Our Tasting "Gatherings": A malt, a beer, a malt, a beer. Who's counting!

Bowmore Feis Ile 2009 8yr 57.1% abv

Islay

Nose: Wonderful peat smoke, stewed fruit, espresso, orange peel, briny, some grape/wine notes

Palate: Big & powerful, smoke envelopes the palate with peat coming in, stewed fruits, leathery, oak notes

Finish: Spice and everything nice: more lingering smoke & very warming with some sweetness on the tail, bit drying at the very end. Superbly long!

Comments: We tasted this at Bowmore and could not wait to get our own bottle. Just great!

Fantastic complexity!!

Balvenie Tun 1401 nas 48.1%

Speyside

A vatting of a single cask each of 1973 sherry butt & 1972 sherry hogshead, and American bourbon casks from 1966, 1974, 1978, and 1988.

Nose: Butterscotch, vanilla, sherry, raisins, nice spice and very creamy, oak notes late

Palate: Full and well rounded with spice, vanilla, dark chocolate, espresso, stewed fruit, oak notes, old books - wow!

Finish: Long and dark, some nice spice, licorice, and the oak coming though still. Some late light smoke. Forever lingering!

Comments: Just a fantastic marriage of some really old whiskies. Love to get another bottle.

Bunnahabhain Cruach-Mhóna nsa 50%

Islay

Cruach-Mhona, gaelic for 'peat stack', a pile of drying peat bricks cut for fuel, is a departure from Bunnahabhain's usual style, adding in some peat to their normally unpeated spirit.

Nose: Sweet, with the peat moving in, briny

Palate: Peat smoke & sweet with late spice, licorice, and some herbal notes

Finish: Medium long, smokey, a little spice, drying on the tail.

Lagavulin Limited Edition nas 52.5%

Islay

Nose: Nice sweetness with peat, some smoke, and a wonderful malty note (right from the mash tun)

Palate: Cream sherry, buttery, with vanilla, citrus, and very warming

Finish: Medium long, quickly drying with citrus and late spice/peppery

Laphroaig Fis Ile 2011 Cairdeas 8yr 50.5%

Islay

Nose: VAnilla, buttery, clove spice, fresh sweet oranges, earthy

Palate: Oaky sweetness, creamy, then spice, with the sweetness continuing

Finish: Long and warming, spice and ongoing sweetness

Breath of Islay 16yr 56.6%

Islay

Nose: Smokiness, peat, burning heather, medicinal

Palate: Nice & creamy with fruity sweetness with late smoke

Finish: Long and smokey, slight dryness

Edradour Cask Strength nas 56%

Speyside

Nose: Sherry, citrus, orange peel, honey, and coffee

Palate: Big sherry hit, caramel, and spice

Finish: Spicy and long with dark caramel

Better late than never!

    

As a surprise we decided to bring out many of our treasures we brought back from Scotland. With a selection of fine distillery only or limited release single malts and some fine Scottish and English brews a fine evening was had by all.

Bowmore “Islay Ale”

Islay

Nose: As if it was just pulled from the mash tun. Wonderful fresh smoked barley

Palate: Peat & smoke, breakfast cereal

Finish: Short

Comment: May I have some more please!!!

Orkney “Red Macgregor” 4.0%

Scotland

Nose: Sweet and flowery, hoppy

Palate: Light and malty, no hop carry thru

Finish: Short

Orkney “Dragonhead” Stout 4.0%

Scotland

Nose: Very light nose with some roasted malt

Palate: Dark roasted malt,  slight sweetness

Finish: Short & sweet

Meantime “Coffee Porter” 6%

England

Nose: Light nose with no distinctive notes other than a slight maltiness

Palate: The coffee chimes in adding to the nice medium roast malt

Finish: Short and sweet

Meantime “Scotch Ale” 8.0%

England

Nose: Sweet & hoppy with a nice head

Palate: Nice, balanced malt & hops, well-rounded and full-bodied

Finish: Little sweetness but short

Meantime “London Porter” 8.5%

England

Nose: Very similar to the Scotch Ale except for a slightly darker roasted malt note

Palate: Again a very nicely balance brew with a slightly darker palate than the Scotch ale.

Finish: Short