Show us your whisky!
Discussion
majordad said:
In your photo is a Coronation Rum Kukri. I have one of them, given to me by the Nepalese Battalion Unifil in 1994. I drank the rum and filled the Kukri with tea 20 yrs ago, still looks good.
Unfortunately I didn't get to try the Khukri, it was an empty bottle I spotted at the bootsale, but for £1 it was too nicer shape to leave go. Off to the Tromsø whisky festival this weekend, which should be great, since there are so few opportunities to go to one here! 4-5 hour drive, so the plan is to stop off on the way and do some skiing and then have a few tipples there. They'll have the first ever tasting of the first arctic "whisky" - it's only 12 days old from a small heavily roasted virgin American oak cask, so should be an interesting experience!
NRS said:
I may have a couple of very exciting Japanese things coming up at the end of this week/ beginning of next week... Will update you all on what happens!
So, it looks like I managed to get them. 2 of the (colour) Ichiro's Malt The Joker and 1 Karuizawa 1984. I am not 100% sure on the details of the Karuizawa as it has just been released today for Norway and maybe Sweden, so the only information about it is that it is 30yo, 56,70% and bottled last year. I know there was 200 bottles available for Norway.
Mr Trophy said:
What's the JW Gold like?
Very pleasant, lots of flavour and extremely drinkable. I had never tried a premium blend before and it did take me by surprise, I had always (wrongly) associated blends with nasty cheap stuff so I am a lot more open to them now. It is quite delicate (not sure if that is the right word) in that it is nowhere near as hard hitting as the Islay stuff or a heavily sherried Speyside.
I would recommend it, totally different standard to the red and the black label and I would buy it again.
I would be very interested to compare it to the blue label which I have never tried before.
BorkFactor said:
Mr Trophy said:
What's the JW Gold like?
Very pleasant, lots of flavour and extremely drinkable. I had never tried a premium blend before and it did take me by surprise, I had always (wrongly) associated blends with nasty cheap stuff so I am a lot more open to them now. It is quite delicate (not sure if that is the right word) in that it is nowhere near as hard hitting as the Islay stuff or a heavily sherried Speyside.
I would recommend it, totally different standard to the red and the black label and I would buy it again.
I would be very interested to compare it to the blue label which I have never tried before.
mr_tony said:
Post some pics of a whisky festival in Tromso - sounds intriguing!
Here are a few of the pictures. The first is the view from the hotel. The location for the whisky tasting was in the building on the right of the picture with a view across the fjord to the mountains.
In regards to the tasting. I went for:
Nikka Yoichi 15 A really nice sherry whisky.
Myken 12 day old (more to come).
Springbank 18 I prefered this to the 10yo I have had before, it's much more balanced due to the extra age.
Highland Park 12
Glenmorangie Signet In some ways I was disappointed by this, although maybe I was expecting too much difference from the reviews I've read. That said, it was a later tasting so may have missed out on any more complex stuff going on.
Glenmorangie Original Got this as a freebie, so can't complain!
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Ardbeg Corryvreckan These two surprised me by being a bit less of a kick compared to the 10yo. Think I prefered the Corryvreckan, so will pick up a bottle at some point.
Bulleit Rye A friend wanted to try a rye whisky. I'm trying to remember what the taste reminded me of, but overall it was pretty harsh and not my favourite.
Back to the Myken. As I've said previously here that this is the first ever arctic distillery for whisky, and this also happened to be the first ever tasting, at only 12 days old maturation (so not a real whisky, obviously). It was an interesting experience to try something that wouldn't normally be possible, so despite thinking it might be a bit like moonshine I went for some. I was extrememly pleasantly surprised. Lots and lots of vanilla on the noise and taste, malty too, with some burnt wood. I have to say I'm really looking forward to see their first real whisky in 3 years time. The amount of flavour and colour from the wood was surprising after such a short time in the barrel (although it was only a 5l one). Here's a picture; the small clear bottle is it straight from the sill, with the bottle and glass containing the 12 day old sample.
As an aside, someone had commented previously about the length of maturation due to the latitude. I asked them about this, and the barrels will be stored in a warehouse which won't let them freeze. The important thing is temperature difference for the interaction between the whisky and the barrel, with the climate being pretty similar to Scotland, so this shouldn't be an issue. However time will tell.
Overall it was a relaxed atmosphere, and you seem to have a lot more time to chat to the people about the different whisky, rather than it being very crowded like some other festivals from what I have heard. This was later on when it was near closing and most others were in the other room.
Edited by NRS on Sunday 11th January 20:38
It's very woody, and very strong on the sherry - it's a really interesting, deep, complex whisky. Not a surprise after 42 years in a sherry butt!
I need to have another go at it, and concentrate on the flavours - maybe even try it with some water.
No info on the distillery on the bottle, but based on the taste I'd guess at Glenfarclas.
I need to have another go at it, and concentrate on the flavours - maybe even try it with some water.
No info on the distillery on the bottle, but based on the taste I'd guess at Glenfarclas.
Edited by Podie on Monday 12th January 12:20
Had a quick google, and found the Master of Malt listing for it..sounds very nice - it's been a while since I picked up anything that was purely sherry cask, nevermind that old.
I've still got fond memories of a 26yr old Glen Grant I bought from Cadenheads years ago that was matured in a minster cask, and had taken on an immense amount of sherry influence.
I've still got fond memories of a 26yr old Glen Grant I bought from Cadenheads years ago that was matured in a minster cask, and had taken on an immense amount of sherry influence.
The big surprise was how much wood you could taste. I'm into big, bold sherry flavours anyway so that didn't catch me by surprise.
It feels very complex, hence the reason on wanting to hold off too many comments as I need to sit and think about it and try it with water as well to see if it opens up further. I'm sure I'll find time later in the week!
It feels very complex, hence the reason on wanting to hold off too many comments as I need to sit and think about it and try it with water as well to see if it opens up further. I'm sure I'll find time later in the week!
NRS said:
Here are a few of the pictures. The first is the view from the hotel. The location for the whisky tasting was in the building on the right of the picture with a view across the fjord to the mountains.
Nice write up thanks!Podie - still have that duty free in my cabinet for you - let's fix a time for you to collect or I'll end up drinking it!
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