The Real Business: with both bottles wrapped in sacculum or esikhwameni
The Tasting #1
| The Whisky | Glenmorangie 18 |
| Supplied | The Chair |
| Region | Highland |
| Age & Distillation | 18 YO |
| Special Notes | 15 years in ex-bourbon barrels, 20% into Oloroso sherry casks for 3 years |
| Strength | 43% abv. |
| Price | R1780 |
The opening toast to Uisge Beatha, the “Water of Life”.
DETAILS
THE COLOUR ………………………Brassy copper
THE NOSE ……………………………Malt, citrus/orange peel, marzipan, tinned pineapple; sweetens with time in the glass.
THE TASTE ………………………….White pepper dominates the start, departing fast; marzipan, vanilla, marshmallows and caramel flood outwards in layers; light whiffs of wood smoke; pineapple, grapefruit and milk chocolate make up the mix.
THE FINISH ………………………..Lingers, stays full, finally sweetens.
With some water………………………The maltiness is pushed forward on the nose with less sweetness; much reduced pepper which lingers at side of tongue; long malted finish with spiced black pepper and salt.
THE SCORE ……………………….……The Gents: 88 (All 87.5), with a range 84-94.
The Tasting #2
| The Whisky | Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke |
| Supplied | Stock new distillery |
| Region | Lowland |
| Age & Distillation | NAS |
| Special Notes | Novel presentation, 700ml straight bottle, thick base, high shoulder, large opening and cork. ‘Scientific distillation’ at 022 PPPM, 019 SPPM (sugar ppm); micromanagement of maturation. |
| Strength | 48.9% abv. |
| Price | Source TH new distillery hunt £60 (@25:1, R1,500). |
The toast to “The Clark and the Jackson”.
DETAILS
THE COLOUR ………………………….Light straw.
THE NOSE ………………………………Dettol, gun cleaning solvent explode from the glass, malt follows with rising dough and the reek of ashes; the medicinals dissipate quickly from the glass (this is one to open ahead of time).
THE TASTE …………………………….Starts strong on alcohol with a dominating smoky layer; there is a sweet layer struggling under full malt, some hazelnut and cinnamon or nutmeg.
THE FINISH ………………………….Allspice and nuttiness with honey and raspberry; then salted liquorice followed by a dry end.
With some water………………………No medicinals, smoother, less pepper; sweetness is raised and stays medium length just on the sweet side of neutral.
THE SCORE ……….The Gents: 66.5, (All same score) with a range 60 – 78.
The Evening: the meeting closed at 21:56 with the Close and thanks for wonderful burgers, chip and pud.
| Scoring | |
| Nothing short of diabolical | 0 – 50 |
| Nasty, well worth avoiding | 51 – 64 |
| Very unimpressive indeed | 65 – 69 |
| Usually drinkable, but don’t expect the earth to move | 70 – 74 |
| Average, usually pleasant, sometimes flawed | 75 – 79 |
| Good, worth trying | 80 – 84 |
| Very good to excellent | 85 – 89 |
| Brilliant | 90 – 94 |
| Superstar, gives a reason to live | 95 – 97 |
| Nirvana | 98 – 100 |