Let The Drink Talk

[Spirit of Islay]

Having gotten over the disappointment of the cancelling of the previous nights tasting and todays meal , we had a highly entertaining night at the Vermont Hotel . The whiskies on offer were a mixed bag , a tad disappointing in one way but we got a little surprise at the end .
First off we had a speysider , an Inchgower (18.22 , 20yo , 51.7%, 276 bottles , £58 ) , a gold colour this one was not very nice , it had a very strong Artifical note which i could not put my finger on . would have been the worst of the night if it wasn't for no.3 .

Second up was a Northern Highlander , aTeaninich ( 59.31 , 21yo , 56.6% , 252 bottles £57 ) , a bright gold in colour , the nose was of a light smoke and icing sugar sweetness .The taste was smoke and and citric (lime) , the finish was long and beautiful .

And now to number 3 , there was a quick count in the room for this one and i'm glad to say i was in the majority , it was horrible and it's possibly as far as i can remember the only whisky i've never finished at an SMWS tasting . In their notes they classed it as a Highland / Lowland , it was a Glengoyne ( 123.2 , 8yo , 56.7% , 317 bottles , £43 ) . The society had reracked this one for just over 2 years into a sherry butt , big mistake !
The nose wasn't too bad , Spicy and christmas cake but the taste , burnt rubber and sulpher , was disgusting and the finish horrible . Water improved it a bit but by then it was too late . Reminded me of the awful Jura we had once at a tasting but we finished that one.....

Next we went to Campbeltown , a Glen Scotia (93.17 , 13yo , 63.5% , 299 bottles , £40 ) , a pale gold in colour , the nose was peaty , salty and like walking along a seashore .the taste was warm , peaty and salty , it had a salty / maritime finish , it actually made me think of the societies croftengea bottlings for some reason .

Last up was an Islay , a Bowmore to be more precise (3.102 , 16yo , 56.7% , 303 bottles , £46) . Pale gold in colour , it was slightly smoky and floral on the nose , Lavender with smoke on the nose and long and floral on the finish . I've gone right off Bowmores of late , can't figure why they're really floral .

At the end of the night Stephen produced a couple of surprises , first up was a bottle of 33.56 (Ardbeg , 1998 , 6yo ) , a bottling that was released only for tastings and foreign markets (but we could order it so ......) . A nice dram . Then we got something else which i don't think i should mention here but it was very nice .

So another night over and the next one to look forward to (2 weeks time , Durham Castle ) .

Slainté
Gordon
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[Black Beer]