SMWS
Last night I attended the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Extravaganza at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. It's a odd how different the event was than last year, though both were pretty good. This year the line for the buffet was huge and stayed that way the whole night. Luckily I ate before I got there, not wanting to spend any time eating when I could be drinking. There were a lot less women this year- last year I'd guess 20-30% of the crowd were women, whereas this year it was more like 5%.
But the whisky was flowing and it was good. Unfortunately, I took very few notes. I tried a few years of Balvenie, including the 21-year-0ld port wood, which was very good. Unfortunately they didn't serve either the 25 or the 30 year listed in the program. That's too bad because I had the 30 year last time and it was phenomenal.
The Dalmore 28 year I noted as creamy in the mouth but finishes "smoky without the smoke," meaning it had a little bite to it.
The Glenfiddich Solera Reserve was good, but the story of it is better. It's made with whiskies aged in three different types of barrels, then combined into a larger one for marrying. I really liked the Ancient Reserve 18 year- it was really sweet and fresh tasting.
Of the Glenlivet, I tried the 21 year old Archive. My notes say, "V.V. Good!" But the biggest surprise of the night was their new Nadurra Cask Strength. I liked it a lot (without water), and it's priced at forty-something dollars which isn't too bad for a 16-year-old scotch.
I found the Glenrothes Select Reserve to be really lively and enjoyable. The 1991 and 1987 vintages I thought didn't act the usual way whisky does when you add water- instead of opening up, the flavor stayed tight, yet diluted. I'll stick with the Reserve.
I decided to give the Macallan Fine Oak line another try, as at the Whiskies of the World expo I was surprised to find I didn't mind the 17 year-old despite negative experiences with other years. I tried the 10 year Fine Oak and confirmed my earlier opinion- I don't like it one bit. So I washed out my mouth with the always-wonderful 18-year sherry oak.
There were several Irish whisky companies present, which is odd for a scotch event. I skipped them all, and taunted them with "Who let you in?" statements.
I did, however, try a Milford whisky from New Zealand that I really liked.
But the whisky was flowing and it was good. Unfortunately, I took very few notes. I tried a few years of Balvenie, including the 21-year-0ld port wood, which was very good. Unfortunately they didn't serve either the 25 or the 30 year listed in the program. That's too bad because I had the 30 year last time and it was phenomenal.
The Dalmore 28 year I noted as creamy in the mouth but finishes "smoky without the smoke," meaning it had a little bite to it.
The Glenfiddich Solera Reserve was good, but the story of it is better. It's made with whiskies aged in three different types of barrels, then combined into a larger one for marrying. I really liked the Ancient Reserve 18 year- it was really sweet and fresh tasting.
Of the Glenlivet, I tried the 21 year old Archive. My notes say, "V.V. Good!" But the biggest surprise of the night was their new Nadurra Cask Strength. I liked it a lot (without water), and it's priced at forty-something dollars which isn't too bad for a 16-year-old scotch.
I found the Glenrothes Select Reserve to be really lively and enjoyable. The 1991 and 1987 vintages I thought didn't act the usual way whisky does when you add water- instead of opening up, the flavor stayed tight, yet diluted. I'll stick with the Reserve.
I decided to give the Macallan Fine Oak line another try, as at the Whiskies of the World expo I was surprised to find I didn't mind the 17 year-old despite negative experiences with other years. I tried the 10 year Fine Oak and confirmed my earlier opinion- I don't like it one bit. So I washed out my mouth with the always-wonderful 18-year sherry oak.
There were several Irish whisky companies present, which is odd for a scotch event. I skipped them all, and taunted them with "Who let you in?" statements.
I did, however, try a Milford whisky from New Zealand that I really liked.
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