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    Home » Single Malt Scotch

    Published Nov 10, 2017 · Updated Apr 16, 2022 · by Tammy Spencer · This post may contain affiliate links.

    375 Park Avenue Spirits Single Malt Scotch Tasting

    Jump to Reviews

    Sampling a wide array of single malt scotch from 375 Park Avenue Spirits extensive lineup is special. Sampling with friends from Whisky Wednesday scotch tastings at Gordon's DTX makes it extra special.

    375 Park Ave Spirits Single Malt Scotch Tasting partial lineup in bottles on a Scottish flag.this …

    Scotch tasting events are more than just trying out a lineup of samples.

    They’re about learning things about the brand, the production process, and the expression itself. I’ve learned so much, from how whisky is made, to the importance of cask influence, to the difference between the regions of Scotland.

    However, there is one aspect of whisky tastings that so much more important than education, that is sharing the tasting experience with others. Those others start out as strangers, but if you go to enough Whisky Wednesdays or brand presentations, these like-minded people start to become acquaintances, then friends.

    And that’s where the real joy of tasting events lies.

    Jump To: hide
    Sipping with friends
    375 Park Avenue Spirits tasting
    And now for some background info...
    375 Park Ave Spirits Single Malt Scotch Tasting
    Speyburn 10yr
    Old Pulteney 12yr
    Balblair 03 10yr
    Speyburn Arranta NAS
    Old Pulteney 17yr
    Balblair 90 25yr
    anCnoc Cutter
    A generous friend
    Glen Grant 32yr
    Signatory Vintage Macallan 1990
    Final Thoughts
    Related Tasting Notes

    Sipping with friends

    I’ve been going to Whisky Wednesday at Gordon’s DTX since I first discovered there was such a thing.

    It was here that I discovered people can come and taste whisky and bourbon for free each week. And that first time I met the “regulars”…people who had been coming to the tastings since the program began.

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    These people were so welcoming, and they began to serve as mentors as I started navigating the Wide World of Whisky. By the way, shouldn’t that be a TV show on Saturday afternoons? Just sayin’…

    I learned to be patient as I developed my palate, that what I tasted could be different from others (and to be OK with it). I started looking forward to Wednesday afternoons not just for the whisky, but for the camaraderie.

    For the friends.

    375 Park Avenue Spirits tasting

    It was because of this crew that I found myself out one evening at a single malt scotch tasting. It was hosted by the North Shore Whisky Club (a group I found out about from my Whisky Wednesday friends) and presented by Erik Greenstein, Brand Ambassador for 375 Park Avenue Spirits.

    I sat a table completely filled by my friends from Gordon's, and, as they say, a good time was had by all.

    Overhead view of 375 Park Ave Spirits Single Malt Scotch Whisky Tasting lineup samples on a labelled mat.
    Look at all those pretty colors!

    And now for some background info...

    Here’s some brief information into the 375 Park Avenue Spirits lineup:

    • Balblair
      • established in 1790, the oldest distillery in the Highlands
      • Edderton, Highlands
      • “Balblair” means “battle”
    • Old Pulteney
      • located in the maritime community of Wick, Highlands
      • a wide portfolio of various age expression and styles, including maritime theme exclusives
    • anCnoc
      • distillery sits directly on the border of Speyside & Highland regions, uniquely reflected in the whisky style (noses like a Speyside, tastes more like a Highland)
      • Knock-Banffshire, Highlands
      • “anCnoc” (pronounced an-knock) means “the hill”
    • Speyburn
      • smooth and fruity in style with broad, easy drinking appeal
      • Rothes, Speyside

    And now…to the glasses!

    375 Park Ave Spirits Single Malt Scotch Tasting

    Hosted by North Shore Whisky Club, presented by Erik Greenstein, November 3, 2017

    Speyburn 10yr

    43%ABV
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: honey, white chocolate, light citrus, cotton candy, hay
    • Taste: light body, honey sweetness, white pepper rises, hay and grass notes
    • Finish: lasts softly, clover honey on the back of the tongue, menthol at the end, fades out to heat
    • Comments: nice & light, tasted like summer, easy to drink…some heat, some sweet

    Old Pulteney 12yr

    43%ABV
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: raisins, cooked fruit, cover honey, a little bit of mocha
    • Taste: creamy, thick, sweet plums, rich and spicy
    • Finish: the raisin/chocolate flavor lingers, fades to roof of mouth warmth, flavor fades quickly
    • Comments: not a sherry bomb or cloying, pleasantly balanced, is chill-filtered (when so many other single malts aren’t)

    Balblair 03 10yr

    46%ABV
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: prunes, burnt sugar, slightly floral, butter
    • Taste: soft entry, pine rises, light body, vanilla fudge sweetness
    • Finish: fades to soft black pepper then slightly sweet
    • Comments: the nose doesn’t match the taste…my expectations were surprised, nicely approachable, not a spice hit
    Sideways view of 375 Park Ave Spirits Single Malt Scotch Tasting lineup samples on a labelled mat.
    Ready...set...sip!

    Speyburn Arranta NAS

    46%ABV
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: honey, light and sunshine, grass, butterscotch
    • Taste: oily, thick body, brown sugar, nutmeg-topped egg custard
    • Finish: cinnamon kicks in, fades to creamy custard
    • Comments: excellent, like melted vanilla ice cream

    Old Pulteney 17yr

    46%ABV
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: coffee, molasses, rum distillery
    • Taste: dark chocolate, banana, medium body with oil, white pepper
    • Finish: fades quickly, vanilla cream lingers, no burn or heat
    • Comments: dark & stormy with lots of character, good scotch for beginners to try, really quite good

    Balblair 90 25yr

    46%ABV
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: raisins and cooked plums, deep caramel, dark chocolate
    • Taste: medium body, pumpkin pie spices, vanilla bean ice cream custard
    • Finish: fades to light caramel, very lightly astringent at the tail end
    • Comments: deep color, but not a sherry bomb, I liked it very much

    [Side note: If you go to enough tasting events, you sometimes get to taste an expression you've had before. One such occurrance was with Balblair and Old Pulteney. It's fun to compare tasting notes from one time to the next.]

    anCnoc Cutter

    46%ABV
    Peat level 20.5ppm
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: mountain campfire, pine, menthol, oak and prunes peek out
    • Taste: smoke dominated, sweet floral notes rise, thick body, oily
    • Finish: the sulfer and ash returns, lasts long on the mid tongue
    • Comments: peated to 22.5ppm, this was my favorite of the lot
    375 Park Ave Spirits Single Malt Scotch Tasting lineup in bottles on a Scottish flag.
    Ready...set...sip!

    A generous friend

    One of the wonderful things about going to these tastings with friends that are experts and collectors is that sometimes one will bring something from home for us to try.

    My friend, Norm Simonton, is one such generous soul, and he brought two wonderful bottles for us to try.

    Glen Grant 32yr

    51%ABV
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: molasses, coffee, cooked fruit underneath
    • Taste: light spice, pine, currants, ginger, liquid molasses
    • Finish: fades to black licorice
    • Comments: absolutely fabulous with lots of taste! Like a liquid gingerbread cookie

    Signatory Vintage Macallan 1990

    43%ABV
    Type: Scottish

    Tasting Notes

    • Nose: butter, pineapple, green grass, citrus
    • Taste: butterscotch, bright hay, apple tart with flaky butter crust
    • Finish: pine at the end, some spiciness, candy corn
    • Comments: so soft but extremely bright, lots of flavor layers
    Glen Grant 32yr & Signatory Vintage Macallan bottles on a blue tablecloth.
    Two selections from Norm's extensive collection

    Final Thoughts

    Now when I go to Whisky Wednesday, I try to welcome and engage with the new people I see at the tastings.

    I introduce myself (and hand out my card for this website, a bit of shameless self-promotion), then ask about their thoughts on what we’ve tried. I usually ask their names again, and before they leave I tell them I hope to see them again next week.

    Because it’s nice for the crew to grow.

    Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!

    Tammy

    Related Tasting Notes

    Scotland's whisky regions have such a rich and diverse array of flavor profiles and distinct characteristics from which to choose. Here's where you can find a scotch I've reviewed based on its region. Slainté!

    • Campbeltown Scotch
    • Highland Scotch
    • Islands Scotch
    • Islay Scotch
    • Speyside Scotch

    More Single Malt Scotch Tasting Notes

    • Bruichladdich unpeated and Port Charlotte heavily peated lineup.
      Bruichladdich's unpeated & peated lineup
    • Collage of Glenmorangie Allta, Ardbeg Drum in bottles on a counter.
      Glenmorangie Allta & Ardbeg Drum review
    • AnCnoc lineup in bottles on a counter.
      AnCnoc Highland Single Malt review
    • Collage of scotch bourbon, and rye whiskey bottles on a counter.
      Roundup Review of Scotch, Bourbon, & Rye Whiskey

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Gretchen Hahn says

      November 10, 2017 at 12:06 pm

      One of my favorite blog posts you've done; perhaps it's because I count myself as one of your whisky friends. 🙂

      Reply
      • Tammy says

        November 10, 2017 at 1:57 pm

        Thanks, Gretchen. I’m so happy to have you as a friend! 😉

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tammy! My fascination with baking comes from my love of science and the magic of bringing together ingredients to produce something yummy. Coupling that with my appreciation of scotches and bourbons, I love to bake stuff, jot down my whisky tasting notes, and share my experiences with you!

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