August 2023

The Real Business:  with both bottles wrapped in sacculum or esikhwameni

The Tasting #1

The WhiskyMurray McDarid Glenburgie
SuppliedStock, new distillery
RegionSpeyside
Age & Distillation13 YO, distilled 2008
Special NotesIndependent maturation and bottling, unusual treatment: Spanish sherry butts (500 litres) 10 years followed by 2.5 years Sauternes barique (225 litres), (delivering the fruitiness)NCF, no colour.
Strength58.2% abv. (note the JT estimated to the ‘T’.
Price£103 (R2,575 @25:1) source 

The opening toast to Uisge Beatha, the “Water of Life”. 

DETAILS 

THE COLOUR ………………………Brown-tinged copper

THE NOSE ……………………………Molasses, lime and lemon citrus, edged with dampness

THE TASTE ………………………….White pepper start, followed with a burst of sweet light fruit; deeper shades of molasses follows on a huge raft of alcohol; then salted prunes, allspice, chilli for some, and black pepper; shifting to a sour worm layer that lingers.

THE FINISH ………………………..Long, sweet and sour, some more salt.

With some water………………………The nose greatly diminished, the white pepper remains, followed by tutti fruiti, some vanilla and a long lasting sweetness.

THE SCORE ……………………….……The Gents: 85.3, with a range 73-91.

The Tasting #2

The WhiskyWaterford
SuppliedHost
RegionIreland
Age & DistillationNAS 
Special NotesDouble distilled, great presentation in cobalt blue bottle with glass stopper, inviting a try. Emphasis on several individual farm barleys, traceable, ‘discovery code’ WILDCHI-LD at waterfordwhisky.com (note spelling); call themselves ‘World’s biggest producers of organic & biodynamic whisky’.
Strength47% abv.
PriceSource The Tasting Room, 2023, R1,200.

The toast to “The Clark and the Jackson”. 

DETAILS 

THE COLOUR ………………………….Dark straw.

THE NOSE ………………………………Marzipan, salt, fish paste and foustie vinyl.

THE TASTE …………………………….The vinyl becomes liwuidised plastic with copper strips down the side of the tongue, followed by preserved lemon rind.

THE FINISH ………………………….Short, leaves an oily (scum) layer.

With some water………………………No change.

THE SCORE ……….The Gents: 49, All 56.1 with a range 49 – 69.

The Evening: the meeting closed at 21:15 with the Close and thanks for wonderful gathering of many members.    

Scoring
Nothing short of diabolical  0 – 50
Nasty, well worth avoiding51 – 64
Very unimpressive indeed65 – 69
Usually drinkable, but don’t expect the earth to move70 – 74
Average, usually pleasant, sometimes flawed75 – 79
Good, worth trying80 – 84
Very good to excellent85 – 89
Brilliant90 – 94
Superstar, gives a reason to live95 – 97
Nirvana98 – 100