Tasting Reviews

2020-11 – Chris J.

by webnoser

Ah Chris… Leave it to Chris to come up with this new wrinkle. Here’s how it starts… Remember, this was a November 5 get-together.

As there was (apparently) nothing else in the whole world going on except for the upcoming US election (yes, I have been tardy in my publishing), Chris could not resist having a Scotch Election.

The candidates came from a list of 9, issued by Chris. Each noser selected their top three from the list. This assigned a rank score, the formula of which was not fully shared and poorly explained when asked about. Unlike the US election, the counting was over quite quickly, no legal challenges were issued, there are few demonstrations, little grumbling and Rudy Giuliani was no where to be found.

Chris’s delusions of grandeur did not end there. Next, he blinded the tests and ordered the tastings in a random order. Here are the results. Enjoy.

Round 1: Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old

Cost: $89 CDNRegion: Highland

Fun Facts:

  • This was our (as a group), 2nd place finisher as a requested Scotch.

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Dark colour likely sherry cask finish
  • Nose: Strong, potent with alcohol
  • Palate: Creamy
  • Finish: Got a fading finish
  • Water opens it up, but oddly is not really required even though it starts strong
  • Drinkability: 6,7,7.1, 7,8,7,7.43
  • Did we guess it? – Damn right we did!

Round 2: Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old

Cost: $100 CDNRegion: Highland

Fun Facts:

  • This was our (as a group), 1st place finisher as a requested Scotch.

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Forgotten
  • Nose: Soft Nose
  • Palate: Light on the palate, a flash of licorice, Bit of oil in it. Up front chocolate. Likely oak casks
  • Finish: Smooth and disappears quite quickly on the finish. A short finish.
  • A pleasant easy drinking scotch.
  • Drinkability: 5.75, 5, 5, 5.5,5 6, 5
  • Did we guess it? – Damn right we did!

Bonus Round: Lagavulin 16 Year Old

Cost: $140 CDNRegion: Islay

Fun Facts:

  • This was our (as a group), 3rd place finisher as a requested Scotch.

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Light in color
  • Nose: Has some peat! Bit of a jolt to the group
  • Palate: Definitely got peat!
  • Finish: Beauty, lingering, then fades like a cowboy into the sunset
  • Drinkability: 7,7.8,4,6.5,7,7,7
  • Did we guess it? – Damn right we did! We were 3 for 3… (might be the sign of a problem…)

1 thought on “2020-11 – Chris J.”

  1. Three tremendous, diverse malts; it warmed my soul on a bitter minus 11C Parry Sound night just to read this. I think Chris has hit on a most viable tasting protocol and I’d encourage members to use it frequently. Let’s just hope there aren’t as frequent U.S. elections!

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