Covid restrictions stopped us having our usual monthly get togethers, so to keep our spirits high (pun intended), we arranged a steady stream of online tastings. These have been very enjoyable events, with three distilleries and one independent bottler providing samples for online tastings. Since April we have enjoyed whisky tastings with:
Kilchoman (Islay)
Bimber Distillery (East London)
Mackmyra (Sweden) X2
Lady of the Glen (Dunfermline based independent bottlers - https://www.ladyoftheglen.com/)
The Bimber distillery even included new make spirit, new make peated spirit, raw barley, malted barley, yeast a piece of charred stave and a lump of peat in their sample set! Full marks to them for being original and comprehensive.
Mackmyra kindly gave us two tastings, first their standard range and then a few weeks later, a selection from their seasonal range.
Quite a mix of different types of whiskies, but all the whiskies were excellent and some exclusive ones included in the mix as well - a thoroughly entertaining way to while away an hour or two during lonely lockdown evenings.
In July, when pubs could welcome guests again, we managed to have a socially distanced tasting at our home base, The Black Horse in Amberley, and sampled three independently bottled peated Loch Lomond whiskies - and then unexpected appearances from Port Charlotte OLC:01 & Fettercairn chocolate malt 16YO.
Going forward we are planning to have our social get togethers (suitably distanced of course) at The Black Horse and, to include those that cannot attend - self-isolating, too far to travel etc we will provide an online video link to the tasting so non-attendees can join in from home.
Any questions get in touch with us through the contact page of our website.
So please take care, stay safe and remember drinking whisky is far safer than drinking disinfectant. Probably more effective as well.