Tasting Reviews

2021-10 – Randy D.

by webnoser

Randy has been a bit busy, and missed getting the session set in September, finally getting his sh*t together for October. The Club may need to add a session in the upcoming months to make up for his failure in his duty.

Bea allowed the use of her house to host for the convenience of the Club members, for which we are eternally grateful.

This one was a blind bottle tasting, bottles hidden in bags until after the tasting, the notes and the drinkability scores had been captured. Randy did state there was a theme to the Tastings, but would not tell the Club until after the Bonus Round… So what was the theme… All of them started with “F”. Randy and his stupid themes.

Round 1: Finlaggan Eilean Mor

Cost: $85 CDNRegion: Islay

Fun Facts:

  • There is NO such distillery! The source of Finlaggan is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. A closely guarded secret, met to embody the spirit of Islay.
  • In 2014 the Finlaggan range was redesigned and relaunched with three core expressions. Two years later the company sold its millionth bottle.

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Amber to Straw, with some Gold and Honey
  • Nose: Universally Peaty, some Sulphur, some Pepper, Oily
  • Palate: Universally Peaty, Oily, Powerful, Spicy, Iodine,
  • Finish: Long finish, with a sharp drop
  • A lump of peat wrapped in a hospital bandage (from our non-peat lovers)
  • Benefits strongly from water, better Water Up. Water calms the finish.
  • Drinkability (straight/watered): 5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, 3, 4.5, 4 / 6.7, 6, 7.5, 7.5, 5, 5.5, 5.5

Round 2: Finlaggan Old Reserve

Cost: $74 CDNRegion: Islay

Fun Facts:

  • Can be purchased at most Trader Joe’s, at only $19.86 USD!

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Majority saw the colour as Straw, some considered it as Amber
  • Nose: Peaty to almost all, and Spicy to most as well, a bit of honey found
  • Palate: Spicy more than Peaty, considered Oily to most, some Citrus, Creamy, Sweet, Wood
  • Finish: All agreed is has a Long finish, and is strong
  • Entry level Scotch
  • Long finish with water, the H2O cleans up the start and the end
  • Drinkability (straight/watered): 6, 6, 5.2, 6, 6, 6, 4 / 4.5, 7.9, 7.7, 7, 7.5, 5, 5.5

Bonus Round: Fettercairn 12 Year Old

Cost: $90 CDNRegion: Highland

Fun Facts:

  • Fettercairn’s stills have an unusual feature in that the necks of the stills are externally cooled with running water from just below the curve to a gutter just above the lower flange. The cooling is used when the middle cut is taken from the still and assists the refluxing of heavier undesirable alcohols back into the still to be redistilled with the next batch.

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Amber to most, Gold, Copper, Straw
  • Nose: Citrus, Floral, Fruity
  • Palate: Citrus, Creamy, Smooth to most, Oily, Sweet
  • Finish: Long, Sweet, lingers well
  • Jamaican Ginger cake in a bottle
  • Completely delightful, the hit of the night
  • Vanilla in the smooth finish
  • Drinkability (straight/watered): 8.1, 7.4, 6.3, 6.5, 7, 7, 6 / 8.1, 8.4, 7.3, 7.5, 7, 7, 7