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

Small gathering with some really great friends! Oh yes, the single malts & brewskies as well. :) A BIG welcome to our new member - Dave!

Glenfarclas 10yr 40%
Speyside

Nose: Wonderful sherry hit with some grassy and citrus notes

Palate: Same as nose with an even bigger sherry hit and a smooth & malty tail

Finish: Just a bit of smoke with a medium finish and some spice

Great representation of what you expect from a Speysider

Kilchoman Spring Release 3yr 46%
Islay

Nose: Sweet peat and smoke with bourbon creeping in

Palate: Nice sherry and peat working well together with a hint of pepper

Finish: Now the pepper comes on stronger with spice, then peat and a great tail of smoke

We’ve been following this distillery as it has matured starting off with the 2 month spirit, then the two year, and every 3 year release, including yet to be tasted Royal Mile Whiskies bottling and the Summer 2010 release. It’s hard not to go down to the closet and sample them before the official club tasting.

Macallan Estate Reserve nas 45.7%
Speyside

Nose: Spiced orange, citrus, sherry, ripe fruit, very complex but in TTBB harmony

Palate: Very full bodied with dark sherry, dried fruit and vanilla creeping through

Finish: Spicy and long with some orange notes and a bit of oak

This is for Travel Retail only and thanks to an associate who picked it up for me. It was worth the trip!

Glen Garioch 1990 nas 54.6%
Speyside

Nose: Sweet maple syrup, citrus, oak, and mocha on the tail (yes, mocha)

Palate: Honey, fruity, dried fruit, and again mocha

Finish: Long and spicy

A really nice surprise of the evening. For the real sweet tooth among you. I would like to try this on my waffles as well after a little reduction with butter.

Ileach Cask Strength nas 58%
Islay

Nose: Peat

Palate: Peat

Finish: And...Peat!

A very young whisky not complex but inexpensive and great for your peat fix.

Highland Part Hjarta 12yr 58.1%
Orkney

Nose: Opens with licorice, then fruity, some heather, smoke, and then grassy

Palate: Spice and sherry working together with nice peach preserve middle leading to smoke, some peat, and dried fruit on the tail

Finish: Long and sherry spiced with a nice smoke finish

A really wonderful dram! Thanks Highland Park for never letting us down.

Next was a surprise additional pick for the evening. As we were rather tasted out I have chose to go at it again whilst typing.

Ben Nevis 25yr Cask Strength 56%

Nose: Smokey with a nice sherry hit and chocolate

Palate: Full-bodied and chewy (in a nice way), stewed fruits moving into some smoke

Finish: Sherry and smoke working nicely with some oak and dark chocolate on the tail.

Ben Nevis is always a great one. It’s nice they’ve been releasing a few more.

Brewskilicious!

SInglemaltylicious!

Southern Tier "Heavy Weizen" Unfiltered Wheat Ale 8% NY

Nose: Citrus, hops, and yeasty

Palate: Orange and sweet with a good hop balance

Finish: Short

Great Divide Brewing Co "Old Ruffian" Barley Wine-Style Ale 10.2% CO

Nose: Southern Tier type hops

Palate: Light with citrus and hops blending nicely

Finish: Short and a bit piney

Southern Tier "Uber Sun" Summer Wheat Beer 8% NY

Nose: Big hop and citrus

Palate: Well blended hops with a nice fruitiness

Finish: A big hop finish, fruity, medium

The Bruery "Rugbrod" Dark Rye Ale 8% CA

Nose: Cirtus, hops, and yeast

Palate: A wheat sweetness, cereal-like

Finish: Light and a bit watery

Dogfish Head "Squall IPA" 90 Minute IPA 9% DE

Nose: Light hops and a light sweetness

Palate: Strong citrus with hops on the tail

Finish: Short and a bit sweet

Great Divide Brewing Co "Chocolate" Oak Aged Yeti 9.5% CO

Nose: WOW! Big chocolate hit with the cayenne creeping in

Palate: Very chocolate, malty sweetness and full bodied

Finish: Creamy, smooth with the cayenne slowly enveloping your mouth. Nice!