Keepers of the Quaich

I had the wisdom to order 3 oz of Springbank 1965, 39 year and share it with 5 other people at our last meeting. For those who weren’t able to make it this is one time where I wouldn’t be able to describe the experience. I might be able to say that the 39 supplements the wonderfully oily palate of its kid brother, the 21, with a vibrant lemon zest. I might try to describe the romance inside the glass. However, it would all be to no avail. This experience transcended the ability of the woefully limited English language to convey.

Very often very aged expressions bear no resemblance to their heritage and don’t match the hype. At least in this case you can believe the hype and the price tag.

Full lineup of 13Q2 Meeting

At our 13Q2 meeting last night at Delilah’s in Chicago Brother B Funk designed a terrific Speyside themed lineup. We started with the classic: Glen Grant 16. The star of the show, Glendronach 15 “Revival” was next. Benromach Peat Smoke was a big favorite as well. The fourth malt was Strathisla 12 which was followed by the surprise of the evening which was a private bottling by the very bar we were in: Delilah’s.

Delilah’s 14 was the celebration of Delilah’s 14 anniversary in operation. Mike, the proprietor, creates a private whiskey bottling for the bar’s customers to enjoy. 2006 was the 14th year and Mike chose single malt for that year’s private bottle expression. The identity of the source malt is a closely kept secret but the malt had strong Speyside characteristics and likely came from either Macallan, Glenfarclas, or Aberlour or similar. Mike is of Scottish descent and the bottle label features his family’s tartan.

Delilah’s (Chicago’s rock & roll whisky emporium) bar’s single malt private bottling

Back label – Chicago’s rock & roll whisky emporium in a bottle.

While B – Funk, Hoopie and I anxiously awaited the arrival of our brethren at last night’s fantastic tasting, I perused the impressive whisky menu at Delilah’s.  To my shock and awe, there it was on the page, Springbank 21.  I immediately thought of my bachelor party back in 2002 when we last had Springbank 21 due to a major production gap.

Springbank 21

My dram of Springbank 21 was worth every bit of the $30.00, albeit I was a bit nostalgic as I dialed it up.  The night only got better from there as the lineup was terrific and our new initiates brought strong presentations to the group.

There was a good debate later in the night though between me and one of our esteemed guests on the relative price to value ratio of some of these spirits.  This is one of those classic discussions we’ve had as a group over the last 13 years, and to which I believe led Brother Bop to come up with Bop’s Select list.  Last night’s debate was Springbank 21 @ $30 per dram vs. Highland Park 18 @ $18 per dram.  Is Springbank 21 really 66% better than HP 18?  Of course this all assumes that price is a measure of quality when it comes to scotch…..

Thoughts?

Brother Brass went to our EMEA offices to conduct some training and while in London found his way to The Whisky Exchange’s brick and mortar store. Our distillery pages at our KOTQ web-site are linked with TWE’s on-line store which is so incredibly complete and up to date that I hadn’t even considered a physical store was behind it. Brass spent considerable time simultaneously being tempted and overwhelmed and netted out on a special bottling of Lagavulin. It was special for a number of reasons.

Firstly, because it was actually bottled by the The Whisky Exchange itself. Secondly, for us North Americans, it was available only in Europe. And, thirdly, it was a cool bottle size and style we’re not accustomed to and was not age expressioned. Our European colleague at work, Klaus, informed us that non age-expressions usually mean a youngish whisky and we pegged this one as a 6-8 year. The bottling was cask strength yet some of the group enjoyed it uncut. I cut mine and discovered a large fruitiness to the palate including pineapple, plum, and peach. Depending on where you cut it you could have a smoky, smooth or very spicy experience. Definitely fun, new ground for a Lagavulin.

Thanks to Brass for his diligence in providing a remarkable experience for the Friday afternoon single malt club.

Mrs. Hoopie thought out of the box for fathers day this year and bought me a product from the Copper Fox Distillery provides a 100% barley single malt spirit and a charred barrel to allow you to age at home.  The product sheet and faq are below.  It recommends the first fill be aged 4-7 months.  I put it in in June, and was planning to crack it around Christmas time to see what comes out.  Being a habitual tinkerer, the best part will be the subsequent fills where I can experiment with how the output changes after the barrel has been used a few times.

http://www.copperfox.biz/images/cp-wasmunds-barrel-kit-product-sheet-2012.pdf

http://www.copperfox.biz/products/distillers-art-faq.php

Exciting off-line tasting from Ardbeg Committeeman Brother Bluff on Ardbeg’s new release: Galileo.

The bottle is a limited edition bottling but not hidden in the back room for committee members only. I pulled it off the shelf for $90 without having to give a special wink or super secret handshake.

I just cracked it open and my initial impressions are positive. Bottled at 49%, I only added a little bit of water to open it up. It has all the usual smoke that you’d expect from Ardbeg, but I get sweetness on the nose and reminds me of BBQ Ribs—charred and caramelized.

The palate has all the salt you’ve come to expect, plus some surprising sweet notes that come from the ex-Marsala casks. It’s aged 12 years, so unlike the recent committee bottlings, this release has an age statement…1999, bottled 2012.

Forget about the gimmick celebrating Ardbeg in Space….the whisky is pretty delicious without the hype, and sadly will not be available for long.

When I saw this come across my email, I had to see more…. the following is from their website – www.whiskyofthegods.co.uk

“Thor is the first release in the Highland Park Valhalla Collection and like its namesake, shares many of the legendary Norse god’s larger-than-life characteristics.

The most renowned of all the Norse gods, Thor was the protector of Asgard and was feared by his enemies and other gods alike. His powerful hammer, Mjolnir, which we have depicted on the bottle, was said to create a thunderous and terrifying sound when used in battle; legend has it that Thor’s handiwork can be witnessed first hand on Orkney.

Distilled where sea turns to ocean, Highland Park Thor is a meeting point of nature’s forces, resulting in a perfect marriage of classic fragrant Highland Park smoke, balanced with a beguiling inner complexity and natural strength. Aged for 16 years and bottled at 52.1% abv, Thor is limited to 23,000 bottles worldwide.”

Bop and I wondered if they were trying to capitalize on The Avengers but I think Orkney’s proximity to the Norwegian countries and its heritage may actually be what has led the distillers to honor it.  Thoughts?  Regardless, I cannot wait to try it….  Gold Eagle Liquors in Libertyville may have one bottle left…. $200 on sale this month for $175…
APPEARANCE:Rich amber, with an iron ore glow.

NOSE:Concentrated and forceful, with an explosion of aromatic smoke, pungent fresh ginger, antique copper, stewed plums, and golden syrup. With water, earthy notes emerge, like a garden after a heavy rain shower.

PALATE:Thor’s high strength grabs the palate and refuses to let go. Initially dry, with fiery gingerbread then vanilla, blackberries, fresh mango, peach and hints of cinnamon. As its big flavours swirl around the mouth, some softer, sweeter notes develop, giving Thor and unexpected layer of complexity and depth.

FINISH:The finish thunders on, leaving behind lingering notes of sweet vanilla and an intense spiciness.

Interesting reddit forum thread here. Some good insight here I think and something we should all be considering at our tastings – particularly new members and guests I’d say. –Bop

[–]ambiguo42Campfire Aficionado
I also tend to get a longer finish and better flavor if I hold the whisky on my tongue for a few seconds before swallowing.

[–]DaBake[S]
I’ll try that right now, thanks!

[–]NibrocNZ
A guy who was running a whisky tasting one said that we should honor the craftsmanship of scotch by holding it on the tongue for 1 second for every year. Have fun. I usually do this now for my second sip.

[–]DaBake[S]
I’ll say this, it really allows you to pick up a lot more of what’s going on. So much more depth and complexity from just a few extra seconds. Learning something new every day.

[–]texpeareModeration in moderation
I usually have to hold the Scotch on my tongue for at least a few seconds before I feel like I can taste everything that’s going on. Older whiskies take longer to “open up” for me & sherry cask usually takes longer than Bourbon cask. If you hold it for a while, the finish will probably last longer too.

Here’s an article from Travel Retail’s On-line Digest (written by Doug Newhouse). I particularly like the portrayal of whisky-making as a fine art. Some items included are a 1946 Macallan and one of the 60 Johnny Walker bottles made for Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee of 1952 which retails for $198,500 (it’s worth it just for the bottle/decanter combo). If you might be passing through the Changi Airport you can participate in the extension of this event or perhaps a North American stop may be on a future “tour”. –Chancellor Bop

DFS and CAG launch MOS Mark II event
Written by Doug Newhouse
Friday, 09 March 2012 05:49

The established partnership between the Changi Airport Group and DFS Group is to stage Master of Spirits II for serious connoisseurs and collectors in Singapore between March and April.

This second expression of the successful DFS Group signature theme is expected to attract passionate connoisseurs and collectors from around the globe to interact with ‘the world’s rarest and most exclusive spirits’ at the highly anticipated Master of Spirits II. This latest event will kick off DFS Group’s Master Series for 2012 and comes exactly one year after the Master of Spirits theme was successfully launched at Changi Airport’s CIP Terminal One. At that event, passengers were able to view and purchase a special selection of the rare wines and spirits’ products that were featured at the event, following an earlier prestigious launch.

Philippe Schaus, Group President of Merchandising and Marketing for DFS Group, said: “This event is a dream rendezvous for connoisseurs and collectors to awaken their imagination and share a moment with the undisputed masters of fine spirits, wine and Champagne.”

He added: “As the world’s leading luxury retailer, we are thrilled to work with the industry’s most prestigious brands and offer their most exclusive and rare collections at the Master of Spirits II.”

Adding his comments, Harold Brooks, President of Global Merchandising for DFS Group said: “This year, we selected 84 products from 50 of the world’s top brands as well as a number of very rare and exquisite specialty wines; together these items are worth millions of dollars in value. “This includes many of the world’s most exclusive collections, limited editions and numbered selections, many of which were created exclusively for Master of Spirits II.”

DFS adds that some of the products on show simply exude ‘supreme exclusivity’, such as the Johnnie Walker Diamond Jubilee blended by John Walker & Sons. This is described as ‘an exceptionally crafted limited edition of 60 crystal decanters, distilled by appointment of Her Majesty the Queen in tribute of the 60th Anniversary of her reign.

DFS says that ‘other masterpieces’ are treasured for their preservation of traditional brewing technique, with Luzhoulaojiao National Salute not only a premium Chinese spirit, but a historical gem amongst the very first group of liquor to be honoured as ‘a national intangible cultural heritage’. The retailer adds that certain masterpieces are also valued for their connection to the arts, such as the 1946 Macallan with Platinum Prints which celebrates the two very different but highly revered art processes of photography and whisky-making. Each Macallan 1946 bears a printed label from the work of renowned photographer Albert Watson.

DFS added: “Finally, some of the masterpieces presented at Master of Spirits II are vintage wines which are loved for their magnificent taste – the Cheval Blanc 1986 is a stellar ‘first growth’ of Saint-Emilion which is ample-bodied yet subtle, mellow, yet delicate and sure to be unforgettable,” it says.

The luxury retailer says that this journey of luxurious discovery at the Master of Spirits II will begin on March 31, where guests will be encouraged to experience master classes, exclusive exhibitions and an elegant gala gathering, as well as discover an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share a moment with esteemed masters, brand ambassadors, connoisseurs and guest speakers.

This ‘journey’ will continue through the month of April at Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 where global travellers will have an unrivalled opportunity to share in the luxury experience. Changi Airport Group’s Executive Vice President Lim Peck Hoon said: “We are delighted to co-host the Master of Spirits II exhibition with DFS Group. As a major international passenger hub, consistently ranked as one of the best airports in the world, Singapore Changi Airport aims to deliver a memorable and first-class airport experience.

“Through Master of Spirits II, we hope to guide travellers on an enthralling journey to discover DFS Group’s exquisite and diverse selection of masterpieces on display at Changi Airport.” DFS concludes that Master of Spirits II in Singapore is the first stop in 2012 for its Master Series, which also includes ‘Masterpieces of Time’.

My birthday this month was on a Saturday and late on the Friday before my group at work surprised me with a cake and a gift: Balblair 1989! I shared it with about 15 people and I had 4 drams myself. When we were finished there was about one finger left in the bottle. One really neat thing is they selected the Balblair based on the results of querying through our tasting notes on this site.

I have never been party to finishing a newly opened bottle in one session but this was really close as the Balblair was just that good. Two guys said they never liked alcohol of any kind before, but were happy to toast me on my birthday, and said they very much enjoyed this expression.

One notable flavor, early in the palate, was banana which was fun. Also the late palate had a nice shock to it like a menthol would. It was so impressive I decided to feature it at the 1Q12 tasting.