What Dram are you enjoying? Spring 2018

[GaryT]

Started with a tasting of some different GlenDronach offerings (12yr, 8 yr Hielan, 8yr Octarine, and 21 yr Parliament) before dinner.  Starting desert with some CB Not a Luxury Whiskey.  Happy Friday SB!

[Marekv8]

Kicking it off from Campbeltown-- good, but not great. I prefer the NAS Victoriana (but things may change)…

 

[Marekv8]

For those curious about this bottle-- it's really nice. A bit more subdued than the 19yo CS Cadenhead expression I've got-- but very delicately complex, spicy and truly characteristic of a distillery that I have a great fondness for. An incredible value for a 20yo NCF.

 

 

 

[Marekv8]

The rest of the line-up from last night. The Signature-- brought in as a ringer, proved to be far too drinkable.

 

 

 

 

[Marekv8]

I remember buying this bottle because the goofball at the LS told me it was a huge disappointment. At least he got the huge part right.

 

[kevinbrink]

Last night was all GlenDronach

[Marekv8]

The remainder of last night's set. The Signatory Glenlossie was the standout… with the Longrow 9 hot on its tail.

 

'

 

 

[smokinjoe]

4 hours ago, kevinbrink said:

Last night was all GlenDronach

GlenDronach is a brand I’ve not spent much time with, but keep meaning to.  I tend to gravitate to Port finishes over sherry finishes, though BIGRICH points out that my actions and likes don’t always match this during tastings...   So, how is that Port 15 yr?  

[kevinbrink]

3 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

GlenDronach is a brand I’ve not spent much time with, but keep meaning to.  I tend to gravitate to Port finishes over sherry finishes, though BIGRICH points out that my actions and likes don’t always match this during tastings...   So, how is that Port 15 yr?  

Very nice, though it would probably be my third pick out of the batch after the Allardice and the CS Batch 3, the PX single barrel needs water and air and even with that is a distant 4th. 

[ChainWhip]

^^some nice pours here gents

 

This one took over a year after opening to start coming into it's own but it is hitting the right notes tonight.

 

20180610: OB Longrow Red 11 Shiraz @ 53.7% by ChainWhip, on Flickr

Edited June 11, 2018 by ChainWhip

[Vosgar]

My gosh I love this one. Chewy, spicy, yet it still has a little bit of sweetness. A splash of water really opens it up.

 

[kevinbrink]

Enjoying it I certainly am. 

[Marekv8]

Finally back home-- this is an interesting departure from the other Dailuaine bottles I've got-- I need to set them up as a flight.

 

[Marekv8]

Tasty, but I'm just not familiar enough with Deanston to discern where the malt stops and wine starts. Very robust and spirit/wine forward-- fruity but not candied.

 

[kevinbrink]

10 hours ago, Marekv8 said:

Tasty, but I'm just not familiar enough with Deanston to discern where the malt stops and wine starts. Very robust and spirit/wine forward-- fruity but not candied.

 

The twelve I find to be a pretty enjoyable pour especially for the coin. Last years CS PX cask was very Sherry Dominant with only the faintest distillery character left. 

[BigRich]

A 17 yr cask strength Sherry Aberlour from the distillery while trying out an AJ Fernandez blended Nicaraguan H Upmann tonight. I’m not sure the pairing is working. I may switch it up to something smokier or high proof Rye.

[Marekv8]

My palate has gone through many changes-- but this one remains a control standard…

 

[Marekv8]

Really nice…

 

[Marekv8]

Going to be tough to return to an official bottling… this has so much more presence and character.

 

 

 

[Marekv8]

Couple of stragglers from last night. Seems that the Longmorn 16 has been discontinued-- a shame given its performance yesterday evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Marekv8]

WIP it good…

 

[Marekv8]

Not very complex… but a great, grassy sense of place.

 

[Marekv8]

Thirty years at 64.3% ABV… grain in its prime. I was a year out of high school (and legal drinking age back then) when this was distilled.

 

[Marekv8]

 

 

Remarkably unremarkable… hopefully will improve with a wee bit of oxidation.

 

[Marekv8]

 

 

 

Still have yet to figure out how this early bottle appeared on a local shelf, sans UPC. Subsequent Kilchoman releases don't come close…