Ardbeg Uigedail

Over the holidays we decided to get a treadmill in the house. We got a boxing day deal on a decent one with the aim of "deageing". The other day  I was running on the treadmill and during the cool down I was checking out Phish's 2014 Halloween show. I clicked on one of the songs, Your Pet Cat and was immediately blown away by the funk. So much so that I decided to keep the treadmill going, even though my workout was complete. I had to find out more.

Phish have a tradition of playing another bands album in its entirety on Halloween. This is called the "musical costume". In 2013 they did something a little different. They played their own (yet to be released) album. This past performance (2014) was different still. They composed their own instrumental music set to "Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House", a Disneyland album of sound effects and narration from the 60's. Not only do they play fantastic music but the stage set is out of this world. The whole stage is set up like a cemetery complete with dancing zombies and a haunted house as the centre piece. The band plays the set from inside the haunted house, which eventually has its roof blown off and then they are playing on top. There was so much creativity involved in this show that I had to do more than just hear the music. I got a hold of a video of the performance and tonight's whisky will be paired with not only a soundtrack but a video as well.

To stand up to the multiple stimuli I decided on the Ardbeg Uigeadail. This whisky is one of my all time favourites and I know that it has the complexity and strength to stand up to the show. It is also named after a nearby "mysterious" loch. Strong and mysterious, I think that's quite apt.

Nose: After pouring the dram I can smell the smoke before even picking up the glass. As I raise it to my nose I get notes of raisins and wine. There is pine or cedar in there, as well as a good dose of coal tar and leather.

Palate: Smoke is blended with the spiciness of a chili pepper. Notes of chocolate and red wine dance with cedar.

Finish. The finish is smooth and long. The cedar remains and there is a buzz of clove that kicks in and hangs on.

A really beautiful whisky. I can't help but love it.The whisky also works very well with the show. Although I am certain that the smokiness that lingers constantly on the palate is different from the smokiness at the show it is still very appropriate.

Speyburn Bradan Orach

Tonights' pairing features a whisky I have never heard of and a band I haven't heard (at least not live) in a long time. They do however have the simplest of connection. They are named after sea life. - I was going to say seafood but then realised that not everyone likes to eat fish.

The whisky is from the Speyburn distillery. It is the Bradan Orach expression. Bradan Orach is the Gaelic word for the Golden Salmon. The golden salmon is apparently a delicious species of salmon. I find it hard to believe that it would be better than Chinook, if it is then I am missing out.  This is a No Age Statement (NAS) single malt whisky aged in bourbon casks. I did a little research on this and found out that Speyburn is apparently the most photographed distillery in Scotland. It is apparently a very picturesque distillery in a beautiful location. I also read many reviews that ran the gamut from awesome to use it to clean your sinks. I did note a consistently large number of reviewers that said that this whisky is good value.

The music tonight (if you haven't guessed yet) is Phish. A friend of mine recently sent me a set list from the current tour. It was an impressive set list and I was reminded that I have not listened to any of Phishs' new stuff yet. I was not able to find a recording of that show so I decided to play yesterdays (14.07.25) show from the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, North Carolina. Not only is it the latest I could have hoped to hear it also started off with a Mike's Song> Back on the Train> Weekapaug Groove. Believe me, if you know what I am talking about then you are impressed.

Now that we are well into the Weekapaug jam lets begin the tasting.

Nose: The typical bread and sweet citrus notes of a younger whisky speak first. This youthfulness is almost contradicted by a dustiness. I am also able to smell notes of grape and a bit of bourbon.

Taste: Wood and vanilla are loudest on the palate. I also detected hints of cocoa and coffee. On the fade their is a taste that reminds me of a gin and tonic with a twist of lime. This last part is subtle and is probably an indication of the youth of this whisky.

Finish. The finish is very smooth. All that seems to be left is a dry woody edge and this sticks around for a long time.

Overall I must say I'm not sure what some of the nay sayers are talking about. Is this a great whisky? absolutely not. but for the reported price it isn't bad either. If you're dropping 30 dollars on a bottle of single malt and expecting to taste a master piece like an HP 18 or something then you need to give your head a shake. This whisky is great value for that price range and if more complexity is desired than the purse strings will need to be loosened a bit more.

As for the pairing this show is quite enjoyable. In my opinion it hit a rough patch at Wing Suit but has been solid other wise. It has worked well with the dram as well because the complexity of the music and the ease of drinking of the whisky don't overshadow each other. One thing I am starting to understand is more complex whiskies seem to benefit from slower softer music such as some jazz, blues and classical; whereas louder or more complex music seems to work better with the simpler whisky.

Progress being made on this experiment? I think so.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company Blended Malt Batch 1

          I recently saw a t-shirt that read "Spooning leads to Forking". Yes, that is sometimes (usually) the plan. So, when I think of spooning I am usually thinking of something pleasant (not the prison version); and I would like to think that most other people do too. So I was quite surprised to learn a new whisky term today: Spooning. This is a practice that some distillers engage in to protect their brand. If a barrel doesn't meet their standards then they may add a spoon of some other whisky to ensure that that barrel is no longer a single malt. The reason for this is that they can still earn revenue from that cask by selling it to some Independent Bottler (IB) for blending. The distillery makes some money on the whisky they didn't like and their name will never be attached to it. This sample is an example of a spooned whisky. I have heard rumour that it is from Balvenie. I can't vouch for that, but an interesting rumour all the same. 

     That Boutique-y Whisky Company (TBWC) is the IB in this case. It is called a Blended malt, so if the rumour is true that this is from the Balvenie then they must have spooned it with another single malt. I have not heard anything on what that might be. 

     TBWC is known for their colourful cartoon labels. This particular label depicts a crowd of people praying to a large spoon . This image reminded me of many summer Phish shows and so I decided to play a summer show that I attended: Deer Creek 7.11.2000. This is the "Moby Dick" show. It is so called because during the second set they played Led Zeppelins "Moby Dick" multiple times. I don't remember much except that it was very hot in Indiana, and that I had a great time. 

As Phish busts out a nostalgia inducing Runaway Jim I will get down with this sample.

Nose: Initially I detected a pine scent. On a second sniff I received notes of orange, caramel and ginger candies.

Palate: After an initial maltiness, notes of BBQ duck, coffee and tootsie roll came to mind. An interesting contrast between the savoury and the sweet. 

Finish: I detected notes of grain that faded to mint and a slight saltiness.

     Overall I enjoyed this whisky. There was a bit of a bite to it but then I realised that this must have been a spooned cask strength whisky as it is 54%. I love the interesting notes on the palate. After this tasting I am fairly confident that the rumour is true.  

Yamazaki 12 Year Old

Well I am back at it again after a brief vacation. An interesting vacation to say the least. I was on a cruise with the family, and wouldn't you know it the ship suffered a Norovirus outbreak. We missed two of four ports and the ship returned two days early. At first this sounds like bad luck but my family and I are able to see the silver lining in things. The illness made the trip more of an adventure. I found myself thinking of Zombie and other disaster movies. I was always keeping stock of my surroundings and calculating escape routes and safe hiding spots. The non stop gourmet food didn't hurt either and trying different whiskies at the bar every night was a definite highlight for me. We are already looking forward to our next cruise.

I am also excited to be getting back to my blog. Day number three of the advent calendar presented me with a Yamazaki 12 year old. This will be only the second Japanese single malt I have ever sampled. My first was a Yamazaki 18 year old, which if I recall correctly I found to be a bit flat. It was good but not spectacular. For musical accompaniment I have decided on Phish live in Japan.

This show from June 14, 2000 was recorded live at the Drum Logos club in Fukuoka, Japan and released as Live Phish Vol. 4. Since they are playing a small club instead of a large arena there are differences in the feel of the show. For example a person can be heard calling out for the band to play "Gumbo". The band acknowledges the request and then busts out a stellar version. In any of the shows I have attended (in large venues) I have not seen any such granting of requests. I think that is the beauty of the small venue. The interaction between audience and performer is heightened by the more intimate surroundings. Even the bands jamming seems a bit more intimate. It's almost as though they are just playing for some friends at home, unconcerned and willing to take additional risks. 

It is now time to say Kampai and enjoy this sample. 

Nose: Vanilla strikes first this is further sweetened by clove honey. There is also a tropical fruit and citrus character, perhaps banana or papaya with a squeeze of lime. There may also be something floral about the nose.

Palate: The initial mouth feel is soft and then a spicy tingle develops. The initial notes are of soft wood. The spice profile I would have to describe as gingery. There is a berry flavour that jumps in quickly and neatly segues into the finish.

Finish: This is a long finish. The berry taste at the end of the palate neatly brings about peppery ginger notes. The berry sweetness hangs on as a shadow. The feel is a bit off. 

Over all a pleasant dram. Though there is something about the finish that doesn't quite work for me. The flavours work well, I just detect something in the mouth feel near the very end that is almost gritty. As with the cruise it may seem like I have had bad luck with Japanese whiskies. I however strongly agree with the quote of American Author William Faulkner "There is no such thing as bad whiskey. Some whiskeys just happen to be better than others." 

and on that note Arigato and a good night to all.

     

    

 

Master Of Malts - Islay Single Malt

After another long hiatus brought on by the consuming pace of the Christmas holidays, it is time to get back to tastings. YAY.

This year Liza (my wife) gave me a whisky advent calender. It is a very wonderful and thoughtful gift. It shows that my wife is cool with my hobby. This level of support feels great and is priceless. I am also very happy that I received it on Christmas rather than before. This gives me an opportunity to taste at my leisure.

For my listening pleasure I will continue with the theme of awesome gifts given to me by Liza. For Christmas 2010 she got me tickets to see Phish at Madison Square Gardens in New York City on New Years day. This was the first time I had seen the band in 10 years. Not only was it an incredible gift, it was also a solid show that reminded me of how tight these musicians are. 01.01.11, a great show that deserves a listen.

The first whisky in the calendar is the Master of Malts - Islay single malt. It is a mystery whisky, though the description on the Master of Malts web site says: that it has a "decidedly South Coast style..." This would imply that it is either a Laphroaig, Lagavulin or Ardbeg. It could also be a Port Ellen but that distillery is closed which would mean that this is a very rare, highly sought after dram. My bet is Laphroaig, and I will compare the quarter cask in order to try and figure it out. The reality is that I likely won't be able to prove one way or the other, but who cares, this is fun.

Now lets get tasting.

Nose: heavy peat, sea salt, white pepper and pleasant honey.

Palate: very smoky and drying. there is also pine, menthol, and a touch of ginger and cinnamon.

Finish: coal is left with a slight citrus tang.

This is a decent enough whisky but it strikes me as watered down. Is it Laphroaig I can't be sure but I believe so. Let's compare the Laphroaig Quarter Cask to see if that gives any clues.

Nose: sweetness hits right away. Christmas cake, pipe tobacco, mint. Very complex.

Palate: rich raisins at first. this is followed by smoke and leather.

Finish: the smoke remains powerfully present but is made thick and almost chewy by a sweet vanilla.

These are not the same whisky. The Quarter cask is infinitely richer, particularly in the mouth feel, while the mystery malt seemed thin and almost watery. As I said earlier I am unable to tell if what I have tasted is a Laphroaig. I still believe it is (albeit a watered down version) and in the interest of always being right I am sticking with that as my final answer. If I'm wrong go ahead and tell me... I might listen.

I will leave off hoping that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year.

Sortilege - Canadian Maple Whisky Liqueur

Bienvenue and welcome to another evening of music and whisky. Today's post features Sortilege, a Canadian whisky liqueur flavoured with maple syrup. For musical accompaniment I felt a sweet Canadian performance by Phish was in order.

I don't know much about Sortilege. Most people I have spoken with said that it is delicious and have recommended it highly. I would say that you couldn't get any more Canadian. The whisky is already Canadian and then Maple Syrup is added. All I need now is some slices of bacon to pour it on. Actually that sounds really good. I will keep that in mind.

Since Sortilege is a product of Montreal I felt the show should also be from there. So I chose the July 7, 1994 show from the Theatre St. Denis. 1994 is one of the finest years in Phish archives (in my opinion). The band is still experimenting loads and taking lots of chances. Through the high risk musical acrobatics many unique and impressive moments occur. The band really is having fun and this translates into the audio. A fantastic show that really makes me wish that I had heard of these guys before 1998.

So lets get to the Whisky.

Nose: Imagine that, maple syrup. Not some cheap processed crap but the real deal. I also smell the tell tale spiciness of rye. It's nice to be able to smell the whisky and not just be overwhelmed by the sweetness.

Palate; Wow. Pure maple syrup. Again the good stuff. I am then treated to the pleasant warmth of the whisky. This is really hard to hang on to and fades quickly. I was pleased to note that the mouth feel was thinner than expected. I for some reason pictured this being very heavy.

On a second sip I am reminded of sacramental wine.

Finish: The warmth fades out and you are left with the syrup.

I would say that I enjoy this product but I find it a bit one noted. I also for some reason thought that it would be whisky with a touch of syrup. Instead I got syrup with a touch of whisky. I will certainly be using this stuff for gastronomical explorations such as on ice cream or as previously discussed on my bacon (Yay whisky for breakfast). It could even be an after diner sipper in place of dessert.

As for the show... c'est manifique.

Merci beaucoup et bon soir tout le monde.   

Drambuie 15 Years Old

                                                                                                              

This past weekend I spoke with my long time friend Steve. Even though it has been a while since we last spoke we had a great talk. During this call I was told about this incredible new music app.: Phish On Demand. I credit Steve for introducing me to Phish and now for this. I am excited to say that a lot more whisky will be shared with the music of Phish. The show that was recommended to me for this post was: the F.U.C.K.Y.O.U.R F.A.C.E show from 2012.08.31. It is so called as each song played begins with the letters that spell out that phrase? or title. The band then finishes the show with the song "Fuck your face" which originally appeared on their "White Album". This show not only highlights the musical genius of the band but also the fun they exhibit at each show. No two live performances are ever the same, and so one can never be sure of what is going to happen. This show also gives a fine example of the way in which the band involves their audience. At one point the audience is heard chanting "We love Dicks" in response to Trey expressing the same (the venue was the Dick's Sporting Goods Park).

For this show I am going to taste the Drambuie 15 Year Old. This is also based on a suggestion by Steve. Actually, what was recommended was Sortilege, a Canadian whisky liqueur flavoured with maple syrup. I was unfortunately unable to acquire a bottle of the Sortilege. My local store ran out and wont have anymore for at least a few weeks. Not wanting to delay this post I substituted the Scottish top shelf equivalent. I am three songs into this show (greatest Carini I have had the pleasure of hearing) and am so glad I didn't hold off... So let's get to the tasting.

Nose: Right away the senses are hit with notes of herbs (tarragon and maybe some mint), spice (cinnamon and a hint of cloves) and honey. I am then treated to pear.

Palate: honey on the front followed by a lovely pepperiness. These notes pass and the whiskies can be detected. There is also a liquorice tone that adds to this mix.

Finish: The finish is long and smooth. The herbs seem to hang on with the honey guiding them all the way.

It has been a while since I have enjoyed the original Drambuie, yet I believe that I can with a fair degree of certainty say that this was far more enjoyable. This liqueur is very thick and sweet like the original yet it is also very clear that it is a whisky liqueur. By this I mean that the whisky can actually be tasted and enjoyed. Drambuie is a must have for every whisky enthusiasts cabinet... you never know when you'll feel like a rusty nail or something a little different. The 15 year old is probably the better choice for enjoying on its own.

Well thank you Steve for the music. I will pick up a bottle of Sortilege when I can, and look forward to that tasting as well.    

 Thank you and good night.