Our June meeting went off with a bang. As ever it was at the Ram Inn in Woodchester. The evening was a catch up of bottles opened over the past 6 months. On the night there were 15 bottles split into batches of 3. Each member got to choose a dram from each group.
Round 1 - The first the bottles were ...
These are all entry level bottlings which each offer something different. The Tobermory is from the Isle of Mull, it shows it's Island credentials is a strong salty malt. The Triple distilled Bushmills (N. Ireland) is smooth and sweet. A great choice for a light hearted but delicious every day drink. The Glenrothes is an independent bottling from the Macphail Collection. A very light taste with some sweetness and floral notes.
- Tobermory 10
- Bushmills 10
- Glenrothes 8
These are all entry level bottlings which each offer something different. The Tobermory is from the Isle of Mull, it shows it's Island credentials is a strong salty malt. The Triple distilled Bushmills (N. Ireland) is smooth and sweet. A great choice for a light hearted but delicious every day drink. The Glenrothes is an independent bottling from the Macphail Collection. A very light taste with some sweetness and floral notes.
Round 2
The Green spot is an Irish Pot Still triple distilled beauty. The Highland Park is from the Orkney's and oozes class for an entry level 12 yr malt. It offers light smoke and complex flavours in a light and easy style. The Macallan Speymalt is another "Indy" bottling and a good example of a classic Speyside.
- Green Spot
- Spey Malt
- Highland Park 12
The Green spot is an Irish Pot Still triple distilled beauty. The Highland Park is from the Orkney's and oozes class for an entry level 12 yr malt. It offers light smoke and complex flavours in a light and easy style. The Macallan Speymalt is another "Indy" bottling and a good example of a classic Speyside.
Round 3
This is where the choices really started to get harder. The Glen Marnoch is an 18 yr old Highland malt. Smooth, not overly complex but good oak tones and some darker fruits. The Dalmore 12 is a great example of Sherried malt, very rich and fruity and extremely drinkable. The Penderyn Madeira (Wales) is a good example of a fresh, fruity malt bottled at 46% and a high quality drop.
- Glen Marnoch 18
- Dalmore 12
- Penderyn Madeira
This is where the choices really started to get harder. The Glen Marnoch is an 18 yr old Highland malt. Smooth, not overly complex but good oak tones and some darker fruits. The Dalmore 12 is a great example of Sherried malt, very rich and fruity and extremely drinkable. The Penderyn Madeira (Wales) is a good example of a fresh, fruity malt bottled at 46% and a high quality drop.
Round 4
Stepping up another notch the Kavalan (Taiwan) brings a special single malt stored in port casks. Full of flavour and and packing a punch (in a funky bottle). The Chapter 6 (England) is a storming non peated young Whisky that belies its years. It stands shoulder to shoulder with many bottles much older. First class. The Tomatin is a solid 18 yr old which is highly rated and with good reason. This is class in a glass.
- Kavalan Concertmaster
- English Whisky Chapter 6
- Tomatin 18
Stepping up another notch the Kavalan (Taiwan) brings a special single malt stored in port casks. Full of flavour and and packing a punch (in a funky bottle). The Chapter 6 (England) is a storming non peated young Whisky that belies its years. It stands shoulder to shoulder with many bottles much older. First class. The Tomatin is a solid 18 yr old which is highly rated and with good reason. This is class in a glass.
Round 5
The last round of the night finished strongly. Having to choose which of these 3 is no ready task. The BenRiach is an awesome Speyside with no colour added it is dark and fruity. The Mortlach is a signatory bottling and clean, light fruits and a quality dram. The Tomintoul is the oldest on the night. Smooth, creamy, light sweet juicy fruit with a touch of oak.
- Ben Riach 15 Yr Sherry Wood
- Mortlach 18 yr
- Tomintoul 21
The last round of the night finished strongly. Having to choose which of these 3 is no ready task. The BenRiach is an awesome Speyside with no colour added it is dark and fruity. The Mortlach is a signatory bottling and clean, light fruits and a quality dram. The Tomintoul is the oldest on the night. Smooth, creamy, light sweet juicy fruit with a touch of oak.
...and the winner is...
Taking into account the opinions of the group we had a vote and the highest scoring bottle was.
Ben Riach 15 Sherry Wood.
At only £39 this was by no means the most expensive bottle but it scored top marks in every category.
Taking into account the opinions of the group we had a vote and the highest scoring bottle was.
Ben Riach 15 Sherry Wood.
At only £39 this was by no means the most expensive bottle but it scored top marks in every category.
SWC Blog – 10 June 2014 - Notes by Sean M.
This month 10 of us graced the tasting room at The Ram and took the opportunity to refresh our memories with a choice of 15 different whiskies introduced by SWC over the previous six months. To ensure that we maintained a certain level of dignity (and verticality) the bottles were arranged into five groupings and each person sampled any one from each group.
Groupings were:
MacPhail Collection Glenrothes 8YO
Tobermory 10YO
* Bushmills 10YO
Green Spot NAS
* Highland Park 12YO
Speymalt (Macallan) NAS
Glen Marnoch (Aldi) 18YO
* Penderyn Madeira NAS
Dalmore 12YO
Kavalan Concertmaster NAS
St Georges Chapter 6 NAS
* Tomatin 18YO
Tomintoul 21YO
Signatory Mortlach 18YO
* Ben Riach Sherry Cask 15YO
The * shows which whisky was most chosen out of each group.
A very fine selection indeed – I can’t think of any ‘drinking holes’ in the area with a better stock! At the end of the evening each of us gave our order of preference for the whiskies we tasted and by some obscure formula known only to founders of Stroud Whisky Club it was determined that the 5 most enjoyed whiskies of the evening were (in order):
This month 10 of us graced the tasting room at The Ram and took the opportunity to refresh our memories with a choice of 15 different whiskies introduced by SWC over the previous six months. To ensure that we maintained a certain level of dignity (and verticality) the bottles were arranged into five groupings and each person sampled any one from each group.
Groupings were:
MacPhail Collection Glenrothes 8YO
Tobermory 10YO
* Bushmills 10YO
Green Spot NAS
* Highland Park 12YO
Speymalt (Macallan) NAS
Glen Marnoch (Aldi) 18YO
* Penderyn Madeira NAS
Dalmore 12YO
Kavalan Concertmaster NAS
St Georges Chapter 6 NAS
* Tomatin 18YO
Tomintoul 21YO
Signatory Mortlach 18YO
* Ben Riach Sherry Cask 15YO
The * shows which whisky was most chosen out of each group.
A very fine selection indeed – I can’t think of any ‘drinking holes’ in the area with a better stock! At the end of the evening each of us gave our order of preference for the whiskies we tasted and by some obscure formula known only to founders of Stroud Whisky Club it was determined that the 5 most enjoyed whiskies of the evening were (in order):
- Ben Riach 15YO
- Tomintoul 21YO
- Tomatin 18YO
- St Georges NAS
- Mortlach 18YO
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