Rediscovering 'standard' whiskies

Partially forced by the lack of space in my whisky-cabinet, i've decided to buy a little bit less in the coming periode and finish more open bottles that are less then 1/4 of the bottle.

Afgelopen dagen de volgende gedronken:

Bruichladdich, 10yo, first edition botteling

- Fresh, young, vital, citrus, fruit, wood





Glenlivet Nadurra

- Vanilla, heather, cinnamon, applepie

20-years oldies and fishy-cheese...

Today was the Usquebaugh Society (US) tasting in honour of our 20 year existence, the biggest whisky society in the Netherlands.

7 delicious whiskies were put in the line-up and a surprise in between. The line-up was as following, with small notes of my opinion:

The starter was a Bell's 20yo from the 80's 80, 43%
N: Nice, raisins, vanilla
T: Warm, the more sips I take, the less attractive it gets

Dalwhinnie 20yo 1977/1997
N: fruity
T: Hmmmmmm (to distracted to make notes...)

GlenDronach 20yo 1989/2010 (53,2% OB, PX Sherry Cask 3315)
N: Chocolate, dried fruit, balsamico vinegar
T: Fruity, full, warm

Rosebank 20yo (57% OB, White label red letters, Zenith impart Italy)
N: Wax, parafine
T: Wood, grain

Brora 20yo 1975/1995 (59,1% UD Rare Malts)
N: dishwas (not the melon-stuff), nutty
T: fruitcandy, bitter on the second sip, long finish

Port Ellen 20yo 1978/1998 (60,9%, UD Rare Malts)
N: flowers, heather
T: warm, oily, stays on the tongue, not in the throath

Talisker 20yo 1981/2002 (62% OB, Sherry, 9000 Bts)
N: Sherry, herbs, sulphur
T: way less then the nose, fire in the mouth (sulphur?)

The surprise was a GlenDronach 20yo, but from the 70's. There was a limited sample available, so it became a table-glass-share. In the nose, the modern variety was better, but in taste the older one was superieur.

Inbetween there were delicious snacks, among which Parma-ham, old chees and smoked Cheddar. The smoked Cheddar could have passed as smoked fish, when smelled blind, and I wasn't the only one that did think that !!

Wandering into Bourbon-country...

Decided to try some bourbons and other American whiskies. Not my normal stuff, but curious about it nontheless. So ordered samples at Master of Malt and they arrived today, now let the tastings begin....

The whole list of samples I received today:

Glenrothes 15 Year Old 1994 - Un-Chillfiltered (Signatory)
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon 12 Year Old
Cabin Still Bourbon
Allt-á-Bhainne 12 Year Old 1996 (Murray McDavid)
Bowmore 7 Year Old 2002 (Murray McDavid)
Highland Park 16 Year Old Calvados Finish (Alchemist)
Longrow 7 Year Old Gaja Barolo Cask Finish
Hazelburn 8 Year Old
Auchentoshan 16 Year Old - Duthies (WM Cadenhead)
Laphroaig 11 Year Old - Duthies (WM Cadenhead)
Bernheim Original
Heaven Hill 4 Year Old
Corner Creek
Clynelish 13 Year Old 1995 - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)
Auchroisk 29 Year Old 1979 - Cask Strength Collection (Signatory)
Kilbeggan
Dailuaine 16 Year Old - Flora and Fauna
Buffalo Trace
Caperdonich 12 Year Old 1997 - Provenance (Douglas Laing)
Cameronbridge 1995 - Single Grain Collection (Signatory)
Clynelish 16 Year Old 1992 - Un-Chillfiltered (Signatory)