Single Malts (I know they aren't wine, but.....)
Bill Spohn
the UK will find me scouting out the odd bottle to add to the cache. I
occasionally assemble others of like mind to do a tasting of our finds.
Notes on some single malt Scotch, assembled with no particular theme,
geographic or otherwise, in mind. Ages are in parentheses after each malt. Most
were tasted straight and then with the addition of a few drops of water.
A single asterisk means we preferred it with without water, a double, with, a
divided opinion thus - *(*).
Rosebank Signatory Vintage 1989 (13) - natural colour, with no added colouring
agents added. Nose was spirity citrus, with some added floral elements. Warm
and mellow in the mouth. With water, the mid-palate mellows, but it gets
sharper just before the end, then softens again. *(*)
Tomatin (12) - an initially very strong nose of toffee, in the mouth,
flavourful, but finishing abruptly. With water this lengthened, and the nose
changed to one of a fruitier nature. **
Glenfiddich Solera Reserve (15) - nice nose, round and subtle, and round and
smooth in the mouth as well, hot and long. Water flattened the nose too much
(one taster opined that in general, the sherry aged malts do not improve with
water, while the Bourbon cask aged malts do, and the many with mixed ageing
fall in between. Several of us liked this one a lot, to the surprise of at
least one who was prepared not to like it based on other malts by Glenfiddich.
*
Glenmorangie (18) - nose a bit medicinal, quite creamy in the mouth, long and
clean. A _small_ addition of water perhaps smoothed it and made the nose more
floral. *(*)
Oban (14) - hot clean nose with a bit of petrol, lemon, honey. Nicely peaty in
the mouth, sweet at the end. I didn't add water, as I thought that nothing
would improve this excellent dram, and the experience of one who did confirmed
my judgement. A favourite of the evening. *
Bruichladdich (15) - salty apple nose, mellow in mouth, smooth and good length,
heating up only toward the end. A small drop of water was felt to smooth it out
some more - perhaps due to the high alcohol (46%) **
Highland Park (12) - a floral smoky nose, sweet in the mouth, and hot. Water
took away much of the heat, and added a floral note right at the end. **
Highland Park (18) - darker, with an iodine nose, hot and sweet and smoother
5than the 12 year old. Water smoothed it but I thought it was hard on the nose,
adding a vanilla element that I did not prefer to the unwatered state. *(*)
Glen Scotia (from the MacPhail Collection) (11) - a low tide and tar nose
unlike anything else we'd seen. Heavy tarry taste, long and salty. Water opens
and softens both nose and taste. Not a malt for everyone! (I thought it was
great!) **
Bowmore Mariner (15) - again, an iodine nose, sweeter and smoother than the
previous malt. Water added a mintiness to the nose and sweetened the taste. **
Dale Williams
I seldom drink scotch (I enjoy wine too much, after a wine dinner I can
occasionally go for Cognac/Armagnac/Calavados). When I do I'm partial towards
the Islay (esp. Laphroaig ). The Oban sounds good, when I finish my current
Highland (Cardhu), I'll give it a try (might take me a couple of years to get
there though!).
Dale
Dale Williams
Drop "damnspam" to reply
Robert Stevahn
wrote:
>I seldom drink scotch (I enjoy wine too much, after a wine dinner I can
>occasionally go for Cognac/Armagnac/Calavados). When I do I'm partial towards
>the Islay (esp. Laphroaig ).
Have you tried Lagavulin? If you have a taste for Laphroaig, I'd
certainly recommend it. I have a 16 (or 20?) y.o. double aged that's
fabulous. The "regular" 12 y.o. is excellent, too.
-- Robert
Beaker
16yo is the regular AFAIK - actually, I've only ever seen the 16.
However, I've heard rumor there is a Lagavulin shortage, which would
explain why in the last 4 months I've seen exactly 1 bottle in the
four large (US) stores I frequent.
--
> bkrrrrr, Director of Enlightenment \/ |\ _,,,---,,_ <
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> got was this stupid .sig" - Anonymous /\ '---''(_/--' `-'\_) fL <
El Fonzo
Well, I have a bottle of Lagavulin 16 yr old here and it certainly isn't
to my taste - I love most single malts but as recall having tasted
Laphroaig some years ago - it was terrible and the Lagavulin is even
worse! Tastes like it's made from old cigarette butts soaked in water!
Having said that I realize that taste is a very subjective thing and one
man's food is another man's poison... and I must admit that it certainly
does have a unique character!!
EF
Robert Stevahn
> 16yo is the regular AFAIK - actually, I've only ever seen the 16.
Yes, I think you're right. I drink too much wine now and not enough
Scotch. :-)
This means my double-aged bottle is probably 20, not 16. In any case
it's delicious, but so are the 16s.
The very peaty Islay Scotches like these are definitely an acquired
taste for most people.
-- Robert, at least I worked wine into this post somehow
Santiago G.H.
news:_qO4a.6033$sv3.5...@news20.bellglobal.com:
> Well, I have a bottle of Lagavulin 16 yr old here and it certainly
> isn't to my taste - I love most single malts but as recall having
> tasted Laphroaig some years ago - it was terrible and the Lagavulin is
> even worse! Tastes like it's made from old cigarette butts soaked in
> water! Having said that I realize that taste is a very subjective
> thing and one man's food is another man's poison... and I must admit
> that it certainly does have a unique character!!
El Fonzo,
Lagavulin 16 is a favorite of mine, though. It is not an everyday Single
Malt due to its strength. A bit of mineral water makes it smoother. I don't
agree with the cigarette butts, even if there is some smoke in its nose.
For me, this is mostly iodine, seaside and slow burning smoke. Wonderful.
I must agree that I also love smoother Single Malts, and that the
Glennfiddich Solera Reserve is a must if you are into smooth SM. The
Balvenie Double Wood 12 years is also in the same style (The Balvenie and
Glenfiddich are related, neighbours and even the same distiller-man). In
other price range, a lowland such as Inverleven is also very smooth.
In a medium style, The Macallan is usually a good choice.
Regards from Spain, the country with the highest consumption of Scotch
Whisky worldwide :-)
Santiago
Bill Spohn
>to my taste -
You have to be in the mood for 'rough trade' - I like Lagavulin, Laphroaig, and
the peatiest of all, Ardbeg.
But not every time, any more than I would want to drink a ginormous Aussie oak
monster every time I opened a bottle of shiraz or cab (see - wine content).
Emery Davis
>
> thanks Bill. Even if slightly OT, I for one found quite interesting.
>
Me too! I used to collect single malts, and at one time had
over 50 bottles on my bar. No longer, as I probably don't
have a glass more than once every several weeks.
Dale, I certainly recommend the Oban 14. It's our current
house scotch, as it is really very reasonably priced.
If you like Laphroaig, try "prime malt" if it still exists.
Anyone ever drink "the Edraidor (sp?)" Haven't seen it
around for years, used to be an excellent bottle.
-E
--
Emery Davis
El Fonzo
>>
> El Fonzo,
>
> Lagavulin 16 is a favorite of mine, though. It is not an everyday Single
> Malt due to its strength. A bit of mineral water makes it smoother. I don't
> agree with the cigarette butts, even if there is some smoke in its nose.
> For me, this is mostly iodine, seaside and slow burning smoke. Wonderful.
>
> I must agree that I also love smoother Single Malts, and that the
> Glennfiddich Solera Reserve is a must if you are into smooth SM. The
> Balvenie Double Wood 12 years is also in the same style (The Balvenie and
> Glenfiddich are related, neighbours and even the same distiller-man). In
> other price range, a lowland such as Inverleven is also very smooth.
>
> In a medium style, The Macallan is usually a good choice.
>
> Regards from Spain, the country with the highest consumption of Scotch
> Whisky worldwide :-)
>
> Santiago
Oh boy, Sanbtiago, you rang my bell with mention of Macallan - the 20
year old is my favorite... ah, heavenly!!!!
EF
Anders Tørneskog
"Emery Davis" <em...@adelka.com> wrote in message
news:3E545119...@adelka.com...
>
> Anyone ever drink "the Edraidor (sp?)" Haven't seen it
> around for years, used to be an excellent bottle.
>
Now, there's the alt.drinks.scotch-whisky which discusses the minutiae of
SM - differences between casks and oaks and so on, maybe some of you will
want to continue there?
:-) Anders
The Ranger
> I am an inveterate collector of single malts,
You might also want to check out alt.drinks.scotch-whisky. Bushido's notes
are worth Googling, too.
The Ranger
The Ranger
> >I seldom drink scotch (I enjoy wine too much, after a wine
> >dinner I can occasionally go for Cognac/Armagnac/Calavados).
> >When I do I'm partial towards the Islay (esp. Laphroaig ).
>
> Have you tried Lagavulin? If you have a taste for Laphroaig, I'd
> certainly recommend it. I have a 16 (or 20?) y.o. double aged
> that's fabulous. The "regular" 12 y.o. is excellent, too.
My first experience of Laphroaig brought to mind smelling tar and drinking
seaweed. It drinks cruel. I tried to get past that initial shock but never
did. Ended up giving the bottle (probably 740ml left) to someone that
professed to love strong drink. I currently have a Lagavulin unopened,
resting for a night that I'm feeling more brave due to a similar reputation
about testing one's constitution. My FIL has an Ardbeg that he's been trying
to get me to sample but I enjoy too many of his other spirits to put our
relationship in that type of danger.
The Ranger
Cwdjrx _
Sherry kegs have long been used to mature some Scotch. Actually many
grain spirits from around the world are flavored slightly by old wine
casks or the addition of a bit of wine or fruit juice.
The point of some of the pure malts seems to be the great intensty and
complexity of taste. For those who like a smoother and more subtle
style, some of the best blended Scotch should not be ignored. Chivas
Regal Royal Salute(21yr), Ballantine(30yr), and Ambassador(25yr) all
were very smooth and complex. Of the pure Malts that I can usually find,
I tend to select an Islay such as Laphroaig.
Laphroaig is to Scotch as Chateau Chalon is to French wine. Both will
make a very strong impression on nearly anyone. The impression may be
strongly positive or strongly negative, but seldom neutral.
Beaker
> My FIL has an Ardbeg that he's been trying
> to get me to sample but I enjoy too many of his other spirits to put our
> relationship in that type of danger.
Drinking Ardbeg makes me feel like I'm drinking...salt and pepper.
The GF seems to be quite taken with it, though. She's already got her
Ardbeg Committee welcome-wagon package...
Anders Tørneskog
"The Ranger" <cuhula...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:b30p8g$1gde5j$1...@ID-61173.news.dfncis.de...
....
Laphroaig and Ardbeg - ah, now these are real whiskies for real men...!
:-) Anders
The Ranger
> > ....
> Laphroaig and Ardbeg - ah, now these are real whiskies for real
> men...!
> :-) Anders
"That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche
(But I'm always amazed at what I've survived.) <G>
The Ranger