Pistonheads whisky cask
Discussion
S6PNJ said:
Some may say it is sacrilege but I've mixed down a small sample of PPX1 to about 47% and, by god, it's lovely! Really opens it up and provides a much fuller flavour/sensation in the (my) mouth. Blooming great and really enjoyable!
If someone can check my maths, I've taken 78ml of PPX1 and added 22ml of water which hopefully makes 47% ABV as best as I can get with very rough measurements!
Time to sup more! - of course if I drink all I've mixed up tonight, it's ~3 measures of cask strength PPX1! Hic!
Definitely not sacrilege in my book Phil. If trying to really taste whisky properly I'll often take it way below 40%. For normal drinking duties it depends totally on the dram, some I find to be perfect at ~60%, some night be 50%, 46% or 40% orcwtstever.If someone can check my maths, I've taken 78ml of PPX1 and added 22ml of water which hopefully makes 47% ABV as best as I can get with very rough measurements!
Time to sup more! - of course if I drink all I've mixed up tonight, it's ~3 measures of cask strength PPX1! Hic!
I've got my PPX1 at about 40% just now and it really is a lovely dram
crmcatee said:
SC40 and P10 seem to have particularly thirsty angels.
For the benefit of those not present - next time folks !!! - if I can provide some detail about the various casks and our bottling decisions made on the night - and referring back to S6PNJ's photo's. Sorry if its lengthy.Cask 1 - Peated PX - this was ready - peated drams often work young and with the added dimension of PX - as with all the drams add water to taste as all are proposed to bottle at cask strength. This was tasted in the warehouse as the cask was emptied and lightly filtered - bottled in minutes ! And it produced just over 9 bottles (50cl) per share which Martin was impressed at compared to other casks bottled.
Cask 2 - and Cask 3 - as referred to above in reverse order. These two casks were noticeably smaller if you refer to the photos. In fact no casks seemed to be identical. Hence their lighter weight. This was also at the time as Martin told us of one persons cask only holding 10 litres of spirit when emptied - and each of our casks sounded very empty when he removed the bungs
but the sound was just an illusion thankfully.When we tasted them and made our decision we were unsure of how much each might have developed more. Both were agreeable - again one containing a youngish peat dram which just works. We were concerned that if we left them longer without any guaranteed improvement in the dram the out-turn to each member would have been lower than it already was. And as Craig mentions - greedy angels - maybe there was more surface contact to spirit as the figures did suggest the extra loss - but maybe this did enhance the flavour more than a larger cask might have done.Bottling now was the best option.
Cask 4 - Back to PX - and the last of the 2011 casks. This was nice but was still full of young spirit. Unlike Cask 1 which had the peat we felt that this dram needed a bit more maturing to reduce the spirit and enhance the PX element. There was also plenty in the cask to ensure everyone would still get a good share. So this cask could be re-visited late this year or sometime next year.
Cask 5 - the Port - very nice. But we are now into 2012 filling (by me). A little water helped this dram. But again we have a cask and spirit that needs a little longer. Maybe next year - maybe even a little longer. Coneyhurst and his new best mate S6PNJ have to wait a little longer.
Cask 6 and 7 - we are now into 2013 casks due to the delay in getting the casks in to fill. We have already seen above where these are going. They are young - full of young spirit. Good sized casks. Whilst they could be revisited in a year or so they will more likely need a couple of years yet. One possible thing to watch is a slightly faster maturation down in Creetown - slightly warmer than Portsoy - but not much. Its cold standing around in Martins huge warehouses - marginally warmer with a nip inside you.
As I have already mentioned in another post - I'm really looking forward to 7 - the rum was nice when freshly poured but was at another level when sat breathing for half an hour.
Finally - Cask 8. Lefty has wound back the clock. LeftyGuns is going to sort out the idiots at Portsoy who sent someone else's cask instead of ours.
When its found and relocated it will be similar to 6 and 7 in terms of its current maturity, but being peated might well follow the other peated casks in terms of when it will be ready.The other spirits we tried - and await costs - Ben Nevis new make (in IBC's) - the cheapest and perfectly OK. Next Tullibardine new make in barrels (as a result of large cancelled orders due to a downturn in the blended market) - more interesting. Finally a heavily peated Bunna (under a trade alias of Staoisha) at 66% which has been in the barrel a couple of months. This will be the more costly one but my reference point would be to compare our final estimated cost with the cost of the G&M 8yo Bunna which is about £30 at 43% - this for me could make a good cask 1 refill.
Correct me guys if there are errors - or something missed. Its all from my head - we had a good night in our own little private side room - and all retired in a reasonable state.
Edited by ClassicMercs on Monday 13th February 22:46
Further to my thoughts / recollections of the casks last night I have finally got around to some sampling tonight on casks 2 and 3. It still stands that we don't know where each might have headed if there was more whisky in the baby casks - but with cask 3 in particular - superb !!! Rich yet very smooth. If cask 6 heads in a similar direction we will be blessed.
hidetheelephants said:
According to an informal tasting sesh this evening cask 1 goes down smoother than a penguin in velvet wetsuit. The verdict is it's sweet with a finish like a young Islay malt. That is all.
Anyone returned to the PPX since they have got home ? Away from the cold of Martin's warehouse - not that a Yorkshireman's living room is noted for its levels of heating !Opened some tonight - Highland peat isn't usually like an Islay, but with the combination of PX it does remind me a little of some Ardbegs in places.
Give it some air for a while and the nose suddenly reminded me of the smell of secondary school science labs back in the late 70's / early 80's. As our science department also had a cow, a donkey, some pigs and chickens it is possible our school may have been a little different from the norm.
Finally - cask - appears heavily charred / alligator imo ?? It can't have all come from the charcoal in Martins first IBC vat !!
FunkyGibbon said:
Lefty said:
Think I've replied to everyone now. 
I don't seem to have received anything 
- does that make my share free 
(minus of course TVR express hostage fee)FG
And in other news I might be able to get your stash back to Cambs around the end of March!
Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff