Let The Drink Talk

[Spirit of Islay]

We had an impromptu visit to Edinburgh last night , Well it is the last bank holiday here of the year , managed to get into a hotel (which during The Fringe is pretty good going !), so after a bite to eat we hit the Vaults (where else ?) . Sometimes they have a band on the Sunday night and this was one of them and i'm glad to say the band were excellent . A Scottish folk trio called North Sea Gas and i would recommend everyone to try and catch them , a really good way to spend the night , Great music and superb humour .
Anyway managed to slip a few malts in as well ...
Seeing the new list wasn't out yet (this friday ), i decided on a different strategy for the night , i'd been looking at my list of tried single malts (distilleries and their different expressions , i know i'm sad for keeping a list but hey.....) and thought it was about time to hit some of those that i'd avoided .
So i started off with a Bruichladdich ....LOL! had to have one while looking at the Bar Bible !
So first off was a Royal Brackla (55.16 , 58.4% , Feb 94 - Sept 05 ), Bright Straw in colour , it's nose was Edinburgh Rock and Toffee apples and it tasted very sweet and Nougaty , a pleasant enough dram but not one to have the wallet flying open to .
Then it was a Glenugie (99.8 , 51.4% , 24yo , May 1980) , a delightful dram , Melon on the nose and Slightly peppery with Fruit Cocktail on the palate . The next dram was actually recommended to me by one of the bar staff when i'd went up for the previous one and what a cracking recommendation it turned out to be , An 18yo Lochnagar (103.13 , 55.9% , Nov 1986 ). Fudge and Green fruits (especially Apples) on the nose , very oily mouthfeel and slightly citric on the palate . A lovely long finish as well .
If i had been given this one in a blind tasting i would have said "thats a nice Farclas ...." .Wrong ! It was a 34yo Glen Elgin (85.17 , 45.7% , June 1971 ) , Bright Copper going on Amber in colour , it's nose was full of Cola Cubes and it had a very stong pineapple taste on the tongue and it's finish was long and like Maynards Wine gums .Altogether a fantastic sensation !
Last of the new Drams was a Pittyvaich (90.7 , 59% , 13yo , Mar 1990 ) , this one was so much like a lowlander , Grassy and citric on the nose and palate . A very balanced dram but i then moved onto a couple i'd had before , first off was a printing mistake ! 61.2 it says on the label but it's 61.20 , i'd had this at a Tasting in the Toon and have an un-opened bottle of it so it was nice to be reminded how good it is , last up was an ......Ardbeg , what else !
Not a bad night , Good music and good drams , toss up between the Lochnagar and the Glen Elgin for dram of the night , but what a good way to try Single Malts numbers 89-93 ! Probably not as many as some though ......
Slainte
Gordon
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Homer's Hypothesis - One can never own too many Ardbegs.......

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