Mike's Tasting Notes from PLOWED-NNE Tasting No. 1

Whisky and Water tasting.  PLOWED NNE (Northern New England) Nov 2, 2002.

  1. Macallan Vatting from the Ulf Buxrud tasting in London.  Dave was invited by Ulf at A3 to come over to London to taste 53 older Macallans.  Tim tagged along, and when Jim Murray didn't show up, Tim got to taste, too.  What they couldn't drink, they poured off , and everyone left with a labeled bottle, the contents of which were Macs no less than 18 years old.  Taste was very much like an 18--caramel and nuts.

  2. Cad. 12 yo Linkwood 1989 56.3%  Cinnamon, spice, nice bite, orange, voilets.

  3. Cad. 13yo Linkwood 1988 58.6% touch of sulfur, chocolate, big rich and chewy like the Sig. dumpy Tamdhu, tannin, total sherry, big malt

  4. MM Linkwood 1979 46% 17yo , sherry.  This is the one that Bushido thought was his fave Linkwood and which he sent the Dram Team as the blind.  Takes the dram to another level. Sherry, but in balance with lavender,  chocolate, nougat, strawberry, deep tannin, bite even though only 46%, floral, coconut. Awesome taste.

  5. Cad. Linkwood 17yo 55.5% 1978.  I found this one in a Denver liquor store.  Awfully close to the MM, but a tad less floral, missing the coconut in the nose, but bigger than the MM. Earthy.  Less elegant, though. Bunnahabhain in drag.  Changes much with a little water (Dave figured you'd have to add 20% to get it down to the MM strength.)

  6. Glengoyne 1967 29yo 52.5%.  Nice cotton candy nose, bananas, cardamom, pepper, white chocolate, cantaloupe, strawberry, big vanilla.  (Dave gets Maraschino cherries; Tim got carnations) . Delicious.  Not as wonderful as the GG CH's stock Cad. that Bushido brought to A3, but a beautiful dram.

  7. *Sig. Cardhu 1974/2000 26yo 50.3% Sherry.  Burnt leaves, caramel, (ketchup?), soy, vanilla, dreamy cream soda, root beer (!), banana royale, spumoni.  Super dram.

  8. **Adelphi HP 27 yo 60% Another winner.  bursts with flavor, light vanilla, lavender, hint of smoke.  The best.

  9. OMC Brora 1971 29yo 50%. January.  Sweet and floral, not much smoke, lemon, super fruity, very "Laphroaigy".

  10. OMC Brora 1971 29yo 50%. June.  Much fruitier, a little lighter, but a nice balance.  The January was a little darker, fuller and smokier, but consensus was for this one.  Both light and smoke.

  11. *Silver Seal,  Brora 1982 19yo 50 First Bottling. Fruity, no peat. Bowmore-like grapefruit, sherry, Candied raspberry (Dave gets bananas). Outstanding.

  12. OMC Brora Platinum 1972 29yo.  "Old & Rare"   59.5%  Slight skank with the peat reek on the nose, and  little skanky on the taste until diluted.  With water the fruitiness comes into balance.  Liked the regular OMC's a tad beter.

  13. Sig. Millennium Brora 1981 19yo 43%, sherry.  Deep, chocolate sherry, grapefruit and pepper (!).

  14. Scott's Port Ellen 1976/98 57%.  Rich peat, seaweed, grass, barley, cereal, creamy, biscuity.  Feels like a touch of sherry, though there isn't any.

  15. Caol Ila. Cask Strength.  55%.  Skanky, no age, pine, strong peat, "clear",  feels older than 7 or 8 years, but has that young woody quality.

  16. Bowmore 35yo 1966/2001 44%.  Light, delicate, grapefruit (Buddy got kiwi), spice. One-note, but it's a heavenly note.

  17. Bruichladdich 20yo new bottling 46%.  Didn't have much to say this night, but tasted it a few nights later:  Off-putting woodiness, touch of cream.

Last update on 11/7/02