The Whisky Boys and 2017, A Grand Whisky Year
2017 was a grand year for us, Nicola and I got together to showcase some of our highlights of 2017.
Jim & Nicola’s 2017
My favourite press trip was in October when I was invited to Midleton Distillery for the Global launch of the new 2017 Midleton Very Rare Vintage Release. While there, not only did I taste some fabulous drams but also managed to meet some of my hero’s of the Whisky world one being the legendary Midleton Master Distiller Emeritus Barry Crockett.
I have also loved being one of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Ambassadors doing external members tasting throughout Scotland and hosting many tastings in the legendary Vaults in Leith. As an Ambassador it was great to man festival stands in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
As SMWS is going global to share some of the finest Whiskies in the world I was charged with taking VIP’s on trips to the Highlands and to Speyside for a couple of days visiting several distilleries and organising special tastings.
Favourite Whiskies we have tasted in 2017, our list is so long, but here are a few of our highlights,
SMWS Exotic Cargo Blended Malt
Campbeltown Loch Blended Scotch Whisky
Aberlour A’Bunadh Single Malt ( a favourite every year)
Midleton – Method and Madness, Single Malt Irish Whiskey – Enhanced with French Limousin Oak 46% Alc/vol
SMWS 66.99 Pine smoked salmon and burning heather (wow)
Vega 23 Year Old Blended Malt by North Star Spirits
Favourite bars – Bon Accord, Glasgow / The Ardshiel, Campbeltown
Favourite Whisky Restaurant – Artisan, Wishaw
Favourite Whisky book – Malt Whisky Yearbook
Favourite Whisky Treasure – Rosebank Limited Edition Angels’ Share Glass Angel
Nicola and I did manage to host several private tastings and we are sure that we managed to share flavour and fun of the wonderful world of Whisky.
High up on my list was to spend a few days in Speyside as a guest of Aberlour Distillery and being inducted into The Aberlour A’Bunadh Collective, a small group of Whisky enthusiasts who oh and ah over this great sherried Speyside Single Malt
Nicola and I cannot wait to start tasting our way through 2018.
