Tastings

Nose: Smoked rose Turkish delight, aromatic oak (incense sticks) stewed rhubarb, subtle earthy, leathery notes, red licorice, white pepper on strawberries.

Palate: Rhubarb and custard, aromatic red berries, earthy anise, peppery oak, leathery, crunchy red currants, smoke and crunchy tannins.

Finish: Aromatic spices, that smoke and stewed red fruit and crunchy berries combination lingers long, peppery, Turkish delight and rose wine notes.

Glenmorangie Bacalta nas 46%

Northern Highlands

Nose: Fragrant, honeyed and sweet. Some ripe apricots, mead-like, and a curious minerally/flinty note, followed by some sweet white chocolate.

Palate: An initial burst of mint toffee, with baked fruits such as caramelized oranges and apricots, lots of honeycomb, almonds and dates.

Finish: A rich, syrupy aftertaste, with more caramelized citrus and pears, some creamy fudge, but always an intriguing menthol/eucalyptus sensation in the background.

Springbank Local Barley 16yr 56.3% Campbeltown

Nose: Authentic seaside fudge, chock-full of vanilla, alongside a touch of sea breeze and dried fruit.

Palate: More fruit (think ripe pear and a hint of chewy raisin), buttery biscuits and subtle smoky peat.

Finish: The finish goes on and on, with developing smoke from the peat.

Glenturret Single Sherry Cask #110 12yr 55.5% Speyside

Nose: Flamed orange peel and rum-soaked raisins, with a hint of chocolate truffle.

Palate: Mint, dark chocolate, Jaffa Cakes and old oak spice.

Finish: Lasting citrus sweetness and spicy clove.

Kilchoman Sanaig nas 46% Islay

Nose: Pineapple chunks and white grapes. Hints of fresh coffee carry the earthy, subtly spicy peat. Toffee cubes.

Palate: More light fruits (this time of the peach variety), with dark chocolate raisins and a whisper of red berries. Peat grows and grows, with a little black pepper too.

Finish: Quite long with coastal peat lasting.

Lagavulin 200th Anniversary Limited Edition 12yr 57.7% Islay

Nose: Smoldering peat smoke with icing sugar, lemons and spearmint rising.

Palate: Smooth and sweet with a salty balance. Fruit and nut chocolate warms with smoky, grainy cereals

Finish: Long and refined with more warming smoke.

still working on list....

Wychwood Brewery Hobgoblin “English Ruby Beer” 5.2% England

Nose: Roasted malt, hoppy, a bit fruity

Palate: Strong roasted malt with a moderate hoppy bitterness, more fruit

Finish: Moderately short with a slight fruity character

Brauerei Heller-Trum “Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbeir Urbock” Smokebeer 6.5% Germany

Nose: Smoke, toffee, malty, fresh baked bread

Palate: Caramel, pumpernickel, hints of apple with a smoke-laden back end. Slightly floral with a salty-sweet undertone. Creamy, oily texture

Finish: Like drinking a campfire in October with a smooth and satisfying finish

Founders "Barrel Runner" Mosaic Hopped Ale aged in Rum Barrels 11.1% Michigan

Nose: Hoppy, tropical fruit undertones

Palate: Sweet and hoppy, rich and bright

Finish: Tropical fruits, bitter, short

North Coast "Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin" Russian Imp Stout 11.1% California

Nose: Bourbon and light chocolate notes.

Palate: Bbitter dark chocolate, medium leather, light molasses, touch of licorice, trace amounts of sweet dark fruits

Finish: Medium with bourbon undertones, warming

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

Did someone say Madiera? ...