GlenAllachie 12 was an immediate improvement. Cleaner, fresher & more pronounced flavours. Perhaps the 46% ABV, non chill-filtered & natural colour presentation helps. A nice little bite at the end & longer lasting bourbony notes too.
This raised my hopes for the GlenAllachie 10 Cask Strength.
GlenAllachie 10 CS c/othewhiskeynut
Oh dear!
The nose was inviting – but not overpowering.
The palate was just – well – empty!
I struggled to get anything here before the 54.8% ABV kicked in giving an alcoholic rush to the proceedings.
Even though I was disappointed with the Cask Strength – sampling this trio solidified 3 truisms of mine.
1 – Speyside doesn’t suit my palate.
2 – Anything without e150 & chill filtering is automatically more agreeable.
3 – If Cask Strength is your only character – something else is missing.
I was supposed to be revising for an exam – but the Teeling Small Batch on the Aer Lingus flight only reacquainted myself with this lovely little blend & provided a taster for what was unknowingly to come.
In flight entertainment! c/othewhiskeynut
After checking into the city centre hotel – a quick read over the course book – it was out for a wander to visit the Whiskey Jar pub.
Whiskey a plenty! c/othewhiskeynut
The promise of 400+ whiskies to whet my appetite accompanied by a tasty pie for the late Sunday afternoon lunch sounded too good to miss.
On entering I was taken aback!
Gathered in the pub were a clutch of whiskey companies displaying their wares.
Woo Hoo!
A small cover charge – along with a tasting glass – had me at the first stall.
Now any company that puts out a bottle called Fighting Cock emblazoned with a fiery red rooster just calls out for a tasting!
At 51.5% this high rye bourbon packs a lively spicy punch on the nose.
It followed through with rich warming vanilla & caramel in a mouth filling flavour explosion.
My kinda bourbon.
The rep guided me onto the Rittenhouse Rye.
Straight Rye c/othewhiskeynut
A much more cultured well balanced offering than the beast that is Fighting Cock.
In the interests of exploration Mellow Corn also hit my palate.
Mellow in name but not on taste. c/othewhiskeynut
Normally corn wouldn’t be a favourite of mine – but the high ABV – 50% – along with a minimum 2 years in virgin oak casks had imbued this whiskey with some very attractive notes & flavours.
They’ve had a little brand update – new labels & new expressions – I do miss the old fishing boat motif however.
The Huddart NAS – with the peat influence coming from the barrels rather than the barley – was a pleasant little easy peaty sipper.
The 15 year old was well balanced – just lacked a little character – whereas the top of the range 18yo had gained some gorgeous drying woody tannins from the extra years in the cask & pulled me in.
Jameson were on show too.
I had a quick chat with the rep who informed me Whiskey Jar have a monthly whisky showcase which is usually well attended & seems to be growing. Check out the Whiskey Jar link for further events.
A Glenlivet trio. c/othewhiskeynut
Being familiar with the Jameson on show – I was guided to fellow Pernod Ricard brand Glenlivet for a vertical tasting of their core range.
All very grand – but nothing exciting.
Only the Captain’s Reserve had a bit more going on to entice me.
Cotswolds showcased their very enticingly fresh single malt.
Having already polished off a bottle I was just congratulating the rep when this was produced.
Cotswolds Cask Strength c/othewhiskeynut
A cask strength single malt matured in American Oak which previously contained red wine & has been shaved, toasted and charred too!
It works!
At 60.9% there is no burn on the nose.
It does fill the palate – but the rich flavours shine through in a fabulous frenzy of taste more like a 50% offering!
Dangerous stuff – yet oh so gorgeous.
Without doubt my prize pick of the evening!
For a last pour it was back to Heaven Hill and a shot of Elijah Craig Small Batch.
A cultured bourbon c/othewhiskeynut
Despite being a low rye bourbon this had an attractive spice from the years in virgin charred oak. The rounded complexity of the drinking experience surprised me.
Show over – most of the whisky fans departed.
I settled down to a hot pie washed down with my original intended choice for the evening – English Whisky.
Peated English Whisky? c/othewhiskeynut
Chapter 15’s a heavy peat hitter. I like it for that – but it’s rather one dimensional otherwise.
I got chatting to some other late departees so another pie – and another whiskey – were ordered.
Like Chapter 15’s peat – the rye dominated here – but with additional fruity notes too.
Very fresh & enjoyable.
Time to head home – or I should say the hotel bar?
I pondered over a glass of Hibiki Harmony – which sang to me a lot sweeter than on my first encounter – while shooting the breeze with a fellow late night imbiber.
Hibiki Harmony sang sweeter c/othewhiskeynut
A hot mug of tea eventually rounded off my supposedly Sunday afternoon few.
I did make the exam the next morning.
A hearty breakfast works wonders.
WSET Level 2 Spirits – with distinction if you were wondering.
I think the liquid training added to the pleasure!
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 