What Wee Dram are you enjoying now?

[Luna56]

Started with a small pour of Talisker 10. Going back into the house for another, a double this time. Just discovered this whisky on Christmas and I really dig it.

Cheers!

[Dramiel McHinson]

How do you find the Portwood 21?

I found it to be a very smooth and flavorful whisky. It has the usual Balvenie profile of honey and oak. The 21 years in the cask with port wood finishing gives it a fruit and nuts cereal background. I probably would never have bought this because of the ridiculously high price ($160 from an independent liqour store)

I bought it to celebrate the birth of my first grand daughter in July 2007. I only take it out for a three finger glass on my grandbaby's birthday but this last sip was just because I felt it was time.

I like Balvenie. They are close to purests when it comes to making whisky and I suppose the additional time and labor justifies the price. I wouldn't say the taste experience is better than a lot of very well done single malts for half the price.

In the end, it's a special occassion drink for me because of the association to a wonderful life event more than the simple taste and warm glow that follows.

[Dramiel McHinson]

I have enjoyed the Glenmorangie Portwood Finish in the past. Would it and the Portwood 21 be similar?

Hi joe! yes I think the Glenmorangie and Balvenie portwood finished whiskies do have similarities. The Balvenie has a more aggressive oak tannin component to me. Both had a sweet nuttiness to them. I think the recent expressions of Glenmorangie's Quinta Ruban is better and goes for around $70 (or more).

[JamesW]

Started the evening with a very nice pour of Highland Park 18 yr old. A real stunner. Better than the 12 no doubt, but not by leaps and bounds (I mean to say that the 12 yr from memory is a remarkable whisky in its own right).

The 18 is remarkably smooth and spicy with the smoke and peat a bit more subdued than the other Island malts I crave. It opens on the palate with a honeyed sweetness which gradually recedes to let the spice tingle and linger through the long finish. I could drink this all night long....

[JamesW]

After finishing that HP18 all too quickly, I've moved on to Ardberg's 10 year old. A lot more peat here, slightly more smoke perhaps and a touch spicier it seems. It's making a valiant follow-up to the HP18. I'm craving some Talisker 18 at the moment (I killed my bottle last week and haven't replaced as of yet). I think it would have made for a better follow-up.

[Megawatt]

I decided to try my Arran Malt Tokaji finish at its full strength of 110 proof. I must say that I like it a lot at this strength. Syrupy sweet with a big spicy kick, then a sweet-and-sour finish. The nose isn't as nice as when it's watered but it definitely delivers on the palate.

[JamesW]

I decided to try my Arran Malt Tokaji finish at its full strength of 110 proof. I must say that I like it a lot at this strength. Syrupy sweet with a big spicy kick, then a sweet-and-sour finish. The nose isn't as nice as when it's watered but it definitely delivers on the palate.

That sounds very interesting to me. What is "Tokaji Finish"? What kind of cask is that?

Finished the night myself with some Glenlivet Nadurra

[Luna56]

That sounds very interesting to me. What is "Tokaji Finish"? What kind of cask is that?

It's dessert wine from Eastern Europe. Called Tokay over here. Awful stuff as I recall.

Finishing up the night with a nice, big pour of Talisker. Just seems right.

Cheers!

[JamesW]

It's dessert wine from Eastern Europe. Called Tokay over here. Awful stuff as I recall.

Finishing up the night with a nice, big pour of Talisker. Just seems right.

Cheers!

[Lost Pollito]

Lucky enough to be enjoying the new Lagavulin 17 year old D.E. Just a fantastic dram.

[JamesW]

I'd love to try it! Glenlivet Nadurra to start and now Ardberg 10.

[Megawatt]

Lucky enough to be enjoying the new Lagavulin 17 year old D.E. Just a fantastic dram.

Damn, that must be nice. How does it compare to the 16, or the 12 if you've tried it?

Right now I'm enjoying some Alberta Premium 25 year old rye. Best whisky for under $30, hands down. I swear this bottle is different than others I've had. It's more spicy with less toffee flavour. Deep wood notes, as expected.

[Lost Pollito]

I have not had the 12. I love the 16, but found this to be a bit nicer. A touch fatter and deeper. I think I'll have to do a side by side and report back. :grin:

[Lost Pollito]

Well, I've got both the 16 and the new 17 DE in front of me. They are both quite lovely. The 16 is a touch lighter in appearance. Both are quite clingy on the sides of my glass. The 16 is a tad more aggressive than the 17 on the nose. I'm getting walnuts and caramel from the 16. The 17 is revealing a tad less on the walnut side of things, while giving off some seductive vanilla and honey with less peat than the 16.The 16 is a touch more viscous in the mouth compared to the 17, and the 16 has a longer finish with more of a peat push in the middle. The more I sip, the closer I come to confirming a tie. They both have their own personality and are both great examples of Lagavulin. Now I gotta go track down a 12.

[JamesW]

Well, I've got both the 16 and the new 17 DE in front of me. They are both quite lovely. The 16 is a touch lighter in appearance. Both are quite clingy on the sides of my glass. The 16 is a tad more aggressive than the 17 on the nose. I'm getting walnuts and caramel from the 16. The 17 is revealing a tad less on the walnut side of things, while giving off some seductive vanilla and honey with less peat than the 16.The 16 is a touch more viscous in the mouth compared to the 17, and the 16 has a longer finish with more of a peat push in the middle. The more I sip, the closer I come to confirming a tie. They both have their own personality and are both great examples of Lagavulin. Now I gotta go track down a 12.

Thanks for the tasting notes. Sounds like an interesting dram.

[Megawatt]

Well, I've got both the 16 and the new 17 DE in front of me. They are both quite lovely. The 16 is a touch lighter in appearance. Both are quite clingy on the sides of my glass. The 16 is a tad more aggressive than the 17 on the nose. I'm getting walnuts and caramel from the 16. The 17 is revealing a tad less on the walnut side of things, while giving off some seductive vanilla and honey with less peat than the 16.The 16 is a touch more viscous in the mouth compared to the 17, and the 16 has a longer finish with more of a peat push in the middle. The more I sip, the closer I come to confirming a tie. They both have their own personality and are both great examples of Lagavulin. Now I gotta go track down a 12.

[Dramiel McHinson]

You guys gotta stop this malt-o-porn. It's making it almost impossible to concentrate on my Coal Ila 12.

[JamesW]

Started with Highland Park 18 and now enjoying some Ardberg 10.

[Tennessee Dave]

Had a few drams last night. Started with a Balvenie Doublewood, then Balvenie 21yo Portwood and finished with the Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or. Three good drams. Really starting to enjoy single malts. I have to get me a bottle of Lagavulin. Bought one ten years ago when I was really into wine, not whiskey, and found it to be absolutely revolting. Now that my palate has developed and I love whiskey I have to try this again. Looking for an desrt island single malt. Want to find the PVW 15 year old of single malts!:bowdown: Any suggestions?

[Lost Pollito]

I imagine you will find that the 12 is a different beast entirely...

What is the date on the new Distillers Edition? I'm curious as to whether it is the same as the one currently available in these parts. My wife gave me money to purchase one nice bottle for Christmas and I had a hard time choosing between the Distillers Edition and the 12-year-old cask strength. Ultimately I went with the 12.

Distilled 1991, bottled 2008.

[Megawatt]

Speaking of Lagavulin, I'm having some of the 12-year-old cask strength. It's very pale yellow (obviously uncoloured), non-chillfiltered, aged in first-refill bourbon casks and bottled at 56.4% alc./vol.

It has that medicinal quality of the 16 year old, yet surprisingly not as intense. A bit of water brings out that sweet vanilla-malt aroma. It is big and fresh on the palate, a touch herbal, not quite as rich as the 16 but with a huge spicy kick. There is sweet vanilla, licorice...lots of flavour going on but I can't place them all. The smoke comes bursting forth in the finish, and lingers with that sweet note for quite some time.

I'd love to compare this side-by-side to the 16 year old but I doubt I'll be able to afford a bottle of that until next Christmas.

[Megawatt]

Distiller's Tasting Notes

APPEARANCE: Pale straw gold. Moderate beading.

NOSE: Huge. Takes no prisoners. Fresh, breezy and intensely medicinal. Pungent and briny, yet sweet. Light fresh fish (sashimi), oilskins and fish oil. Edible seaweed. Later, when allowed to breath, some rich toffee notes. Adding only a little water dilutes the intensity: now the keynote is of youthful energy

and warm pine-sap, clean and very smoky, still with a light trace of toffee.

BODY: Medium. Slightly oily. Hot.

PALATE: Huge and robust. Sweet, then immediately hot and smoky as the peat-smoke ignites. Typical of Lagavulin, shorn of the subtleties that come with age! Surprisingly fiery and warming, some salt (fish

boxes, smoked haddock). With water, it becomes sweet and stimulating; slightly sharper, still salty and with plenty of now-fragrant woodsmoke.

FINISH: Long, warming and cigar-smoky. Oatcakes.

[JamesW]

Started with Bowmore 17 (love it), Talisker 10 and now HP 12.

[Megawatt]

Started with Bowmore 17 (love it), Talisker 10 and now HP 12.

I'll see your Talisker 10 and raise you an 18.

[JamesW]

I'll see your Talisker 10 and raise you an 18.

Damn you Megawatt! :smiley_acbt:I couldn't bring myself to pick up the 18 today... budget allocation issues etc... I finished my 18 all too quickly over the holidays and have been forced to scale back the operation for now...:grin: