There are so many (mostly) single malt scotch whisky expressions to sample from all over Scotland. Thanks to Single Cask Nation and the North Shore Whisky Club, we get to sip a fair few!
Joining a whisky club definitely has its advantages.
Besides the camaraderie that being able to attend whisky tastings, there's the added bonus of having a seminar-like atmosphere to go in depth into the expressions. It's a master class on a specific lineup.
North Shore Whisky Club tasting event
I was lucky enough to attend a tasting event sponsored by the North Shore Whisky Club, and hosted by Joshua Hatton of Single Cask Nation and ImpEx Beverage (and general whisky guru).
Joshua's talk was detailed and entertaining, especially given the number of drams of (mostly) single malt whisky we were sampling
For me the highlight of the evening was when he showed us how whisky is distilled…using volunteers for the demonstration!
There were so many expressions to try, this time I'm going to jump right into my tasting notes.
(What, no lengthy dissertation?)
Maybe next time.
(Mostly) Single Malt Whisky Tasting
Hosted by the North Shore Whisky Club, presented by Joshua Hatton from Single Cask Nation, May 26, 2017
Single Cask Nation Glenrothes 8yr
Tasting Notes
- Nose: pine, butter, little burn in nose, toffee, oak, cream
- Taste: green apple, white chocolate
- Finish: sweet on end, white pepper
- Comments: nice, sippable
Tamdhu 10yr
Tasting Notes
- Nose: strong vanilla, raisins, dried fruit, deeply sweet
- Taste: cream, plums, oily, white pepper, very soft
- Finish: long cream, dried fruity finish, not overly harsh
- Comments: nice and easy, like drinking dessert
Tamdhu Batch Strength Batch 001
Tasting Notes
- Nose: pine, oaky, vanilla/caramel, dried fruit (less noticeable)
- Taste: med body, plum and prunes, pepper rises (not too high), less hot
- Finish: dried fruit lasts long, little bit of menthol in the middle
- Comments: Very Good!
Highland Park 19yr - Chapter 7
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Strong dried fruit, burnt creme brulée
- Taste: Light and soft, woody and green, musty, almost a candy cane
- Finish: Cream fades off, mustiness lingers
Comments
Single Cask Nation Girvan 10yr
Tasting Notes
- Nose: cinnamon, apricots, oaky vanilla, bourbon-like
- Taste: citrus, similar to bourbon, nutmeg, light body, peppery, caramel
- Finish: pepper rises, his out, single flavor (static)
- Comments: lighter style of bourbon
Single Cask Nation Ben Nevis 20yr
Tasting Notes
- Nose: dried fruit leads, vanilla, butterscotch
- Taste: sherry starts, cinnamon rises, soft at beginning
- Finish: surprising - ashy at end!
- Comments: changes as you drink it, lots of character
Single Cask Nation Ardmore 8yr
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Islay peat! Oak underneath, pine comes out
- Taste: starts with spice, peat rises, smoke, white pepper
- Finish: smoke lingers then fades
- Comments: best of both worlds (Highland and Islay), has an unusual flavor
Kilchoman Original 5yr
Tasting Notes
- Nose: ocean peat (not heavy), green apple, menthol, burns nose
- Taste: peat & smoke, softens then spice rises, chocolate in the middle
- Finish: campfire comes out at end, gentle
- Comments: doesn't hit you in the face, flavors of the beach in summer, tastes older than 5 yrs, WOW!
Final thoughts
There were so many interesting flavors in this tasting, all so different from each other. It was hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to choose I'd go for the Single Cask Nation Ben Nevis 20yr followed by the Kilchoman Original 5yr. And the Tamdhu 10yr, it's like drinking dessert!
Oh the hell with it, I liked them all!
I also was asked to pair a dessert for the event (thanks to Darren McInnis & George Chagnon, founders of NSWC), so I made Port Wine Millionaire's Shortbread. That's port wine caramel poured over buttery shortbread and topped with dark chocolate. Yum!
I'm happy to say that the dessert was well received, so yay!
Attending whisky tastings is a wonderful way to share opinions and stories with others. It's a fun communal event. I learn so much whenever I go.
If you haven't yet gone to a formal tasting, do it. Even if you're an expert, you never know what the next exciting pour will be!
I hope you like this review! If you've tried any of the expressions and have your own tasting notes, please leave a comment. Thanks!
Slainté! L'chaim! Cheers!
- Tammy
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