Tag Archives: Flowery

Arran 8yo Single Sherry Cask #1536, bottled by Arran

Islands region – 59.3%ABV – Somewhere around $75

Spring is here, spring is here!!

G-d damn it if this winter didn’t beat the crap out of me (and anyone else living in the North East of the good ‘ol US of A).

I kid you not when I tell you that at one point this winter we had a snow bank at the end of our driveway that was higher than 10 ft (for those folks who use the metric system, that’s a shit tonne of centimeters!).  Storm after storm, foot after foot of snow, shovel after shovel, vertebrae after vertebrae breaking work… Oy.

Thankfully, the storms of 2010/early 2011 are now a not-to-distant memory and we can (I can) finally move on.  Passover, for us, brought about a good deal of spring cleaning (inside & out of the house) which is still going on but, it feels fantastic!  The warm sun hitting this t-shirted bloke feels right good!

The flowers are popping, there’s a new scent in the air brought about by the various flora that surrounds my woodsy/swampy area.  A combination of scents, really — Wafts of skunk cabbage, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, dandelions, pollen (times a gazillion), chainsaw oil, armpit sweat, sunblock… it’s all in the air and it’s LOVELY!

Spring has a good way of making one feel anew.  I don’t know about you but all winter long I felt as if I was just doing what I could to survive through it.

Like a snake, the spring time allows you to feel as if you can shed the recent past and start again with new skin.  Maybe this year will be different, somehow better than last year.  That, of course, is not something you can just hope on.  You have to work to make that come true.  But perhaps the feeling of this new season might help to give you that strength.  Forge ahead, embrace life and cling on (Klingon) to the unexpected for it’s what helps us all to live.  Not survive but live.

Arran single sherry cask #1536:

ColorOversteeped tea with a slight ruby hue to it.  Lighter than expected given the fact that this has spent all it’s life in a sherry cask (2nd fill perhaps?).

On the noseFragrant, flowery, salty and slightly dusty and woody (sort of like an old church pew type note).

Actually, the more I nose it the more dust I detect.  Really dusty stuff…

Fruity too (think red plum without the tart).

Chocolate covered raisins.

On the mouthVery juicy entry, nice hot attack without losing the flavor.

Think of a red fruit and, it’s in there.

This is insanely sweet and fruity.

None of the dust I got on the nose.

Notes of lime and even a touch of mint (a fun little combination of flavors).

A very different sherry matured whisky profile.

FinishLots of lime of the finish – like a lime ricky.  Very long.

In sumThe fruits and raisins on the nose were nice but I found the dusty element to be almost overpowering.  It’s all about the taste and finish with this one.  Flavorwise, this was delicious; one to enjoy with an assortment of desserts.  If you’re going to go sweet, go all the way baby!

Glenmorangie Margaux Cask – the waiting was the hardest part!

Highland region – 46%ABV – 700ml – Limited bottling 1 of 3551 – $446 | £278 |€325 (I bought my bottle a good while back and did not pay these prices.  My bottle number, by the way, is # 3535)

Where do I begin, and to what do I compare the feelings I had upon opening this bottle so as NOT to make a comparison to my *first time* with a girl and the anticipation some teenage boys, such as I was, feel regarding the prospect?  Aw, crap.  I just made the comparison, now didn’t I?  At least there were no details, right?  Right.

In all seriousness, I’ve had this bottle sitting in my whisky cabinet for a good 2 years (or so) before I went ahead and opened it.  It didn’t stay there because I was planning on keeping it for whisky collecting purposes.  No, it just so happened that I wanted to wait until the right time (whatever that would be) to open and enjoy it.  Thanks to you, I discovered what that special time was and, even though I haven’t gotten there yet, I’m well on my way on what I believe is the right track to attaining that goal.

So, why did I open this bottle if I hadn’t reached my goal yet?  Well, that is all explained in this here post.

Let’s just say that opening it was a thrill.  And to be in the good company of friends who are fellow whisky geeks/bloggers (Jason, Sam, that’s you!) made it all the more special.

Anyone who frequents the blog or knows me personally understands that I’ve basically got a boner for all things Glenmo.  If you’ve not tried their range in a while, I REALLY suggest you give it another go.  Their current line up is very special – even down to their 10yr “Original.”

And shit, if the contents of that bottle didn’t smell like pure heaven…

I’ve used this video once before (for another Glenmorangie whisky) and few drams can be compared to what is being compared in this video but, enjoy!

On to the review…

On the nose A very un-Glenmo nose.

Wafts of over-ripe grapes.

Delicious prune like notes.

Scents of grass and wild flowers (the little white daisies that aren’t so sweet smelling – very earthy).

Italian herb rub.

Fine red wine for the holidays.

Subtle notes of apples and peach (wine soaked peaches at that!).

Big chunks of chocolate.

Paper lunch bags.

On the mouth Powerful – like licking a dank dirt floor cellar; musty and earthy.

I wouldn’t want this any other way.

Very tannic, big wine and tobacco.

Lots of dried fruits with a focus on raisins and prunes.

This is really massive and the mouth feel goes back and forth between creamy and peppery.

Finish Very drying finish, oaky and hints again of that herb-rub I got on the nose.

In sum Delectable.  Way too big for daily dramming (also, too expensive & limited for it as well).  Handle with care.

This is the elephant in the room. Not to be ignored.

If drinking with friends, the conversation needs to be deep and it should be centered around this beauty or you’re just not giving it its due respect.

Bowmore 11yr Single Cask – Bottled for the SMWSA – Cask number 3.156

Islay region – 700ML – 750ml bottle – Go here to join the society & gain access to their bottles

I am really enjoying these single cask Bowmores!  First I had the Master of Malt 26yr Bowmore, then the 3.154 SMWS Bowmore and now this.  The Bowmore really seems to shine as a single cask.  Then again, it could just be that there are groups of really smart people choosing exceptional casks.  My guess is that it’s a combination of the former and the latter.

Either way, Joshua is a happy boy.  This expression follows in the shoes of the other Single Cask Bowmores I’ve tried in the sense that it is delicious.  Notes:

On the nose Flowery & sweet.

Reminds me slightly of the candy sweetness of the Master of Malt Bowmore 26yr Single Cask.

Hopscotch on hot asphalt, August 1977.

The smoke is there for sure.

A sweet smoldering fire (like a Swisher Sweet cigar has just been put out).

Lemon lollypops.

Surgical soap (I feel like I’m about to get another tattoo).

On the mouth Perfect mouth feel.

Not super chewy, not thin at all, just lip-smacking.

Much smokier than the nose had suggested.

Like burning flowers.

Think mums and daisy (sweet and earthy).

Finish Increasingly floral.

And now an herbal blast of chamomile and jasmine (Hard to think that there could be a “blast” of something as soft as chamomile or jasmine but, the notes did come on strong for me).

Mouth is slightly numb.

I’m ready for some dental work.

In sum Truly lovely.  The balance between the sweetness, florality (did I make up a word here?  I think I did.  Where are you Oxford English Dictionary people??) and smoke is scrumditiliumptuous and perfect.  A great summery smoker of a dram.

Master of Malt 26yr Bowmore Single Cask

Islay region – 53.4%ABV – 700ml bottle – Master of Malt exclusive bottling, only 195 bottles – £100

My day… actually, the past few days for me have be rough.  For this reason to that one, just a lot going on and not enough room in my head to think about it all.  This is not a diary blog for me.  This is a whisk(e)y blog so I’m not going to pour my heart out because, you probably don’t give a rat’s ass.  What you do care about is whisk(e)y and I can dig that.  Shall I move on then?  Yes.

Sitting at home, I have an arsenal of 16 whisky samples – it’s like heaven to me.  Check it:

With so much to choose from, I just did not know where to start.  I think I stood in front of my sample stash for about 25 minutes before I made my decision.  My decision to choose the Master of Malt 26yr Bowmore was partially based on the fact that the only Bowmore I’ve ever had was their 12yr expression and I just did not like it (that review to come – sorry Bowmore folks).  I wanted to try something else by Bowmore and I **LOVE** the Master of Malt 19yr Tomatin (that review can be found here).  The other reason is that I’ve got a serious case of spring fever (like you would not believe) and the reviews I’ve read on this expression reminded me of spring or the flavors I’d like to taste in a spring-time malt.

On the nose You’d never know this was 53.4% Alcohol By Volume.  It’s very easy to nose, and what a strange nose it is!  Soapy and quite flowery, perfect for this time of year.  Very much like Spider Mums (near exact).  Powdered sugar cookies and nail polish.  Really tough getting past that flowery smell though, quite lovely.  Reading the review of this whisky in Guid Scotch Drink, Jason described a Parma Violets candy smell.  Being that the Parma Violets are a candy found in the UK, not the US, I have no idea what they are but, Jason does, click here to find out what they are.  Hint of smoke floating way in the back.

On the mouth Pure sugary candies!!  Holy $hit!  No need to add water at all – it’s at the perfect strength.  Pez, Cherry Pez, more soap (kids no-tear fruity soap). Fun Dip and Pixie Stix.  Is this whisky?  Yes?  Really??  If R.J. Reynolds came out with this product, they’d be in court in no time flat as people would say it’s too candy-like, “you MUST be marketing to kids”.  Thin mouth feel but coating somehow – like the fluid itself is sugar based.  Powdered sugar.

FinishLong and fruity, like Beech-Nut gum (fruity like the gum, not the length of flavor as Beech-Nut gums lose their flavor right quick!)

In sumI read review after review about how fruity this stuff was and I just did not expect it to really be as fruity as it was, and, so amazingly like kids candies it really was.  This is not an every day dram for sure.  For me, I can have this once per year or so…  It’s unique, it’s super cool and complex.  The balance is great and I love the flowery nose.  I just couldn’t see myself reaching for this all the time.

A BIG thank you to JJY for the sample!