Hello all, I am looking for a mentor (or a number of them) to teach me how to recognize, identify, catagorize and further appreciate the single malts. I have been a Scotch lover for years and have just recently decided to dive into it as a hobby. I have had quite a few "hobbies" over the years and tend to work strive for excellence (ask my wife ;-). Besides, I dont drink that much so I might as well drink the good stuff when I do, huh?
I have grown very comfortable with my half oz of malt and cigar on the porch at night to "unwind". I have started to develop a taste for the Islay's (which I have heard is when you know you are there ;-) I have read Micheal Jacksons book and have ordered a few more. I wish there was someone in my hometown is the expert I want to be but I havent found him (or her) yet.
Is this group a good start for what I'm after? Are there other usenet groups with more to offer? Whisky chats etc.?
I've been feeling a bit un-chill-filtered myself, what with summer coming on here in Vancouver.
So it has been very quiet in adsw. What have people been doing, malt-wise?
At the front of my cupboard this week are the Compass Box Peat Monster, the Dun Bheagan (eight year old Islay, Lagavulin most likely), a Murray McDavid Caol Ila, Longmorn 15 (I don't do highlands much, but this one was very pleasant and inexpensive), and an Aberlour a'bunadh, which seems a little thinner and less sherry-bomb overwhelming than the last time I tried it a few years ago.
Oh, yes, WHISKY! I had quite forgotten (possibly an issue). I went back down to Florida two weeks ago and got 3 more bottles of the Deanston 12 for $26, which remains a bourbon-stiffened, breathy, satisfying dram. Last week I got an Old Pulteney for $23 in Milwaukee, and I was impressed a few years back about what good value this is, but it is even better now. It is zestier than previous memory serves, with a delicious malt sweetness, but maybe these top impressions are just because I have become an ultra-whisky-cheapskate after sacrificing salary this past year and going part-time, such that I am digging into the back-closet for retro-drams, and enjoying the McClelland Islay on the rocks as an everyday starter. One of the dregs drug out of the drawers recently was a Hedges&Butler Clynelish that had seemed the most minimal of all my Clynelishes (if that is the plural) in the past, but was just lucious this time around--was the airline-flight-bottle that it was sub-divided into just too small, or was my appreciation of the cornucopia-fruitiness of Clynelish just too huge?
I also dug deep and reached for an Aberlour A'Bunadh bought about three years ago, but that wax around the seal is so daunting (under the circumstances) that I put it back and instead opened up a
3-year-prior-purchase Ardbeg 10, which was good as ever, but the Old Pult still kept asserting itself--great, fruity, potent, stuff!
I've also got a Blackadder Longmorn 13 open, but after my enthusiasm about it a year ago it pretty much reveals itself as a nice but fairly delimited 'bourbon baby' in the long run. I do also have two actual bourbons open. One is an Eagle Rare single barrel that is a "special selection" from a local Milwaukee retailer and it is pretty plain (but still plainly pretty) across the palate when compared to the Buffalo Trace single barrel also specially selected (they have different barrel choices available for purchase) at Cork&Barrel in Covington, KY (I had a 3-hour layover at CVG in April, rented a car quick, and got the Buffalo Trace and also 21 cans of Skyline Chili at Kroger's) that is as deep, rich, spicy, and assertive as any bourbon I've had outside of the knockout overproof George T. Stagg.
Im afraid the chill filtering isnt working to well here in Bend either. I havent got deparate enough to add rocks yet however!!
New at this, I had made an investment to start the collection. Although nothing you cant buy in a well "scotched" Oregon liquor store, if my wife finds out what I paid for some of these bottle she'd have my head on a platter.
My favorite mainstays so far have been the Oban 14 and the Balvenie Single Barrel 15. I am really starting to enjoy the Islay nose and taste and find the Ardbeg Uigeadail keeps working it's way to the front of the cabinet yet the 10 year hides in the back stating I need to grow up ;-).
The Aberlour Sherry Wood 15 really caps off an evening right with a good cigar and I love the nose. I reached for the A'Bunadh at the liqour store a few days ago but faultered. Sounds like I should try it again. Im looking forward to the Talisker 10, the Highland Park 12 (unopened) and the Bruichladdich (sp?) which will go in the cart next to the A'Bunadh this evening perhaps. I imagine my cupboard of 17 pales in comparison to some of you seasoned vets but ... give me a A for effort (hiccup) ;-)
The problem is that participation has dwindled recently. I'm sure that if you post a clear question, though, you'll get a good response. Another thing you can do is Google the group, and that should keep you more busy than you need to be. I have never been disappointed by the group, which offers alot more than just MJ or JM can together offer. For example, you'll notice that Aberlour A'bunadh is oft' mentioned, and deservedly so. I don't think that would come out in either of the "masters'" books. Yes, there is plenty of knowledge floating around here for you to have...if they're still stopping by, that is.
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