During 2011 we made our way through a decent-sized selection of drams. Here’s the list!
(Here’s the list of what we tried in our first 9 sessions back in 2010, as well) Or the list of this year’s sessions is here.
| WS # | Date | Theme | Whisky we tasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 20th December 2011 | Whisky Surprise |
Michel Couvreur – Couvreur’s Clearach Clearach (under 3yo wood aged malt spirit), 43% abv Redbreast 12yo Irish Pure Pot Still Whiskey, 40% abv St Isidore – The Bloggers’ Blend Blended Scotch Whisky, 41.4% abv Glenfiddich 14yo Rich Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% abv SMWS 63.26 (Glentauchers) Single Cask Malt Scotch Whisky, abv not recorded High West Double Rye Straight Rye Whiskey, 46% abv Chieftain’s Choice Longmorn 13yo Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 43% abv Dalmore “Dee Dram” – Rivers Collection 2011 (2nd Edition) Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% abv Springbank 12 yo Claret Wood Finish Campbeltown Single Malt Whisky, 54.4% abv Gordon & Macphail’s Rare Old Single Malts – Ledaig 1975 Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% abv Highland Park 1998 Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% abv Talisker 25yo Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky, abv not recorded Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength (old bottling) Islay Single Malt Whisky, abv not recorded |
| 25 | 8th December 2011 | 2011 Christmas Dinner and Quiz Spectacular! | Hibiki 17yo Blended Japanese Whisky, 43% abv Balvenie 21yo Portwood Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% abv Glenisla 1977 32yo (Signatory – Cask #19599) Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 50.7% abv Glendronach 21yo Parliament Sherry-aged Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 48% abv The King’s Ginger Whisky Liqueur, 41% abv |
| 24 | 22nd November 2011 | Whisky4Movember 2011 | Compass Box Great King Street – The Artists’ Blend Blended Scotch Whisky, 43% abv SMWS 123.6 – “Rhubarb and Custard” Highland Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 59.5% abv Cask Strength and Carry On – Arran Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 49.9% abv Movember 2011 Glenfarclas bottling (Master of Malt) Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 53% abv Balvenie 12yo Signature Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% abv Birnie Moss Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 48% abv Glenmorangie Astar Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 57.1% abv SMWS 29.104 – “Not For Wee Boys” Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 58.2% abv |
| 23 | 3rd November 2011 | The Smoking Section | Octomore 04.1/167 Single Malt Islay Scotch Whisky, 62.5% abv Benromach 2002 Peat Smoke Single Malt Speyside Scotch Whisky, 46% abv Port Askaig 25yo Single Malt Islay Scotch Whisky, 45.8% abv St George’s Chapter 11 Cask Strength Single Malt English Whisky, 59.7% abv Kh1 – Elements of Islay Single Malt Islay Scotch Whisky, 59.7% abv Kilchoman 100% Islay Single Malt Islay Scotch Whisky, 50% abv |
| 22 | 18th October 2011 | Now there’s something you don’t see every day! | Glenburgie 11 Years Old 1993 (Cadenhead’s) Single Malt Speyside Scotch Whisky, 59.8% abv Ben Nevis 14 Year Old (Cadenhead’s) Single Malt Speyside Scotch Whisky, 58.1% abv Aultmore 11 Year Old 1997 (Cadenhead’s) Single Malt Speyside Scotch Whisky, 57.5% abv Fettercairn 17 Year Old 1993 (Cadenhead’s) Single Malt Highland Scotch Whisky, 51.5% abv Craigellachie 12 Year Old 1994 (Cadenhead’s) Single Malt Speyside Scotch Whisky, 58.3% abv |
| 21 | 6th October 2011 | Mastering Malt with those malty masters – Master of Malt! | North British 20 Year Old 1991 Single cask Scotch grain whisky, 55.8% abv Cragganmore 20 Year Old 1991 – Single Cask Single cask Speyside Scotch malt whisky, 54.2% abv Dailuaine 27 Year Old 1983 – Single Cask Single cask Speyside Scotch malt whisky, 53.6% abv Against The Grain “Wax & Wane” Single malt Speyside whisky, 46% abv Master of Malt 30 Year Old Speyside (3rd Edition) Single malt Speyside Scotch Whisky, 40% abv Bowmore 26 Year Old – Single Cask Single cask Islay Scotch malt whisky, 53.4% abv |
| 20 | 1st September 2011 | A Successful Grant Application | Cask Sample #1 Single cask grain whisky, 63.2% abv Cask Sample #2 Single cask malt Scotch Whisky, 45% abv Cask Sample #3 Single cask malt Scotch Whisky, 46% abv Cask Sample #4 Single cask malt Scotch Whisky, 54% abv Cask Sample #5 Single cask malt Scotch Whisky, 45% abv Grants 25yo Blend Blended Scotch Whisky, 40% abv * note – we realise this set of notes isn’t particularly informative, however not even Ludo knew what the whiskies actually were |
| 19 | 4th August 2011 | Grain and Grape | Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or Single malt Highland Scotch whisky (No age statement), finished in sauternes casks – 46% abv Glen Moray Chardonnay Cask Mellowed Single malt Speyside Scotch Whisky, 40% abv Arran Amarone Cask Single malt Island Scotch Whisky (No age statement), 50% abv BenRiach 17yo Burgundy Finish Single malt Speyside Scotch Whisky, 46% abv Bruichladdich 19yo 1989 Black Art (1st Release) Single malt Islay Scotch Whisky, matured in bourbon and “a medley of wine casks”, 51.1% abv Longrow 7yo Gaja Barolo Finish Single malt Campbelltown Scotch Whisky, 55.8% abv Master of Malt “Brown Drink” Mixed spirit drink, 44.2% abv |
| 18 | 7th July 2011 | American Independents | Georgia Moon Corn Whiskey American Corn Liquor, 40% abv Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey, 45% abv Four Roses Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 50% abv Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey, 45% abv Sazerac 18yo (Fall 2010) Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 45% abv Eagle Rare 17yo Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45% abv |
| 17 | 23rd June 2011 | Japan #2: “For relaxing times, make it Suntory time” | Yamazaki 12 year old Japanese Single Malt Whisky, 43% abv Hakushu 12 year old Japanese Single Malt Whisky, 43.5% abv Yamazaki 18 year old Japanese Single Malt Whisky, 43% abv Hibiki 17 year old Japanese Blended Malt Whisky, 43% abv Yamazaki Puncheon Japanese Single Malt Whisky, 48% abv Hakushu Heavily Peated Japanese Single Malt Whisky, 48% abv |
| 16 | 2nd June 2011 | Japan #1: Diversity and Innovation | Isawa 1983 Japanese Single Malt Whisky, 43% abv Ichiro’s Malt MWR (Mizunara Wood Reserve) Japanese Single Malt Whisky, 46% abv Nikka From The Barrel Japanese Blended Whisky, 51.4% abv Chichibu Heavily Peated Single Malt Newborn Cask #452 Japanese Single Malt Spirit, 61.4% abv |
| 15 | 5th May 2011 | Highlanders | Pulteney – John Milroy 7 Year Old Highland single cask single malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv Berry’s Own Selection Glencadam 1991 Highland single cask single malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv Berry’s Own Selection Blair Athol 1998 Highland single cask single malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv Berry’s Own Selection Teaninich 1973 Highland cask strength single malt Scotch whisky, 41.8% abv Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt (aka “Shackleton’s Whisky”) Blended Scotch whisky, 47.3% abv Whisky Magazine “Editor’s Choice” Karuizawa 15 Year Old Cask strength single cask single malt sherry aged Japanese whisky, 60.6% abv |
| 14 | 19th Apr 2011 | Side By Side | Cameron Brig Single grain Scotch whisky, 40% abv Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch whisky, 40% abv Caol Ila 1996 Distiller’s Edition Single malt Scotch whisky, 43% abv Clynelish “Friends of the Classic Malts” bottling 12 year old Single malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv Clynelish 1992 Distiller’s Edition Single malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv Singleton of Dufftown 15 Year Old Single malt Scotch whisky, 40% abv Dufftown 1997 Managers’ Choice Single cask single malt Scotch whisky, 59.5% abv |
| 13 | 7th Apr 2011 | Whisky Squad Birthday Session | Royal Brackla 1991 – Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon and MacPhail) 15 year old Single Malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv Linkwood 15 Year Old (Gordon and MacPhail) 15 year old Single Malt Scotch whisky, 43% abv Strathisla 25 Year Old (Gordon and MacPhail) 25 year old Single Malt Scotch whisky, 43% abv Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix No age statement. Limited edition Single Malt Scotch whisky, 47.6% abv Cu Dhub Black Whisky No age statement. Black single malt Scotch whisky, 40% abv Bruichladdich 2001 The Resurrection Dram 7 year old Single Malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv |
| 12 | 3rd Mar 2011 | Meet Compass Box | Compass Box Asyla No age statement. Blended Scotch whisky, 40% abv Compass Box Oak Cross No age statement. Blended malt Scotch whisky, 43% abv Compass Box Spice Tree (Old version – “Illegal”) No age statement. Blended malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv Compass Box Spice Tree (Current version) No age statement. Blended malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv Compass Box Peat Monster No age statement. Blended malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv Compass Box Hedonism No age statement. Blended grain Scotch whisky, 43% abv Compass Box Hedonism 10th Anniversary 38yo Single cask grain Scotch whisky, 56% abv |
| 11 | 3rd Feb 2011 | The Bottle of Britain | ManX Blue Whisky based spirit drink, 40% abv English Whisky Company – “Chapter 6” No age statement. English single malt whisky, 46% abv Penderyn Sherrywood No age statement. Sherry conditioned Welsh single malt whisky, 46% abv Bushmills 1608 No age statement. Irish blended whisky, 46% abv Speaker Bercow’s Single Malt Whisky No age statement. Single malt Scotch whisky, 40% abv |
| 10 | 6th Jan 2011 | Wee Speyside Beauties | Berry’s Own Selection – 1989 Aberlour 15yo single cask single malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv Berry’s Own Selection – 1985 Linkwood 21yo single cask single malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv Berry’s Own Selection – 1974 Dailuaine 31yo single cask single malt Scotch whisky, 46% abv Blue Hanger (4th Release) Blended malt whisky, 45.6% abv Glenrothes 1975 31yo single malt Scotch whisky, 43% abv Talisker 1981 20yo sherry aged single malt Island whisky, 62% abv |