tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309709982024-03-13T16:53:37.823+00:00Dr.WhiskyWhisky. Whiskey. Whisky. Just what the doctor orderedDr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.comBlogger494125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-7532505416097807972021-04-01T12:55:00.001+00:002021-04-01T12:55:00.419+00:00Master of Malt, April Fools, Buckfisn't & Macallain't<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uEJL7kwy6b__7u1mv8ygM0jXKdBYjQjt4igujU5TW8_hwsZ31wJI4n0oKonkzwqYh4mFVQpROyNt4dACdaNG3-5BVmzLZmctweiuDF07V40N7LE7JKyo1-79ZdyH8ANgFEvL2Q/s910/masterofmalt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uEJL7kwy6b__7u1mv8ygM0jXKdBYjQjt4igujU5TW8_hwsZ31wJI4n0oKonkzwqYh4mFVQpROyNt4dACdaNG3-5BVmzLZmctweiuDF07V40N7LE7JKyo1-79ZdyH8ANgFEvL2Q/s320/masterofmalt.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/master-of-malt-x-the-rhythm-and-blues-project/tonic-wine-cask-finish-single-malt-10-year-old-master-of-malt-x-the-rhythm-and-booze-project-whisky/" target="_blank">Tonic Wine Cask Finish</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">10yo Single Malt Whisky</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.masterofmalt.com/">Master of Malt</a>/<a href="https://therhythmandboozeproject.com/">Bourbon & Booze Project</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">46% abv</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">£45</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's been too long. Dinosaur alert, this whole Blogger tool has changed and, to be honest, I'm lost. Maybe I'll fuck up the layout. Maybe this won't even post. I should just Clubhouse.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But no. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's been too long. Deal with it. I have. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Or if I haven't, we should probably visit a whisky we cannot name from a country we cannot name that spent time in a cask that held 5 cases of a tonic wine that we cannot name.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So let's</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">TASTING NOTES:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Florida beaches, suntan lotion, moisturiser, and the cheapest Terri's chocolate orange ripoff, like plastic, American chocolate.Sheila's perfume and tree bark remind you one sniff is often enough.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Luscious spirit, meaty, turning confectionery but maintaining savoury pangs. What the hell is th... oh right. Right. Daring to venture in again is rewarded swiftly with overripe apples, banana bread, and herbaceous notes of toni... oh right. Right. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">SUMMARY:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's just a drink, isn't it? And as a drink, it's pretty yummy, but it can be grippy. Water helps dilute the "additive" allowing it to flatter the fat, juicy spirit underneath with pine, peony, and wild strawberry. Really fucking tasty. Let's never do it again though, ok? ... or, what? .... we</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> put 21yo Nobermory and Ben Nevisn't in one, too, <a href="https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/master-of-malt-x-the-rhythm-and-blues-project/tonic-wine-cask-finish-blended-malt-21-year-old-master-of-malt-x-the-rhythm-and-booze-project-whisky/" target="_blank">didn't we</a>? Sigh. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/best-april-fools-day-pranks-23827492" target="_blank">April fools</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Or April's fool?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jf_6cef7oZc" width="320" youtube-src-id="Jf_6cef7oZc"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html">Malt Mission HOME</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-37456647356713835422014-11-03T15:37:00.001+00:002014-11-04T09:48:14.907+00:00Jim Murray, 2015 Whisky Bible and Why Scotch Whisky Sucks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is always a good deal of chatter when Jim Murray releases his awards list ahead of the release of a new edition of his bible, surely the sometimes controversial choices he makes are no promotional accident...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some of the best whiskies I was fortunate enough to taste in 2014 were from Japan, and I would agree that the Yamazaki Sherry Cask is a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/11204872/Scotland-loses-out-as-Japanese-whisky-named-best-in-the-world.html" target="_blank">stunning</a> whisky from one of the world’s greatest malt whisky-producing countries, but the Daily Mail’s (expected) <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2818146/Japan-s-whisky-best-world-Single-malt-dubbed-work-incredible-genius-takes-title-wake-call-Scottish-industry.html" target="_blank">sensational headline</a> and Mr. Murray’s statements strike me as remarkably unfounded. That Scotch whisky has something to be “humiliated” about, that a perceived lack of innovation has hindered Scotch producers is near nonsense. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Scotch whisky is celebrated and esteemed as much for its diversity of flavour as for its adherence to traditional craftsmanship over its lengthy history but recent years have seen these traditions used in new ways, with innovation from barley to barrel to bottle across the industry, albeit within parameters. Interestingly, many of these innovations have been in turn praised and criticised by Mr. Murray over the past two decades, from 1994s praise of finishing to his 2008 critique of the practice.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIfEcZlhGwVVZqBtosJ6JQqrZ0b4ls6EsqZd1DIvfXOuwGkeGAo5Xk8nKBWdcQdoXXffStx1UivfAKQgNzgfvZkAXZ9bMNMVZjecxdzUFkG41UHnokATawgGQ0OSBR-dzfzH-UA/s1600/jim-murray-s-whisky-bible-2015-65-p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIfEcZlhGwVVZqBtosJ6JQqrZ0b4ls6EsqZd1DIvfXOuwGkeGAo5Xk8nKBWdcQdoXXffStx1UivfAKQgNzgfvZkAXZ9bMNMVZjecxdzUFkG41UHnokATawgGQ0OSBR-dzfzH-UA/s1600/jim-murray-s-whisky-bible-2015-65-p.jpg" height="320" width="151" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Japanese whisky was founded on the traditions of Scotch whisky making over 90 years ago, and it could possibly be argued that Japan adheres even more to the traditional methods (wooden washbacks, direct firing stills, etc) than the average malt distillery in Scotland so I do question Murray’s implied praise of generalised Japanese “innovation” over<i> just making really good whisky that he liked</i>. After all, publishing a bible DOES NOT make him God; his awards are no more than reflections of one drinker's opinion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Since the mid-1980s, when the world saw its first Single Malt from Japan, Japanese whiskies have attracted acclaim. Since 2008, Japanese blends and malts have won major titles, most notably from the World Whisky Awards. This is not to say that Scotch has <i>stopped</i> winning these awards or top acclaim from writers, including Murray. Although Scotch has, until now, won his highest accolade in all but one edition of his bible, Murray has awarded more American whiskies in recent years than Japanese. It is no news that America and Japan make excellent whiskies. Not a great headline, though, and tough to sell newspapers or magazines with a headline like that, "Whiskies Being Made to High Standard Outside Scotland"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The assumption from Murray’s statements is that Japanese whisky has an edge on Scotch because of a stronger vision or wilder innovation; innovations like the highball campaign? No Age Statements? Local barley or local oak? There are precedents in Scotch in every case. So in what way is Japanese whisky’s success due to innovations that Scotch lacks? Zero. It is due to releasing top quality malt whiskies. To infer that this precludes the ongoing (and much longer-running) success of Scotch whisky is balderdash, but a great reminder that Jim Murray’s latest book is about to be released!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally, in case it has not been mentioned, Jim has a new book coming out next week. </span><br />
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Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-68283388826320631972013-07-18T08:49:00.002+00:002013-07-18T08:52:39.233+00:00Mandatory Reading <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Scotch Whisky: Its Past and Present, David Daiches (1969)</strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwDIlLxMCRGCMBzPXirL_aX6axqS_B3_Dc35XND5kNGf9pQ98CZTC1BCASf0cO_Wtq7RiNEkF0vEWOETVCV4uYeDRGTKK2qWbVpsuigEsm3U1h1o3IHswqB494KI8oSCgBkLcBw/s1600/066771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 242px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 146px;"><img border="0" height="200" iya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwDIlLxMCRGCMBzPXirL_aX6axqS_B3_Dc35XND5kNGf9pQ98CZTC1BCASf0cO_Wtq7RiNEkF0vEWOETVCV4uYeDRGTKK2qWbVpsuigEsm3U1h1o3IHswqB494KI8oSCgBkLcBw/s200/066771.jpg" width="141" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Much that was around in 1969 still feels contemporary today: the music can be heard everywhere, everyday; the fashion has come, gone and come again; the ideals, ever resilient, continue to be subjected to relentless pressures but have never been defeated in over four decades. The whisky world, however, was a very different place. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In 1969 there were 14 grain distilleries and 108 malt distilleries. Were I to boast of a lovely Ben Nevis or Lochside I had last night, you would have been right to ask, “malt or grain?” Port Ellen, Rosebank, and Hillside were all in production. Only a handful of malt whiskies could be found outside of Scotland. Thirty Speyside malts used the suffix –Glenlivet when their spirit was bottled, including Balvenie-Glenlivet. Scotch whisky, mostly blended but also malt, was just beginning a decade of unprecedented growth before a dramatic crash. Today, well… perhaps little has changed (call me in ten years!) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">David Daiches was born in Sunderland but grew up in Edinburgh where his family moved when he was young. He studied at the University of Edinburgh and then Oxford. He published his first work examing “place and meaning” in poetry before WWII broke out at which point he began producing pamphlets and writing speeches for the British Embassy in Washington, DC. He continued to publish prolifically and taught at ten universities in the UK, US and Canada (shout out to McMaster!), founded the English department at the University of Sussex, and chaired the judges of the Booker prize. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Apparently, he somehow found time to fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">His 29<sup>th</sup> published book, and first on the topic, <u>Scotch Whisky: Its Past and Present</u> does not read like a technical study of the whisky industry nor a critique or evaluation of its histories, errors and victories. He even introduces it with the disclaimer, “This book does not claim to be a complete and authoritative account of all aspects of Scotch whisky.” And while Daiches’ can be observed wearing his academic hat as objective researcher throughout, <u>Scotch Whisky</u> is a love-letter to whisky: facts delivered without judgement or cynicism, undue favour or anti-industrial bias that thoroughly soaks and weighs down so many contemporary works on the subject. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This illuminates a final major difference between 1969 and today. Today writing has been democratised in such a way that one needn’t be a white (Jewish) male from the academy to publish 160 pages on whisky. Travel journalists can do it. Bartenders can do it. Bloggers can do it. You can do it. I can do it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But what would we make? And would it come close to capturing the sheer magnitude of its subject with any lasting value? Daiches’ work remains profoundly relevant. It is still an insightful and invaluable resource in the documented social and cultural histories of Scotch whisky. And if <u>2,796 Whiskies to Try Before You Die</u> is in it’s 11<sup>th</sup> impression in 40 years then I will happily stick my slipper in my slurper.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Originally posted </span><a href="http://uk.thebalvenie.com/news/sam-simmons-mandatory-reading-scotch-whisky-its-past-and-present-david-daiches-1969" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">HERE</span></a></div>
Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-58138651152880960562013-02-18T14:25:00.003+00:002013-02-18T14:30:57.033+00:00Take off, eh?<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><br />Crown Royal, Canadian Club, two of Canada's proudest exports (and two of ginger ale's best friends), are in the news on the back of an advertisement that is "misleading", "confusing", and "decieving" while "tarnishing" their good names.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.texascrownclub.com/index.html">Texas Crown Club</a> (couldn't squeeze a Royal in there?) from Houston-based drinks company Mexcor Inc. is accused of unlicensed use of Crown Royal's image to attack it in an advertising campaign. What concerns me, however, is the fear of what lurks beneath the surface: a resurgence of American anti-Canadianism. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPoGdJHylsCttMd4P6OeOX_O8BGoKbn2iFT4aVdaLB8LeUe9FnBF5yJGK1JNK3jBuUQeLnsjJAMKWHK0kKmZsIH4C5uc9XDTpFbfO1JBYj4JnlF0ATdZFRW0DwZaMEB4HsGhjiQ/s1600/texas+crown+with+bag2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In Canada, it is a sad phenomenon that visible minorities still suffer from racism and discrimination from the playground to the burial ground. In fact, the very term "visible minority" was found by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to be offensive and racist. Worse still, however, is that outside of Canada in North America (ie. anywhere on the same landmass but further south), Canadians are <a href="http://www.youjustmademylist.com/?p=5848">marginalised</a> as an audible minority. Finally, this unspoken subject might now come to light with Canadian identity itself now suffering in the bars and liquor shops of America following the old journalism idiom: if it's booze, it's news.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know. I, too, suffered anti-Canadian slurs and slander in my two years as a legal alien <a href="http://gawker.com/5577688/a-few-famous-canadians-we-wouldnt-mind-seeing-deported">living</a> in the USA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The current controversy stems from an advertisement which features a barmaid in an Old West saloon ordering a round of Mexcor's Texas Crown Club whisky for a group of grizzled cowboys. When a "strange cowboy" ambles into the bar brandishing an unmarked bottle in a purple, drawstring pouch, the barmaid jeers, "We don't drink that poison in this neck of the woods," Diageo, owners of Crown Royal, reports.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tossed out of the saloon, this Alberta cowboy being unwelcome as implied by the barmaid, the camera pans to a bottle of Texas Crown Club and shows a second bottle, in a pouch that resembles the Texas state flag, slammed down on the bar next to the first bottle. Red, white, and blue. Not purple like that silly Canadian flag. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8SyaZqa3X2zVsurUEIR1_jveLDwr5QrbdzsRj6SQRMLpB12iozLv3H0BkSc59Ucv31o7YdnmXKEsTmzGWU63oZRZKTSIssctfUmELkL_RTlgX5rWi79u48G0UnH9BLi2b0_uGw/s1600/tumblr_m6hmquluOa1r363ado1_500.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8SyaZqa3X2zVsurUEIR1_jveLDwr5QrbdzsRj6SQRMLpB12iozLv3H0BkSc59Ucv31o7YdnmXKEsTmzGWU63oZRZKTSIssctfUmELkL_RTlgX5rWi79u48G0UnH9BLi2b0_uGw/s200/tumblr_m6hmquluOa1r363ado1_500.png" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"[I]n light of the fact that defendant is selling and advertising a directly competitive Canadian whiskey, it is obvious that defendant intended to literally communicate to consumers that the cowboy is carrying Crown Royal whiskey, and that Crown Royal whiskey is the "poison" that the defendant denigrates and tarnishes in its commercial," the complaint said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While the Texas spirit makes no claims about its origin, it is implied to be "local", ie from Texas, it is clear that this outsider elixir, this "poison" is drippings from the north. In it's Texas guise enjoyed "round here", the Canadian Crown Royal whisky and the cowboy it rode in on is washed of its cultural identity. This message, the one that many of my countrymen face daily living under American rule, is "assimilate or get out"... or in the lyrics of Neil Peart, sung in a register achieved only from an upbringing in -30C winters, "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu9Ycq64Gy4">conform or be cast out</a>" </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkabqRdU3oKU6f9odO2SUCKGhHEI6YKpKAlHZef4oxTdTlBvssHnhPkjAPjWmQ1DgAJGq-14bGn7u3nmOobQRgpw7yKlCvDcZA06QCU5Q98ExL4Nduw5xFnfQmETgLvUEe3-oyw/s1600/8677_10152569473250085_1809689260_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkabqRdU3oKU6f9odO2SUCKGhHEI6YKpKAlHZef4oxTdTlBvssHnhPkjAPjWmQ1DgAJGq-14bGn7u3nmOobQRgpw7yKlCvDcZA06QCU5Q98ExL4Nduw5xFnfQmETgLvUEe3-oyw/s320/8677_10152569473250085_1809689260_n.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">photo courtesy of JShapiro, steaks courtesy of heaven </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While rumours continue to swirl around the potential source of the leather that decorates their website background (human? Canadian? Canadian human?), the fact remains that Diageo says it never agreed to let Mexcor mimic Crown Royal's look for the commercial, which it says dilutes the value of its trademarks, and wants the court to bring a stop to it. But there is much more that must be stopped here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Civil and human rights organisations agree that "discrimination permeates all aspects of life in the United States, and extends to all communities of color." Discrimination against African Americans, Latin Americans, and Muslims is widely acknowledged. Members of every major American ethnic and religious minority have perceived discrimination in their dealings with other minority racial and religious groups. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Canadians, stay strong: your plight has finally come to light. The achievement of liberation begins with <a href="http://www.probability.ca/jeff/canadians.html">achievement</a>!</span><br />
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Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-38242277100187716072013-02-04T09:15:00.000+00:002013-02-04T09:15:00.420+00:00Blending, Maturing<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You really can't make a quality stew without a little Worcestershire sauce. A Bloody Mary or Caesar is just a boozy tomato drink without it. A dash in a Bolognese can work wonders. In fact, it has been said that a few drops behind the ears will drive the ladies wild.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I just noticed my Lea & Perrins says "expert blenders since 1837". This piqued my curiosity and I learned that time and maturation was as vital to this tasty condiment as to great whisky. I also learned that it's not for vegetarians. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Forgive the pronunciation, but worth a watch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Originally posted <a href="http://uk.thebalvenie.com/news/only/the-whisky-word" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></div>
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Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-91943071527987753292013-01-21T17:11:00.003+00:002013-01-21T17:12:11.561+00:00Canadian Whisky Awards<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">While I was in Sweden aboard the Viking Line Cinderella for their annual Whisky Fair, winners of the 3rd annual Canadian Whisky Awards were announced at <a href="http://www.victoriawhiskyfestival.com/" target="_blank">The Victoria Whisky Festival</a> on Thursday, January 17th, 2013.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrkvX0oFdzIkW30IZt4-gIZmMgQH4q2262cldwF7sB66CRNXPIwIypoo7ssk9Y0_lbOrLGjlY2X0LvDs71eCXg8x_6Ta52w3Hk9PI9AKJVtn6oDpa9V5PdN7rjvBjnnYRhEbhBA/s1600/aa127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrkvX0oFdzIkW30IZt4-gIZmMgQH4q2262cldwF7sB66CRNXPIwIypoo7ssk9Y0_lbOrLGjlY2X0LvDs71eCXg8x_6Ta52w3Hk9PI9AKJVtn6oDpa9V5PdN7rjvBjnnYRhEbhBA/s320/aa127.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Canadian Whisky of the Year</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Connoisseur Whisky of the Year - Multi-market: </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Connoisseur Whisky of the Year - Domestic: </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Gibson's Finest 18 Year Old</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Connoisseur Whisky of the Year - Export: </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Sippin' Whisky of the Year - Multi-market: </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Century Reserve Lot 15-21</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Sippin' Whisky of the year - Domestic: </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Forty Creek Copper Pot Reserve</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Sippin' Whisky of the Year - Export: </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Masterson's French Oak</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Value Whisky of the Year - Domestic: </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Canada Gold</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Cream Whisky of the Year: </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Forty Creek Cream</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Flavoured Whisky of the Year Multi-market: </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Tap 357</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Flavoured Whisky of the Year - Domestic: </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Gibson's 100th Grey Cup Limited Edition</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Award of Excellence - Innovation</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Kruger Wines & Spirits - Sortilege</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Award of Excellence - Canadian Whisky Profile</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Diageo - Crown Royal Maple</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Award of Excellence - Line Extension</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Beam Inc. - Alberta Premium Dark Horse</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">More </span><a href="http://www.canadianwhisky.org/news-views/canadian-whisky-awards-2012.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">HERE</span></a>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-18636561986836326512013-01-15T23:11:00.000+00:002013-01-22T11:46:49.976+00:00Still relevant?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiok8Kj9Vas8IcWmuB6ntURk2PslPUbi3ueypTyxnrmLyKEeUV8cqA7-JLNQXRd_bT5yBd4VEWdEMuIoCFBV0X_b5-HEr8aO5xcbPkBnZVmySLwKmrXd-6QMWx9iNw5sB9Acph6cw/s1600/whiskyfightnightFEB2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiok8Kj9Vas8IcWmuB6ntURk2PslPUbi3ueypTyxnrmLyKEeUV8cqA7-JLNQXRd_bT5yBd4VEWdEMuIoCFBV0X_b5-HEr8aO5xcbPkBnZVmySLwKmrXd-6QMWx9iNw5sB9Acph6cw/s320/whiskyfightnightFEB2013.JPG" width="226" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God, has it been quiet around here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sure, we have had over a million unique visitors to date,</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> still see 400 visitors a day on this long (13 months!) dormant blog,</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and Dr. Whisky keeps busy with whisky and more, but worthy of praise?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thank Karen and Matt for including me on their list of <a href="http://whiskyforeveryone.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/our-top-10-whisky-blogs-2013-update.html" target="_blank">top blogs</a>, and after all, even a dormant web log is, by definition a web log, but seriously? Seriously? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thank all of you for continuing to visit and share, for following me on twitter (@dr_whisky), on facebook, and for checking out my new outlet on The Balvenie.com. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In fact, right now I am prepping my colleagues for a series of pretty controversial posts about cold fingering and the projected myths about maturation...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So business as usual, just not in these pages. Go get informed via the links to the left.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See you all in the real world soon.</span><br />
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<br />Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-73464816286550861602011-12-19T08:00:00.000+00:002011-12-19T12:25:06.701+00:00Malt Mission 2011 #405<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRBpKpl9HJdk-LrEM2EBYqvvPImKPnWf5nnDGbeJp3hTxpOkd0mToHupnFabC98VBtf01HLb2I3PMwpWPL2vg9PHSs9BlaHbha3-RTuW97Kiqsv9LnTpDd4_Qjb9_Sf1LqDcSPg/s1600/St_Isidore_-_Bloggers_Blend_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRBpKpl9HJdk-LrEM2EBYqvvPImKPnWf5nnDGbeJp3hTxpOkd0mToHupnFabC98VBtf01HLb2I3PMwpWPL2vg9PHSs9BlaHbha3-RTuW97Kiqsv9LnTpDd4_Qjb9_Sf1LqDcSPg/s320/St_Isidore_-_Bloggers_Blend_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/st-isidore-the-bloggers-blend-whisky/" target="_blank"><b>St. Isidore</b></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Blended Scotch Whisky</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>41.4% abv</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>£50</b></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am sure if you are reading this then you are likely familiar with the back story, but...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Master of Malt, clever 21st century spirits merchants and genuinely lovely people, came up with the idea to get a group of bloggers to take part in creating a blended whisky. Simple as that, really. And thus the work-in-progress formerly known as <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/blog/post/The-Bloggers-Blend.aspx" target="_blank">THE BLOGGERS BLEND</a> was born. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Read Jason's backstory <a href="http://www.foodanddrinkdigital.com/retail/the-bloggers-blend" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">TASTING NOTES:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Complex, deep and fruity with wood, wood smoke, and all the promise of the industrial revolution. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wow. Thick. Hearty. Real vanilla, spice and fruit again all swoddled in a blanket of fragrant wood smoke, finishing with a toasty, buttery and popcorn-y character and a resurgence of fruit, now more dried or even burnt. Lovely. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">SUMMARY:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chewy and hearty with an Islay heart, not unlike a bowl of coal soup. While admittedly not the most elegant drop on the block, this beauty matches the complexity of some of the world's favourite malts, most premium blends, and reminds of the old-school blending stylings of mid-20th century Johnnie Walker Black and White Horse all for a fraction of the cost. What's more is that in the spirit of Christmas, all proceeds go to cover MoM's admirable investment in such a brilliant project. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Think you could have done better? Now you can try to prove it. Master of Malt have assembled a <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/the-home-whisky-blending-kit/" target="_blank">Home Blending Kit</a> fit for exactly what it says on the tin. </span><br />
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</span><br />
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<a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/10/malt-mission-2011-401.html" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Malt Mission #401</span></a></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/10/scotch-blue-tasting-notes.html">Malt Mission #402</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/12/malt-mission-2011-403.html">Malt Mission #403</a></span><br />
<a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/09/malt-mission-2011-404.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Malt Mission #404</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Malt Mission Home</span></a></div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-42940815790556928102011-12-09T10:46:00.000+00:002011-12-19T12:23:39.466+00:00Malt Mission 2011 #404<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaiT0ETPHkw4F4chMjPECO1gyw6BbI5-zYRRSmUxhPVS78RD-7QI5pEURoNAms1waE2oGN5b4C-d87HHSG0NOGfgj0ru_hg-u41tGII9utq9K_n2n__XL6Wjvx51ZwWM5yzGIqQ/s1600/SilverGrouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaiT0ETPHkw4F4chMjPECO1gyw6BbI5-zYRRSmUxhPVS78RD-7QI5pEURoNAms1waE2oGN5b4C-d87HHSG0NOGfgj0ru_hg-u41tGII9utq9K_n2n__XL6Wjvx51ZwWM5yzGIqQ/s320/SilverGrouse.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>The Silver Grouse</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Blended Malt Whisky</b></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>45%</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>£30</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Honestly? I have no information about this bottle to share except for what the label told me:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blended_malt" target="_blank">blended malt</a> and is chill-filtered at -8 degrees Celsius, a proposition that seems familiar to the brilliant commercial failure of J&B -6. The label explains that this whisky was specially designed to celebrate Famous Grouse's 25 years as Scotland's number 1 blended whisky. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I took a sample off a bar in an office in Taipei and I am afraid neither the internet nor my shelves of books offer me much else by way of background. Sorry! Do you know this whisky?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For more info on the Famous Grouse family of blends and to see all tasted so far on the mission, click <a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/search/label/famous%20grouse" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">TASTING NOTES:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wildly pleasant and easy-going nose. Creamy and sweet with dates and honey. Slight salty or briney note in there, too.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">More dates, raisins and an oaty gristiness, drying with dusty oak and pleasant sherry. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">SUMMARY:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Classic Grouse style, easy to drink and a joy all the while. Now who knows where the hell this thing is available?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/10/malt-mission-2011-401.html" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Malt Mission #401</span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/10/scotch-blue-tasting-notes.html" style="line-height: 20px;">Malt Mission #402</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/12/malt-mission-2011-403.html">Malt Mission #403</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Malt Mission Home</span></a></div>
</div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-32104061124117956252011-12-02T08:45:00.000+00:002011-12-09T10:19:19.080+00:00Malt Mission 2011 #403<div>
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<a href="http://vicepost.com/wp-content/uploads/scotch-whisky-johnnie-walker-swing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://vicepost.com/wp-content/uploads/scotch-whisky-johnnie-walker-swing.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /><b><br />Johnnie Walker Swing <br />Blended Scotch Whisky<br />43% abv<br />£70</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another blend to start off the 400s on the malt mission.<br /><br />Originally introduced as the iconic Johnnie Walker range's premium export brand, Johnnie Walker 'Swing' or 'Celebrity' was introduced way back in 1932 and was Alexander Walker II's last blend. Although this whisky was apparently made available in the UK from 1982, it isn't a whisky we see much of on these shores. In fact, the world renowned Red Label is at least as absent from the home market having left the UK in 1977 following DCLs need to comply with EEC competition rules.<br /><br />I look forward to an email from Dr. Morgan correcting at least half of the above. Thank you in advance.<br /><br />For all Johnnie Walker had on the mission, click <a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/search/label/johnnie%20walker">HERE</a>.<br /><br />TASTING NOTES:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Coal smoke and candied lemon, green herbal (Glenlossie?) and tangerine (Glen Elgin?) notes with a hint of sulphury sherry adding a welcome weight.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Great texture, big and bold with vegetable sweetness from quality aged grain, vanilla and orange before turning drying with clay, treacly for balance, and arriving at a lasting smoky finish.<br /><br />SUMMARY:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jim Murray called it "a different breed to the other Walker blends" in Classic Blended Scotch (1999) but to my mouth twelve years later, this is a very JW house style blend, with a bit of swagger and umph at its heart. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/10/malt-mission-2011-401.html">Malt Mission #401</a><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/10/scotch-blue-tasting-notes.html">Malt Mission #402</a></span><br />
<a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/09/malt-mission-2011-404.html" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Malt Mission #404</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html">Malt Mission Home</a></span></div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-3425797536540640612011-10-16T07:43:00.003+00:002011-12-09T10:19:09.766+00:00Malt Mission 2011 #402<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664215828371686402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS4oQAyOieIwwpBdfmJ1zuLzTjZ_OhXEOTe5u0-vGcNPwo2MgCAfxHnoPpnV00K72JlSf9LzlyhRSDqU1u9s98O1eD5JFbGTLWUhvM3hxThy5SpwBRAVfAVFJ3J2Ip69pASyx-Rw/s200/Scotch+Blue.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Scotch Blue</b></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Blended Scotch Whisky</b></span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>40% abv</b></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>??? WON</b></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Scotch Blue calls itself "the #1 selling blended Scotch whisky in Korea" (it isn't) and was launched in 1997 by drinks giant <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotte_Chilsung">Lotte Chilsung</a>. It has 17 and 21yo versions very much targeting the more premium Ballantines expressions and local market leader, Windsor 17.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Scotch whisky was the biggest South Korean import from the UK in 2010 with the local brands dominating the market: Diageo's Windsor, Pernod's Imperial Classic and Lotte's Scotch Blue. As expected, Macallan and Glenfiddich dominate the malts but what is most fascinating for me is that Scotch Whisky as a category accounts for more than 90% of the spirits market in S. Korea. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When the South Korean government changed their tax policy on imported alcohol earlier this year, the whisky industry, especially those looking for an opportunity for malts to expand, had a party in their pants. Said Whisky Magazine's Rob Allanson, "South Korea is already the sixth largest export market in the world for Scotch by value and the ninth by volume, so we see this as having a fairly significant benefit to the whisky industry." </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">TASTING NOTES:</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Waxy and buttery the way only <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_terephthalate">PET</a> packed whisky can be. Grape juice sweetness and pleather Michael Jackson Beat It-era jackets. Sweet, simple, and welcoming.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Buttery again, rounded.<a href="http://tuscantraveler.com/2011/florence/mangia-mangia-150-years-of-garibaldi-biscuits/"> Garibaldi biscuits</a>, raisin sweetness offset by a lemony zest. Chewy and perfectly quaffable. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">SUMMARY:</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #282828; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Shocked. Utterly shocked. Probably lovely with tons of ice. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/10/malt-mission-2011-401.html">Malt Mission #401</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/09/malt-mission-2011-404.html" target="_blank">Malt Mission #404</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html">Malt Mission Home</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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</div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-21532319827632827992011-10-10T08:46:00.000+00:002011-12-09T10:18:41.494+00:00Malt Mission 2011 #401<div>
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658871667586054466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ItYb2t8OTsybjpFARDql9rbXX-ZVuNEjJSkPZadPke89CejMC_GrALUkzZ5sF9bnmV0WJAyO0N7nGpiRrBZJltAR2f5QLe3P3TKHfLhVZDfGDIP8QG6d8yR0znGon4HJJWHmIg/s320/greatkingstreet.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 300px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 185px;" /></div>
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /><a href="http://compassboxwhisky.com/greatkingstreet/">Great King Street</a><br /><a href="http://www.compassboxwhisky.com/home.html">Compass Box Whisky Co.</a><br />Blended Scotch Whisky<br />43% abv</span></b><br />
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">£25</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Blended whisky is the main volume driver of the scotch whisky industry but still carries a stigma that has proven challenging to shake. The history of blended whisky is the history of the Scotch whisky industry as a whole (see my <a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2007/02/bullocks-to-blends-part-1.html">Bullocks to Blends</a> post from 2008) and for over a century some of these whiskies have been the strongest brands in the world. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For ten years, John Glaser has been insisting that it is time for the world to take a fresh look at this style, "and that is why we have created Great King Street." The bottle clearly states a few keynotes of their malty manifesto in a Georgian press-style look and feel with terms like "artist", "non-chill filtered" and "natural colour" all making an appearance. The tube quotes Aeneas MacDonald's assessment of the styles of whiskies that appeal by geography, pointing to the central role for blended whiskies on a global level 80 years ago. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The ambitious ideology is laid out on the website: "More than just a new brand, Great King Street is a mission, a mission dedicated to reviving interest in one style of whisky only: Blended Scotch Whisky. This is the style of Scotch whisky that combines flavourful single malt whiskies with delicate, elegant single grain whiskies."</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From the press release, "This is more than a brand; it’s a mission. A mission to get people – all people - to take a fresh look at Blended Scotch; to join in the Rebirth of the Blend: in how Blends are made, how they are viewed, how they are consumed.” – John Glaser, Whiskymaker</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So the tube tells us Great King Street is "The rebirth of the blend." Ambitious. Today, blended whisky is a price-driven category in most markets globally, as Compass Box is no doubt aware. So if they see a "rebirth", the labour is due to be a very long a drawn out process for John and his Compass Box team. TAKE THE EPIDURAL!</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For all Compass Box had on the mission, click <a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/search/label/compass%20box">HERE</a>.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">TASTING NOTES:</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fresh pastry, juniper and lemon. Youthful and assertive.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Spirity, tart apples, and pencil shavings. There is a mineral note throughout with a gristy, malty, new-make-y zing. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">SUMMARY:</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Meh.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hate that this is happening. I tasted and tasted again over several days (hard work, yes), but I do not share the exaggerated enthusiasm for this whisky that so many of my friends and peers have shown. It isn't just that the flavour of Great King Street falls flat for me, its also the "house" context; every previous release from Compass Box I have really liked or even, on a few occasions, absolutely LOVED.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What makes it especially hard is that I deeply respect all that CB has done for whisky blending as a esoteric category within an esoteric category, building consumer understanding of the idea that blends are NOT poor cousins to malts, older isn't better, dark colour is not a sign of quality, etc. And it's why the literature around this release puzzles me so greatly. By propagating the myth that high malt content equals higher quality blended whisky not only does it seem that they undermine their mission to have respect reborn for the blend, but it seems to go against what I think CB has been about for a decade. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And if this is for mixing into cocktails, how does it rejuvenate the blend? Could gin or vodka do the job? If it is for rocks, then I also don't get it as for me it gets even more gin-like with juniper and spice essences of enhanced grain spirit and less like whisky with ice. Have not yet tried as highball (with soda water).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally, at £50 a litre, I would go home with a bottle of Johnnie Black and a Grouse. Or Black Bottle. Or Grant's. Or, indeed, <a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2008/10/malt-mission-2008-316.html">Compass Box Asyla</a>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/09/whisky-blog.html">Malt Mission #400</a></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/10/scotch-blue-tasting-notes.html">Malt Mission #402</a><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/12/malt-mission-2011-403.html">Malt Mission #403</a><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/09/malt-mission-2011-404.html" target="_blank">Malt Mission #404</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html">Malt Mission Home</a></span></div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-71599179201779665372011-09-30T01:40:00.001+00:002011-09-30T12:13:43.684+00:00Malt Mission 2011 #400<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; "><strong><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlv5gJV-o-6QppXR9R2LC_sCQYw7P00qTf4TKVb5YO0ZwkvUh0I5LsI1A4oH888oZJewTUkG2nnSf8tHYIcA-WpqksmzWG5Rk9M1J4J6H0LN1iDJGupRRBUeLBWQJ_dLZkP5bLQ/s320/JW400.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643664069654182226" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" border="0" /></strong></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><strong>Johnnie Walker 15yo, Kilmarnock 400</strong></span><br /></span><div><span ><strong>Blended Scotch Whisky</strong></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><strong>43% abv</strong></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>£800<br /></b></span><br /><span>Labelled as "Old Scotch Whisky" with a 15yo age statement, this extremely rare drop from the house that Johnnie built is perfectly suited to mark this whisky blog's landmark tasting #400. This whole journey began with </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2007/01/malt-mission-2007-1.html"><span>Johnnie Walker Black Label </span></a><span>over four years ago, alone at a desk/dining table in a cozy flat in North London.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Today the journey continues in ways I would never have imagined. I am back in London, but living in the opposite corner. I have two wee girls, who think nothing of daddy sticking his nose weird shaped glasses. I am one of the lucky few who gets to do work with something I love, with people I am passionate about, I get to say that what I do is who I am, and I am am very grateful to many, many people. I have never stopped being thankful, and a few lists can be found in the annals of this whisky blog. <a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2007/06/one-hundred-drams-in-solitude.html">HERE</a> and <a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2007/11/two-hundred-thank-yous.html">HERE</a> are just two examples. The list has grown a great deal since then, and continues to grow. THANK YOU!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This bottling has a gold label, but is just 15 years old as opposed to the standard current gold release which is 18 years old. The Johnnie Walker hierarchy goes Red, Black, Green (malt), Gold, Blue, George V, The John Walker, Life, The Universe, and Everything.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>For all Johnnie Walker enjoyed on the malt mission, click </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/search/label/johnnie%20walker"><span>HERE</span></a><span>.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >TASTING NOTES:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Lures you in deep, sweet tobacco, stewed apples and honey, with a delicate floral prefumerie blowing across the surface.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >On the palate the liquid skirts across the tongue, communicating quaffability with rich flavours of more tobacco, mellow and sweet smoke, vanilla wafers, plums, marmalade, and a touch of cardboardy woodiness to close.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >SUMMARY:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">Rare juice, but demands persistent sipping and refilling, and sipping again. Very much in the Walker house style, with an added spray of lavender perfume to distinguish it from some of its housemates. Big thanks to DM for sharing.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-396.html"><span>Malt Mission #396</span></a><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-397.html"><span>Malt Mission #397</span></a><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-398.html"><span>Malt Mission #398</span></a><br /></span><div><span ><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/04/malt-mission-2011-399.html">Malt Mission #399</a></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html">Malt Mission HOME</a></span></span></div><div><br /></div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-69567974408201661492011-09-21T08:22:00.005+00:002011-09-21T15:11:24.117+00:00Maltstock 2011, Thank you<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; "><a href="http://maltstock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tcyY9zzPjx2pESudBG9ZWDwnidDOi9V5rnP2GAycrh5WghAgpiWvcDXO1YJCom-vVDdXr3cnLM4BFueFr2wO-ee8wPjSyjjwkeJiU4Fdgq_QnC_3jpZtV_h9kJWCB-9hFPwBpQ/s200/maltstock_trans_150.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 156px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="Maltstock Whisky Festival Netherlands" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654550375076228866" /></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div>I have said it before, but I will say it again: I am a lucky man. There are many reasons I remain convinced of this fact, but as it relates to my point today, I get to read, write, make, taste, talk about, share and spend time immersed in something I am truly passionate about.</div></span><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Nearly ten years ago I fell in love with malt whisky and although I now hold gainful employment in the whisky industry, I assure you the romance is still alive and well. I still buy bottles. I still go to bed with a whisky book by my side (currently leafing through Phillip Morrice's <em>Schweppes Guide </em></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><em>to Scotch</em>). I still taste as much new whisky as I am able to. I still relish speaking with other whisky geeks, malt maniacs, and peat freaks. I still go to tastings for fun, out of hours. I still love whisky.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span>I was fortunate enough to attend what must be the most unique whisky festival in the world, </span><span><a href="http://www.maltstock.com/">Maltstock</a> i</span><span class="Apple-style-span">n the Netherlands September 9-11, 2011. (Read Cask Strength's <a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.com/2011/09/2-exactly-same-but-very-different.html">Neil Ridley</a> or Master of Malt <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/Blog/post/Maltstock-2011-A-review.aspx">Ben Ellefsen's</a> thoughts on the event)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">My colleagues and I arrived at a scout camp at De Berendonck near Nijmegen with a car bursting with bottles, glassware, two beautiful barrel-shaped pinatas, and three daily costume changes for my fabulous colleague, Tony.</span></div></div><div><span><br /></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifv3TtlgMeNOGov8xjUMmxsbSK16RmwZDSBJViVbPWJ-41HYaosGEK4nEvs1uYk08-dSy_5B6z-h-xgbsWdX0bS0v7o9ndovnUnLs4W_h0xx8MGOfSdDVTtMgK7lLLDfqizRs7jQ/s200/P1000275.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653680516965476258" alt="" border="0" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; width: 200px; cursor: pointer; height: 150px; " /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span>Maltstock </span><span class="Apple-style-span">lacked many things that define most whisky festivals: queues at stands, branding and pop-up banners, people shoving glasses in exhibitors' faces saying "gimme your oldest"/"what's your most expensive scotch?", poor food, a ticketed dram policy, people attempting to show off how much they know (or think they know) about whisky, some hotel conference room, or a curfew. Running for three days at a campsite in Nijmegan, Maltstock is the only celebration of whisky perfectly suited to the drink it honours. </span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">With many whisky festivals earning nicknames like DrunkFest and WhiskyLoathe due to the large numbers of attendees who are clearly there to drink as much as they possibly can and act like pricks, there are a growing number of new festivals around the world hiking ticket prices to their festivals in an attempt to filter out some of the "undesirable" elements and offering an ultra premium, exclusive experience.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">Maltstock isn't premium, it's primal. It is isn't exclusive, it's inclusive. And with over 200 bottles open, poured at will by every attendee to their hearts' content, there was not one incident of vomiting, fighting, abuse, property damage, public defecation, or theft; features of many other festivals that I have personally witnessed.</span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK156DH7NC1sBzGxfnPcIEYJ-o1F4zMqa6wPa7Kv7omn-nSNV9BqAkTAOl8rCwkqeIdoPStzBFmEcA34KBsDRKvjxS1ivMgAdZtaXiJhYovldsGXLArtTevkND6XikfnRkY4BohA/s200/P1000350.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653679403642565586" alt="" border="0" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; width: 150px; cursor: pointer; height: 200px; " /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; "><div><br /></div></span>Maltstock is about people. People who love whisky. People who want to be with other people who love whisky. No matter their income or nationality or age or knowledge level. And you know who that attracts? Nice people. Nice people who want to meet other nice people. People who want to share in the discovery of new single casks from obscure indie bottlers. Nice people who want to rediscover Glenfiddich 12yo or Glenlivet 15 French Oak (as I did). Nice people who want to find the worst whisky in the world. Nice people who want to enjoy something they love in the company of other nice people. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">Who wears nametags at the whisky fair in your city? Vendors? Distillers? Ambassadors? You can put a nametag on a hired model who explains that "at the Johnnie Walker distillery we use closed distilleries in our Green single malt," but unless she is coming back to my hotel room, I cannot help but wonder why I needed to learn her name. At Maltstock everyone wears a nametag and every single person I met was a fucking legend. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">And again, that is what whisky appreciation is about: People. It is a communal elixir, a product that grew out of the agricultural tradition and nourishes the society that so naturally builds around it. Whisky is, as David Daiches has so perfectly articulated, "more than indulgence: it is a toast to civilization, a tribute to the continuity of culture, a manifesto of man's determination to use the resources of nature to refresh mind and body and enjoy to the full the senses with which is has been endowed."</span></div></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFFvHVnnwgbNNsS5oINMriB8gAAdBvz24tYKKkGD4vahmeOqHkpK4ecUyNj3QbuFWgO3tYaGR2gu8A2gQsrqLDrUbO-DOw0M6kmkAmHLm9PdWeh38mFAWu0Ak0uROWKCWayNyVQ/s320/47150_10150260170635652_19581660651_14305536_6050114_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654549569560953714" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">When you look at woodcuts or old paintings of distilling in Scotland, or of crofters enjoying some clearach, y</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">ou don't see a man sitting alone in a sterile makeshift home </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">office with his nose in a glass and his twitter feed twitting away. No, y</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">ou don't see people hovering at one side of a trade display table, arms outstretched, discussing why Ardbeg 10 is inconsistent or Springbank has gone downhill or the stainless steel washbacks at Macallan have any impact on the flavour of the malt or "gimme yer oldest." </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">You see human beings with other human beings in a natur</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">al environment enjoying whisky and talking about nearly </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">anything but.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">This is what Maltstock provides. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">Thanks to the organisers and volunteers and to every single attendee. When I began to work for William Grant & Sons 3 years ago, I was proud and excited. But I remember spending an evening dramming at Sukhinder Singh's office with John Glaser calling me "sellout" all night. And maybe he was right. In this role one must be corporate and responsible. Maltstock, thank you for allowing me to be neither again. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: small; ">If you are already attending next year, see you there. If you are not and are within a few hours flying time of Schipol, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53ARrp7x4bQ">get your ass to Mars</a>.</span></div></div><br /></div><div><span><br /></span></div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-49476282421365404042011-06-15T08:50:00.003+00:002011-06-15T08:50:00.410+00:00The Master of Malt Bloggers Blend<div><span ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nZBaX9i5iXRR8beGVD6OX-zdzzg9FjIMkt7A1JU20G24SNcc__pIp1zG8cc4QnyxVKq1HaYoRLQ5-K8devm5YpNd-0oarM8HuLlRSAXmDx8kt3_Wk_1naBdseRqdT5peporSwQ/s1600/IMG00144-20110614-1243.jpg"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618048411219543202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="whisky blog" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nZBaX9i5iXRR8beGVD6OX-zdzzg9FjIMkt7A1JU20G24SNcc__pIp1zG8cc4QnyxVKq1HaYoRLQ5-K8devm5YpNd-0oarM8HuLlRSAXmDx8kt3_Wk_1naBdseRqdT5peporSwQ/s400/IMG00144-20110614-1243.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>In the 21th century, where having a whisky blog can get you friends in 7 continents, samples in the post, interviewed for "real" publications, on a judging panel, or even lead to a job in the whisky industry (!), you wouldn't be on crack if you decided to start one yourself. And I can observe that the world wide whisk-e-verse has exploded since I began in 2006, when Dr. Whisky had only 4 English language "blogs" to link to and NONE that offered what I thought I could share: a dram a day, distillery descriptions, stories from books I had trawled, distilleries I had visited, and people I had met, an international persepctive, irrational and heated opinions, and of course some colourful tasting notes. Today, after some deletion and MANY additions, there are nearly 25 times as many links on my "Get informed by others" sidebar as there was when this </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html"><span>Malt Mission</span></a><span> began January 1, 2007. Of course, all of the others involved in this project are listed among many other amazing online resources. The world of whisky is the warmest community I am fortunate to be part of outside of a Saturday morning in bed with my wife and daughter, and if you are reading this, I raise a glass to you for loving Scotland's greatest gift to the world.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">As a very 21st century retailer, <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/">Master of Malt</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> invited 10 leading blogs to participate in creating their own blends by sending them kits of the constituent liquids, beakers, pipettes, and an excel doc for recording recipes.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Recipes were submitted, blends assembled to spec and then offered up as a sample pack on the MoM website for £30. With the purchase, of course, came the responsibility to vote on your favourites by assigning them 1st place to 10th place. The kits are now completely sold out. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618047108716707346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70Jxcv3Zu62dE0lo_Z7jOiHjyrwluj99QAf_87NTqoM4SfacCSYIivl2l-AbI3zhPPxCK7CgF1yYLwQeqHnjkzZOJ6iPk_V5j7kOyb_nNEFUj8ybVkvKY5de3UTmigoP1iL_R4A/s400/bblend.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span">In creating my recipe, I trialled 10 vattings and let them marry for many days in bottle before re-sampling and deciding which one to submit. And it was a hard decision! Depending on the percentages of each part (highland, grain, old grain, old highland, etc.), the value/cost of the liquid would change, so we each had to weigh between whether to make a blend built around desired cost or to make a blend based on taste. Somewhere in between? W</span><span class="Apple-style-span">hen deciding which to submit I was torn. Do I go with the cheap and cheerful blend? The expensive one? The quaffable one? The smoky demon? The sweet grainy one? The one I could spread on toast?</span></span><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Likewise, selecting a favourite of all the submitted blends was a real challenge and a reminder of how with the flavour palate a commercial blender has at their disposal, the room for variation, and indeed, error, is vast. So creating a good, consistent blend is a skill for which I continue to have the utmost respect and that art and skill is, after all, what allows the whisky world to be what it is today. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>Others involved have reported their experiences (</span><a href="http://whiskyforeveryone.blogspot.com/2011/06/master-of-malt-bloggers-blend-part-3.html"><span>Whisky For Everyone</span></a><span> for example). Did you buy one? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the whole thing.</span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Whatever the result, all the blends were highly drinkable with a few being truly stellar, and while each blender deserves kudos, the good people at <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/">Master of Malt</a> deserve respect for not just dreaming up, but for actually executing such a project. Nice work, and until the results are announced and I press "confirm order", cheers!</span><div><br /><p><span></span></p></div></div></div></div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-85119955905554101002011-04-09T08:59:00.006+00:002011-09-30T12:16:19.234+00:00Malt Mission 2011 #399<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvi0IeiWS7wypyduum7wp0FfgpcXeadDCpDF9OLWNdPvSzcBhTer1jFlxK5uQvbMTWVogl_qvyO-3Nw6M0knhBPXEFaKFhEmQ2cxX9WGPYkgq3ZuJx5z-BHatVIMCJNrI7Nbe23Q/s1600/ABGOB_1974V9.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592458531693957314" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="Ardbeg whisky blog" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvi0IeiWS7wypyduum7wp0FfgpcXeadDCpDF9OLWNdPvSzcBhTer1jFlxK5uQvbMTWVogl_qvyO-3Nw6M0knhBPXEFaKFhEmQ2cxX9WGPYkgq3ZuJx5z-BHatVIMCJNrI7Nbe23Q/s320/ABGOB_1974V9.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span><span><strong>Ardbeg Provenance 1974 </strong></span><span><strong>Bottle #1605</strong></span> </span><br /></span><div><span ><strong>Islay Single Malt Whsky</strong></span></div><div><strong><span >54.7% abv</span></strong></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><strong>+/- £1000</strong></span></div><div><span ><strong>+/- $1200 (USD)</strong></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span ></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>I featured Ardbeg twice in the </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html"><span>first month</span></a><span> of this malt mission over four years ago and I am fortunate enough to get to taste this piece of history in the run-up to Malt Mission #400</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span>Bottled in 1998, this is the US edition of the legendary Ardbeg Provenance series (geeky bits </span><a href="http://www.ardbegproject.com/prov.shtml"><span>HERE</span></a><span>) that reportedly made people shit their pants upon first tasting it. Seriously, this is a story that has been relayed to me by an enthusiast and I cannot think of any reason why someone would lie about doing such a terrible thing to their Joe Boxers. And soiling oneself is a pretty good reassurance to the naysayers that the Glenmorangie takeover in 1997 was going to be a very good thing, if sometimes requiring a change of underwear.</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span>Ardbeg is probably the king of the cult distilleries in terms of attracting the most diehard fans and quasi-religious followers. They have the Ardbeg Committee, they have dedicated fan sites (Tim's </span><a href="http://www.ardbegproject.com/"><span>Ardbeg Project</span></a><span>), and past bottlings have, as noted above, made grown men shit their pants.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span ></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">I was fortunate enough to be on Islay recently and distillery manager Mickey Heads explained to us how many people spend the night at the distillery to be sure to get Feis Ile bottles (and sell them online?) the following morning. Now, I love whisky, and I really like Ardbeg, but sleeping over in Islay rain?</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span>Finally, a big thanks must be extended to the amazing </span><a href="http://www.jazzdentist.com/index.htm"><span>Jazz Dentist</span></a><span>. Not only did Peter set aside a sample when I last visited Dram Central Station before leaving New York, but he had prepared it in a wee bottle to take home for my wife, the Ardbeg freak of this family. I hope he won't mind me saying that he has also undergone his last chemo treatment and is that much closer to his dram to celebrate THE END of what he calls "this whole business."</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span ></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span class="Apple-style-span">Whatever drop you choose, Peter, may it taste not of heaven, but of earth.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span>For more distillery info, or to see all Ardbeg whiskies tasted since the beginning of this blog, click </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/search/label/ardbeg"><span>HERE</span></a><span>.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">TASTING NOTES:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span ></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span class="Apple-style-span">All the sweetness of aged quality ex-bourbon casks emerge first, coconut shavings, marshmallow, coffee cake, vanilla custard, followed by the expected tide of magic markers, latex, plasticine, fishtanks, and finally, algaic peat, but maintaining a creamy sweetness throughout.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span class="Apple-style-span">A tease of brown sugar before an strange brew of cocoa, smoke, mustard and toffee. Otherworldly flavour development. Oh my. Just sinking its nails into my cheeks with peach, honey, barbecue sauce, and salty tears. May these sensations never end.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span class="Apple-style-span">SUMMARY:</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span class="Apple-style-span">A big whisky for a big occasion. A liquid that today might be underappreciated quaffed over the Ardbeg stand at some FEST or LIVE or MESSE, where superficial impressions make lasting ones. This whisky is really all about a complexity that only makes itself known with patience, attention, and respect. Respect your whiskies this dramming season be it at Limburg, WhiskyFEST Chicago, or Spirit of Toronto. Thanks again, Peter.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-396.html"><span>Malt Mission #396</span></a><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-397.html"><span>Malt Mission #397</span></a><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-398.html"><span>Malt Mission #398<br /></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/09/whisky-blog.html">Malt Mission # 400</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html">Malt Mission HOME</a></span></span></div></div><br /><div></div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-63348514415502288202011-03-15T08:26:00.000+00:002011-03-15T08:26:00.562+00:00Breakfast Whisky, Master of Malt 8yo<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Not only have the good people of <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/">Master of Malt</a> created a beautiful blended whisky for under £20 (to be tasted as a part of the malt mission at a later date) but they have asked some online whisky geeks to share their ideas for </span><a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/Blog/category/Cocktails.aspx"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">ways in which to consume it</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">They invited Dr. Whisky to create a cocktail with their perfectly-lovely-as-is blended whisky. I told them, "I am not a mixologist." They said that was exactly why they were asking me. "But I am not a medical doctor!" Their response, "thank god."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">So here it goes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The "cocktail" is called Breakfast Whisky. Let's begin with what you will need to make it:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583174958967260674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="whisky blog cocktail" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0Cbb-9ZeTDYXK_7Cr2T8MQ0W04zKJefy_0z80Cp8YypQE8dk3zkqJnehKOb54QFIEq_7p5IctQu4E3cg2NAbEgmJX0fSktvOZGsD8ulhAwhvt78nXRzdXIBhchT5PelVPJitkA/s320/IMG00063-20110312-1235.jpg" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">You will need NONE of the above items to make this cocktail.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">But, you will need ALL of the below</span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583178600238624114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Q2jZ7KMBfdpnFTR_7pWSGT_ExesoSsXBr9rXnzzqKPDS0dvfowJMlGdE92Shu6-BeGFUaR7TPkSj4zMjajYiVxYtBNztBg3cVKYFqHKJ3RVV2Rnp_jAwWHPrSHjyvNsJgjjWTg/s320/IMG00064-20110312-1239.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I want to create something to balance the care, cost, and quality of this whisky. The whisky is full of cream soda, vanilla and grape juice. Really juicy whisky. I need to ride that wave. First I thought Ribena, but then the Aha! moment: Vimto! If equivalent in size, the Fizzy Vimto would cost £1.17 to the whisky's £20. Wow, the critics are right. Whisky IS expensive! Fizzy Vimto comes in this nice small bottle for only 39 pence. And for something so tiny and cheap, they sure pack a lot of ingredients in there! The whisky only has water, yeast, wheat and barley. Rip-off!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">THE BREAKFAST WHISKY *<br />1 part Master of Malt 8yo Blended Scotch Whisky<br />2-4 parts Fizzy Vimto (depending what kind of morning* you desire)<br />Some ice<br />1 mint sprig<br />Toast<br />Jam (of your choosing) </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Put your toast in the toaster. Mix the liquid ingredients together over ice (ice optional). Remove toast and apply jam. In turn, take gentle sips of the drink and slap yourslef in the face with mint sprig. </span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583178365648546322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAZd6fFp7Ty_f4eb__GvMJEdXgnCU3epBaF96a8NJdBSFfYZgOQMuFkafdVaifd59m-FFu7DmNs2FMhUoPq1YdymjxJoYhMTz480o_6ez8CjafjDzXfQKOlta5sfnxRc_UQP0nQ/s320/IMG00068-20110312-1256.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> Good morning and enjoy!<br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* I am not actually suggesting that you drink alcohol for breakfast. However, if you do, I recommend it with vimto and a mint sprig slap to the face.</span> </span></p><p></p>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-29476470749551748952011-03-11T09:40:00.002+00:002011-03-11T15:55:49.866+00:00The Balvenie Whisky Academy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.thebalvenie.com/en-gb/whisky_academy.php"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581057293221203602" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 123px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CKmZGKkz9V6oP43XmKK5hpk_QtcD69EhZteClUhNHZLmto4U_CYoWJckvzfKN_Uut4J4b_goEp4dNt50UEa2znCBjgKpaTOOpR0dh3k8OxsEo9BPdAH6xU1gDxMEYb4VFLwbag/s320/WAlogoSmall.png" border="0" /></a></span></div></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Although I try not to use this whisky blog as a platform for my job or to talk too much about my whisky work, I am so proud of what we have just completed that I just have to. Please excuse me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Like a whisky-geek's dream fulfilled, we have completed a series of films on the history, production, and enjoyment of Scotch Whisky called </span><a href="http://www.thebalvenie.com/en-gb/whisky_academy.php"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The Balvenie Whisky Academy</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">In working with film-maker </span><a href="http://theimagists.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Stuey Burnett</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">, we initially imagined a series of films for the education of William Grant employees, sales and distribution partners. What we quickly realised was that we had something taking shape that would be of interest and benefit to the wider whisky drinking world, as well. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">What I am most proud of is that The Whisky Academy is not a "brand" video, it is not an advertisement, it is an educational series of films about the wider category of Scotch Whisky featuring Charles MacLean, Sukhinder Singh, Eddie Ludlow, Arthur Motley, and Gavin D. Smith as well as colleagues, distillers, scientists, and, of course, yours truly.</span></span><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/R_bs6CeOQmU" frameborder="0" width="640" height="390" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><p><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Yes, in the process, I have developed an entirely new respect for TV presenters, and for my colleague David Mair who deftly hosts the bulk of the series. So a big thanks to David as well as the film crew of Stuey, John, and Anita. </span></p><p></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The whole series goes live today for members of Warehouse 24 and </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">comprises four modules, containing a total of 34 short films. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">We hope to expand and grow the content over time, but think that we are starting with a pretty impressive chunk of films.</span><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.thebalvenie.com/en-gb/whisky_academy.php">The Balvenie Whisky Academy</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I really hope you enjoy it and if you have any feedback, let me know! </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.thebalvenie.com/en-gb/whisky_academy.php"><br /></a></p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-29287926493411469592011-03-07T08:08:00.002+00:002011-09-30T12:15:49.154+00:00Malt Mission 2011 #398<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF83Lz8gtkjb6Z3aXskk8hDlkJc1BkFWwQLQ_E4FN0f7P2qzLs8Ahij01hhCcIvdDlRbDFKNWmalIJwRxLQcOziPbx0uF8pujCi80KDRgiAnW47VJSgkvv62oa89BfVVW3twrbw/s1600/arranAnniversary.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></a><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF83Lz8gtkjb6Z3aXskk8hDlkJc1BkFWwQLQ_E4FN0f7P2qzLs8Ahij01hhCcIvdDlRbDFKNWmalIJwRxLQcOziPbx0uF8pujCi80KDRgiAnW47VJSgkvv62oa89BfVVW3twrbw/s1600/arranAnniversary.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581090740430435186" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF83Lz8gtkjb6Z3aXskk8hDlkJc1BkFWwQLQ_E4FN0f7P2qzLs8Ahij01hhCcIvdDlRbDFKNWmalIJwRxLQcOziPbx0uF8pujCi80KDRgiAnW47VJSgkvv62oa89BfVVW3twrbw/s320/arranAnniversary.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Arran 10yo, 10th Anniversary (1995-2005)</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>Single Malt Scotch Whisky</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>46% abv</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>£85</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Once the new kid on the block, Arran has settled in to its existence as the Harry Belafonte of malt whisky, the charming islander with mainland appeal. Day-O! </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Now in its 16th year of production, Isle of Arran continues to show what a fine spirit they have been quietly making on "Scotland in minature." It has always been tasty and many have written about it's "potential," but age is allowing Arran to figure out who it is and wants to be at least as much showing folks that they were right. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">For more distillery info or to see all the Isle of Arran malt that Dr. Whisky has enjoyed, click </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/search/label/isle%20of%20arran"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">TASTING NOTES<br /><br />Comes across like a classic speysider (which it is not) with great mellow fruitiness and soft oak influence. Raisins, apples and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_taffy"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">salt taffy</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Spicy, bready rye notes, raisins and apples again, and a toasty oak impression of dry amontillado sherry casks and sweet treacly notes of oloroso. Nuts and fudge through the finish.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">SUMMARY: </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I loved this today just as I remember loving it when Ewan from Arran poured us some at a Water of Life Society meeting in Edinburgh back in 2005. That was the same night, after tasting new make, 3 year old, various 7 year olds and this Anniversary malt, that I uttered the classic "it is so cool tasting the progression, it is like a child growing in your mouth!" Umm... </span><br /><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><span>I bought a bottle that I have lost somewhere between my moves to London, New York, and back again, although our running hypothesis is that they guy with whom we left other bottles for safe keeping (including JMR original Irish-only Smooth Sweeter and Hazelburn 8yo 1st edition, BOTH of which he consumed) may have had something to do with this disappearance. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGbnua2kSa8"><span>That's what friends are for</span></a><span>. </span><br /><span></span><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-396.html"><span>Malt Mission #396</span></a><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-397.html"><span>Malt Mission #397</span></a><br /></span><div><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/04/malt-mission-2011-399.html"><span >Malt Mission #399</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/09/whisky-blog.html">Malt Mission # 400</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html">Malt Mission HOME</a></span></span></div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-4065699133723875632011-03-03T09:43:00.004+00:002011-09-30T12:15:08.824+00:00Malt Mission 2011 #397<a href="http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/ProductImage.aspx?pc=BALOB.08YO&w=270"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 360px" alt="" src="http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/ProductImage.aspx?pc=BALOB.08YO&w=270" border="0" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>Balvenie 8yo<br />Pure Malt Whisky (Single Malt Whisky)<br />70 Proof<br />26 2/3 Fl.oz<br />£255</strong></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">From today's perspective, with over 500(!) new single malt expressions launched in 2010 alone, it seems so strange to think that in the whisky boom period of the 1960s only a fraction of 1% was bottled as a single (read Dr. Whisky's </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2007/02/bullocks-to-blends-part-1.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">blended whisky history</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">). The likes of Macallan and Glenmorangie, leaders in the single malt category today, did not widely release their makes as single malts until 1980 and it took decades of Glen Grant (Italy), Glenlivet (Pullman railway in America) and Glenfiddich (exported as a single from 1963) to set the idea of single malts in the consciousness of the drinking public.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">As far as I know, this was the first incarnation of The Balvenie released in small volumes as a single malt. For more distillery info and to see all Balvenies had on the mission, delve into the </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/search/label/balvenie"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">whisky blog</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> past.</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">TASTING NOTES:</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Fresh and light with a hint of depth and age. Perhaps some liquid older than 8? Chamomile, watered-down honey, hippie teas, damp wood or cardboard in there as well. Sweet white wine. Water releases a sweaty element along with coconut and hazelnut. </span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Moves from soft and sweet to hard and mineral, but all very weakly. Old bubble gum, baseball card cardboardy taste, coffee cake and walnuts. Ends burnt and toasty.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><span></span></span></div><div><span ></span></div><div><span >SUMMARY: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><span></span></span></div><div><span ></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >An interesting drop mainly for archival reasons. Although it appears that some bottle "maturation" has effected my sample, I imagine in the 1970s all the best Balvenie was ending up in Grants 12, Best Procurable, Grant's Royal, etc. In short, not something I would open to show "how much better whisky was in the old days." I'll stick with my Balvenie Signature, thank you very much. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-396.html"><span>Malt Mission #396</span></a><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-398.html"><span>Malt Mission #398</span></a><br /></span><div><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/04/malt-mission-2011-399.html"><span>Malt Mission #399</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/09/whisky-blog.html">Malt Mission # 400</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html">Malt Mission HOME</a></span></span></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><span style="font-size:0;"><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-396.html">Malt Mission #396</a></span></div><div><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-398.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Malt Mission #398</span></a></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Malt Mission HOME</span></a></div><br /><div style="FONT-SIZE: 85%; FONT-FAMILY: 'trebuchet ms'"></div></span>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-2944613231505453162011-03-01T08:41:00.002+00:002011-09-30T12:14:32.244+00:00Malt Mission 2011 #396<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbT6pEgyRK7M9z0oQMBRIMMyD9j3PdCk3Lv60X4Dm-gA5IsCnyy3kbHmRYLUj-J9PPVnaJymcTTeIvEwe36C9S5EKdH9osx6deSqBSBMzVrt-4u4yICdYCantwAlwp9EpGzS5ewQ/s1600/Big+Peat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578291129633210562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 309px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbT6pEgyRK7M9z0oQMBRIMMyD9j3PdCk3Lv60X4Dm-gA5IsCnyy3kbHmRYLUj-J9PPVnaJymcTTeIvEwe36C9S5EKdH9osx6deSqBSBMzVrt-4u4yICdYCantwAlwp9EpGzS5ewQ/s320/Big+Peat.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /><span><strong>Big Peat<br />Islay Blended Malt Whisky</strong></span><br /><span><strong>46% abv</strong></span><br /><span><strong>£34</strong></span><br /><span><span><strong>$85 (USD)</strong><br /></span></span><br /><span>Welcome to March! I haven't seen you since 2010. I have to get back on the horse and gallop towards the 400 landmark!</span><br /><span></span><br /><span>I am sure by now you have already met or read about Big Peat. Brought to you buy the good people at Douglas Laing & Co., he was released back in September 2009 and has since received word-of-mouth acclaim and awards from Whisky Magazine (World Whisky Awards) for Best Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, Best Peated Malt Whisky(Daily Dram) 2009 by the Malt Maniacs, and Jim Murray called it Best Vatted Malt in his 2011 Whisky Bible.</span><br /><span></span><br /><span>Apparently, Fred Douglas Laing senior loved Port Ellen and thus invested heavily in casks from the now shuttered distillery decades ago. This legacy has left an emotional attachment to this distillery for his offspring with every nose of a Port Ellen likely reminding them of their father's goodnight kisses.</span><br /><span></span><br /><span>The vatting includes several anonymous malts but Bowmore, Ardbeg, Caol Ila, and the increasingly rare Port Ellen are all named in the mix with the youngest whisky coming in at 5 years old, the oldest at least 26.</span><br /><span></span><br /><span>Thanks to Kirsty and Fred for the sample and I will see you for a dram this weekend at WhiskyLIVE London. For other Douglas Laing bottlings enjoyed on the Malt Mission dig deep into this <a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/search/label/douglas%20laing">whisky blog</a>'s past.</span><br /><span></span><br /><span>TASTING NOTES:</span><br /><span></span><br /><span>Tarry, with some toffee, candied lemon, raw salmon, and a generally sweet core. </span><br /><span></span><br /><span>Salty and sweet, even more tarry than the nose suggested, earthy, but with only gentle smokiness wrapped in toffee and orange.</span><br /><span></span><br /><span>SUMMARY:</span><br /></span><p><span >Extremely enjoyable drop that is at once industrial and sooty but equally confectionary with sweetness, creating a very well balanced whisky in a very 21st century package.</span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>For other opions, JSMWS tasted Big Peat </span><a href="http://jewishsinglemaltwhiskysociety.com/?cat=509"><span>HERE</span></a><span>, Whisky For Everyone </span><a href="http://whiskyforeveryone.blogspot.com/2009/11/have-just-tried-big-peat.html"><span>HERE</span></a><span>, Whisky Boys </span><a href="http://www.whiskyboys.com/2009/12/02/big-peat-a-small-batch-vatted-malt-scotch-whisky/"><span>HERE</span></a><span>, and Dramming share some </span><a href="http://www.dramming.com/2011/01/27/big-peat/"><span>tasting notes</span></a><span>. In the medium of moving pictures, Ralfy shares his thoughts </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BUWF6bK6bY"><span>HERE</span></a><span><span> and Dickie P and Fred <span>Laing share a few </span></span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BUWF6bK6bY"><span>HERE</span></a><span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2010/12/malt-mission-2010-395.html">Malt Mission #395</a></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-397.html"><span>Malt Mission #397</span></a><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/03/malt-mission-2011-398.html"><span>Malt Mission #398</span></a><br /></span><div><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/04/malt-mission-2011-399.html"><span >Malt Mission #399</span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2011/09/whisky-blog.html">Malt Mission # 400</a></span></div><p><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Malt Mission HOME</span></a></p>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-38192178010511243162010-12-26T09:09:00.003+00:002010-12-26T09:14:40.119+00:00Løitens Aquavit til Jul!<span class="Apple-style-span"><b><br /></b></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><b><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554612091920004386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LxyktnKZTV2GIBtUOjxsu0KQpljRC_vK3oji_oKxNUFY5qmxfC8YMq0Tb7KwKh0pAXvLHxpKSRUxvHLfxRkn9aUIJ82jvouaUA7USh4n4wM05Zh1Rw9Jg3B8JhmCLBo1SBezqA/s320/IMG00025-20101225-1426.jpg" border="0" /></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>Loitens </b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Single Cask Aquavit</span></b></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">barrel/fat #1627</span></b> </span></span><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Sept 2005-Oktober 2010</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">41.5% abv</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">£80</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Who says Dr. Whisky doesn't bring you exclusives any more? I imagine I am the only English language blogger posting about Loitens new single barrel aquavit, matured for five years in ex-sherry casks. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">This is just one of 950 bottles and a total of 5 casks were released in 2010: numbers 1950, 5315, 6125, 8330, and this one, 1627. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Very whisky-esque labelling style and language, even looks like a </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/search/label/bruichladdich"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Bruichladdich</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> or even</span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/search/label/Mackmyra"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> Mackmyra</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> bottle, although probably also similar to many of the cognacs the Norwegians drink so much of. Nonetheless, a unique and new proposition for the aquavit story where once the spicebill differentiated aquavit from aquavit, this one celebrates the maturation. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Thank you, Espen!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">To see all aquavit prescribed by yours truly, click </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/search/label/aquavit"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">HERE</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">TASTING NOTES:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Rye and caraway seeds with the sweetness of corn or freshly baked bread in the background. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Oily and sweet, with a more mildly spiced mid palate than most aquavit and an increasing wave of butter, cloves, and caraway. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">SUMMARY:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">All the standard signs scream "hello I am aquavit" from the glass, all the quality cues on the label scream "respect me like scotch whisky" (it even says it is not chill-filtered!), and the liquid is rich and classy, deserving more than the typical SKOL and down. We all sipped slowly and shared ooos and aaaahs. Although that could have been a reaction to the heavenly ribbe (pork belly). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Best served at room temperature. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div></div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-4814913784670896652010-12-24T09:14:00.008+00:002010-12-24T18:33:10.747+00:00All I want for Christmas...<div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_GATK7Geodlmy_R46Cfo1dt8FW0399evJnr708Jt43fohvqHgq-gYr-hDBBtYn5zobjh1ZoPIGDzi9Fq8Dorg94Ntyo8C2emeIOkRHmuz0R2XoV9ofxATaKykllHQG1cexQVJA/s200/computer_-_cursing_gif.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 178px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554194945318723058" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">It's that tim</span><span class="Apple-style-span">e of year where everyone creates a list and checks it twice, even people we are too old to still believe in.</span></span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span>In past years I have posted on the best Christmas whiskies and whisky-related gifts (Dr. Whisky's Christmas Picks </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2007/11/christmas-picks-2007.html"><span>2007</span></a><span>, </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-picks-2008.html"><span>2008</span></a><span>, and </span><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-picks-2009.html"><span>2009</span></a><span>) and it seems my whisky brothers and sisters have provided plenty of such recommendations and "best-of" lists already this year (<a href="http://danishwhiskyblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/danish-whisky-blog-awards-2010.html">Danish Whisky Blog</a>, </span><a href="http://www.thewhiskywire.com/2010/12/christmas-dramming-bargains.html"><span>Whisky Wire</span></a><span> (</span><a href="http://www.thewhiskywire.com/2010/12/12-drams-of-christmas.html"><span>12 drams</span></a><span>), </span><a href="http://whiskyisrael.co.il/2010/12/13/2010-holiday-gift-guide-on-a-budget/"><span>Whisky Israel</span></a><span>, </span><a href="http://whisky2dot0.com/2010/12/07/whisky2-0-holiday-gift-guide-2010-%e2%80%93-the-under-50-whiskey-list/"><span>Whisky 2.0</span></a><span>, </span><a href="http://scotchhobbyist.com/2010/12/01/a-whisky-gift-guide-2010/"><span>Scotch Hobbyist</span></a><span>, <a href="http://liquor.com/liquor/holiday-gift-guide-scotch-2/">liquor.com</a>, <a href="http://jason-scotchreviews.blogspot.com/2010/12/holiday-scotch-whisky-suggestions.html">Jason</a>, and the advert-riddled </span><a href="http://www.whiskyboys.com/2010/12/07/the-best-of-2010-single-malt-scotch-whiskies/"><span>Whisky Boys</span></a><span>).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">It is Christmas and New Years is around the corner but before I can really get ready for 2011, there are I few things I need to leave in 2010.</span></span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span>Back in September John Hansell announced that he would dedicate a week of posts to "</span><a href="http://www.whatdoesjohnknow.com/2010/09/24/next-week-things-that-piss-me-off/"><span>Things That Piss Me Off</span></a><span>". The list was unfortunately cut short by a tragedy in the family, but John picked up where he left off earlier this week by listing his </span><a href="http://www.whatdoesjohnknow.com/2010/12/13/disappointments-in-whisky-in-2010/"><span>disappointments</span></a><span> in the whisky world over the past year. As usual on Wha</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span >t Does John Know?, Hansell's well-intended encouragement brought on a barrage of more than 120 consutructive comments, par-for-the-course cynicism, and asinine accusations, with comments ranging from the valid to the needlessly vitriolic. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">It is not as if there is any shortage of opinion on WDJK, but this time all the negativity really upset me. With more than 15,000 comments over 1,000+ posts, WDJK is the most vibrant home of whisky opinion online, but I see it increasingly becoming an archive of anger, animosity and accusation on the whiskyweb. I am not saying there are not things that need to be critiqued or that there are not things that piss me off in the world of whisky as well, but I just feel that in this leading community things are weighted on the negative far more than the positive. Not in a single post that I could trawl were comments free from mention of some perceived evil imputed against some element within the whisky industry: marketing, Jim Murray, pricing, Diageo, the SWA, travel retail/du</span><span class="Apple-style-span">ty free, and many, MANY more. Is the world of whisky really that bad?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span ><br /></span></span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU649rT2DS-A_UNyG4TNoR-4yA97jT9FcKYFCt80vh8W27oplMxaEDIotaQvRIXIRf22bz1-QUqdXTxlB9QOzqD1gCBjwbrSOy8NRQj2okh29i5_pnf09Pjv3cjZaT-5e_r9t9Rg/s320/Pete-and-Jack-346-2.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552147590169973762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" border="0" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>I love the way Serge Valentin and the brains behind Whisky Fun register many of the same sentiments we see pop up on WDJK <em>with humour</em> and a light-heartedness that keeps it all in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUH013avhjw">perspective</a>. Their recent hilarious stab at whisydom </span><span><a href="http://www.whiskyfun.com/archivedecember10-1.html#141210">HERE</a></span><span> made me laugh and addressed similar criticisms in a much more endearing way without attacking any brands, any individuals, or getting anyone fired. Funny. And FUN. I suppose that's why it's not called What Does Serge Know?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">So when making a list this season, rather than creating one about the THINGS THAT PISS ME OFF, here are a few THINGS I LOVE ABOUT WHISKY that no marketer, critic, or consumer can spoil for me. </span><br /><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span><b>The Taste and the Taste experience</b></span><br /><em><span>With well over a hundred different distilleries' liquid available to drink, Scotch whisky is the most complex and diverse spirit in the world. Who could get tired of that?</span></em></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><em></em>Think of an amazing tasting experience this year. My guess it will be hard for you to pick only one.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Probably a hundred examples for me in 2010 alone, but I will share one recent experience. I was out in London with a small group of whisky friends/geeks and after hours of evaluatory tasting and then many hours of recreational drinking we thoug</span><span class="Apple-style-span">ht it would be wise to indulge in some competitive tasting. We hopped a cab and headed to a bar we could be certain </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">could recreate our own version of the Feis Ile blind nosing. We put together an ad hoc flight of 10 whiskies (including Port Charlotte and Jura), blacked out the glasses so colour was imperceptible, and began trying to discern which was which. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">Having sex and playing pond hockey aside, this is one the most fun activities I can think of. But I am a fucking geek. The liquid spoke to our senses, played with our minds, created physiological reactions around the table while we sniffed and hemmed and hawed. The experience was so exhilarating, the aromas so diverse, the physical effects of the aromas and tastes so different from one another. I was reminded how piney Jura is, how distinct Bowmore is, how splendid a core expression Lagavulin 16yo is, how amazing whisky is.</span><br /><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span><b>The Industry-</b></span><br /><span><em>I have always figured that because whisky grew out of an agricultural tradition rather than a commercial industrial one, it operates differently than any other industry in the world. And it does. And I love that.</em></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span><em></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span">Thirty Four - My age, yes, but more importantly this is the number of companies that own the distilleries of Scotland. Beyond that there are dozens of independent bottlers and blended scotch whisky brand owners. Last weekend around a few beverages, Mark Watt, Stuart Robertson, Mike Lord and I counted 101 operating distilleries. Find me another spirit or any single commercial export produced in a single country with that much diversity of ownership.</span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7xqw3UMTvuxpUrHOyisQgdCZbFyu-XHDgMK4L9vzk80_CWnNSS7ybkmtVVBV7k-cxI3evozx3KFux6-XcczeDfE_yvlUmhPtD7lPA-Rb7pqePXqf6lRYG_ynBQe5rAHxOpuDzg/s320/BewareCynic2.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552733976281910002" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" border="0" /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span>With this kind of shared market, the challenge for distillers is to show their difference. And we love this diversity, tasting different makes, different casks, different ages. Why then are we so critical of innovation? Sure, in one instance we criticise the SWA for upholding regulations based on precendent and tradition and </span><span class="Apple-style-span">in another we criticise distillers for trying new cask sizes, new cask finishes, new barley strains, etc., and dismiss these innovations as gimmicks. Isn't it exhausting being cynical on both sides of every coin? Spend 5 minutes with Jim McEwan, David Stewart, Bill Lumsden or anyone else with a track record of innovation in Scotch whisky and tell me you still believe they are more concerned with gimmicks than genuinely trying to make great whisky. I am open to being convinced otherwise.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">Tours - I remember being quite surprised that distilleries, alcohol factories, allowed or even welcomed tours. Today more than 30 distilleries make a point of welcoming visitors to come see the ins and outs of their production line. Can you imagine this transparency from other billion dollar industries? The food industry? the automotive industry? the </span><span class="Apple-style-span">pharamceutical industry? the shoe industry? Sure, there are exceptions and some of these examples do welcome visitors but think of the adjustments they had to make before being able to welcome visitors. When Glenfiddich opened its doors to tours 40 years ago they didn't line the outside of their washbacks with oregon pine (I guess because they are already pine, but you get my point), build a fake "mini" distillery to give a false impression, or try to become a museum/science center rather than just be a production site. Now, the cynical among us only see tour guides reciting their scripts of m</span><span class="Apple-style-span">arketing bullocks, but I </span><span class="Apple-style-span">see a conscious effort to ground the romantic in the real from Glengoyne to Glenmorangie, and feel fortunate to see inside any of these distilleries.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>The Whisky Family</b></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span><span><em>Scotch whisky is one of the most commercially competitive </em></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><em>industries in the world but the further you get from the shop shelves/the closer you get to the folks making the stuff, the more imperceptible is that competition.</em></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span><span><em></em></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span">As a William Grant employee, I have colleagues who have been working here since they were teenagers, started as few as 5 to as many as 50 years ago. It's funny how some up at Glenfiddich say "I love the DoubleWood" and some down at Balvenie say "I love the Solera". But it doesn't stop there. I mentioned to a few of them that I was over at Glenrothes last week. Their unanimous response? "Aye, good dram." I was over at Macallan a couple of weeks ago and in chatting to a </span><span class="Apple-style-span">few of the employees mentioned I worked with Balvenie. Their response? "Love the DoubleWood." In my experience, I have never heard a wine maker speak of any wine but their own, in fact, I have been told funny tales from one international wine competition organizer of the hostility between them. </span></span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">Richard Paterson- The Nose (or Dicky P as we affectionately call him, behind his back of course) gets a lot of flack but I wish this industry had more of him. Yes, he is a showman but if that is a criticism for you, then you probably also dismiss John Lennon as a protest songwriter and Hitler as a great public speaker. Richard is an absolute gentleman, generous, kind, supportive, and amazingly non-partisan. Employed by Whyte & Mackay and blending Jura, Fettercairn and Dalmore, Richard talks without hesitation about Johnnie Walker, Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Glenmorangie and others in presentations, includes them in his <a href="http://www.whyteandmackay.co.uk/blog/2010-12-07-40-years-40-whiskies-21-old-man-whisky.aspx">40 whiskies</a> celebrating 40 years, and in his book Goodness Nose spends chapters on distilleries he doesn't work for and includes a forward by Diageo's Paul Walsh. Richard is just one of several examples of this kind of character in the whisky world and he is my favourite</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> uncle in this whisky family.</span></span></div><img src="http://www.whiskyintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/richard-paterson-whisky-live-38-291x300.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Sport - There is the Malt Distillers' Football Cup, there are friendly inter-distillery golf competitions, but taking place over the summer months there is a rowing league on Islay with races held in the distillery bays and in Port Ellen with over 20 teams from around the island taking part. The "dream team," as they call themselves, is made up of distillery managers Mickey Heads (Ardbeg), Duncan McGilvary (Bruichladdich), Peter Campbell (Lagavulin), Graham Logie (Port Ellen maltings) and John Campbell (Laphroaig). With those clowns in a boat together I'd be suprised anyone could pull a stroke what with all the laughter, but even if they never crossed a single finish line I just love that these things exist.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Rant over, I think. I have no point. I just felt the therapeutic need to remember what is great about whisky. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >And I think I feel better. But please do not read this as an attack on WDJK or its readers, in the same week as the disappointments post was a post about <a href="http://www.whatdoesjohnknow.com/2010/12/09/which-distillery-has-impressed-you-the-most-this-year/">what impressed most this year</a> where readers sang praises of the greatest achievements in whiskydom over the past year. We all bitch about how things could be better. I guess I just needed to remind myself what is so amazing about the world of whisky before I can say goodbye to 2010, or more accurately, so that I can start 2011 on a positive note. And I suspect that whisky makers, brand ambassadors, marketers, and whisky makers criticized could probably use such a reminder as well.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >There are more amazing things in and around whisky, but I think this is all I can be bothered to get down here. Do you have any to add?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. Now to the aquavit!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div> </div><div></div></div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-77021844360473083492010-12-22T08:53:00.001+00:002010-12-22T08:53:00.268+00:00Malt Mission 2010 #395<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaA52L7hjTuBS4Zblc4FqQRo3-IcoCND8ZcftADDW-JRCvGU4ZVBEH0NsPilZ72-l9MOcw9h6w8Oxi5DhmZeuwou4RVeBKlUK1cI677IPl6idpzhR5nUkl1acXmJ7BmtcakhF1Q/s1600/IRISH_BUS8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552801517823317842" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="Bushmills 16 Three 3 wood" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaA52L7hjTuBS4Zblc4FqQRo3-IcoCND8ZcftADDW-JRCvGU4ZVBEH0NsPilZ72-l9MOcw9h6w8Oxi5DhmZeuwou4RVeBKlUK1cI677IPl6idpzhR5nUkl1acXmJ7BmtcakhF1Q/s320/IRISH_BUS8.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Bushmills 16yo</span><br /></strong><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><strong>Irish Single Malt Whiskey</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><strong>40% abv</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><strong>£50 </strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><strong>$80 (USD)</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Still in the snow-covered highlands. We had a short thaw, but otherwise my month in Dufftown has been a winter wonderland. Hope I get out of Aberdeen on Wednesday. Hope you get where you need to be for Christmas, too. Have a happy one, drambassadors. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">The last of a string of Irish tasted here on the mission, this one comes from Ireland's oldest distillery. In this case, not only is it triple distilled but matured in three different casks: ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and ex-port. The crazy bit is that it is matured in each of these casks in succession. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">TASTING NOTES:</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Sweet and candied, raw corn on the cob, extrememly fruity, blackberry <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squash_(drink)">squash</a>, blueberry buns, orange syrup. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">If the nose was sweet the palate is beyond. Gummy bears, grape candy, blueberry jam. Juicy, soft, really easy to drink. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">SUMMARY:</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">I might give this a go as my new conversion whisky, one for the folks who say "I hate whisk(e)y" or for the American whiskey drinker who has sworn off anything else. This is likely as close to flavoured whisky as is legal. In fact, blind, I would have been puzzled, for sure, probably thought it was Canadian (they can add 9.09% "other"). </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em><br /></em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em>Worlds</em> better than I remember the 10yo (<a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2007/05/malt-mission-2007-82.html">Malt Mission #82</a>) but I am not sure I would ever reach for this were it on my shelf. Sure, I like my sweet whiskies, but this is like kids grape juice boxes or something. If the craving struck, I would probably just enjoy a glass of grape juice and have a Talisker DE before bed.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Second opinions from the guys at <a href="http://www.edinburghwhiskyblog.com/2009/02/01/bushmills-16-yo/">Edinburgh Whisky Blog</a>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2010/11/malt-mission-2010-391.html">Malt Mission #391</a></span><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2010/12/malt-mission-2010-392.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Malt Mission #392</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2010/12/malt-mission-2010-393.html">Malt Mission #393 </a><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2010/12/malt-mission-2010-394.html">Malt Mission #394</a><br /><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html"><br />Malt Mission HOME</a><br /></span></span></div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30970998.post-20780551187696303422010-12-13T08:37:00.006+00:002011-01-19T23:43:30.170+00:00Malt Mission 2010 #394<a href="http://www.dramming.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/turfmor.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 197px; HEIGHT: 250px" alt="whisky blog" src="http://www.dramming.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/turfmor.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>Connemara Turf Mór</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_whiskey">Irish Single Malt Whiskey</a></strong></span></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">58.2% abv</span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>£50</strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>$80 (USD)<br /><br /></strong></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Following up last week's <a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2010/12/malt-mission-2010-393.html">Connemara Sherry Finish</a> post, this is the second of their Small Batch Collection series. Launched in December, poured at The Whisky Show 2010, and featured on many-a-blog already, this Connemara is apparently the peatiest Cooley spirit ever bottled clocking in at 50ppm.<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">For more distillery info and to see all Connemara and Cooley had on the mission, click <a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/search/label/cooley">HERE</a>.<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">TASTING NOTES:<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Clay, lemon sponge cake and sawdust at first. Diesel, wellies, cut raw sweet potatoes, and more cake and vanilla. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Mineralic, certainly smoky, but sweet and salty with marzipan and soil. Appetising and tongue-tickling effect.<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">SUMMARY:<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Not sure if this is noticeably smokier than standard Connemara as I have nothing on hand to compare it with, but it is definitely one for the mud-lovers. Like a civilized protester, this dram is angry about the University fees but not about to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1bHOFHyEf0&feature=related">break a charity shop window, piss on Churchill, or burn a bus shelter</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">.<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Second opinions at </span><a href="http://www.whiskynotes.be/2010/irish-whiskey/connemara-turf-mr/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Whisky Notes</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">, <a href="http://whiskeyapostle.com/2010/12/connemara-turf-mor/">Whisky Apostle</a>, <a href="http://whiskyforeveryone.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-releases-connemara-turf-mor.html">Whisky for Everyone</a>, <a href="http://www.dramming.com/2010/11/18/connemara-turf-mor/">Dramming</a>, <a href="http://thewhiskytastingclub.co.uk/Blogs/domblog/2010/12/14/connemara-turf-mor/">Dom's blog</a>, or </span><a href="http://jewishsinglemaltwhiskysociety.com/?p=2909"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">JSMWS</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">. </span></div><br /><div></div><div><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2010/11/malt-mission-2010-391.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Malt Mission #391</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2010/12/malt-mission-2010-392.html">Malt Mission #392 </a></span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2010/12/malt-mission-2010-393.html">Malt Mission #393</a></span></div><br /><div><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-years-resolutions.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Malt Mission HOME</span></a></div><div></div>Dr. Whiskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07544150288363636301noreply@blogger.com2