January 2009

The Twenty Ninth Edition of "A Whiff of Peat Smoke...." , Why ? because i can !

Another New Year ......

Blowing One's Own Trumpet......

I've never been known ( I hope!) for going around shouting off how good my website is . I've always been slightly embarrassed when someone praises it and my work on it , probably due to my shyness . I've had people at the Distilleries on Islay telling me how good my site is . The only way i normally publicise it is through my signature on other Whisky Forums or from time to time posting about a bit of content i thought people would be interested in . The Site has been mentioned elsewhere , it was linked to from the original Kilchoman Site (sadly it no longer is....) , in print it was mentioned in "The Whisky Dream" Book and also in the French Version of "The Whisky Magazine" . So Imagine my surprise when i was Informed of the Following in "The Malt Whisky Yearbook 2009" , in "New Websites to Watch" section (????).....

" www.spiritofislay.net

OK , this is not a new website about whisky . it has been around for some years now but since we for some reason have not mentioned it in previous editions of the Yearbook ( Even Though we visit it regularly ) we list this under this header . Gordon Homer has created the Ultimate site about Whiskies from Islay but there is also much to be learned about the Island itself . His Recurring Column is Titled Whiff of Peat Smoke but there is also a forum and Chat room . "

To say i was chuffed was an understatement ! Thank you very much whoever wrote the review , it's much appreciated ! You can read about the Malt Whisky Yearbook at www.maltwhiskyyearbook.com

New Committee Bottling

From the Ardbeg Website.......

Ardbeg Supernova

Count your lucky stars you’re a Committee Member, because here comes another celestial and very limited Committee Bottling: an exclusive test launch in advance of a wider release at the end of May. Ardbeg Supernova is peated to an astonishing level of over 100 parts per million, making it the peatiest Ardbeg ever. After the lightly peated pleasures of Blasda, Supernova is a stellar explosion of aroma and flavour – deep earthy peat oils, smoky coal tar, rolling tobacco, camomile, cedar and heather bloom. Hot, sizzling and gristy sensations effervesce on the tongue while pepper pops with chilli and chocolate. Heavenly!

Available to order from xx January 2009

We are unable to deliver to the USA or Canada. However, for the first time US Committee Members will be able to buy limited quantities of this Committee Bottling on home soil. We anticipate that Supernova will land in the USA at the end of February. To locate your nearest Ardbeg Outpost, email ardbeg@mhusa.com

Price: £65

Supernova

Ardbeg and Chocolate......

A couple of Descriptors that keeps cropping in Ardbeg Tasting notes are Chocolate and Cocoa , usually only in old ones but they have been there in the likes of The Renaissance and other younger one's recently . Quite a few people , including the Main Man Michael Heads , have told me in the past that Ardbeg goes quite well with good quality Chocolate , never really being into buying the good stuff i got a chance to put this to the test over Christmas when Mel was given some Lindt 70% Cocoa Dark as a gift . So while watching a Couple of the Pirates of the Caribbean Films (isn't "Keef" great as Capt Jacks Dad....) i set off to try the Malt against the Chocolate.......

This needs some more further investigation !

And so i did at a meal with Mels family at the BlackFriars Restaurant (Where the Whisky Lounge holds it's tastings) , got to the pudding and couldn't resist putting their Chocolate Tart with Hazelnut Ice Cream up against the Ardbeg "Beist" (yes they have a very good whisky selection , Cheers Eddie !) and it was heaven ! There is just something about having Chocolate and Ardbeg on the palate at the same time , quite indulgent !

Hogmanay 2008 at The Vaults

For our usual Christmas treat to The Vaults we decided to shift the days we went to include what is turning into an Annual event , Hogmanay night in the Members Room . We arrived on the Tuesday so we could have an ordinary night there too and it gave us a chance to meet up with Willie and Audrey .

We arrived in good time to have lunch , Mel going for the crombie Sausages and Myself for the Venison Burgers . I had a couple of Drams to accompany Lunch......

30.56
Year- July 1992 Age- 16yo ABV- 56.4%
Colour- Ripe Barley
Nose- Started off with a slight whiff of Nail Varnish then confectioners Sugar and Citric (Lemon) .
Taste- Sweet almost like a Bunnahabhain but with a spiciness.
Finish- Long and Spicy
Comments- From a refill hogshead , 1 of 259 Bottles . Not a wee bad Glenrothes ,very Bunnie like (apart from the hint of nail varnish!).
G5.1
Year- March 1974 Age- 34yo ABV- 55.1%
Colour- Marmalade
Nose- Dark Rum , Bourbon whisky and Vanilla .
Taste- Very , Very Bourbonish , Vanilla and Slight Chocolate .
Finish- Long and Bourbon like , loads of Vanilla and a bit of Chocolate .
Comments- An Excellent Invergordon Very Drinkable , Very Smooth and Very bourbonish .

After a wonderful Lunch we retired to the Linkwood flat (very nicely furnished and equiped) settled in , Freshened up , changed and then headed off down to the Waterline for some thing to eat before returning to the Vaults for our Evening Session . I was going to start with the 41yo Glenfarclas (1.141) but thought £20 was stretching it for a dram.....

1.140
Year- Sept 1993 Age- 14yo ABV- 58.1%
Colour- Gold
Nose- Green Fruit , Vanilla and Nail Varnish . .
Taste- Apple Tart and Custard . A bit oaky too.
Finish- Long , Oaky .
Comments- From a Refill Hogshead , 1 of 237 Bottles . Not a bad Farclas but not a better one either.
37.40
Year- April 1992 Age- 16yo ABV- 55.9%
Colour- Light Gold
Nose- Dried Fruit and Spices . Mel thought it was like opening a Christmas box of Chocolates !
Taste- Real apple Strudel , Cinnamon and Spices .
Finish- Long with Stewed Apples .
Comments- From a Refill Barrel , 1 of 242 Bottles . A Really nice Cragganmore , certainly better than the O.B. .
38.12
Year- Nov 1979 Age- 23yo ABV- 55.3%
Colour- Light Gold
Nose- Light nail Varnish at first then ripe Bananas .
Taste- Citric (Lemon) , Green Apples and Vanilla Custard .
Finish- Long and Green Fruits.
Comments- An old bottling from the SMWSA . Not had many Caperdonichs but one of the better speysiders .
77.15
Year- Age- 21yo ABV- 54.5%
Colour- Gold
Nose- Very closed nose neat , just a slight Sherry smell . With water orange .
Taste- Again not a lot neat and again Orange when water added .
Finish- Long and Citric .
Comments- From a Refill Hogshead , 1 of 271 Bottles . Very Closed at Full Strength , opens up a bit more with Water .
G1.4
Year- Aug 1978 Age- 30yo ABV- 53%
Colour- Light Amber
Nose- Burnt Toffee at first , then Banoffee Pie and Bourbon .
Taste- Peppery at first , then really smooth but Woody (in a nice way!) .
Finish- Long and Woody (in a nice way as well) and spicy .
Comments- From a Refill Hogshead , 1 of 194 Bottles . A Really unusual Grain but very nice .
53.111
Year- Bottled 2007 Age- 15yo ABV-
Colour- Straw
Nose- Really Medicinal (Germolene) and a touch Smoky .
Taste- Actually quite fruity (Green Apples) but with the Germolene.....
Finish- Long , Peaty , Smoky , Medicinal .
Comments- Again From the SMWSA , A proper Caol Ila on the nose , really unusual on the palate but back again on th e finish . Some one added Emergency Ward 10 ! Smelly on the end of my notes.....wonder who that was.......
26.49
Year- Age- 22yo ABV- 58.3%
Colour- Bright Gold
Nose- Nail Varnish at first , then Apples with a touch of Lemon .
Taste- Seems to be very Appley .
Finish- Medium anf fruity with a touch of Nail Varnish .
Comments- Another From the SMWSA , a quite pleasant Clynelish , i found out later that i'd had this at a tasting in October .

At this point Willie and his wife appeared and we had one last dram together , a 76.60 i think , not a bad little Mortlach . We had a wee natter then headed off our seperate ways .

So onto New Years Eve , we had a light lunch in the Vaults (Soup and Sarnie) , a couple of drinks , i had a 35.25 (see Dec 2008 Whiff 0f ) and a......

9.46
Year-Apr 1991 Age- 17yo ABV- 56.8%
Colour- Pale Gold
Nose- Pepper with Creamy Toffee . Lemon icing .
Taste- Really Citric (Lemon) and peppery , quite Strong tasting , becomes very sweet with water .
Finish- Long and Peppery , with water long and Confectioners Sugar .
Comments- From a Refill Hogshead , 1 of 247 Bottles . A relly nice Glen Grant , Really Strong tasting even with Water !

So off we went to put on our Posh Togs for the main event.....

We've always loved the Vaults , when ever anyone says which is the best place to go off the two in Edinburgh , we always say that for the atmosphere and the class of it , the Vaults is better than Queen Street . Tonight the Vaults was fantastic ! They'd altered the tables , moved out the Settees , had a small dance floor fitted and it looked even better . When we arrived we were shown to our table and given a glass of Bubbly (Tasted very nice though it's not my thing) . When everyone was there the nights entertainment commenced . First of all there was a speech by Shhhir Shhhean of Scotland , a brief history of Scotland by a very good double . Then were were served the buffet , boy what a buffet it was , you could have as much or as little as you wanted......of everything !

Starters......

Chicken Liver Pate with Plum Jam

Whisky cured Salmon with Herb salad and New Make Bloody Mary dressing

Red Onion , Goats Cheese and Sun Blushed Tartlet with Black Olive Tapenade

Mains.....

Roast Rib of Beef

Roast Scottish Highland Lamb

Roast Corn-fed Chicken

Roast Gammon

Served with Roast and Creamed Potatoes , Parsnips and Vichy Carrots

Puddings.....

Whisky and Orange Cheesecake

Hot Scotch Chocolate Mousse with Vanilla Mascarpone

Wild Berry Cranchan

To say the food was out of this world was an understatement ! As good as any Restaurant we've been to ! The Chef s certainly kept the reputation the Vaults has for good food up !!!!

After we'd all been fed , North Sea Gas done their first set of the night , a rousing hour of foot stomping , finger tapping , sing along songs . They had a break while we were given the Vaults Whisky of the year , an Aultmore . Then NSG resumed to take us through the New Year , only interrupted by a Piper seeing in the New Year . At 1am we were given a bowl of Hearty Cock-a-leekie Soup , not long after we departed for our bed after possibly the best Hogmanay we've ever had . A lot of people Bauked at the price , we must admit it was at out r limit but by god it was worth it ! And we'll be back Next Year ! Thanks to Doug , Nick , the Kitchen Staff and the Bar Staff for making it a wonderful night .

Almost forget the whisky......didn't keep a list but from memory the following were tried , G5.1 , 53.??? (12yo Caol Ila i didn't get the number of) , 44.38 (Craigellachie) , 121.16 ( a surprising decent Arran.....shock !) , A 30.57 (Glenrothes ) , An old bottling Glen Scotia i didn't get the number of and something else i just can't remember !

 

 

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