Whisky tasting night!

[Podie]

Final call... any takers before I have to call time?

[Podie]

I don't have to cough up for this until Monday, so if anyone want to make a last minute decision to join us let me know over the weekend.

[Podie]

crmcatee said:

Me too - I'm going to take the opportunity to see the poppies at the Tower of London also.

Good idea!

[Podie]

Had a really good chat with TWE yesterday and they've come up with a list and I've seen no reason to change it.

I think there is one whisky I've tried before, so I'm looking forward to it. We've also got a couple of curveballs that should make it interesting too.

If you want to buy anything it is "actively encouraged" and there are bottles, TWE bottle your own casks (the Cragganmore is quite good) and even random other spirits.

I'll send a mail out with directions / contacts details today.

[Podie]

Russ T Bolt said:

Podie, not received a mail yet, is the plan just to pitch up at TWE for 7.30 ?

Hmm, odd. Resent via PH.

Pitch up at 19:20. Access to TWE is via Laithwaites.

[Podie]

Russ T Bolt said:

Podie said:

Hmm, odd. Resent via PH.

Pitch up at 19:20. Access to TWE is via Laithwaites.

Got it now, thanks Podie, see you tomorrow.

Cool

[Podie]

Lefty said:

Have fun chaps, very jealous!

Will sort out some pics, list of whisky and tasting notes.

[Podie]

Really enjoyable evening. Nice to see old friends and make new ones. Had some interesting whisky, some lovely stuff and quite a few laughs.

Thanks to everyone who came - more stuff after a few coffees!

[Podie]

I think a few non-attendees were interested in the list as well - so here's what we sampled, and in the order we tried them. It was a blind taste, with a reveal after each dram. Chris who ran the session also gave a pretty good history lesson as well, although after 20 minutes we were all gagging to get stuck in!

I've linked to the TWE site, but noted prices in store (online adds delivery).

The list
1) Glengoyne 18yo Distillery Bottling - £76.45

2) Benriach 1990 24yo Single Malts of Scotland - £94.95

3) Chichibu On the Way - £102.95

4) Glenglassaugh 26yo Distillery Bottling - £185 (out of stock!)

5) Glenlivet 1981 32yo Signatory - £165

6) Bw3 Elements of Islay - £62.95 / 50cl




Added bonus!
Courtesty of PHer hoegaardenruls we also had a Hammerhead 20yo, a Czech whisky, which was quite a surprise and IMO very drinakable!




My thoughts
The Glengoyne was nice, with a real bourbon taste in there and no peat or smoke. Not as good as the now discontinued 17, which was a real sherry hit - but as soon as we moved onto the BenRiach it felt thin and over priced.

The BenRiach is a Single Malts of Scotland (TWE's own) bottling. Single cask and wow, really blew the Glengoyne into the weeds. Quite a dram, and worth its price tag.

By popular demand a Japanese whisky was added, and the Chichibu was a surprise. A real buttery taste and very drinkable. One of around 7000 bottles - and called "on the way" as more will be released as it ages - currently about 4 years old. Reminded me of the PH whisky casks in being so young and so well rounded.

I was delighted at the Glenglassaugh's inclusion - one of the few I'd not tried. So well finished, a real delight - if it hadn't have been out of stock I think a few of these would have been sold. Again, bodes well for the PH whisky casks.

I usually like Glenlivet, but this was smokey and peaty. Not soft as I expected - and the colour was amazing (no E150 either), and improved with water.

I'm not an Islay man, but the BW3 is quite floral, with a touch of lavender. Still a bit smoke and peat hit though. It's a NAS bottling, but believed to be Bowmore and around 17/18yo. The aim is to give the "house style" but for the money I think I'd go for a typical Bowmore offering.

The Hammerhead was a real surprise. Dangerously drinkable, and I'd probably buy a bottle if I saw one. TWE have had them in the past at 23yo.

Overall
A fun night out, and tried whisky I wouldn't have purchased and that's a good thing. I think it was pretty good value for money - although I'd be interested in hearing views of others.

If the demand is there, then I'll look at doing another tasting night in 2015 - probably around March or April time.

Huge thanks to everyone who attended and made it a great night.

[Podie]

Oh, and further to last night's conversation about over ageing and Glendronach, here's the article I mentioned - http://maltandoak.com/glendronach-15-is-it-the-bes...

[Podie]

krallicious said:

Sounds like a good evening. I have a couple of bottles of the Chichibu Port Pipe and it is fantastic. Looks like I might have to try On the way too.

Apparently, they head over to Scotland annually to pick their own barley!

[Podie]

Cheese Mechanic said:

All credit to all involved. Fascinating selection of whiskies.

Will the next event have any kind of theme , or again a selection randomly chosen by TWE ? (Which I assume this event was?)

I chose TWE as I've used them a lot over the years and had good advice. There are other places in London that will do tastings, but TWE seemed to offer the best value (value of whisky vs price paid).

It started as an "18yo or above" tasting, and was rebranded as "premium whisky" due to the inclusion of a Japanese whisky (at the request of several of the group) and the NAS BW3. I also made it clear that I wanted things that most people wouldn't have tried before - try an push boundaries just a bit. The fact that a few of us said "I'd never have bought that unless I'd tried it" is quite a success IMO. I left the choices to Chris at TWE and I think he did a great job.

If we wanted to go for a theme, or a region that would be possible. The budget can be increased, and the choices become even more premium. Sadly, we didn't make 15 people this time, as that's the point where the number of people vs the whisky choices hits a real sweet spot.

The only other consideration, is that I wouldn't want to present 6 whiskies to someone and them hate every single one (e.g. 6 peaty whiskies to a sherry head).


ETA - so, you can pretty much do what you want and tailor it. The difficulty is confirming numbers, because until you draw a line under the numbers you can't go picking your whisky.

Edited by Podie on Friday 31st October 11:14

[Podie]

Cheese Mechanic said:

Another event sounds like a darn good idea, hopefully I'll be able to turn out for it.

There seems to be the interest, so I'll probably look at dates from late Feb and try and come up with a few options - and go for the one that the most people can make.

[Podie]

crmcatee said:

Now who was it that described the aroma from one of the whiskies as 'old ladies'

that honour goes to Mel (Slamm)

[Podie]

sleep envy said:

Eau de Smudge.

What's your favourite breakfast whisky?

[Podie]

Coneyhurst Blue said:

I am really sorry that I missed this it looks like it was a great evening - well done to Podie for organising.
Put me down for the next one if you can face trying to get another in the diary.

I think there is enough interest to do another. As you may have gathered, it wasn't just the whisky, but the banter was pretty good too.

I'll look to do another around March / April time, so people have recovered from Christmas and drunk any whisky they got

[Podie]

pmanson said:

S6PNJ said:

Podie said:

The Hammerhead was a real surprise. Dangerously drinkable, and I'd probably buy a bottle if I saw one.

I'm good friends with the CEO of the company that own Hammerhead (in fact I have a bottle in my collection!). If there is any interest (and assuming I can get it organised) is anyone interested in a group buy? If there is interest, I'll ask for prices to include posting out as well.

Yes count me in

Yep.

[Podie]

Mr Trophy said:

Podie, I was going to drop you a line... There is a shop in Edinburgh that has a bottle of the Dalmore Custodian for £100 (!) if you're interested?

Drop me a line!