What Wee Dram Are You Enjoying Now - Fall 2013/Winter 2014

[ChainWhip]

Moving on to TIBS 2012 Hanyu Chibidaru Cask # 349 2000

[AaronWF]

I started with a few pours of Glenfarclas 21 last night. This is the sweet spot of the standard range for me: A huge step up from the 17 in terms of heft and flavor, and a fair bit more lively on the palate than the 25. Plenty of vanilla in here, along with the figgy wormwood notes that make Glenfarclas stand out from the crowd for me. The oak element is strong, but stays active with a fair amount of varnish remaining, giving the late palate and finish a kick that is surprising for an 86-proofer. A savory treat that goes down waaaay too easily.

On contrast, I opened a Blackadder 1997 Blairfindy 15yo. This is a 1B Glenfarclas bottled at a CS of 114°. Quite a bit lighter in color than the 21 (which has a walnut hue). The malt sugars really stand out in this bottle, shedding a different light on the Glenfarclas profile. And there's chocolate on this thing everywhere, from the nose to the palate through to the finish. It's a light, nutty chocolate that is the perfect level of sweet. This is delightful. Quite different from the blended profiles they chase in the standard line; unquestionably Glenfarclas, but isolating distillery components and letting them develop in directions you don't get in the standard OBs.

Pretty much every Glenfarclas I've had at CS blows my mind.

[Max Power]

Aberlour 16 tonight. New bottle. Want to see if I need to buy another before a sale ends.

[whiskeyagonzo]

Glenmorangie tasting tonight. Elanta, Signet, 18 and 25 year. Should be a fun evening.

[ChainWhip]

Glenmorangie tasting tonight. Elanta, Signet, 18 and 25 year. Should be a fun evening.

Edited November 13, 2013 by ChainWhip

[whiskeyagonzo]

Keen to read your thoughts on these.

[Trey Manthey]

Ended the drought with some Balvenie Portwood. Good to be back!

[ChainWhip]

Revisiting Balvenie TUN 1401 Batch 9

[Max Power]

Revisiting Balvenie TUN 1401 Batch 9

I love how that one seems to be your friend/nemesis. I have a few that are like that too...and the bottle tends to go down faster than most others. There's parts that you really like, but some that you can't quite figure out.

I can speak to the Glenmo tasting done above with the exception the 25 year.

18 year - If you like the younger Glenmo offerings, you'll love this one. Just a bit more mellowed by the wood, but still classic Glenmo flavor. Full of rich honeyed spice and a long malty finish. Maybe my favorite 18 year offering. And with the recent pricing ($75 OTD), I might have to buy an extra bottle. Sweet and rich, but without the sherry that you generally get with the sweeter drams.

Ealanta - Didn't I send you a sample of this? This is a top 3-5 dram for me. All of the rich maltiness that I want, but the new barrel influence is there and gives it a sweetness and nose that is like an American Whiskey...but without losing what makes it a single malt. It's pricey at $100+ most places, but it may be worth it. I'd highly recommend it for someone looking for something slightly different...and that likes bourbon. You'll be able to taste this soon if I recall.

Signet - Glenmo's attempt at smokey. It comes out with a lot of bitter flavors like dark chocolate and rich coffee. It tastes as dark as the bottle looks. It's not a sulpher/iodine smoke, but rather like chewing on a chocolate coffee bean with just a hint of wood smoke. Admittedly smoke isn't my favorite (it may be growing on me a bit ), but this one has a flavor combination that would really work for those who like a bit of bitterness in their beverage. Again a unique offering, but high priced at $200.

Edited November 14, 2013 by Max Power

[ChainWhip]

I love how that one seems to be your friend/nemesis. I have a few that are like that too...and the bottle tends to go down faster than most others. There's parts that you really like, but some that you can't quite figure out.

Yep. That's exactly how this 9 is for me - this bottle is draining fast as I'm trying to figure it out.

I believe the Ealanta sample is en route & thanks again!

[MtnDew]

Yep. That's exactly how this 9 is for me - this bottle is draining fast as I'm trying to figure it out.

I believe the Ealanta sample is en route & thanks again!

I was going to finally get a bottle of that but then it had to be named whisky of the year... ugh, I'm sure the prices have gone up and stock done because of that.

Ended the drought with some Balvenie Portwood. Good to be back!

Ah, one of my favorite readily available whiskys. When you can find it for $140-150 it makes a great dram to enjoy and share, so sweet and yummy.

[Clavius]

A little Glenmorangie Original tonight while waiting for a damn Ubuntu installation to complete...:stickpoke:

[Max Power]

A little Glenmorangie Original tonight while waiting for a damn Ubuntu installation to complete...:stickpoke:

Always a solid choice. I bought the Astar today. I figured that a 10 year Glenmo at CS using specially chosen barrels has got to be pretty good. Has anyone else had it?

[Clavius]

Always a solid choice. I bought the Astar today. I figured that a 10 year Glenmo at CS using specially chosen barrels has got to be pretty good. Has anyone else had it?

Haven't seen that one around here but it sounds really good!

[Max Power]

Haven't seen that one around here but it sounds really good!

Here's a couple of opinions:

http://whiskyadvocate.com/whisky/2008/09/14/signet-astar-a-tale-of-two-glenmorangies/

http://www.scotchdrammer.com/2010/09/review-glenmorangie-astar.html

And a bunch of rube opinions:

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-8330.aspx

[Clavius]

Here's a couple of opinions:

http://whiskyadvocate.com/whisky/2008/09/14/signet-astar-a-tale-of-two-glenmorangies/

http://www.scotchdrammer.com/2010/09/review-glenmorangie-astar.html

And a bunch of rube opinions:

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-8330.aspx

I'll definitely be searching for this one locally.

[Old Lamplighter]

Opened up one of the 2 Redbreast 12 CS I brought home last night...really, really good. :toast:

[whiskeyagonzo]

Chainwhip requested my thoughts on the Glenmorangie tasting I attended last night. Full Disclosure, I am not a scotch aficionado. I have been a part of a whisky club for about a year. I joined as way to try many different whiskies and get a better feel as to my tastes and get out of my comfort zone of bourbon/rye. I have tried many different single malts and scotches over the past several months. Until last night, none had really knocked my socks off. First up was the 18 year. I enjoyed it but wasn't my cup of tea. The 25 year was second. I wish the price list wasn't on the table for the tasting because no matter how good it was, there was no way I was walking out with a bottle ($529.99). Still at this point I wasn't that impressed. Next up was Ealanta. Holy cow! When I first nosed it I could have sworn my nose was in a bottle of pure vanilla extract. It was heavenly. It had a very soft and easy entry. The finish was warm with some vanilla and spice. I am now trying to locate a bottle. Last but not least was the Signet. I'm glad they saved this one for last. The Ealanta was light and fluffy, the Signet was very rich and syrupy. It had cocoa and a nuttiness on the nose. The palate was chocolate and maybe some hints of coffee? It was very sweet. The finish was right in my wheelhouse. It had a sweet yet spicy finish that went on for a while. Well, for what it's worth that was my take on the evening. It's hard for me to pick a winner. I am torn between the Ealanta & Signet. I did order an Ealanta, but I will probably track down a Signet after the first of the year. I've spent a load on bourbon and rye the past couple of weeks so the wife learning that I am now buying Scotch is not a discussion I am ready to have just yet. ;-) Cheers fellas!!

[Old Lamplighter]

Yep. That's exactly how this 9 is for me - this bottle is draining fast as I'm trying to figure it out.

I believe the Ealanta sample is en route & thanks again!

[Max Power]

Anybody got experience with Batch 6? I spotted one on a high, high shelf last week. If I play my cards right, it may reappear in my stocking about 40 days from now.

It's pretty darn good, but my least favorite of the 3 offerings (although that is lofty company indeed). I'd prefer the Batch 9 in my stocking because of the sherry influence and the overall balance, but I'd take either one from Santa. I only had one small taste thus far and need to revisit, but I would say that it's a bit more like the 15 year SB on steroids. Lots of wood influence and spice and without the fruity softness that comes from sherried drams. I should really just shut up and go taste it again.

Bottom line...any TUN from Balvenie is something that I would love to have in my glass. I hope you've been good enough for Santa to bring it to you.

[ChainWhip]

Thanks whiskeyagonzo - I really appreciate your notes. I've got a sample of Ealanta inbound but it seems like one that would appeal to the bourbonphile's palate.

I've been interested in the Signet for some time now but there's always been something else higher on the priority list... Need to try it for myself one of these days.

[ChainWhip]

Anybody got experience with Batch 6? I spotted one on a high, high shelf last week. If I play my cards right, it may reappear in my stocking about 40 days from now.

My order is 3>6>9 but I do reach for the 9 more than the 6...

[Virus_Of_Life]

Pretty much every Glenfarclas I've had at CS blows my mind.

Interested to hear that Aaron as there is a couple Independents at a store near me that I am pretty sure are CS, given a very low CS, and about 41 or 42 year old. I think they are Lonach labeled and Glendarroch or something like that, you know anything about them?

[Old Lamplighter]

Aberfeldy 12 after dinner followed by Redbreast 12CS...picking up heavy vanilla cream with a spice overlay tonight. Where has this wonderful Irish been all my life? :drink:

[michaelturtle1]

Working my way through a couple samples, Macallan 18 (1984) and an older botting of HP 18. The HP 18 is an incredibly easy drinking pour, I could see myself getting lost in it!!