Remembering PRESTAGS

Fish & Chips

Callander, Scotland.

January 2018.

Chicken With Broccoli & Lentils

Edinburgh, Scotland.

January 2018.

Croque-Monsieur

Edinburgh, Scotland.

January 2018.

Scottish Meat Pie

Callander, Scotland.

January 2018.

Hot Toddy & Coffee

Edinburgh, Scotland.

January 2018.

Bangers & Mash

Edinburgh, Scotland.

January 2018.

Fish & Chips & Mushy Peas

Edinburgh, Scotland.

January 2018.

Most Disappointed

I was very excited when I came across a single malt that had been finished in a chardonnay cask. I thought this would be fantastic: the combination of my favourite spirit with my favourite white wine variety. I also thought this would be a wonderful treat for Python, my fellow Charddy slurper, when he next visited my office.

I bought a bottle as soon as I saw it online, without reading any reviews or tasting notes. It came in a nice little wooden box.

Last Tuesday the big day arrived and Python and I cracked open the bottle. Python was wearing the full uniform as befitted such a special occasion. I took a quick snap of Python in eager anticipation:

Oh Dear!

As soon as I sipped it I knew we were in trouble. It was horrible. Python was trying to be polite but he soon conceded it was most disappointing.

After a long run of brilliant single malts in Scotland and upon my return I suppose a less than perfect example was bound to come along. But this one really was unpleasant.

We did everything right. We let the whiskey air. We added a bit of water. We tasted it very carefully. Nothing helped. For the first time in my life I didn't even finish one glass, and down the sink it went. 

Yesterday I tried another small glass just in case there was something about Tuesday that gave me a false reading. There wasn't. It was still extremely unpleasant and again I didn't finish the  glass.

Only possible use is to give to Thygo if he doesn't learn how to say no.

After this experience I searched online and I couldn't find any nice reviews like the other two brilliant whiskies previously posted. I found one short review of "Not Good" from Whisky-Lads. I wholeheartedly agree with their use of "rotting vegetation".  They scored the whisky 75/100 which is excessively generous.

 

 

Tasting notes from Shirley:

Fills the mouth with an off vegetable taste. Totally consistent obnoxious taste that doesn't vary in any way from beginning to end. Reminded me of a balloon of foul air being released in my mouth. Medicinal alcohol at 53.3%. A distinctive smokiness but the most disagreeable smokiness I have experienced so far.

Does no credit to either single malts or chardonnay.

Most disappointing is an understatement. Unfortunately I just can't give it 50 or above so it's a 49.

Rankings:

1.    The Balvenie Caribbean Cask. 14 years. 90/100.

2.    The GlenDronach Parliament. 21 years. 85/100.

3.    Edradour Chardonnay Cask Matured. 12 years. 49/100.

 

 

Trying A Really Big Boy

Time for the tasting of a second single malt.

I've chosen a big bad 21 year old bottled at 48% alcohol.

The Glendronach 21 Year Old Parliament Single Malt.

As the bottling notes below record, "parliament" has nothing to do with politics and refers to a parliament of rooks.

Bottling Notes:

Matured in a combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for a minimum of 21 years. Bottled at 48%, the 'Parliament' is named after the colony, or ‘parliament’, of rooks that have been nesting in the trees that overlook the GlenDronach distillery for almost 200 years. Non chill filtered and of natural colour.

Tasting Notes from Master of Malt:

Nose: Soft smoke and lemon juice, cedar wood, apple peel, toasty oak, soft earth, date and walnut cake and a hint of freshly made espresso.

Palate: Golden syrup, soft, juicy raisins, tangy oak notes, peach, cherry blossom, cocoa and honeydew melon.

Finish: Sherry tones lead the finish, with a hint of sulphur, chocolate, luscious fruit and pepper.

 

My bottle:

Tasting Notes from The Whiskey Wash:

Appearance: African mahogany. I could gaze upon this “splendor in the glass” for hours.

Nose: Dark rum-soaked stone fruits like plums, peaches, and apricots. In time, the sherry presence dominates. Even though this whisky has been aged in both oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks, I get more of a sweet profile that’s native to the PX. The wood lends itself to a bit of white pepper, and cashews, along with Brazil nuts.

There’s a dollop of flan, graham cracker pie crust…honey-glazed ham, as well. An odd-sounding combination of impressions, I know, but the flavors are in there. Wow, this nose is complex. I’m also detecting cloves, with a gun-powdery tang. This said, the sulfur is not offensive; it’s lower in the mix than with some other Glendronachs I’ve tasted in the past, including Parliaments.

Palate: Mexican chocolate; hot pepper; watercress; oloroso sherry gains the upper hand; a fatty red meat note hangs back, as of beef brisket; wet ash; furniture polish; ginger snaps; black strap rum; menthol (at an acceptable level); vanilla bean; dry oaky tanins that turn bitter, along with anise. As Yoda says, “Complex, this one is!”

Finish: Quite long with peppery oak, Abuelita chocolate powder, and a drying sherry note that ends with a drawn-out ashy death, which is not at all morbid or depressing. No, this kind of “ash” is a good thing. It mingles with tannins to help round out the almost sickly-sweet palate.

Call it the cycle of life – from a cherubic candy-coated nose, to a middle-aged palate, to a delightfully denture-puckering finish. One thing is certain: time in the glass does help to brighten the corners of this whisky. Don’t pour any if you are in a hurry!   As time marches on, Glendronach 21-Year-Old Parliament will gain more of a following, just as the single cask Glendronachs did late last year.

Tasting notes from Shirley:

OK Shirley did the right thing and left it in the glass for 10 minutes before even thinking about drinking it.

Brilliant first flavours punched me in the mouth straight away. I agree with Master of Malt when they refer to date and walnut cake. Very nice oak throughout and a sherry finish. A hint of vanilla. I detected no smoke at all. Wonderful. Almost up to the Balvenie Caribbean cask, which is a bit ahead because I loved its sweeter and amazing smoothness. I'll give the GlenDronach 85.

Time for my second glass. But I have to wait 10 minutes again!

Rankings:

1.    The Balvenie Caribbean Cask. 14 years. 90/100.

2.    The GlenDronach Parliament. 21 years. 85/100.

A Conversion In Scotland - Single Malts Only Now

My recent trip to Edinburgh resulted in a total conversion from blended whiskies to single malts.

Previously I was a Johnnie Gold man. It's single malts only now.

I propose to try a range of single malts to find the best for the next boys weekend. Maybe 2 or 3 for the next boys weekend.

 

First to try, The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 years single malt scotch whisky. This is a very popular whisky, and I'll give it a go before some of the rarer examples.

 

Here are the tasting notes from Master of Malt: 

Nose: The aroma is rich with notes of tropical fruits, namely passion fruit, and creamy toffee.

Palate: Sweet vanilla forms a creamy palate with notes of apples and mangoes with a hint of orange in the background.

Finish: The finish lingers with a vanilla focussed character.

Overall: Mouth-coating and fruity with superb balance, this is an excellent new release from the chaps at Balvenie.

 

Here is my bottle before I get stuck into it:

The review from The Whiskey Reviewer:

The Balvenie Caribbean Cask Aged 14 Years Scotch has been a very popular offering, and has been reviewed, tested, sampled and consumed by about everyone that could spell the word “Scotch.” Volumes have been written in untold numbers, exploring every nuance of the whisky. It’s difficult to say something new or clever that hasn’t been said a dozen times before. However, I like this Scotch, enjoy exploring it, and that is always worth sharing.

The Scotch
The Caribbean Cask Scotch has a beautiful burnt gold appearance. The yellow and orange hues separate as the light passes through the glass of whisky giving it an iridescent glow creating a picture of a lightning strike on a pot of gold. The legs are thin, and yet very apparent.

The nose is easy to pick up and includes aromas of toffee, vanilla, oak and a very light smokiness. On top there are some subtle but distinct notes of pineapple. It’s almost like picking up a whole fresh pineapple and smelling it before cutting into it. You may also pick up a very light alcohol burn on the nose.

There is a light creaminess with each sip. Most of the initial action is at the back of the mouth and it moves to mid-mouth towards the roof while continuing in the back. The Balvenie describes the flavor as vanilla, sweet oak and fruitiness, and it is completely dead on in its description. There is some very light smokiness, but the vanilla and rum notes make it very subdued.

The activity continues at the back and mid-mouth for some time before beginning to die out and the strong finish takes over, a long and pleasant finish. This finish cranks up the whisky experience to a completely different level, making The Balvenie Caribbean Cask drink like a bigger, more potent scotch. In addition, it moves the mouth activity to the front and sides of the tongue and keeps it there before gradually fading out. The whole experience is one that is rich and creamy and satisfying.  The finish is driven by a smooth, soft vanilla flavor.

This is an easy drinking single malt that is enjoyable for regular Scotch drinkers, but is particularly easy for those whisky/whiskey drinkers interested in trying some fine single malt Scotch for the first time.

Tasting notes from Shirley:

Smooth, very smooth. I can taste the creaminess. If I had to pick a word I would say marmalade. Balanced and very easy drinking. Deceptively light for 43% alcohol. I'll give it 90. I realize this is a high score for the first single malt - it's just such an excellent whisky.

Rankings:

I will rank the whiskies as I go. Obviously only one at the moment.

1.    The Balvenie Caribbean Cask. 14 years. 90/100.