January 2008
The Eighteenth Edition of "A Whiff of Peat Smoke...." , Why ? because i can !
A New Year , More Malty Adventures ......
A Happy New Year !
A Happy New Year to Everyone !
And for a New Year a slightly new look for the site . I've given it a new surround to match in with the forum , also looking at doing the same with the chatroom when i've got time . If any one has any problems with the site please let me know through the forum .
In Print Again.....
Just by chance ( Honest !) i stumbled across this article The Water of Life by the Hogshead and i'm in it ! Robert Phoned me up ages ago and asked a few questions , thought it hadn't been published as i never heard anything again .
Another Trip to the Vaults....
Our last Trip of the year was a 2 night stay up in Edinburgh visiting our beloved Vaults for both nights . We arrived in time for lunch , enjoying a glass of 125.9 ( 11yo Glenmorangie , 56% , Jun 95 ) with a wonderful bowl of vegetable soup and Haggis , Neeps and Tatties . Mel had a Homemade Burger with a Glass of white wine , we both had a Cranachan to finish with......
After booking into our hotel and having a meal in the pub next door we headed off back to the Vaults . The evening session consisted of .......
- 14.14 (Talisker , 15yo) Already have a bottle of this but forgot when getting it !
- 14.16 (Talisker , 18yo , Mar 89 , 57.6% ) , A golden colour very medicinal with pepper on the nose , Hot pepper and Germolene on the palate . A long finish with a sweet medicinal aftertaste .
- 53.116 (Caol ila , 1996 , 10yo , 55.9%) , Pale Gold with a floral and peat nose , Slight lavender . On the palate there is peat , Plastic (?) artifical taste , the finish is long and medicinal .
- 53.120 (Caol ila , 16yo , Aug 91 , 55.9%, From Parcels) , Bright Gold with a peat , smoked meat and Germolene Nose . On the palate it's a full Blown CI , Peat / Smoke / Burnt wood / Germolene . A wonderful long and Medicinal finish .
- 61.18 (Brora , 21yo , Mar 1982 , 59.4%) , A bit of a surprise to see this one behind the bar ! Polished Gold in Colour , Slight Medicinal , honey and cinder Toffee on the Nose . Again Medicinal with Honey on the palate , Agorgeous mouthfeel....Mmmm!!! Long and sweet on the finish . Pretty Damn Good !!!!
- 2.64 (Glenlivet , 29yo , Dec 1975 , 56% ) , The colour of this one is Polished Copper , A very sweet nose , Confectioners Sugar/Edinburgh Rock . It had a sweet palate of Apple Suet Pudding . The Finish was Lond and Breathe Taking as in Takes your breathe away ! With water this one totally changed , very orangey .
- 77.11 (Glen Ord , 17yo , Aug 87 , 58.7% ) , At this point the serious note taking stopped but it was very pleasant on the nose , slightly sweet and easy drinking for it's strength .
- Heaven Hill (Bourbon No.2 ) , this was Deans recommendation , i was struggling for a last dram and he said try a bourbon so i did ! It was strong (68%+ i think) , had a n ice cube in it and it was wonderful !!! Cheers Dean !
Day 2 and another wonderful lunch in the Vaults (very nice Pheasant Breast) and a few more Drams ........
- 27.66 (Springbank , 11yo , May96 , 57.9% ) , Gold in Colour , Smoke, Nail Varnish remover and slight Seashore on the nose . On the palate it was Stewed apples , very spirity and eventually became fruity (green fruits not red ) .A medium finish with a nail varnish remover overtone . All i can say is Re-assuringly over-rated.....
- 50.29 (Bladnoch 14yo , Another one i was revisiting ) , Typical Lowlander , a good example of the Bladnoch , Lots of Fresh Grass , green fruits , meadows , very clean and fresh .
- 93.19 (Glen Scotia , 14yo , May 91 , 60.3% ) , This one was a damn sight more interesting than it's fellow Campbeltowner . On the nose it was Seashore , smoked fish and Cough sweets . The palate was smoke , smoked haddock and lockets with a long and slightly peaty finish . The best example of Glen Scotia i've tried .
A slight break here with a trip up to see Darren at the Whisky Shop , he gave me a try of 2 DLP's , 30yo Macallan and a 28yo Caol Ila , Both were decent enough . Then it was back to the Hotel to Freshen up then a return to the Vaults for another evening session ......
- A Couple of Bourbons (Cask No.2 again and No.10 )
- A 16yo Providence Trinidad Rum (a very nice rum)
- 80.4 (Glen Spey , 20yo , Jan 85 , 52.9%) , Bright Straw in Colour , Very sweet on the nose (Confectioners Sugar/Marzipan) . Again Sweet on the palate , Apple Pie and Cream . The finish is long and sweet .
Also had a 15yo Caol Ila but don't know what it was but it was a very good Caol Ila ! We had a superb time , as usual , finished off with an excellent Lamb Dinner on the Sunday . Till the next visit......
Provisional Feis Ile 2008 Programme
Here is a list of events for the Feis Ile 2008. Events are subject to change and should only be used as a guide.
24 May - Lagavulin Distillery Open Day ( to be confirmed )
25 May - Bruichladdich Distillery open day (to be confirmed)
26 May - Caol Ila Open Day / Port Ellen Maltings guided tours (to be confirmed) / Whisky Tasting Ceilidh held at The Ramsay Hall. Port Ellen evening
27 May - Laphroaig Distillery open day (to be confirmed) / Ceilidh A dance at Laphroaig Distillery evening
28 May - Bowmore Distillery open day (to be confirmed)
29 May - Kilchoman Distillery open day / Jura Distillery open day (to be confirmed)
30 May - Bunnahabhain Distillery open day
31 May - Ardbeg Distillery open day (to be confirmed)
Full Provisional Programme at the Feis Ile site
