The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Tastings @ No. 1 Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow
It is early evening on Thursday 17th November 2011 and at the special invite from Helen Stewart, U.K. Brand Manager if the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) The Whisky Boys are heading of to the west end of Glasgow for a tasting at One Devonshire Gardens, one of Glasgow’s most prestigious hotels and restaurants.
We were met by Helen and shown through to our tasting room for the evening. There were to be only eight of us tasting 5 of SMWS newest outturn, and some of the guests were Robin Laing (The Whisky Bard www.robinlaing.com) and Bill Mackintosh (Director of the Glasgow Whisky Festival).
The tastings were jointly hosted by Helen Stewart and Robin Laing and the drams we all enjoyed tonight were:
Forbidden sweetness and stolen kisses – Glenmorangie 14 Year Old, 55.3% Alc/vol 70cl. One of only 64 Bottlers. First-fill designer hogshead.
A delightfully dram with sweet perfumed fruits, some pipe tobacco and a wee pepper nippiness.
26.77 Church Pews and Hymn Books – Clynelish 27 Year Old, 55.1 Alc/vol 70cl. One of 204 bottles. Second fill ex-bourbon hogshead.
This well aged dram was salty and waxy some soft fruit and a little bit of heather, a little chilli and pepper leaves you palate and tongue tingling, a delight.
4.157 Buttercup Meadows and Heather Moor Burn – Highland Park 15 Year Old,54.6% Alc/vol 70cl. One of 277 Bottles, Second-fill ex-bourbon hogshead.
It has loads of wood and a little drying smoke, honey is in there and it is quite juicy on the palate.
123.6 Rhubarb and Custard – Glengoyne 10 Year Old, 59.95 Alc/vol 70cl. One of 728 Bottles, Refill Port Pipe.
Creamy and sugary with some soft berries, burnt fruitcake overall a sweet dram.
33.115 “Man, that’s braw!” Ardbeg 11 Year Old,55.4% Alc/vol 70cl. One of 578 Bottles. Refill ex-sherry butt.
Now this is Jim’s favourite of the evening and Bill Mackintosh also gave this top marks, we loved the smokiness, the seaweed and the shellfish with some leather coming in, a grand dram to finish on.
Once again we were not disappointed by the selection of SMWS single cask drams, so we have to give a BIG THANKS to Helen Stewart for her kind invite and the wonderful Robin Laing for being a great joint host and for his humour and songs, thanks Robin.
Helen had also arranged a small supper during our tastings and it was a fabulous venison dish. On a little lighter note, Robin had invited a couple of friends to join us at the end of the tastings on one of his friends is Gunter Sommer the owner of the smallest Whisky bar in the world which is in Switzerland near the Italian border, check this Guinness Book World Record.
If you require more information on the SMWS or indeed want to become a member and receive a barrel load of goodies then contact Helen at helen.stewart@smws.com or www.smws.com
can you please tell me where i can get wallace malt whiskey i sampled it about ten years ago and am hooked thats the only way i can discribe it it is the finest whiskey in the world in my eyes (nothing compares to it )sounds like a song ha ha
i have looked up on the internet and was in Edinburgh for new year only to be told it is -no more – why ,can we start a campain to bring it back as there are so many people out there who love this beatiful drink i have found this out on the internet .
can you help