For the First Time Ever , a Whisky Festival in the Toon !

It's took a long time coming but at last , Newcastle has it's own Whisky Festival . On Saturday the 9th of May we gathered in the Great Hall of the Discovery Museum for 6 hours of sampling the finest Scotland , Ireland and India has to offer .

The List of Exhibitors Eddie had gathered was really impressive.......

Amrut , Ardmore , Ardbeg , An Cnoc , Auchentoshan , Balvenie , Benriach , Benromach , Berry Brothers , Bladnoch , Bowmore , Bushmills , Connemara , Dalmore , Diageo , Douglas Laing , Glencairn Crystal , Glendronach , Glenfiddich , Glengoyne , Glenmorangie , Glenrothes , Gordon and MacPhail , Highland Park , Isle of Jura , Laphroaig , Macallan , Smokehead , Suntory , Tullibardine , Tyrconnel .

The Show Starts !

A good crowd turned out for the show , 330 tickets sold before hand and more paying on the door . People travelled in from outside the area for it , Willie , Paul , Livvy and John came down from Scotland . A few travelled from Manchester , Chris came up from Grantham but Ras set the record (as far as i know ) when he came over from The Netherlands ! It was nice to finally put faces to names of people who frequent the Various Whisky Forums around the Internet .

Before the Rush !

As with anything like this it's a good idea to pace yourself , i decided after having a good look around what drams i was going to try . First port of call was the Bladnoch Table , as usual a warm welcome was given to all by Florence and Raymond and some really excellent Drams , i started off with the 1992 Cask 2607 ( a cracking series of sherry casks) and later returned for a try of the recently released 7yo Lightly Peated , which seems to be improving hand over fist with every year that passes ! Then it was off to the Yamazaki Stall to try the 18yo , everyones told me how good this was so i was eager to give it a go . The sherry was a little bit harsh at full strength but the guy from M-B suggest a drop of water in it which certainly took the harshness away but i must admit i was a little bit disappointed in it , certainly on first tasting i prefer the younger 12yo .

The Festival Dram !

It was time for the first of Many visits to Rob at the Berry Bro's and Rudd Table , This stall (along with the Bladnoch Table ) was the highlight of the festival for me , they had some cracking bottles with them and as usual none of the bottles tried disappointed ! First off was a superb 1982 25yo St Magdalene , a stunning lowlander , must get around to getting one of these . At this point Eddie asked me if i wanted to try the Festival Dram (pictured left) , a special Blend made up from several of the Exhibitors at the festival by Doug McIvor of BBR . The one thing i did pick out was the taste similar to a Glen Scotia , the fishermans friend spiciness . Other Berrys Own tried included a 1974 Dailuaine ( not a bad wee dram but i haven't had that many to compare with ) , A 1991 Benrinnes , a good little dram especially after the SMWS one we had earlier in the year which was really sulphured . A previously tried 1992 Glen Scotia which was as good as ever , a Young Caol Ila , a 1996 i think , which was your typical medicinal Caol Ila and a 1998 Laphroaig which again was your usual young Laphroaig . After a brief break for a sarnie , good idea to reline the stomach it was back to the Whisky ..........

A visit to the Douglas Laing Table was next on the cards for a couple of drams , first up was the 40yo "Speysides Finest " (Glenfarclas to you and me.....) , another superb old , sherried Farclas . Then it was the Platinum Old and Rare 25yo Port Ellen , this wasn't too bad but i'm still not a big fan of the PE . Managed to catch up with Darren Leitch from The Whisky Shop ( who actually had a shop in the festival) at this point , always a pleasure to see Darren .

Eddie Auctions Bottle Number 1

During the Afternoon Eddie Auctioned Bottle Number 1 of the Festival Dram off for charity , he managed to raise £200 for the Bobby Robson Cancer Foundation .

It was getting close to the only masterclass i'd booked but i still managed to fit in a few more drams . Next up was an Indian Malt , a peated Amrut , not a bad little dram for it's age ! Then it was onto the table next door for a Gordon and Macphail bottled Mortlach , this was really let down by it's low ABV , shame as it's a nice enough session malt . Up to this point i'd managed to avoid the Ardbeg Table as i was keeping myself for the Ardbeg Master class but i decided to try the brand new , reboxed , batch of Uigeadail . The last one i'd had on Islay the smoke seemed heavier and the sherry lesser . this one the sherry seemed back up and the smoke just as heavy !

So it was Time for the Ardbeg Master Class , Davinia Small (Global Ardbeg Evangelist) was taking this one , i'd never come across Davinia before but i must say she is Ardbeg through and Through and a really nice Lady to boot ! We had 6 samples to try , we started off with a New Make ( remarkably drinkable but very fruity !) then it was onto the Standard 10yo (what can be said about this remarkable malt ?) . Third up was the Blasda , i really like the Blasda even though some find it too weak , then it was onto the Oogie (same one as above ) . Number Five was the Supernova before we reached the straight from the cask one , a 2002 ex Bourbon filled during the Feis Ile of that year , Several casks above the one i'd filled......

Had a bit of a natter with Davinia afterwards , turned out she knew of my site and my name had been mentioned (rather worryingly....) in meetings ! It was a nice way to end the afternoon . At this point Mel arrived at the Museum and when we returned upstairs they were clearing away so we bid our farewells to Raymond and Florence and a group of us headed to the pub . After a drink Myself , Mel, Livvy , Willie and Ras went to Chinatown for a Meal and met up with Ras's partner Sky . After a riotous Meal in the Dragon House we headed off , some to the Station , some to their hotel and some homeward........

Lets hope we can all do it again next year as it was a superb day , Thanks to Eddie for pulling it all together !

A Memento from Florence and Raymond !