Comments for Scotch Hobbyist's Blog http://scotchhobbyist.com Talking about all whiskies, but mostly single malt scotch. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:13:01 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Bruichladdich 3D3 – A gentle [peat] giant by gal http://scotchhobbyist.com/2009/08/17/bruichladdich-3d3/#comment-1221 gal Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:13:01 +0000 http://scotchhobbyist.com/?p=1132#comment-1221 Jeff, hope your'e ok. haven't heard from you in a while... i've just managed to complete my 3D3 review. so here are my 2 cents about that, and about Peat! http://bit.ly/Laddie_3D3 Jeff,

hope your’e ok. haven’t heard from you in a while…

i’ve just managed to complete my 3D3 review.

so here are my 2 cents about that, and about Peat!

http://bit.ly/Laddie_3D3

]]> Comment on About me v3.0 by Zoah Ingersoll http://scotchhobbyist.com/about/#comment-1217 Zoah Ingersoll Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:54:20 +0000 #comment-1217 I'm not a scotch lover, but I found a bottle of Glen Grant Glenlivet burried in the back of my greataunt's liquor cabinet and would like to know more about it. The pater lable reads: I’m not a scotch lover, but I found a bottle of Glen Grant Glenlivet burried in the back of my greataunt’s liquor cabinet and would like to know more about it. The pater lable reads:

]]> Comment on A whisky gift guide (2009) by Kenneth Blankenship http://scotchhobbyist.com/2009/12/06/a-whisky-gift-guide-2009/#comment-1214 Kenneth Blankenship Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:13:29 +0000 http://scotchhobbyist.com/?p=1519#comment-1214 We invite you to visit our new website at http://www.scotchwhiskyglass.com where one can find a wide variety of distillery etched Glencairn glasses and copitas, as well as Iona Jugs and Monogrammed Glencairn Glasses. We invite you to visit our new website at http://www.scotchwhiskyglass.com where one can find a wide variety of distillery etched Glencairn glasses and copitas, as well as Iona Jugs and Monogrammed Glencairn Glasses.

]]> Comment on Nightly dram – Talisker 18 by James "Tour de Scotch" Saxon http://scotchhobbyist.com/2009/04/26/nightly-dram-talisker-18/#comment-1212 James "Tour de Scotch" Saxon Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:46:24 +0000 http://scotchhobbyist.wordpress.com/?p=85#comment-1212 I was always going to comment on this post at some stage, but I wanted to wait until I'd sampled the 18yo again before doing so. I gave it a thorough evaluation yesterday and my opinions concerning it in relation to the 10, conceived when I tasted them for the first time in the summer of last year, were rendered nul and void. Until my most recent tasting I had rated the 10 fractionally above the 18, for I felt it matched the elder in terms of 'terroir' reproduction and kept a fresh volcanic quality which I felt the 18 sacrificed in favour of a more refined maturity. Assessing them both side-by-side, though, the 18 is at least one street ahead and I would agree with other readers that in comparison the 10 is one dimensional - but only when set against this king of malts! (I still rate it as a superb, invigorating dram.) What does 'complex' really mean in repsect to something like the 18, though? It cannot hope to communicate the balance and engrossing character of the nose, the satisfaction derived from the palate and the more-ishness of the finish. It's inspirational, is what it is. I too bought the 3x200ml pack - so my stock is coming to an end! Tragic! I was always going to comment on this post at some stage, but I wanted to wait until I’d sampled the 18yo again before doing so.
I gave it a thorough evaluation yesterday and my opinions concerning it in relation to the 10, conceived when I tasted them for the first time in the summer of last year, were rendered nul and void. Until my most recent tasting I had rated the 10 fractionally above the 18, for I felt it matched the elder in terms of ‘terroir’ reproduction and kept a fresh volcanic quality which I felt the 18 sacrificed in favour of a more refined maturity. Assessing them both side-by-side, though, the 18 is at least one street ahead and I would agree with other readers that in comparison the 10 is one dimensional – but only when set against this king of malts! (I still rate it as a superb, invigorating dram.)
What does ‘complex’ really mean in repsect to something like the 18, though? It cannot hope to communicate the balance and engrossing character of the nose, the satisfaction derived from the palate and the more-ishness of the finish. It’s inspirational, is what it is. I too bought the 3×200ml pack – so my stock is coming to an end! Tragic!

]]> Comment on SMOS Caol Ila 1991 18 Year – Smokin’ by Best in Blog #73: Laphroaig Plays Up Maker’s Mark Relationships and 14 New Tasting Notes | Whisky Party http://scotchhobbyist.com/2010/03/04/smos-caol-ila-1991-18-year-smokin/#comment-1210 Best in Blog #73: Laphroaig Plays Up Maker’s Mark Relationships and 14 New Tasting Notes | Whisky Party Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:41:58 +0000 http://scotchhobbyist.com/?p=1807#comment-1210 [...] Hobbyist gives the Caol Ila 18 from Single Malts of Scotland a [...] [...] Hobbyist gives the Caol Ila 18 from Single Malts of Scotland a [...]

]]> Comment on SMOS Caol Ila 1991 18 Year – Smokin’ by Joshua Hatton (@yossiyitzak) http://scotchhobbyist.com/2010/03/04/smos-caol-ila-1991-18-year-smokin/#comment-1206 Joshua Hatton (@yossiyitzak) Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:14:55 +0000 http://scotchhobbyist.com/?p=1807#comment-1206 Killer, in depth review. Thanks so much Jeff! The only Caol Ila I've ever had is the 2009 unpeated (bought because of your suggestion/review). I now see that I have to branch out and try their peated malts - this and the 12. Cheers! And, thanks again for such a great review. Very enjoyable read. Killer, in depth review. Thanks so much Jeff! The only Caol Ila I’ve ever had is the 2009 unpeated (bought because of your suggestion/review). I now see that I have to branch out and try their peated malts – this and the 12. Cheers! And, thanks again for such a great review. Very enjoyable read.

]]> Comment on SMOS Caol Ila 1991 18 Year – Smokin’ by James "Tour de Scotch" Saxon http://scotchhobbyist.com/2010/03/04/smos-caol-ila-1991-18-year-smokin/#comment-1203 James "Tour de Scotch" Saxon Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:38:34 +0000 http://scotchhobbyist.com/?p=1807#comment-1203 Caol Ila all the way, for me. I, too, would rate the 12yo above most others, but I still set the 18yo aside on its little throne as my present favourite (it has been there since September 2008). For the OB 18yo, the nose is a constantly-evolving delight and works well with or without water. What I especially adore, however, is a firm, charred cask note that I get very early on in the finish. I rate whiskies highly when I can taste their ingredients and especially their 'terroir', thus making the 18yo quite a malt indeed. I think I must embark on an exploration of independent bottlings. The only inhibitor is price: so few, besides the G&M expressions, are available in 5cl form. D'oh! Caol Ila all the way, for me. I, too, would rate the 12yo above most others, but I still set the 18yo aside on its little throne as my present favourite (it has been there since September 2008).
For the OB 18yo, the nose is a constantly-evolving delight and works well with or without water. What I especially adore, however, is a firm, charred cask note that I get very early on in the finish. I rate whiskies highly when I can taste their ingredients and especially their ‘terroir’, thus making the 18yo quite a malt indeed.
I think I must embark on an exploration of independent bottlings. The only inhibitor is price: so few, besides the G&M expressions, are available in 5cl form. D’oh!

]]> Comment on SMOS Caol Ila 1991 18 Year – Smokin’ by gal http://scotchhobbyist.com/2010/03/04/smos-caol-ila-1991-18-year-smokin/#comment-1201 gal Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:33:55 +0000 http://scotchhobbyist.com/?p=1807#comment-1201 Crakcing review Jeff. i also seem to really like the CI 12 OB, haven't really tasted the 18 year. so i think as a follower of the peat society ;) i will also like this one. too bad TWE dont ship here. Kfir my friend has just visited the TWE and bought a bottle of the PA 17, so next week, i hopefully will be able to taste it and see how my notes match to yours. you are turning into quite hte peathead also, aren't you? Keep it up. great posts. Crakcing review Jeff.
i also seem to really like the CI 12 OB, haven’t really tasted the 18 year. so i think as a follower of the peat society ;) i will also like this one. too bad TWE dont ship here.

Kfir my friend has just visited the TWE and bought a bottle of the PA 17, so next week, i hopefully will be able to taste it and see how my notes match to yours.

you are turning into quite hte peathead also, aren’t you?

Keep it up. great posts.

]]> Comment on Kilchomano-a-Kilchomano: Autumn 2009 vs Inaugural release by Scotch Hobbyist http://scotchhobbyist.com/2010/02/25/kilchoman-autumn-2009-release/#comment-1200 Scotch Hobbyist Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:01:40 +0000 http://scotchhobbyist.com/?p=1798#comment-1200 Yes, I'm a big fan of doing both stand-alone and comparison drinking sessoins when "evaluating" a whisky. Sometimes new things come out during the comparison, and sometimes it's the opposite. An example of the opposite was when I tried Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist in the middle of an Ardbeg flight. It seemed like a watered-down version of the 10 year. Later, I tried it on its own, and I thought ANB had wonderful, subtle complexity. Scotch Whisky Experience...cool! That's pretty much what got me going with this "hobby" on a visit to Edinburgh in Summer 2008. Cheers, Jeff Yes, I’m a big fan of doing both stand-alone and comparison drinking sessoins when “evaluating” a whisky. Sometimes new things come out during the comparison, and sometimes it’s the opposite.

An example of the opposite was when I tried Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist in the middle of an Ardbeg flight. It seemed like a watered-down version of the 10 year. Later, I tried it on its own, and I thought ANB had wonderful, subtle complexity.

Scotch Whisky Experience…cool! That’s pretty much what got me going with this “hobby” on a visit to Edinburgh in Summer 2008.

Cheers,
Jeff

]]> Comment on Kilchomano-a-Kilchomano: Autumn 2009 vs Inaugural release by James "Tour de Scotch" Saxon http://scotchhobbyist.com/2010/02/25/kilchoman-autumn-2009-release/#comment-1198 James "Tour de Scotch" Saxon Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:55:02 +0000 http://scotchhobbyist.com/?p=1798#comment-1198 Unfortunately it has been a mixture of poor timing and insufficient funds that have meant I have missed encountering any Kilchomen - and I live in the UK! I'm visiting in May, however, and will definitely be stashing a few miniatures into my panniers. This post together with an evening of tasting with a friend of mine this week has inspired me to do more direct comparisons. Having discovered his preference for peaty Islay malts, I got out my three Glencairn glasses and filled one with Caol Ila Distiller's Edition, one with Bowmore Legend and the last with Ardbeg Uigeadail so that he could make the comparison. He was particularly impressed with the Ardbeg, but I was stunned when I began nosing the glasses myself. Flavours and contrasts leapt out at me, and the malts appeared in an almost entirely different light beside one another to when I had tasted them in isolation. This, I now realise, is a very valuable exercise, and I'm pleased that my trips to the Scotch Whisky Experience have furnished me with plenty of free glasses! Unfortunately it has been a mixture of poor timing and insufficient funds that have meant I have missed encountering any Kilchomen – and I live in the UK! I’m visiting in May, however, and will definitely be stashing a few miniatures into my panniers.
This post together with an evening of tasting with a friend of mine this week has inspired me to do more direct comparisons. Having discovered his preference for peaty Islay malts, I got out my three Glencairn glasses and filled one with Caol Ila Distiller’s Edition, one with Bowmore Legend and the last with Ardbeg Uigeadail so that he could make the comparison. He was particularly impressed with the Ardbeg, but I was stunned when I began nosing the glasses myself. Flavours and contrasts leapt out at me, and the malts appeared in an almost entirely different light beside one another to when I had tasted them in isolation. This, I now realise, is a very valuable exercise, and I’m pleased that my trips to the Scotch Whisky Experience have furnished me with plenty of free glasses!

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