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Truly the real highlight of the evening was this gem. I received a wonderful Highland Park 40 as a gift from Chris, Doug, and Tom about a month ago as an early BD present. It was extremely difficult to not open this, but alas I did wait, and it was worth it.

Highland Park 40 yr 48.3% abv
Orkney

Nose: So rich and spicy, with stewed fruits, chocolate, smoke, a bit of cinnamon, lemony citrus. Just amazing! I think I nosed this for at least 5 minutes before tasting.

Palate: Sweet with some dark toffee notes, dark chocolate, more honey sweetness, citrus (orange), and smoke. Very smooth and well balanced.

Finish: The supreme finish, elegant, rich, long, and smokey. Out of this world.

Comment: Great job Highland Park. And a special thanks again to Doug, Tom, and Chris.

Mortlach 1954 (bottled 2008) 54yr 40% abv

Lowlands

Nose: Wonderful sherry with citrus and chocolate notes. Nice roasted malt with some late wine notes.

Palate: Very smooth & creamy with sweetness in the middle, then some spice, light cognac, and late rum notes

Finish: Medium long, leathery, and dry. Very complex and perky for it’s age.

This was pushing it a bit with all the great ones in the list but I thought it would add a little balance to the evening, along with some discussion

Black Bull (Blend) 40yr 40.2% abv

Various

Nose: Oak, vanilla, and honey with some dry dessert winds at the end???

Palate: Very sharp oak, nutty almond, honey, orange sweetness turning to more rindy and then spice.

Finish: Medium long, intense oakiness, vanilla, with late cereal notes, and very dry.

Some strange complexity and not well balanced. Home Depot aisle 4 maybe?

Bunnahabain 40yr 41.2% abv

Islay

Nose: Opens with some sherry, then citrus, with some dried fruit on the tail. More like a Speyside then an Islay

Palate: Again that sherry and oak stand out, now with some coffee and dried fruit trailing in.

Finish: Medium long, bit liquorice, little dry

Tamnavulin 40yr 43% abv

Speyside

Nose: Grassy, honeysuckle, vanilla, and dried fruit

Palate: Nice medium body, a bit honeyed, fruity, with vanilla notes

Finish: This is like the tortoise and the hair - I got to the finish but the finish did not get to me right away. Kind of sneaks up on you then WOW!

A nice long, peppery finish with some honey sweetness on the tail.

Glenfarclas 40yr 46% abv

Speyside

Nose: Speyside at it’s finest. Big sherry hit, chocolate, dried fruit (raisins & prunes), then some wild berry jam, coffee, and a bit of toast.

Palate: Nice, big oak hit, stewed fruit, then chocolate. Citrus notes on the tail

Finish: Long, fruity - like jam, and the oak tannins kick in late.

Just great! Where’s the cigar?

Bruichladdich 40yr 43.1% abv

Islay

Nose: Unbelievably fresh nose. Summer fruits like watermelon and honey dew mix with ripe pears. Just a very light smokiness and no peat.

Palate: Grabs you again with that freshness. Creamy & smooth with citrus notes.

Finish: Long and warming, sweet in the middle and dry on the tail.

A star!

Not for the faint of heart!

Here are the notes...

...but first - a prayer!

Our lager,

Which art in barrels

Hallowed be thy drink,

Thy kegdom come,

I fill thee mug,

At home, as in the tavern.

Give us this day, our foamy head,

And forgive us our spillages,

As we forgive those who spill upon us,

And lead us not, into inebriation,

But deliver us from hangovers,

For thine is the barley, the malt, and the yeast

Fermentation forever.

Barmen

What a grand evening!. In celebration of my 60th birthday we sampled some top shelf selections of brews and single malts. With 6 - 40 year old whiskies and a 54 year old, plus all 100 rated brews, the sampling was superb!

Avery “Mephistopheles” Stout 15.95% abv

Colorado

Nose: Sweet, oily, bit liquorice, cherries

Palate: Chocolate, coffee, velvety (oily)

Finish: Medium

North Coast Old Stock Ale “2009 Cellar Reserve”

13.16% abv California

Nose: Nice bourbon hit, sweet, slight hop, caramel

Palate: Bourbon, barleywine-‘ish, spice

Finish: Medium short with sweetness from the bourbon

Stone Brewing Co “Sublimely Self Righteous” Ale

8.7% abv California

Nose: Very hoppy, citrus, fresh and a bit piney

Palate: Hoppy and very smooth

Finish: Short

Harviestoun “Ola Dubh 40” Special Reserve

8% abv

Aged in Oak Casks formerly used to mature Highland Park 40yr old Single Malt Whisky

Nose: Sweet and nutty with light malt notes

Palate: Big dark chocolate hit, again some maltiness, dark toffee note on the tail

Finish: Short

Chimay “Grande Reserve” Ale 9% abv

Belgium

This has been bottle aged for 5 years. We also have a recent bottling to compare.

Nose: A very light hoppy nose

Palate: Sweet, cidery, with some mild trappist ale notes

Finish: Short

Comments: When compared to a new bottling it seems that the aging brought in some sweetness and smoothed the citrus notes in the palate, as well as cut the carbonation down.

Founders “Kentucky Breakfast Stout” 11.2% abv

Michigan

Nose: Chocolate with sweet bourbon

Palate: Chocolate again with coffee, more like iced coffee

Finish: Short

Not really sure what all the hype is about. Certainly a fine beer but the standard Breakfast Stout is the better.

It was great to see everyone, including Steve and his wife Daisy who flew in from California to join the festivities. We also had 3 other birthdays with Tom, Marshall, and Dave celebrating as well.

One highlight was the introduction of the TST kilts. I hope this becomes a tradition at the tastings, though the next time we wear them will be in Scotland. Stay tuned!