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Scotch Tasting

A celebration, tasting and theme.

“The proper drinking of Scotch whisky is more than indulgence: it is a toast to civilization, a tribute to the continuity of culture, a manifesto of man’s determination to use the resources of nature to refresh mind and body and enjoy to the full the senses with which he has been endowed.” - David Daiches, Scotch Whisky 1969 -

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Instructions for this party

The key to a great scotch tasting is (wait for it, wait for it)....great scotch and great people. We've suggested a great variety starting with a Bourbon to allow your guests to taste the difference between a Bourbon and a single-malted scotch. The others gradually jump from a younger 8 year all the way up to a 21 year Grand Reserve. The suggested price point is based on 15-20 people so if you have more people or want to have higher or quality scotch, adjust the price accordingly.

For pricing reference, check out a product pricing list.

About the event

Stop by for an evening tasting of five fantastic scotches paired with some perfect snacks. We'll start with a 90 Proof Bourbon and then switch to Scotch to taste the difference. From there we'll go to an 8 year Wemyss Spice King Followed by a 10 year Bruichladdich Laddie, a 12 year Dewars and then have a big finish with a 21 year old Grand Reserve from Glenfiddich. The event is capped at 20 people so that everybody can try each kind but until that point, please feel free to invite your friends to what promises to be an eventful evening. For the price of only two scotches at the bar, you'll taste five great scotches including a 21 year old reserve (which retails for over $130!)

The Goods

  • Buffalo Trace Distillery Single Oak Project Bourbon Whiskey (90 Proof)

    • The Single Oak Project is part of an intensive research project Buffalo Trace Distillery started conducting in 1999 by hand picking 96 trees with different wood grains and then dividing them into a top and bottom piece, yielding 192 unique sections. From there, staves were created from each section and were air dried for either 6 months or 12 months. After all the staves were air dried, a single barrel was created from each tree section, resulting in 192 total barrels. These barrels were given either a number three or a number four char and then filled with either wheat or rye recipe bourbon.

  • Wemyss The Spice King 8 Year old Blended Malt Scotch Whiskey (80 Proof)

    • Nose: Talisker salt/brine, but in a minor way. Hint of banana? Not a big Talisker nose, but some seaweed & seaspray. Shy – could use awhile in the glass to open up.
    • Palate: Good medium body. Brown sugar up front, then some VERY nice cinnamon, nutmeg, and salted caramels. Yum.
    • Finish: Medium-long. Some peat, more sea-salt. Fading black pepper. There’s the Talisker.

  • Dewar's 12 Year Scotch (90 Proof)

    • Nose: Lemon curd on buttered scones. A bit of paint-thinner – a lot more nose tickle than I like to see in a 43% ABV. A clear quantity of grain whisky – light vanilla, unripe fruit, and fresh hay. Definitely on the “light and airy” side, but with an unpleasant amount of burn.

    • Palate: Light cream – not very heavy-bodied despite all the grain. Potent, and the 43% ABV comes through nicely with just the right amount of tongue burn. Hazelnut skins, brown sugar cookies, and lemon peel.

    • Finish: Short, but not unpleasantly bitter. Some lingering pastry notes and a hint of bitter lemon. A suggestion of wood. Final note is just bitterness – oh well.

    • With Water: A splash of water releases a hint of anise and tames the nose tickle somewhat. It also improves the sweetness of the dram, and rounds out some of the off flavors. It doesn’t do a whole lot for the finish, and the bitterness remains. Nevertheless, this is a whisky that benefits greatly from the addition of water.

  • Bruichladdich The Laddie 10 Year Old Scotch (92 Proof)

    • Character: Dream fulfilled. Rich and assertive with that unique creaminess of the Laddie. The non chill-filtered spirit drifts serenely over the palate, warming the taste buds. It is going to linger with you as long as malts twice its age.

    • Nose: Precursor to the flavours you will find on the palate: first, a combination of honey and a zing of fresh lemon. Then fresh, estery air bubbles of banana, ,apricot, peach and ripe cantaloupe melon. The backdrop is a hint of the warm, ocean breeze blowing over the sand dunes and shore meadows alive with the waft of wild flowers - Hebridean harmonisation. Given time, and a splash of spring water, the sweet oak brings light vanilla with a hint of nutty chocolate, with the crispness of warm, crusty, freshly baked bread.

    • Palate: The mellow, oak sweetness is welcoming as are hints of bourbon and gingerbread, sherry and sultanas; and as they move on, there are the lighter, icing sugar-coated fruits. It’s fresh and frictionless, the texture of warm honey - then dry, crispy, malt barley; together with the oak they merge beautifully to cradle the lighter flavours, adding the strong pulse to our long awaited Laddie!

    • Finish: It’s exceptionally long for a 10 year old thanks to the natural oils from the malted barley still in the spirit. This is critical for the mouth feel and aftertaste, it begs the question – why do distillers remove the very essence of the spirit?

  • Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Research Scotch

    • Nose: Polished leather, toffee, vanilla, some orange, oak.

    • Taste: Deliciously rich and creamy with chocolate orange, toffee, honey, vanilla, brown sugar, peppery, drying oak spice.

    • Finish: Quite a long finish, spicy slowly drying oak.

    • Comments: Takes a few sips to get into but when you do you know you have stepped up a class from the 12, 15 & 18 year olds. A great balance, the rum doesn't overwhelm the whisky as some finishes can but gives the smooth 21 year old whisky an indulgent toffee sweetness. I would love to taste this at 46% - 50% ABV as I think it could be outstanding.

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