Whisky Fringe 2011
14
Meet Deets
Meet #14 | 06/08/11 | Hosted by Whisky Fringe
Adam & Phil went along to Whisky Fringe 2011 and tried to take down as many notes as they could, before alcohol took over their brain capacity.
Adam & Phil went along to Whisky Fringe 2011 and tried to take down as many notes as they could, before alcohol took over their brain capacity.
Of particular note, the Kichoman 100% showed loads of promise and a very distinct taste (even for Islay) and we had the bonus of tasting a 41yo whisky (The Machphail's Glenrothes 1969) as well as the rarely seen Arbdeg Alligator Committee Release. As we very recently tasted the Bruichladdich PC7, it was nice to get a preview-taste of the unreleased PC9 (good, but not as good as PC7) and the first try we've had of the St. George (heavily-peated, English) whisky.
We also tried a few bourbons at the end (too drunk to record them), which included the High West Rendezvous Rye (46%, really lovely), the Bernheim Wheat (very atmospheric) and Noah's Mill (boom, get out the banjo). Uigeadail won on scores though, as well it might.
Aberfeldy 21yo | 40% | Highland
Nose: Plum and dates.
Taste: Candy floss, gammon, toothpaste and cream.
Finish: Medium-short, with boiled sweets.
Score: 6.3/10
Taste: Candy floss, gammon, toothpaste and cream.
Finish: Medium-short, with boiled sweets.
Score: 6.3/10
Ardbeg Alligator - Committee Release | 51.2% | Islay
Nose: Sardines and paprika.
Taste: Cinnamon, mint, fire and boiled sweets.
Finish: Medium, with bon-bons.
Score: 7.3/10
Taste: Cinnamon, mint, fire and boiled sweets.
Finish: Medium, with bon-bons.
Score: 7.3/10
Ardbeg Corryvreckan | 57.1% | Islay
Nose: Rotten shark, hot tarmac, sherry and toast.
Taste: Sweet vapour, lava lamps, sea salt, beef and tar.
Finish: Medium-long, with fish food and biscuits.
Score: 8/10
Taste: Sweet vapour, lava lamps, sea salt, beef and tar.
Finish: Medium-long, with fish food and biscuits.
Score: 8/10
Ardbeg Uigeadail | 54.2% | Islay
Nose: Leather, printing ink, hospital and burns victims.
Taste: Diesel oil, Christmas pudding, blue cheese and cod liver oil.
Finish: Medium-long, with dates and a general opulence.
Score: 8.4/10
Taste: Diesel oil, Christmas pudding, blue cheese and cod liver oil.
Finish: Medium-long, with dates and a general opulence.
Score: 8.4/10
Bowmore NC2 1998 | 46% | Orkney
Nose: Plum, aniseed, a spice rack and smokehouses.
Taste: Boiled sweets, candied apple, sweet apple sauce and raspberry jam.
Finish: Short, with candy floss and figs.
Score: 6.8/10
Taste: Boiled sweets, candied apple, sweet apple sauce and raspberry jam.
Finish: Short, with candy floss and figs.
Score: 6.8/10
Bruichladdich 1989 Black Art 2 | 49.7% | Islay
Nose: Port, rum, raisins, plum and a drop of Shiraz.
Taste: Acid, chili and cardboard.
Finish: Long, with gooseberries.
Score: 6.4/10
Taste: Acid, chili and cardboard.
Finish: Long, with gooseberries.
Score: 6.4/10
Bruichladdich PC9 (Unreleased) | Unknown ABV | Islay
Nose: Fish cakes, coriander, anchovies, toffee, recently-used fireworks and a bonfire.
Taste: Rubber tyres, kippers, plum sauce, black beans, plums, fruit salad sweets and oyster sauce. Also definite notes of iodine, slate floors and salt.
Finish: Medium-long, with chinese takeaways, sweet bean paste, prunes and stables.
Score: 8/10
Taste: Rubber tyres, kippers, plum sauce, black beans, plums, fruit salad sweets and oyster sauce. Also definite notes of iodine, slate floors and salt.
Finish: Medium-long, with chinese takeaways, sweet bean paste, prunes and stables.
Score: 8/10
Bruichladdich PC An Turas Mor | 46% | Islay
Nose: Kippers, citrus, pear drops and tar.
Taste: Salt, toffee, bacon and peach.
Finish: Long with sulphuric acid and salt.
Score: 7.3/10
Taste: Salt, toffee, bacon and peach.
Finish: Long with sulphuric acid and salt.
Score: 7.3/10
Compass Box Hedonism | 46% | Blend
Nose: Victoria Sponge, salt and spinach.
Taste: Rye, maple syrup, cream, butterscotch and a Sazerac cocktail.
Finish: Short, with sweeties, ice cream and sweet & sour sauce.
Score: 6.6/10
Taste: Rye, maple syrup, cream, butterscotch and a Sazerac cocktail.
Finish: Short, with sweeties, ice cream and sweet & sour sauce.
Score: 6.6/10
Dewars 18yo | 40% | Blend
Nose: Oranges and warehouses.
Taste: Boredom and saccharine.
Finish: Medium-short, with paprika.
Score: 6.1/10
Taste: Boredom and saccharine.
Finish: Medium-short, with paprika.
Score: 6.1/10
Glencadam 14yo Sherry Finish | 46% | Highland
Nose: Sweetness, birthday cards and old books.
Taste: Rum, pears and daisies.
Finish: Short, with barley sugar.
Score: 6.1/10
Taste: Rum, pears and daisies.
Finish: Short, with barley sugar.
Score: 6.1/10
Kilchoman 100% | 50% | Islay
Nose: Raisins, fresh tobacco, The Yellow Submarine and mouldy fruit cake.
Taste: Dates, salt cod, iodine, plums and anchovies.
Finish: Medium, with toffee and cough drops.
Score: 7.55/10
Taste: Dates, salt cod, iodine, plums and anchovies.
Finish: Medium, with toffee and cough drops.
Score: 7.55/10
Kilchoman Spring 2011 Release | 46% | Islay
Nose: A fatty grill pan after cooking kippers, sea spray, toffee, hay and a library.
Taste: Grass, chow mein and original flavour toothpaste.
Finish: Medium, with pear drops and fish sauce.
Score: 6.85/10
Taste: Grass, chow mein and original flavour toothpaste.
Finish: Medium, with pear drops and fish sauce.
Score: 6.85/10
Longrow 14yo | 46% | Campbeltown
Nose: Pear drops, candy floss, custard and strawberry shortcake.
Taste: White wine vingera, apple, wet bark and sea spray.
Finish: Short, with a general nothingness and ghosts.
Score: 5.8/10
Taste: White wine vingera, apple, wet bark and sea spray.
Finish: Short, with a general nothingness and ghosts.
Score: 5.8/10
MacPhail's Glenrothes 1969 | 43% | Speyside
Nose: Toffee apples, plum tart and an autumnal orchard appear, with pear tarte tatin, leather, raw cake and a general surfeit.
Taste: Loads of fresh mint, banana toffee, apple, diesel and marzipan. Then pizza, stale smoke and rancid butter.
Finish: Medium to medium-long, with more fresh mint, pear drops, celery and used fishmongers' ice.
Score: 7.1/10
Taste: Loads of fresh mint, banana toffee, apple, diesel and marzipan. Then pizza, stale smoke and rancid butter.
Finish: Medium to medium-long, with more fresh mint, pear drops, celery and used fishmongers' ice.
Score: 7.1/10
Springbank 18yo | 46% | Campbeltown
Nose: Rose petals, a meadow, port and grass.
Taste: Lime, potato & leek soup, pastures and port.
Finish: Medium, with banana custard and sea salt.
Score: 6.3/10
Taste: Lime, potato & leek soup, pastures and port.
Finish: Medium, with banana custard and sea salt.
Score: 6.3/10
St. George Heavily Peated Ch 11 | 46% / 59.7% | England
Nose: Hay, crabbing, samphire and summer.
Taste: Sugared fish, sloe gin, pear and salt & vinegar crisps.
Finish: Short (cask strength), Medium-long (standard bottling), with salt and pepper.
Score: 6.7/10
Taste: Sugared fish, sloe gin, pear and salt & vinegar crisps.
Finish: Short (cask strength), Medium-long (standard bottling), with salt and pepper.
Score: 6.7/10
Tomatin 21yo | 52% | Highland
Nose: Dried fruit and an old barn.
Taste: Gooseberries, blueberries, zoos and asparagus.
Finish: Short, with cake.
Score: 6.8/10
Taste: Gooseberries, blueberries, zoos and asparagus.
Finish: Short, with cake.
Score: 6.8/10