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SCOTTISH FIELD MERCHANTS CHALLENGE
To recap, in the December issue of Scottish Field, Keir Sword from Royal Mile Whiskies, Ronnie Routledge of Gordon & MacPhail and I were asked by the Field to select our preferences from specific producers. For example I was allocated UDV, Burn Stewart, Kyndal, Wm. Grant, Bruichladdich and Pernod. Our suggestions were split into price bands and we each put up about 8 expressions in each band.
The following month we met up in Edinburgh with Malcolm Greenwood for an exhausting (honest) five hour blind tasting of our three nominations from each price band, a total of 27 samples. The players were:
THE NOMINATIONS
Over £50; Macallan 1951, Macallan 1861 Replica, Balmenach 28yo, Bruichladdich 20yo, Glenury Royal OB-r, Tamnavulin 28yo, G&M Macallan 1966, Benromach 1974, G&M Old Pulteney 1966 (guess which ones Ronnie put in!).
£30 to £50; Bowmore Darkest, Highland Park 18yo, Longrow 10yo, Clynelish 14yo, Aberlour a'bunadh, Ledaig 20yo, Glengoyne 21yo, Glenfarclas 15yo, Caol Ila (Cask) 1984.
Under £30; Famous Grouse Vintage Malt, Caol Ila (Signatory 46%) 1989, Ardbeg 10yo, Bruichladdich 10yo, Talisker 10yo, Dalmore 12yo, Scapa 12yo, Glendronach 15yo, Longmorn 15yo.
The Scottish Field (out of) Focus Group
Excuse the champagne spittoon at the front - not all of them were swallowed.
THE RESULTS
Over £50
1st
Bruichladdich 20yo
2nd G&M Macallan 1966
3rd Macallan 1951 and Benromach 1974 (equal)
£30 to £50
1st
Highland Park 18yo and Glengoyne 21yo (equal)
3rd Aberlour a'bunadh
4th Ledaig 20yo
Under £30
1st
Glendronach 15yo
2nd Caol Ila (Signatory) 1989 and Scapa 12yo (equal)
4th Bruichladdich 10yo, Talisker 10yo, Ardbeg 10yo (equal)
The highest scorer of the lot was BRUICHLADDICH 20yo with 38 points (of a possible 40).
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