish with Uigeadal - latest distillery - sent batch at 54.2%. Opened tonight. Interesting! "Is this THE one? The mystery dram? The Bible's latest Second Coming?
Well. i won't spoil it for myself! It is all I would expect from an Ardbeg, though not as subtle as , say, the 1977. Overall reminds me of a more balanced version of the recent SMWS sherried Laphroaig
...and cheaper! Big! It doesn't have "Ursula Andress in rubber wetsuit"(as the Soc. described it) on the nose, rather a softer creamier, sexy peatiness with a touch of spongecake. Like drinking hot chocolate by the seashore, with someone cooking bacon on a barbecue 50 yards downwind.
On the palate, with the Laphroaig the sherry comes first followed by the smoke. Here it's the other way round...though both are there from the outset, but with the Ardbeg it's held in restraint by the smoke/oak.
the finish has a dark molasses touch which reminds me of Lagavulin, especially the first DE I had back in 2001. Lovely. A touch of pepper/chili and spice on the finish, underpinned by the peat.
Well. I've made my choice! Might end with a drop of my Glen Moray "Jim Clark Malt" as he, like me, is a motor racing fan.
Thanks, folks! Have a great night. I must get back to my mix...