|
|
|
|
|
|
Our four whisky tasting evenings over the summer enabled participants to enjoy a varied program of differing facets of the world of whisky.
Richard Paterson of Whyte & Mackay treated us to an updated version of his history of Scotch followed by his blending competition. The zeal with which Richard tells us about his passion for Scotch coupled with his highly amusing delivery always make his presentations informative and memorable. On this occasion the evening concluded with an open tasting of many of Richard’s company’s products including his treasured sample of 50 year old Dalmore which he omitted to recover and hide after showing it earlier. Not much more where that came from!
Jim McEwan (right) of Morrison Bowmore was kept in check by a surprise guest and old friend, Etta Shaw (centre), a former Islay resident who has known Jim since he was a small boy! Jim took us on an intimate tour of Scotland through the distilleries under his control: Auchentoshan from the Lowlands, the characterful Highlander Glen Garioch and, Jim’s real love, Bowmore which produced the evening’s favourites 15yo and ‘Darkest’. His easy-going style coupled with the excellent timing of his stories and jokes made this a very enjoyable evening which concluded with the Highland Honours toast (see next page).
Bill Lumsden, the man who seems to sign most bottles of Glenmorangie these days, fascinated us with an assortment of goodies from his company’s warehouses. Starting with Glenmorangie’s new spirit, (thus ensuring the best hangover of the season), Bill treated us to samples of Glenmorangie from a standard cask at six years and from a ‘designer cask’ also at six years. The latter was a slow grown oak from the Ozark mountains, air (rather than kiln)-dried and used at Heaven Hill’s unheated Bourbon warehouses before shipping to Scotland. The result was a far more advanced degree of maturation, well beyond the normal ten year old style , but mixing the two six year olds produced a superb dram. We then sampled the Glenmorangie Port Wood finish, Ardbeg 17yo and, most spectacularly, the very rare Ardbeg ‘Manager’s Choice’, a selected single sherry cask matured Ardbeg, chosen and bottled by distillery manager Stuart Williamson—a fantastic whisky!
Murray McDavid was unable to attend our fourth evening for ‘technical reasons’ but Gordon Wright (above) filled his shoes, wide-brimmed hat and cape with suspicious ease, adding further fuel to the rumour that they are the same man, never having been seen in the same room at the same time! If the secret of a great tasting evening is great whiskies then Gordon knows his stuff! All of the eight drams sampled (for just seven quid, mind) were distilled in Argyll. In sequence they were; Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Spring-bank, Caol Ila, Longrow, Leapfrog, Ardbeg and finally a 34 year old Springbank! Gordon explained the role of the independent bottler with reference to why he was serving ‘Leapfrog’ rather than the Lappy-doo-da Islay malt after an unhappy legal argument. A great evening with some great whiskies. |
 |
 |
 |
