So, what are you drinking now?

Last night (Friday), the USA director of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society was in town with Dave Broom for a reading from Dave's new book, A Sense of Place, combined with a whisky tasting aligned with stories in the book, and a book signing. We had the following drams (3 were Society whiskies and 3 were original bottlings. They were tasted in the order below because the stories in his book start in Orkney and travel basically southwest ending on Islay.)

Highland Park SMWS 4.346 (12 year - Oct. 2009) "Savoury and sweet" - After 8 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 62.9% ABV. It makes more sense that we started with this dram when you know that it's an unpeated Highland Park.

Clynelish SMWS 26.210 (9 year - Oct. 2012) "A yum, fun and waxy one" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 60.1% ABV. When pouring this one into the glasses for the event, you could smell the bouquet throughout the venue. A heavenly dram!

Glenfiddich 18 Year Old - 43% ABV. Combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso casks. I was surprised at how well this one held its own at 43% even after cask strength whisky.

Isle of Raasay Single Malt (Lightly Peated) - 46.4% ABV. This is only the 2nd time that I've tried this whisky. It is so good even at its young age (It's NAS, but the oldest whisky in the batch is just 4 years). Sweet peat, grassy and dark fruits.

Ardnamurchan SMWS 149.6 (7 year - Sep. 2015) "Recipe for success" - 1st-fill American oak Oloroso butt - 61.3% ABV. I have tasted several of Ardnamurchan releases over the years. While they were all fine, none of them blew me away. This cask changed that. What an absolutely stunning whisky. It was hands down everyone's favorite last night.

Bruichladdich Islay Barely 2013 - 8 years - ex-European & ex-American oak casks - 50% ABV. Barley sourced from 7 Islay farms. Notes of fresh fruits, marzipan, spice and vanilla. It was interesting to have a non-peated whisky after the Raasay and the Ardnamurchan, but since those were lightly peated, this one held its own as well.

What an absolutely awesome event! After the event, I had the privilege of going to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant with Dave Broom and a few other folks where we had a couple of Mezcal Margaritas. (I forgot to ask what Mezcal they used.)

After a long day of being a tourist in Rome, we congregated in one of the rooms and finished off this bottle. It was started yesterday while I was asleep successfully fending off jet lag.

From Saturday through yesterday (Monday), my family and I were at another family members property in the extreme northeast part of Washington state for a short family vacation / get together. I mention that only because there is no internet or cell service at the property, so this post captures the whisky shared and consumed over the past few days.

Saturday night;

Bainbridge Organic Distillers Battle Point Two Islands Islay Cask Wheat Whiskey - 43% ABV

Glen Scotia SMWS 93.177 (8 year - March 2013) "Crossing the event horizon" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.6% ABV

Bainbridge Organic Distillers Battle Point Wheat Whiskey Barrel Proof - 67.3% ABV

Revisited the Glen Scotia SMWS 93.177 (8 year - March 2013) "Crossing the event horizon" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.6% ABV and the Bainbridge Organic Distillers Battle Point Two Islands Islay Cask Wheat Whiskey - 43% ABV.

Sunday night;

The Irishman Single Malt Irish Whiskey - 40% ABV

Glenfarclas SMWS 1.265 (9 year - Jan. 2012) "OMA at the cinema" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.3% ABV

Kavalan Oloroso Sherry Oak - 46% ABV

Glen Scotia SMWS 93.177 (8 year - March 2013) "Crossing the event horizon" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.6% ABV

After getting home last night, I finished off the following bottles (very little left in each);

Speyburn SMWS 88.27 (12 year - Feb. 2009) "The nutcracker" - Refill ex-Bourbon hogshead - 54.0% ABV

Mannochmore SMWS 64.127 (12 year - May 2009) "Going luxe" - After 9 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred into a 1st-fill custom toasted American and European oak barrique cask - 58.4% ABV.

@bwmccoy - some nice drams in beautiful surroundings! What more could a man ask for?

Cheers!

We visited Sorrento today, and had a stop in a shop that makes limoncello.

We were practically assaulted by employees with samples of their wares… original limoncello (35%), melon cello and limoncello cream liqueur, frozen candies containing limoncello and melon cello, and other treats. my favourite was the limoncello. They didn’t seem to care much that my kids, niece and nephew were under 18.

I came away with 3 100 bottles of the three beverages, as well as a 500 cc bottle of the limoncello cream that we have to finish before our flight out tomorrow. With 7 of us drinking… we can do it.

Last night, finished off a couple of bottles that didn't have much left in them.

Auchroisk SMWS 95.58 (15 year - Jan. 2006) "Sunny beach with hot sand" - After 13 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 2nd-fill ex-port barrique cask - 59.1% ABV.

Westland Distillery (Seattle, WA) Cask # 6140 Single cask release, cask strength 7 year (4 year New American Oak + 3 year Pineau des Charentes brandy cask) 50.5% ABV.

It’s our last night in Edinburgh and I’m having a bit of a sample of a whisky I purchased at Cadenhead’s. I had already purchased a full bottle of 11 Year Old Caol Ila aged in a single Palo Cortado cask (46% abv) when the fellow working said “if you like the big peated stuff try this”. It was this blended malt (pictured) and he couldn’t tell me exactly what it was but he said “If you guessed it was a vatting of peated Bunnahabhain and Caol Ila, aged between 8 and 11 years, I wouldn’t tell you you’re wrong.” It’s bottled at 58% abv but drinks much much easier than one would think.

Next up, a blended malt aged in a first fill Oloroso sherry cask from Cadenhead’s, bottled at 54.3% abv. Zero sulphur, absolutely lovely.

Had to work really late tonight writing employee evaluations. Even though I'm exhausted, I decided to have one quick dram before bed, but it had to be a good one.

Caol Ila SMWS 53.276 (6 year - Mar. 2012) "Ein kleiner deutscher samurai" - Refill ex-bourbon hogshead - 61.2% ABV.

This is quintessential Caol Ila and one of the best that I've had from this distillery. Notes of ash, brine, damp earth, burnt twigs. It is stunning! May have to have a little more.

Last night I finally got around to doing a little Edradour exploration.

The Equinox and Solstice (cheers @Timp) is a mix of two bourbon barrels of differing ages and the SV has spent all its life in an olorosso cask - check that colour! The snifter is a mix of the two: roughly 60:40 in favour of the bourbon.

Verdict: all three were lovely but my favourite was probably the SV. The mix was very good, and I suspect more marrying time would have been helpful, but it was much spicier than the other two on their own, surprisingly.

Can't put my finger on it, but Edradour seems to have a very yeasty, almost rum like note that takes a bit of getting used to. They also get much better with air. I think one could fairly call it an 'old-fashioned' whisky.

@bwmccoy Nice. What lake is that?

@OdysseusUnbound I hope you are enjoying your time in the motherland. (Of course you are).

@BlueNote - Thanks! It’s not a lake. It’s the Pend Oreille River near Ione, WA which is very close to the Canadian border in the NE part of the state.

For happy hour tonight, my wife and I had a couple of G & T’s. The first was made with Luxardo London Dry Gin, but I killed off that bottle, so the second one was made with Empress 1908 Gin which was also a bottle kill.

Later, I had a couple of drams that were part of a Cadenheads Cask Strength sample pack that friends brought back from their trip to Scotland for Springbank school earlier this year.

Annandale 8 year 53.6% ex-bourbon barrel. Nose: cereal, earthy and syrup. Palate: toasted oats, peat and rye crackers with grassy and ash finish. This was the first time trying anything from Annandale. It was stunning! Would purchase this one for sure!

Ardmore 12 year 55.7% ex-bourbon barrel. Nose: barbecue smoked over an applewood fire with citrus sweetness. Palate: honey and macaroon with burnt embers and toasted marshmallow finish. This was a very good Ardmore, but it wasn’t as good as the Annandale.

Finishing the night with Glen Scotia SMWS 93.177 (8 year - March 2013) "Crossing the event horizon" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.6% ABV.

@RianC - I love Edradour. It can be hit and miss from bottle to bottle, but when it’s on the good side of the extremes, it can be amazing. I find it to be a meaty dram which I attribute to their use of worm tubs.

We hit The Malt Room in Inverness tonight. I had quite a few drams, including:

• Balblair 15 Year: standard OB, very nice with vanilla and melon.
• Ledaig 14 Year CS Single Sherry Cask (approx. 57% abv). This IB was absolutely incredible. It’s a perfect mix of sherry fruit and ashy smoke. This was my favourite dram of the evening.
• Gordon & McPhail Ledaig 20 Year CS Single Cask (approx 58% abv) refill Sherry Cask. Not as peaty as the 14 year but deeper pitched overall with darker fruits. Still excellent.
• Ardnamurchan 10 Year Berry Bros., 47% abv. I’ve never tried this distillery before so this was a lovely introduction. It’s very fruity but also has some peat notes to it. I can’t wait to see what else they release.

The European local liquors tour continues. The Limoncello from Sorrento was the first. 2 nights ago I had some ouzo in Santorini.

Today we came to Naxos. By far one of the nicest days of the trip because of a very nice local beach.

After the beach we went for dinner. Nice dinner too. Afterward I stopped in a small liquor store and picked up some orange (colour) Kytron.

Kytron is produced only on Naxos. It is apparently distilled from the leaves of a citrus plans. It comes in 3 types. Clear (strongest and least sweet, 40%), green (more sweet and less strong, 30%), and orange colour (sweetest and least strong, though bottled at 40%). I picked up the orange one (felt it would appeal to most of us here). It is VERY sweet.

Tomorrow we are going to the town where it is made and among other things will visit the distillery. I hope to try all three and possibly bring some back home for an eclectic tasting.

Yesterday, I had a couple of Black Manhattans made with Maker's Mark 46.

Last night, I was in the mood for some sherry, well, not actual sherry, rather sherry influenced whisky.

Glenburgie SMWS 71.87 (10 year - May 2011) "Cowboys at dinner" - After 8 years in an Oloroso butt, transferred into a heavy charred 1st-fill puncheon - 58.2% ABV.

Barley roast and yeast type makes all the difference. These were all so very different. It'll be interesting to see what a few years in oak will do..

@RianC nice Edradour comparison and I agree with your findings. I enjoy my sig bottle more too and interestingly also got that yeast note from it , which I got as a hint of marmite. Cheers..

@YakLord thank you for your post! Oh yes, every single detail can make a HUGE difference in the final product.

Greetings from Bend, Oregon. I’m here for a few days due to attending my company’s Board of Directors annual retreat.

At dinner tonight, I had a few Manhattan’s made with Buffalo Trace bourbon.

After getting back to my room, I’m having a dram of Glen Scotia SMWS 93.177 (8 year - March 2013) "Crossing the event horizon" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.6% ABV.

Tonight’s sunset…

It’s our last day in Scotland and I had to pop by Glasgow’s “The Pot Still” pub for a few whiskies. First up was an official bottling of Torabhaig, Skye’s newest distillery. I didn’t get a picture but the whisky was delightful. It’s quite similar to a young Talisker with a bit of attitude. I’ll be keeping my eye out for Torabhaig. Next was a dram of what I believe to be Bowmore from SMWS. It’s aged 20 years and bottled at a high(ish) strength. The smoke is a bit more subdued than the Torabhaig but it’s quite complex, sweet and floral on the finish. Delightful.

@OdysseusUnbound - Nice couple of drams! I’ve never tried Torabhaig, but glad to hear that it’s delightful and sounds like a quality dram!

I can confirm the SMWS bottle you had is indeed a Bowmore.

@bwmccoy - amazing view! I've recently been binging a YouTube channel that tells real life stories about strange goings on in in the forests of Oregon ... Take care!

@OdysseusUnbound - Nice one! We keep threatening to have a family trip up there but haven't got round to it yet. did you get to see much of the West coast and islands? Stunning!

Now, when are you posting the picture of you in a kilt?!?

Opened a Mortlach 9 by IBs Simply Whisky last night.

lovely Mortlach, meaty nose but a little thin on the palate and a touch of alcohol nip. I suspect a decanting and some air will really help. Rare to see younger Mortlachs, but perhaps it's one of those that need a few extra years in the cask? I'm going to do some experimenting with this and the SV 15 I have on the go ...

@RianC I wanted to buy a kilt but my wife wasn’t having it. We spent a few days in Oban and on Skye but that’s about it for the West. Coordinating with 8 people when none of them want to drive (my brother did most of the driving with my brother in law doing the trickier single track roads) and all of them want to see different things is quite the feat. Luckily I’m my family’s finance department and my wife is logistics.

Last night (Thursday), had a couple of Manhattans made with Buffalo Trace bourbon with dinner.

Tonight (Friday), after 2 different presentations to our Board of Directors, went on a “booze tour” as part of the organized activities of the Board Retreat. We went to a local distillery, a brewery and a winery. At the distillery (Oregon Spirits), we had a sip of their Limoncello as a welcome drink. During the tour, we tried their new make rye. It was pretty good. After the tour, we sampled their bourbon and their rye. Very nice tour and the whisky was very nice as well. Didn’t buy anything, but really enjoyed what they are doing with their products.

After dinner, a few of my co-workers and one of our board members hung out by the fire pit and drank some of the 12 different whiskies I brought with me to share. I offered them a bourbon, 2 o different wheat whiskies, an Irish whisky, a Taiwanese whisky and several Society whiskies. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Personally, I had the following;

Hirsch The Horizon Straight Bourbon Whiskey - 46% ABV

Arran Quarter Cask - 56.2% ABV.

Arran Sherry Cask - 55.8% ABV.

Kavalan Oloroso Sherry Oak - 46% ABV

Highland Park SMWS 4.346 (12 year - Oct. 2009) "Savoury and sweet" - After 8 years ex-bourbon hogshead, transferred to a 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 62.9% ABV.

Glen Scotia SMWS 93.177 (8 year - March 2013) "Crossing the event horizon" - 1st-fill ex-bourbon barrel - 58.6% ABV.

Picture is sunset over Mount Hood.

@RianC - Thanks. Bend is more desert with Ponderosa Pines. Not really the forest from my perspective. Will have to check out the videos you mentioned!