Tasting Reviews

2023-04 Malcolm A.

by webnoser

Although the club has sampled over 150 different whiskies, allowing for a variety of Japanese, Irish, English, Welsh, Canadian, etc. (do bourbons even count?), with the help of Randy’s spreadsheet we can confirm that the number of actual scotches is 119. With over 150 distilleries in Scotland we still have plenty to explore.

For this next meeting, rather than just sampling more different scotches, we will go back to the traditional roots and explore a bit of Robbie Burns poetry – in other words a cultural evening!

The poem “To a Mouse” was written in 1785 and depicts Burns remorse at having destroyed the nest of a tiny field mouse with his plough. He apologizes to the mouse for his mishap, for the general tyranny of man in nature and reflects on the role of fate in the life of every creature, including himself.

Interesting fact: The most famous line from the poem is: “The best laid schemes of mice and men oft go awry”.

The poem opens with the line: “wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie, O what panic is in thy breastie! “

What exactly is a Timorous Beastie…..??

Round 1: Timorous Beastie

Cost: $63 CDNRegion: Highland

Fun Facts:

  • Douglas Laing’s Timorous Beastie is most certainly not for the fainthearted! This non-coloured, non-chill-filtered Small Batch bottling is a marriage of appropriately aged and selected Highland Malts – including,
    • Blair Atholl
    • Glen Garioch
    • Dalmore
    • Glengoyne
    • Strathearn
  • Matured primarily in American bourbon barrels

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Very light, Honey Color to White Wine
  • Nose: Fruity, Fruity, Fruity, Honey, Spicy
  • Palate: Spicy, Citrus, Honey, Floral, Vanilla
  • Finish: Long (predominate opinion) with some calling it Short (sigh)
  • Water made a big difference, No nose after the H2O.
  • More creamy after the H2O with a longer finish
  • Nice blend, a bit strong the palate without the water
  • Drinkability: 6.2,6.8,5.4,6.5,7.0,6.0

Round 2: Bladnoch Vinaya

Cost: $95 CDNRegion: Lowland

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Copper to Amber
  • Nose: Spicy, Woody, Fruity, Floral, Nutty
  • Palate: Oily, Spicy, Smooth, Floral, Creamy,
  • Finish: Long, Medium, Short (my Lord, make up your minds)
  • Nice, nice, nice
  • Great smooth finish
  • Nice drop, smooth finish
  • Drinkability: 7.1,7.2,7.0,6.0,7.2,6.8

Bonus Round: Benromach 2010 Cask Strength Batch 1

Cost: $94 CDNRegion: Speyside

Fun Facts:

  • An intense dram for the early springtime, where it can be still quite cold. A fusion between everything bourbon- and sherry cask.

NSC Comments:

  • Colour: Mahogany to Gold
  • Nose: Complex!, Chocolate, Pepper
  • Palate: Peaty, Creamy, Oily, Chocolate, Dry, Powerful
  • Finish: Long, Looonnng
  • Yikes, Water beautifies it, complex
  • Not a beginner scotch, subtle complex nose
  • A bit too powerful for my palate, strong like bull!
  • Drinkability: 7.9,7.8,6.0,8.0,8.0,7.8