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Ardbeggeddon IV - Friday
January 10, 2003
We were up early and psyched. We packed the car and
drove to Logan after a light breakfast. We arrived at Logan around 10 am
for a 12:15 flight. Check-in was a breeze and the TSA screeners had
absolutely no interest in the whisky both Dave and I were carrying on.
(After we all convened in Vegas it turned out no one had the slightest problem
with carryon liquor. False alarm....) We were at the gate by
10:30 and killed the preboarding wait but reflecting on past Ardbeggeddons and
the list of spectacular drams lined up for the next 4 days.
Flight left on time and we arrived in Chicago, traveled
through the psychedelic tunnel of light and sound that connects the B and C
concourses and arrived at our connecting flight just as they began
boarding. We boarded and found Bushido seated 2 rows behind us. Once
the flight was underway we began breaking out drams:
-
Tamdu
1988 G&M Cask 60.8% - this was a lemony butter monster, tremendous dram
that only got better and more balanced with water. Excellent Skalk,
even though it was mid-afternoon.
-
Glengoyne
Scottish Oak, first time I've tried this dram.. interesting - need to
revisit in better tasting conditions
-
Mortlach
10 yo, 60.8%, James McArthur's Old Masters - hot but chocolate and spice
with water. Tasty dram. Wish I had bought a full bottle rather
than just a nip when in Scotland earlier this year.
-
Knockandu
1975 corked nip (which leaked on the airplane) - may have collapsed in the
bottle, nothing special
-
Famous
Grouse Vatted Malt - much better than the Knockandu, another interesting
dram that I need to revisit under better tasting conditions
That was it for
the flight to Vegas - the beverage service was significantly upgraded on United
that flight. We arrived at the Palms, called around and discovered the
PLOWEDsters gathered in MacKaplahan's room. We immediately joined them and
kicked off the ceremonial lipping of the Local Barley
-
Springbank
Local Barley, 1966, 51.8%, wonderful dram - thanks again Dave!
-
Springbank
1967 32 yo 46.8% Cadenhead's Chairman's Stock
-
Springbank
8 yo 60.2% James McArthur's Old Masters - youngish and quite estery but much
more balanced with water. Need to revisit (have one of these unopened
in the malt shrine)
-
Longrow
1987 15 yo 55% Samaroli Cask #115, bottle 000131 - Great dram -
wonderful at full strength and even better with water. Thanks Blackeno!
-
Bowmore
29 yo 49.4% 3/64-10/93 Cadenhead's Authentic Collection wonderful
mouthfeel, sweet, beautiful dram - not a trace of FWP.
-
Brora
29 yo 2/71-3/00 50% OMC - classic Brora, much better than the 29 yo June 71
I opened a few months ago at Mike's Whisky and Water tasting in Maine.
-
Ardbeg
1966 32 yo 42.6% Cadenhead's Chairman's Stock - a peaty but slightly woody
dram
At this point we
went to dinner at the Palm's buffet - prime rib and king crab leg special.
Well timed.rejuvenated we returned and dug back into the malts. A bit
haphazardly I have to observe...
-
Glen
Garioch 10 yo 43% - old bottling from the 70's
-
Laphroaig
30 yo 43% - somewhat faded but still a very nice and complex dram,
-
Macallan
- Ulf Buxrud's London Mega-Tasting Vatting
-
Springbank
100 Double Dark - lipped!
-
Bruichladdich
1970 44.2% - amazing dram, best of the Bruichladdich served at the Masters
tasting class at FEIS ILE 2002
-
Balvenie,
Old Prestonfield
-
Ardbeg
29 yo 50.4% Douglas Laing Old and Rare Platinum
-
Ardbeg
Provenance, 57.29%
At this point it
was ~1:15 am and MacKaplahan kicked us out of his room so we moved the tasting
to Tom and Alan's room - I stopped taking notes and need to reconstruct the rest
of the night. I started to fade in and out after an hour or so and was
eventually woken and sent to bed around 4 am. A great start to A4!
Notable quotes
from Ardbeggeddon IV - Day 1:
"The liver
is evil and must be punished." Bushido
"I don't lip
anything older than your mother" (anon - but you can probably guess)
Photos
from Day 1
Return to
Ardbeggeddon 4
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Last update on 1/17/03
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