EPIC TASTINGS!

@Spitfire One of the advantages of living in a large city like Houston is that we get allocations for all the rare and special edition whiskies. Blade and Bow 22yr was a one time release last year. Taylor has started to release a different one off unique bourbon each year. Last year was a bottle called cured oak and this year is seasoned wood.

The seasoned wood reminds me of a pappy 15 or a more refined Weller 107.

Of the bottles we tried last night, the Weller 2015 and Taylor Barrel Proof were my favorites. The Seasoned Wood was a close third. That said when you are having whiskey of that quality everything is amazing, or as the thread title states, EPIC.

On Saturday we tasted at @Victor’s sister’s house (who graciously provided us spirit from her personal stash, and also graciously fed us). We had a number of drams with only a few overlaps. We started with Gin moved to Genever, Brandy, Armagnac, Cognac, Rye, Peated Scotch, and a few Bourbons. It was a crazy romp across the globe through spirits. I would love to go back with my wife!

Here is what we drank between 1pm and 7pm on Saturday afternoon.

Gin

Junipero Gin 49.3%

Hayman’s Old Tom Gin 40% - I was impressed, and now want some.

Plymouth Sloe Gin 25% - Very fun and thick. I want it for cocktails.

Genever – a category I was shocked by.

Boomsma Fine Old Genever 40%

Bols Genever Amsterdam 42%

Fillers oude graanjenever 5 jaar oud 38%

Fillers oude graanjenever 8 jaar oud 50% - the overall agreed favorite

Brandy Category:

R. Jelinek 10yo Plumb Brandy Gold Slivovitz 50%

Stara Sokolova Old Falcon’s Plumb Brandy 40%

Maison Surrenne Petite Champagne Cognac 40.2%

Old Havana Germain-Robin Alambic Brandy 40%

Coast Road Reserve Germain-Robin California Brandy 40%

Chateau De Laubade Bas Armagnac X. O. 40%

Marc De Cigare Marc Brandy 46%

Germain-Robin Apple Brandy 40%

Belle de Brillet Pear Liqueur 30%

Non-peated scotch:

Glendronach CS 55.2% Batch 2

Clynelish 63.8% (Signatory) 7yo 2008- 2015

Rye:

Willett Single Barrel Rye 54.5% 2yo (bottle opened since July 2015)

Willett Single Barrel Rye 54.5% 2yo (bottle opened that day)

Willett Single Barrel Rye 55.7% 2yo (bottle opened since July 2015)

Willett Single Barrel Rye 55.7% 2yo (bottle opened that day) – I find the differences fascinating.

Pikesville Rye 110 Proof 55% - very good

Peated Scotch: (I didn’t re-taste many of these as they were duplicates from the previous day, but I tasted all that were new)

Ballechin 10yo 46%

Ballechin #5 Marasala Cask 46%

Kilchoman Single Cask 3010/2007 sherry cask 57.4%

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2014 51.4%

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2015 51.5%

Laphroaig 1998 (14yo Signatory) 56.2%

Ardbeg Uigeadail 54.2% (17/11/2015)

Ardbeg Dark Cove 46.5% (09/02/2016)

Ardbeg Corryvreckan 57.1% (10/11/2014) – I love this batch; @Victor is not a fan.

Ardbeg Corryvreckan 57.1% L11 279 – We both agreed that this was very good.

Random Liqueurs: These are all exercises in “over-the-top-ness”

Clear Creek Distillery Eau De Vie of Douglas Fir 47.74%

Hum Botanical Spirit Liqueur 35%

Zirbenz Stone Pine Liqueur of the Alps 35%

St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram 22.5%

Bourbon:

Pappy Van Winkle 15yo 53.5% (2010?) – It tastes similar to my bottle of 2013.

Vintage Bourbon 17yo 47%

Abraham Bowman Port Finished 50% (04-30-04 to 09-06-12 so 8yo)

Abraham Bowman Port Finished 50% (03-30-01 to 08-17-13 so 12yo)

And I alone tasted the piece de resistance (in my opinion):

Johnnie Walker 12yo Black Label 86.8 Proof (c. early 1970’s)

I saw this bottle immediately when the door of the first liquor cabinet opened. Of all the bottles the JW Black haunts me still. The complexity from this whisky distilled during the 1960’s is amazing.

So many spirits were consumed. I am extremely grateful to @Victor’s sister for hosting, to @Dramlett for driving and keeping us safe, and for @Victor’s educated insight and suggestions on what to drink next!

@Nock that's a phenomenal line up from @Victor and @Dramlett

I'll be at the Sydney Whisky Show this weekend, hope to have an epic tasting with 5 friends

I can't hold it in any longer. On May 22, spilling into May 23, I experienced one of my most epic tastings ever. This was THE ONTARIO SUMMIT 2016, the inaugural meeting of whisky enthusiasts at a resort in Horseshoe Valley. I will leave it to individuals to confirm or deny their participation but I personally would like to thank @Victor and his family for hosting, and @Paddockjusge for allowing me to use the sofabed in his room.

I was not tasked with compiling the "official list" of what was sampled, and I did sit a few out, such as the Amrut Cask Strength and Peated Cask Strength that were made available, as well as a few bourbon and rye blends prepared by some members, but the following is a pretty accurate record of what I DID try over the course of about 11 hours:

1. Wiser's Legacy, followed by the three components of @Paddockjudge's legacy blending exercise: Highwood 90/20, Deanston Virgin oak, Lot 40 (2012) 100% rye, and, of course, the resulting blend. Always an educational experience.

2. Wiser's Last Barrels 45%

3. Rheault Distillery single malt, aged for 2.5 years in ex-JD barrels and then purchased by @paddockjudge along with a small toasted barrel, aged a little and transported to the summit in the wood. About 55% minus whatever the angels of Sudbury take.

4. Last Mountain Distillery Canadian Private Reserve 40%.

5. St. Laurent Gin 43%

6. Piger Henricus gin from Quebec 43%

7. Teeling Poitín 61.5%

8. Mystery Spirit which turned out to be Kinman Kaolang at 58%, my first Sorghum spirit since 2005 when I MAY have tried some in China.

9. Knappogue Castle 16 YO 40% (Twin wood). If it weren't so expensive I would consider a bottle.

10. Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey 43.2%

11. Writer's Tears CS 2012 release 52%

12. Redbreast 12 YO Cask Strength 57.4%.

13. Masterson's Barley (unmalted) 46%

14. @Paddockjudge's bourbon blend.

15. Eagle Rare 17 YO 45%

16. George T. Stagg 2012 71.5%

17. Abraham Bowman 17 YO 73.75%

18. William Larue Wellwr 2012 61.7%

19. Pikesville Rye 6 YO 55%

20. Thomas Handy 2010 63.45%

21. Old Potrero Batch N 100% malted rye 51.2 % - there were other batches also passed around.

22. Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof 66.7% - my first taste of JD ever.

23. New Zealand Doublewood Single Malt 10 YO 40%

24. Zacbé Mezcal reposado 4 month old 39.6%

25. Hibiki 17 YO 43%

26. Pike Creek Double Barrel 10 YO 40%

27. Nikka Taketsuru 17 YO 43.7%

28. Mackmyra "Mack" 40%

29. Mackmyra "Swedish Oak" 46.1%

30. Mackmyra Brukwhisky 41.4%

31. Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel 51.5%

32. Highwood 25YO Anniversary (Stampede) 40%

33. Benromach 100/10 57%

34. Big Peat 46% - I have finally consumed a molecule of Port Ellen!!!!!!!

35. Big Peat X-mas edition 54.9%

36. The Ileach Peaty Cask Strength single malt 58%

37. Laphroaig Cairdeas200 anniversary (2015) 51.5%

38. Ardbeg Dark Cove Committee release 55%

39. Booker's 2015-01 64.35%

There was a lot of good eating going on as well, including Montreal-style wood oven bagels, with cream cheese and lox. Some excellent cured sausages and cheeses from Quebec, dill gherkins, some pâté, crackers... and the rest I can't remember.

In total about a dozen participants and one really great afternoon-evening-night-early morning!

Some great liquid in that list.. Envious

Nozinan I echo sorren on this one. I'm deeply envious of one of the finest line-ups line-ups of spirits I've seen!

@Nozinan, thanks for the list. I have been eagerly waiting to hear about what all was consumed at this SUMMIT. It looks like a great list. It sounds like a wonderful experience. Cheers to all the fortunate participants!

I can confirm that the whisky tasting in Ontario was unbelievable. @victor and @dramlette, along with Victor's sister were very gracious hosts, and the other participants were all very generous with their contributions. I tried a multitude of things I had never had, and some I never thought I would get to try. A fantastic group of people, and definitely looking forward to tasting with everyone again in the future!

Father's day was last weekend. Does anyone need a better excuse for an EPIC TASTING? Jim Beam Harvest Collection - Six 11yr bourbons all from a different recipe. A great experiment for understanding how variations in the grain bill affect flavor, body, and finish. Full Lineup: Brown Rice, Rolled Oat, Red Wheat, High Rye, Triticale, Six Row Barley

Knob Creek 2001 14yr bourbon, Batch 1 and Batch 2 Jefferson's Ocean Cask Strength Orphan Barrel Lost Prophet 22yr Blood Oath Bourbon Pact 1 Blood Oath Bourbon Pact 2

@newreverie,

That's it, I'm moving to Houston! Stellar line up, again.

THE ONTARIO SUMMIT 2016 - DAY TWO.

Nothing could match Day One (thank goodness), but that didn't deter @Nelom, @Dramlette, @Victor, @Maddie, and me from enjoying a stellar line up of Canadiand favourites.

Our day began with a field trip to the neighbouring town of Orillia where we visited Mariposa Market. This excursion was attended by Day One survivors @JasonHambrey, @Nozinan, @Pudge72, @mscottydunc, @Nelom, @Dramlette, @Maddie, @Victor, and me (please forgive me if I have left out anyone... Maryse and BobbyQVDN had left earlier). A veritable cornucopia of sweets and deli treats awaited us; baked goods, fried goods, everything was really good! Donuts ,danishes, and fritters, each one nearly as big as a dinner plate. Pub fare and more.

Thank yous and good-byes were said as half of our group departed for home after lunch. The other half retired for a well deserved time-out.

Proceedings were resumed in the early evening with @ Victor reading passages from the bible. Particular attention was given to the writings of James and his interpretation of the state of whisky in Canada.

After a delicious dinner, thank you @Maddie, we resumed our pursuit of liquid gold. Persistence was rewarded as @Dramlette had a Eureka moment. She happily exclaimed that she was understanding Canadian whisky, but who wouldn't with a line up like this!

Gibson's 12, @Nelom was anxious to try it after retrieving one from the LCBO.

Century Lot 15/25, 40% abv

Century 21 YO, 40% abv

Century 25 YO Calgary Stampede 100th Anniversary, 40% abv

Highwood Ninety 20 YO, 45% abv

Canadian Rockies 21 YO, 46% abv

CC Chairman's Select 100% Rye, 40% abv

1910 Pendleton's 12 YO Rye, 40% abv

Alberta Premium 25 YO Rye, 40% abv

Alberta Premium 30 YO Rye, 40% abv

Masterson's 10 YO Rye, 45% abv

Lock Stock & Barrel 13 YO Rye ncf, 50.65% abv

WhistlePig The Boss Hog 13 YO Rye, Barrel Proof 61.6% abv, Barrel 20

Tonight a small intimate gathering turned into a tasting of epic proportions:

A small group of us met at my home for conversation and to enjoy a few drams. Everyone ended up bringing some of the best there was to offer. We made out way throughCanadian to Bourbon to Scotch. I may be missing some side tastings, of which there were very few (such as @paddockkjuge's Rye vatting and @Talexander's tasting of Benromach 100/10), but essentially this is the order we followed:

1. Seagrams V.O. - an auction bottle with a seal that had 1974 on it - drinking a little bit of tasty history.

2. Crown Royal Cornerstone Blend - yes, I sat this one out.

3. Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel (51.5%) - quite a nice Canadian - take note producers...North of 50% this stuff can be excellent!

4. Alberta Premium 30 YO, 40%. Always a welcome addition to a tasting. One of the best Canadian Ryes out there.

5. Barterhouse Kentucky Bourbon 20 YO 45.1% - a Diageo Orphan barrel.

6. Blanton's Gold 51.5% Barrel 828, Rick 29, bottle 86. This one has great potential.... review in the future.

7. Lambertus 10 YO single grain... WHAT? Yes, this one was provided to @Talexander and @Robert99 by request, and there was agreement with previous reviews. When I was gassing my bottles I was asked why I preserved this one, and the answer was " so that it won't accidentally get better...).

8. Gordon and MacPhail Speymalt Macallan 9 Yo 43%. If all young 43% malts were like this I wouldn't be so hooked on cask strength.

9. Arran SMWS 121.76 - 12 YO bourbon matured CS. One of the hits of the evening.

10. Arran 13 YP sherry matured axclusive for SAQ 55.6% Quite nice, and mixed very nicely 1:1 with the previous scotch.

11. Bladnoch 11 YO sherry cask matured 55% - open at least 2 years and still fantastic, and after tonight, down to the last dram..

12. Amrut Khadambam -Batch 5 (July 2014)M- I need to start keeping track of all the Amrut expressions I have had - another winner!

13. Ardbeg Uigeadail - a 2015 batch - well-received.

14. Kilchoman Loch orm sherry cask matured 4 YO 46% - Probably should have preceeded the Uigeadail but worked out nicely.

15. Ardbeg Supernova 2015 committee release, 54.3% - all I can say is....WOW!

16. Octomore 4.2 Comus 167 ppm 61% - sautern finish works beautifully.

17. Octomore 6.1 167 ppm 57% - another Octomore winner.

18. Booker's 2015-04 -we needed a Booker's to go with the butter tarts from Sudbury that were their usual excellence. Classically, 2015-01 goes better with the tarts but fewer people had tried the -04.

After some coffee and conversation to wind things down we all said "au revoir", as the intent is to repeat this epic experience in the future. A great time was had by all.

@TAlexander, @Robert99 and @Paddockjudge, thanks again for the awesome company!

@Nozinan, good going guys! Whisky is important, but people joining together are more important.

I only wish I had been there to have given you all the opportunity to have tasted two different bottles of the Lambertus 10 yo Single Grain Whisky side by side!

@Victor I thought you liked us!

@Nozinan,

thank you for hosting what turned out to be a terrific session!

After that epic session I am going back to work to recuperate.

@Nozinan Thank you for all. That was a fantastic night with a fantastic host. It is fun to discover new whiskies with people who knows them well and appreciate them. I also discovered a wonderful chocolate, Trader's Joe, that I will have to look for went I go to the USA.

@Paddockjudge Your the best ambassador Canadian Whisky can have. We discovered that our palates are quite close and I do appreciate The great Canadian better under your guidance. I would buy the Alberta Premium 30 yo if it was available and I would run to buy your special vatting of their rye ( the best rye nose I ever had).

@Talexander It was nice to meet you. I have to say a big thanks for the Supernova, without joking, it is out of this world. More seriously, it is in an older style of Ardbeg with less vanilla and a sweetness more in balance with the smoke and minerality that suits me just perfectly.

@Victor My only consolation for you not being with us is that you had the opportunity to taste the unfathomable New Zealand Co 10 yo in Barrie.

It isn't always about setting records or large groups or drams.

Tonight I had a relaxed tasting, but epic it was indeed. @paddockjudge had to come into town for an unrelated matter and needed a place to stay.

My wife insisted that we take him out for dinner (she objects to the idea that all we do when we get together is drink whisky), and so we went for Beijing Duck, which, although probably among the best in Toronto, didn't hold a candle to the duck I tasted in Beijing. So THAT wasn't the epic tasting...

After dinner we came home and opened the Caol Ila 17 I was "stuck with" after the Glenmorangie Signet fiasco (see "steal of a deal"). We spent close to a half an hour nosing this, warming and cooling, and having a great conversation, before even tasting it. This was a constantly evolving complex whisky that I'm looking forward to getting to know over time. @paddockjudge said it's a "must have" whisky (because it's an unpeated Islay at CS) so I "must gave" him a sample of it.

The fact that we were only 2 allowed us to focus the conversation and spend a good amount of time on each dram without feeling pressured or rushed.

After the Caol Ila we assembled (between we two), 5 of the 6 "epic" Booker's 2015 expressions, all but the 3, which we were not able to source. We tasted them in reverse order, which, in hindsight, was probably the best way to do it to see the contrasting flavours. I did not finish any of my drams, and poured the remainders off into my trusty master of malt 30 cc bottle to marry. I will enjoy that (I hope) another day.

Finally, we lingered (for about an hour) on a small pour each of the last dram. @paddockjudge allowed me the honour of choosing it, and I chose one I don't go to often because it has some unique properties, they don't make it anymore and I have a limited supply to last me a lifetime.

So with fresh glasses and rested palates we enjoyed some Macallan Cask Strength 60.1%.

Truly a subdued, relaxed, and epic night.

@Nozinan, I have all six 2015 bookers unopened for the Texas Summit. I have yet to taste 5 and 6 but i have second bottles of both and plan to get to them before the end of the year. What are your thoughts on batch 2?

This weekend's New Mexico Whiskey Summit should be the Epic Tasting to end all tastings.

Last weekend I hosted an American Whiskey tasting for a work colleague that is leaving the country. The List: 1. Angel's Envy 2. Blade and Bow 3. EH Taylor Small Batch 4. Dickel 9yr hand selected barrel 5. Willet Rye 4yr Single Barrel 6. Balcones Brimstone

It was a very casual tasting by my usual standards, but I wanted something to introduce guests to the variety of American Whiskey without going overboard on big proof or big flavor. It has been a while since I've had EH Taylor small batch and i'd forgotten just how good it really is.

@Nozinan How would you compared your new Caol Ila to the SMWS @Talexander brought at your house last summer.

@Robert99 You'd have to refresh my memory...I don't recall any SMWS Caol Ila in my house, ever. But it might ave been a blackout from too much of it.

This one is marketed as unpeated though the essence of peat is there. The NAS OB CS one I tried in 2014 was amazing (same batch i believe that I gave you a bottle of). If I've tried any others I've forgotten them, which would be a shame.

@Nozinan Sorry,my mistake. I was refering to the Arran from SMWS. I remembered thinking that it was not like an Arran for me but closer to what I imagine a light Caol Ila would taste therefore my mistake when I reacted a bit too fast to your comment without looking at my notes. Anyway, I think my question is still valid even if it's not from the same distillery, or maybe you can refered to another dram to which it is close as I am simply looking for a whisky to compare it to.

@Robert99

Yes, I remember the Arran very well. I "researched" it a lot in order to determine if I should be buying a CS at the LCBO. I was not impressed with any of the OBs I tasted.

If my memory serves me correctly (and I'm on call so I can't test my hypothesis), I found the Arran to be effervescent with a little more citrusy notes, and the Caol Ila unpeated a little deeper with less effervescence.

I present the over 20 flight. Orphan Barrel Barterhouse 20 Orphan Barrel Rhetoric 21 Orphan Barrel Lost Prophet 22 Blade and Bow 22 Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23 Parkers Heritage 24

EPIC!!!!!!!!

@Nozinan Now that is what I call an epic evening

Jan. 2 2017

I was not expecting this to be a epic tasting but it ended up that way. 9 friends from a number of backgrounds going back as far as high school and from as far away as Germany.

We began at around 430 pm and wound up around midnight. Unlike some events where quantity was a big player, we took our time with each dram.

As the first photo shows, the line-up was as planned:

• Writer's Tears CS 2012 52% ABV

• Amrut (unpeated) CS batch 15

• Stagg Jr (Batch 7 - thanks @Nock for identifying the batch) - surprisingly enjoyed by a crowd that tends to shun bourbons.

• Benromach 10/100 57% - there was not enough for me to have some but everyone elsegot to taste the heel of this fantastic bottle.

• Aberlour A'Bunadh batch 47 - FINALLY, after such a long wait - one of my top 2 tonight.

• Peat Monster - enjoyed, but probably least of all the drams - I sat this one out.

• Lagavulin 8 48% - At its best since I've opened it.

• Longrow 14 YO CS Burgundy wood. 56.1%. The surprise of the evening. A hint of vegetal sulfur on opening the bottle for the first time, but that dissipated and it opened up amazingly with a bit of water. One of the stars of the evening.

Near the end, someone started talking about Talisker, and before I knew it, I retrieved my bottle of 57 North from the bunker and we opened it. Almost a third of the 1 L bottle was drained (mostly by one of the guests) and enjoyed by the 5 of us still drinking at this point.

In all, a great time, great drams, and great conversation.

And here's the Talisker

This may have been one of the most epic tastings ever…

In anticipation of a surprise birthday party for @TAlexander organized by some very special people in his life, @Maddie and @Victor arrived at my humble home on Friday evening. After a few little errands we sat down to a modest dramming session of:

• Don Julio 1942 Tequila – 40%

• Skinos Mastiha spirit (liqueur) 30%

• Rebel Reserve Batch 649 bourbon – 43.5%

• Home-made Lambanog (spirit from the sap of coconut flowers made in the Philippines) ABV? (I skipped this)

• Tullamore DEW Phoenix blended Irish whiskey – 55%

• Auchentoshan 3 wood – 43%

• Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX – 46%

• Bladnoch 10 YO sherry butt 284 – 55%

• Wiser’s Union 52 (I skipped this, review pending) – 45%

• Gosling’s Rum – 151 proof

• Lemon Hart 151 Rum – now for sure officially my favourite rum ever

The next day, once we had recovered from the night before (it went late), we brunched on some fresh Montreal (baking method) bagels, cream cheese, lox, etc… Then @Paddockjudge joined us and with 3 hours to fill before leaving for the party (and knowing he had to catch up to us) we filled those three hours with:

• Forty Creek Founder’s Reserve – 45% ) – I skipped this one

• Tullamore DEW Phoenix reprise for @paddockjudge’s (and our) sake

• Gosling’s 151 proof rum (I couldn’t resist another nip)

• Lemon Hart 151 Rum - Nothing would have stopped me from another taste

• Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon – 66.6%

• Stagg Jr. – 65%

• Sonnalta PX (again) – 46%

• Solan Number 1 “Full bodied” malt whisky – 42.8%

• Turv Exloo – to paraphrase @Markjedi1, “vile from a vial” – 43%

• Compass Box Peat Monster Reserve - 48.9%

• Lagavulin 8 YO – 48%

The surprise was very pleasant. You can see a still of the moment. I have a great video but I don't know how to attach it. Thanks to Igor of Scotch, there were two excellent malts which we tried and we also got to try a rum:

• SMWS 9.88 A Heart-starter, 25 YO Glen Grant, refill Sherry Butt 55.3%

• SMWS 55.24 Cherry Pie Moonshine, 20 YO Royal Brackla, second fill ex-bourbon hogshead

• Plantation XO 20 YO rum – 40%

There was also a toast to the birthday boy with some very sweet and fruity prosecco.

Although we practically begged him to come with us to have a few drams back at my house, @TAlexander stayed with his family. But he didn’t miss out on much, only:

• Clontarf Blended Irish whiskey – 40% (great name!)

• Laphroaig 25 YO CS – 45.1%

• Laphroaig 10 YO CS, batch 005 (review to come in the future) – 57.2%

• Caol Ila 17 YO “unpeated” Cask Strength – 55.9%

• Caol Ila G&M 10 YO CS – 60.5%

• Compass Box Oak Cross – 43%

• Longrow 14 YO Burgundy Wood – 56.1%

• Glendronach Single Cask 1996 16 YO – 54.0%

• Lagavulin 12 YO 2015 – 56.8%

• Thomas H Handy 2016 release Rye – 63.1%

The tasting was relaxed, and we adjourned at about 330 this am. After brunching on Montreal Smoked Meat at the Centre St. Deli the others were on their way…

I am very thankful for a lot of things that contributed to this epic weekend, including everyone who worked so hard to plan @TAlexander’s party, @Paddockjudge, @Victor and @Maddie for coming from so far, and a special thanks to @Victor for that wonderful bottle of Lemon Hart 151, the rest of which I will be enjoying sparingly for a very, very long time.

Cheers!

건배!

לחיים!

Sounds like you guys had a blast! And that's what whisky is all about: sharing the passion! Very nice indeed.

@Nozinan I think I might have to move to Ontario just so I can party with you guys. Nice one.