reid@glacier.ARPA (01/19/86)
From: Wilkins@sri-ai (David Wilkins) Results of tasting: Single Malt Whiskey 10 January 1986 Lowest score is best, last columns show division of votes. Each scotch was ranked as being first through 8th by 12 experienced tasters. The tasting was organized by Ross Bott. All the scotches were 12 years in wood except the Laphroaig which was 15, and the Johnnie Walker which likely had some in the blend that never saw wood. Total Points Scotch Cost Ident 1st 2nd 3rd 8th 35 Legavulin 24.00 A 3 4 3 0 36 Laphroaig 15 years 30.00 G 4 4 1 1 61 Highland Park 23.00 B 1 1 2 1 64 Bunnahabhain 26.00 F 1 1 2 1 64 Glenfarcas 104 27.00 H 1 0 1 1 68 Oban 20.00 D 0 1 3 4 70 The McCallum 26.00 E 2 2 0 4 70 J Walker Red 12.00 C 0 0 1 1 Summary of Results and my personal tasting notes: The group showed a strong preference for the top 2, but the other 6 were tied. I liked my top 3 better than the others, those being the Laphroaig, Legavulin and Highland Park in that order. All three of these are very intense whiskeys with deep flavors, lots of oak, lots of peat, lots of malt, and a great finish. The Laphroaig is its old shit-kicking self: very intense, with wonderful huge flavors, complex, good balance and finish. This one is better balanced than the Prime Malt though much more expensive also. The Lagavulin is a classic, big-flavored scotch with good balance, lots of peat, and fairly smooth. I hadn't had it before and it was a pleasant surprise. The Highland Park had a more subtle nose than the other two with hints of pear/apple, and was smooth and creamy with a great balance of flavors. I liked my next three about equally -- the Glenfarcas, Oban, and Bunnahabhain. The Glenfarcas had a big nose with cirtrus and orange peel. In the mouth, it was big and rich with some peat and a long finish, but was a bit too hot and sharp from the alcohol. The Oban was unique with a distinct nose of pears and green apples. In the mouth, smooth, creamy, rich, pears, with an interesting finish. Good stuff if you feel like pear brandy instead of peaty scotch. The Bunny had a subtle, peaty, complex nose with fruity overtones. In the mouth it was smooth and peaty with a long creamy finish, but a sort of sherry overtone that hinted of some blended scotches. The McCallum and the JW I did not like as well. I have liked the McCallum in the past, though it finished next to last in our previous tasting also. It's also a biggie -- smokey, peaty, big nose, but in the mouth it lacks the balance of the best and tonight seemed to have a very sharp taste the marred the otherwise creamy, rich flavors. The JW was pleasant but was obviously not in the same category. Nose was uninteresting with a caramel, blended character. In the mouth, pleasant, fairly smooth, not peaty, fairly ordinary. ------- ------- End of Forwarded Message -- Brian Reid decwrl!glacier!reid Stanford reid@SU-Glacier.ARPA
jcp@osiris.UUCP (Jody Patilla) (01/21/86)
> Results of tasting: Single Malt Whiskey > 10 January 1986 > All the scotches were 12 years in wood > except the Laphroaig which was 15, and the Johnnie Walker which likely had > some in the blend that never saw wood. > 70 The McCallum 26.00 E 2 2 0 4 > > finish. The Laphroaig is its old shit-kicking self: very intense, with > wonderful huge flavors, complex, good balance and finish. This one is better > balanced than the Prime Malt though much more expensive also. > > The McCallum and the JW I did not like as well. I have liked the McCallum > in the past, though it finished next to last in our previous tasting also. > It's also a biggie -- smokey, peaty, big nose, but in the mouth it lacks > the balance of the best and tonight seemed to have a very sharp taste > the marred the otherwise creamy, rich flavors. First, this sounds like an unusual Laphroaig since the one most often seen is a 10 year old, and Prime Malt is actually 12 yr old Laphroaig. (The national importer is here in Baltimore.) Second, do you mean McCallan's here, not McCallum ? If this is not the same malt, then I've never heard of it, and I've tasted almost every malt available in the states. Many people feel McCallan is the "cognac" of malts - it's very rich and full-bodied. I have a bottle of 12 yr old and and 18 yr old and both are excellent. Not sure where the sharp taste you noticed might have come from as that is exactly what this malt does not have. -- jcpatilla "If we can send a man to the moon, why can't we send all of them ?"
ted@bcsaic.UUCP (ted jardine) (01/24/86)
In article <631@osiris.UUCP> jcp@osiris.UUCP (Jody Patilla) writes: >> Results of tasting: Single Malt Whiskey >> 10 January 1986 >> ... > > First, this sounds like an unusual Laphroaig since the one most often seen > is a 10 year old, and Prime Malt is actually 12 yr old Laphroaig. (The > national importer is here in Baltimore.) > Second, do you mean McCallan's here, not McCallum ? If this is not the same > malt, then I've never heard of it, and I've tasted almost every malt available > in the states. Many people feel McCallan is the "cognac" of malts - it's very > rich and full-bodied. I have a bottle of 12 yr old and and 18 yr old and both > are excellent. Not sure where the sharp taste you noticed might have come from > as that is exactly what this malt does not have. Must add a large Amen to Jody Patilla's comments. I consider that a taste for Whisky, particularly the single malt variety, is an individual thing. I would not object if someone said my favorite malt beverage tasted like the by-product of equine kidneys. But I must agree that Laphroaig is generally available in a 10 year vintage in the U.S. The characterization of The McCallan as having a sharp taste is indeed surprising, as The McCallan is aged in Sherry barrels that are selected for the mellowing effect they have on the aging whisky. I've had the good fortune to taste a 25 year old McCallan. At 100 proof it slides down with a mere whisper. A favorite from my short sojourn in Edinburgh is a 15 year old J. G. Smith single malt. That's the name of the original owners of Glenlivet. Of the ten year old single malts, Glen Morangie provides a good value and an excellent finish for its age. I'd certainly like to encourage reports of tastings, whisky, wine, or whatever, and appropriate discussion following them. TJ {With Amazing Grace} The Piper (aka Ted Jardine) CFI-ASME/I Boeing Artificial Intelligence Center ...uw-beaver!uw-june!bcsaic!ted
guy@slu70.UUCP (Guy M. Smith) (01/30/86)
In article <3326@glacier.ARPA>, reid@glacier.ARPA writes: > Results of tasting: Single Malt Whiskey > > 10 January 1986 > I don't know if scotch strictly belongs on this net but I can't think of a better place and, as a scotch fancier I'm glad to see some discussion of the subject. A couple of single malts (is there any other kind worth drinking:-)) that I like that are worth mentioning are Tallisker and Arberlour Glenlivet. Tallisker has nice peaty flavor but not nearly as heavy as Laphroaig. I find it a bit smoother and more complex as well but I haven't run across any 15 year old Laphroaig. Arberlour Glenlivet (not The Glenlivet, it comes in a short square bottle) is lighter but has a lot more character than a lot of mild scotches. If you ever get to Minn- eapolis, check out Surdyk's liquor store for an outstanding selection of single malts at very reasonable prices. Unfortunately, St. Louis has nothing comparable, sob.
vsh@pixdoc.UUCP (Steve Harris) (02/06/86)
In <144@slu70.UUCP>, Guy M. Smith writes: > ... I haven't run across any 15 year old Laphroaig.... Prime Malt is a 12 year old single malt scotch made by the Laphroag distillery. It even costs less than Laphroag, which is only 10 years old. To your health! -- Steve Harris | {allegra|ihnp4|cbosgd|ima|genrad|amd|harvard}\ xePIX, Inc. | !wjh12!pixel!pixdoc!vsh 51 Lake Street | Nashua, NH 03060 | +1 605 881 8791
reid@glacier.UUCP (02/07/86)
I am holding in my hands a bottle of 15-year-old Laphroaig, which I bought last week for $30 at a nearby liquor store. It is not the 12-year-old, not the prime malt, not the 10-year-old. It is exactly what I said it was in the original posting, namely 15 years old. I think I'll have a shot of it right now. Ah, wow! Rich, peaty, almost floral nose. Much more refined flavor than the regular Laphroaig, and less peaty than the Prime Malt. You can really taste the wood, and aren't knocked out by the peat. Don't get me wrong--I absolutely love the Prime Malt--but this is a more dignified and complex whisky. -- Brian Reid decwrl!glacier!reid Stanford reid@SU-Glacier.ARPA