Every year we fit in one non-whisky event, to continue to broaden our horizons a bit! One of our members happens to be a Cognac/Armagnac aficionado and asked if he could help lead an event focusing on this spirit, which we were happy to do! Alec led the tasting over zoom and it was incredibly informative. We learned about how brandies are made, what makes … Continue reading Cognac & Armagnac tasting with Alec
Ledaig 4 SC Face-off (SMWS 42.22, 42.27, Old Particular 16yr and 18yr Co-op SC) If you like the peated/Islay profile, Ledaig is one of those distilleries that until recently was overlooked. Sadly they have grown more popular recent, and prices have started to increase. Recently has the chance to sit down and drink four different Ledaig single casks, so that us see how they stacked … Continue reading Ledaig Four Whisky Face-off (SMWS 42.22, 42.27, Old Particular 16yr and 18yr Co-op SC)
So I’m at the precipice of hitting both 300 scotch reviews and 500 total whisky reviews on reddit and plotted out my path to those milestones. Inspired by /u/tomodera‘s recent Arran-pocalypse posts (Part 1, Part 2), I decided to do a smaller multi of the Arran drams I haven’t posted here in the past. It’s kind of like the B-movie version of his post… it’s Piranha … Continue reading Arran-mageddon: 12 reviews of Arran single casks, LEs and crazy finishes
This review is a bit of a throwback, as I initially did it and posted during the MLB playoffs last year. Now that it’s the off-season and I’m just waiting for spring training to start, I figured this would be a good #froaigfriday to post. I received this dram from Devoz as a thank you for a bottle hook-up I did for him earlier in … Continue reading #FroaigFriday Review: Laphroaig 23 SMWS 29.154 “Camping with a M*A*S*H”
SMWS Code: 30.91 Code Name: “Deliciously dark and sweet” Distillery: Glenrothes Age: 18 years Cask: Refill Ex-Sherry Gorda Appearance: 1.1, Burnished Nose: Rum raisin ice cream, Christmas fruit cake, spent matches, ginger snaps, masala chai, plum pudding. What an odd nose. Am I detecting sulfur? For some reason, the sulfur is not overt here, or it’s blending weirdly with the other notes… Taste: Is this … Continue reading Review: Scotch Malt Whisky Society 30.91
SMWS Code: 35.142 Code Name: “Sweet treats and forbidden pleasures” Distillery: Glen Moray Age: 21 years Cask: 1st Fill Hogshead Toasted Oak Appearance: 1.4, Tawny Nose: Moderate body, caramel and vanilla at the forefront, very little wood detectable, lychee, white grapes, coffee cake, shortbread, butter cream frosting, a hint of sawdust and almost green wood. Taste: Spicy oak and tannins up front, I get some tart … Continue reading Review: Scotch Malt Whisky Society 35.142
SMWS Code: 36.96 Code Name: “Chocolate cake cookie” Distillery: Benrinnes Age: 9 years Cask: 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel Appearance: 0.3, Pale Gold Nose: Up front mint and menthol, vanilla, some white cake, powdered sugar, apple and pear, peppery oak. A bit one dimensional. Taste: Quite spicy and youthful on the arrival, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, apple, pear, pineapple, white pepper, lemon zest, lemon custard. Great mouth feel … Continue reading Review: Scotch Malt Whisky Society 36.96
SMWS Code: 121.77 Code Name: “Dunnage warehouse orange boxes” Distillery: Arran Age: 19 years Cask: Refill Hogshead Appearance: 0.8, Deep Gold Nose: Combination bourbon cask influence and brine; I get salty peanut brittle, vanilla and caramel, hints of some citrus (orange, tinged with lemon). Quite grainy and malty. Taste: Thick mouthfeel, vanilla, salted caramel, oak and white pepper, mandarin orange, clove and anise, slightly astringent. Finish: More … Continue reading Review: Scotch Malt Whisky Society 121.77
SMWS Code: 71.41 Code Name: “Curious and intriguing” Distillery: Glenburgie Age: 17 years Cask: Refill Ex-Sherry Gorda Appearance: 1.3, Russet Nose: Dominated by sulphur on the nose; gunpowder and spent matches. Fairly difficult to pick out much beyond that; a hint of some cola cubes, almost cherry coke. Taste: Arrives with a crescendo of dry fruit, almost a biting dryness initially, gunpowder note is present but … Continue reading Review: Scotch Malt Whisky Society 71.41
Toronto Whisky Society 