More whisky my way!

Ah, now this is looking better and better!
After my absolutely brilliant visit to Midleton, a few different Jamesons and a Redbreast landed at the office the other day.

I must say, though the heavily sherried 18yo is impressive with all it's nutty, chocolatey flavours, I find myself lingering back to the 12yo to get my kicks.
A perfectly balanced dram of bourbon and sherry influence with both the toffee and vanilla from the bourbon mixing gently with the raisiny, fruity notes of the sherry. I've already been on about the eye-opening Jameson experience earlier, but I am liking these more and more.

I am also liking the fact that, yes, I did finally win a bottle of Glen Esk 1971 at Whisky Auction.com. And, not only did I win it,  I also payed less than the same bottle that was auctioned in the previous months! I liiiike...

To make matters slightly better yet, I loved the sound of the doorbell in the office when my single cask 1971 Glendronach was delivered from The Whisky Exchange. As whiskies go, this seems to be one of the top bottlings yet.
You'll have to wait for the tatsting notes for that one, as it'll be opened for my fortieth birthday-tasting I'm planning (now, that's taking the whole cliff-hanger-concept one step further, I know!) but, as Carlsberg so brilliantly put it; Worth waiting for.

Over and out.

AnCnoc AnWinner

Just heard that AnCnoc won the gold medal for 9-12yo whiskies at the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival. Congratulations then - though it is a reasonably good malt, I'm surprised to see it beat other killer malts in that category like Glenfarclas or Talisker.
Looking at the new Glendronach bottlings as well, they ought to be able to put up a good fight as well.

the Whisky Exchange

Following a meeting that got moved around, I suddenly found myself in London with time to spend and money to burn. Well, at least half-true.
So, what to do?
Obviously, head over to The Whisky Exchange on the south side of the Thames.

Was it worth the journey?

You bet.

If you haven't visited the Whisky Exchange, you have yet to experience heaven on earth.
After an hour and a half in the shop, discussing malts, bottlings and distilleries, I left with a bottle of Glendronach 1971.
It will be part of the big "Keep that 40-years crisis at bay" tasting of '71:s I'm planning for the 40:th. So, you'll all just have to wait for the tasting notes a bit longer... but it looks great!

After that shopping session, my body and mind were literally drained, so I had to head down to the river and grab a pint of Shepherd Neame.
Life is, indeed, good.

Sherry, more sherry and Glendronach

A fine day today, and it just became a bit better - the new bottle of Glendronach 18yo (with the virtually impossible subtitle 'allardice') was cracked open to get a sunday night tasting.

And sunday night is looking very good.
If you are a fan of the sherry-casked whisky, which more or less is a criminal offence NOT to be, then you are in for a major treat here.
The nose promises a lot with a wiff of wood, raisins, coffee and, yep, sherry. As it develops it gives you the slightest smoke and a lot more fruit and sweetness. What we in Sweden might at times refer to as skumbanan.
A sip of this proves that the big promises from the nose are to be kept in the mouth. Had Santa Claus existed and been a whisky-distiller, I'm pretty sure this is what his whisky would taste like. Big, warming and very rewarding. Smooth as, eh, smooth stuff, but indeed very, very much so. At 46%, there is a nice punch to the whisky without it becoming overwhelming. (the unpeated Caol Ila at 65% Janne "Death" Groth gave me at the whisky-festival springs to mind).

A nice warm finish that lingers nicely for a looong time rounds this up.
All in all a great whisky from the new owners of Glendronach (if I'm not mistaken, it's the same guys who own peat-monster Benriach).
Worth looking up, and a nice friend to keep you company during the autumn.
If we ever get an autumn here, that is.
But, climate change is another blog alltogether.

the second coming

As with Jesus (and, by all means, The Stone Roses), the big challenge is getting back on your feet.

Two days later, and the Beer & Whisky Festival is still making itself heard.

ah well, it was definitely worth it. However, my initial plan to try the new Glendronach 18yo didn't really take off last night. But, as the ancient saying goes:

"He who waits for tasting notes for Glendronach need never wait too long".

Until then... where's the Alvedon?