How about another live online tasting tonight...?

Hmmm? That would be 10 AM here in Los Angeles. I doubt that I'll be up that early. It was fun and I'd enjoy having a few drams with you all, again. Mayhaps a few others would care to join in, as well. As to tasting notes, etc., my skills at such are quite limited. I suppose I might be able to make some plebian observations, but I doubt it would add much. I've selected the few bottles in my meager collection with much care, as the money available is limited.

There is Instant Messaging, but then I'd hafta find the camera, microphone and sortware. Pub alt.drinks.scotch-whisky seems like a perfect venue to me. Would homebase be in Edinburgh, Glascow or elsewhere? ;-D

Rajmund schrieb: Hi Rajmund!

I'm busy tonight. Very easy to handle would be an IRC-chat. You can either use a chat client like mIRC, or you use your firefox-browser (if not available, get it here: http//

Then we decide to take one Server, maybe quakenet (you can find it in the chat-window and just click it to join). Then type /join #fridaytasting and we all meet there.

Andreas

Sadly I don't think I'll be able to join in on this one - I'm the middle of what's likely to be a very lengthy (and somewhat important) computer setup. But you might find me posting..:-)

I actually prefer usenet for this sort of thing. IRC or other IMs always makes me feel 'rushed' somehow. Usenet allows me to gather my thoughts. And correct my speeling...

Jim

Hi all

As I've catcthed a cold, I'll have to pass on this one. But I do like the idea ;^)

As for a suited virtual arena: Even though I agree with Jim's thoughts about usenet, maybe "Second Life" should be concidered as well?

Gunnar

"Rajmund" skrev i melding news:fhjmp4$1se$ snipped-for-privacy@atlantis.news.tpi.pl...

U¿ytkownik "Rajmund" napisa³:

I don't know if anyone else is out there, but I am going to proceed with my little tasting session anyway. The lineup for tonight is: Glendullan 1972 Rare Malts (a rare whisky to taste before my tastebuds go numb), to be followed by Balvenie 12yo DoubleWood and Bowmore 15yo Mariner.

Wherever you are and whoever you are, I am hoisting my first dram in your direction (that is to say, I am spinning on my swivel chair with a raised glass).

Slainte! Rajmund

U¿ytkownik "Nick Cramer" napisa³:

Good morning, Nick. That is, if you're up already. Personally, I wouldn't be if I didn't have to ;-)

I don't think anyone expects any in-depth, super-specialised comments. I only thought we might concentrate on the whiskies a bit.

Oh, we are on the same boat then ;-)

Cheers, Rajmund

I'm starting with an old, old favourite - The Glenlivet 12yo. Not hard to find, but almost the definitive (non-cask) sherried dram. Surprisingly complex given its ease of availability. Or perhaps not.

Smooth and reliable.

Jim

Uzytkownik "Jim" napisal:

Hi Jim. Glad you decided to join in :-) My Glendullan is extremely vigorous and spirity. The latter is understandable - 62.43% vol., which means I'm still trying to find the right amount of water to dilute it. The former, however, is hard to explain given its age - 23yo, vintage 1972... By the way, whereabouts are you? So that I know in which direction to hoist the dram ;-)

Cheers, Rajmund

The best Glendullan I had was a Blackadder IB that I got from the Whisky Castle in Tomintoul. Very good, but very hard to replace here in the UK. Also cask strength and I agree, rather hard to gauge the right amount of water.

I'm in Staffordshire, in the UK.

Jim

U¿ytkownik "Rajmund" napisa³:

OK, I'm getting there. My Glendullan has become very maly-sweet, intensively flowery. The intensity of flavour does cease to surprise me. It is an old whisky after all...

Cheers, Rajmund

U¿ytkownik "Rajmund" napisa³:

But the more I taste it, the more I know I don't like it that much. Rather flat, spirity, a disappointing, bitterish finish... Looking forward to the Balvenie 12yo DoubleWood, which is a much more reliable dram, though I'm not a fan of sherried whiskies.

Well, it looks like there are just two of us, Jim...

Cheers, Rajmund

Ah, Doublewood. Now, Doublewood and I have had something of a chequered past. At first I loved it - rich, dark, chewy - then I started to find it a little cloying. A bit _too_ rich. I've come to the conclusion that although I still sort of like Doublewood, I much prefer the standard Founders. A much understated dram, I think.

We'll just have to do the best we can :-)

For my next dram I shall be sampling the Benriach 15yo Dark Rum.

Jim

U¿ytkownik "Jim" napisa³:

Absolutely true. The 10yo Founder's Reserve is a fantastic dram, although so unusuming. The DoubleWood is one of the very few sherried whiskies that I like. Doesn't have that burnt-rubber flavour so often found in mediocre sherried whiskies.

Don't know about you, but I am...

I'm still on the Balvenie.

Cheers, Rajmund

Ok - so, first of all this is one that we brought back from Whisky Live in Glasgow. I've said it before but Benriach seem to be something of a rising star at the moment. Worth keeping an eye one.

Nosing it (not that I'm any great talent at this) I'm getting raisins. Quite a lot of them.

Tasting it - well, I'd have to say that given a choice between this and Glenfidich 21yo Gran Reserva, I'll take this. It's half the price and almost as good, at least to my sub-par appeciation.

SWMBO heartily endorses this.

Gran Reserva may in fact be second only to Blue Label as 'Most Over-Rated Whisky' in my opinion.

Jim

Ah, SWMBO got an Isle of Arran 10yo 46% ABV at Whisky Live. She won't let me sample it yet...

Jim

U¿ytkownik "Jim" napisa³:

BenRiach seems to be doing a great come-back. I have had their 10yo Curiositas and it was fantastic. The 21yo Authenticus blew me off my feet. Absolutely fantastic dram. The new owners seem to know what they are doing, so I expect your dram to be more than good too.

As to the Balvenie 12yo DoubleWood, I don't know to what extent it is your suggestion, and to what extent it's the influence of the previously tasted Glendullan on my palate, but it does seem to be a bit overpoweringly sweet. Still a nice dram, though.

Cheers, Rajmund

Oh, well done - *bloody* well done. Very fine photography indeed.

You're a professional, admit it :-)

Jim

thanks... Photography is one hobby, whisky the other one.

Andreas

Hmm, interesting. We sampled the Curiositas at Whisky Live and found it to be rather harsh. Almost like it had been Islaydine'd in a rather abrupt way. I can't quite put my finger on it but it just seemed rather...blunt.

We found the Benromach Peat Smoke (46% ABV non-age statement [a vatting perhaps]) to be smoother and more balanced. It was just...ok, hippy alert here, but it was much more in harmony than the Benriach.

I find it cloying now. There's something about it that's trying too hard.

Jim