Who am I?
I'm 25 years old guy from Finland. I live in town called Pori and I work as a process technician at Kemira Pigments Oy. I work in three shifts (five shift system) and I have week off after nightshifts. I'm engaged to my girlfriend Anne and we have two children; one doughter and one son. My hobbies are: Music (progressive rock/metal, electronica, jazz and classical), playing electric bass, reading (sci-fi, fantasy and whisky books/magazines), movies (sci-fi, thriller, action, comedy and cartoons), collecting miniature whisky bottles, gym (when my spine shows green light), hi-fi and home theater, beer and food - and drinking whisky, of course.

  When did I discover single malts?
Well, that's quite long story. I started to sample whiskies (few drams per week) when I was only 15 years old! My mum always said that you have to get your first experiences with alcohol at home, not in any dodgy backstreets. Mum drinks almost only cocnag and whisky, so I started with blended whiskies at first (typical story). Then I suddenly discovered single malts. I don't remember my very first malt, but it happened in the middle of '90s. When I was carrying out my army duty in 1997, I started to drink single malts more actively.

  Malts so far and favourites?
I have tasted (seriously) about 40 different malts right now. I have to sample a lot of that malt I'm rating before I can say anything definitive about it. Also there's quite a narrow assortment of whiskies available in local alcohol stores in Finland. I have to import most of my bottles on my shelf. I have 10 - 20 bottles all the time (varies). I prefer younger malts myself, although there is one exception. I don't like younger Springbank's much, but a 33yo from 1966 was very good indeed. Malty and dry. Still it's not one of my favourites for it's hectic price. I like most Islay and Speyside whiskies. Here are just a few examples; Macallan 12yo is one of the first malts I've ever tasted. Laphroaig 10yo is first islander for me and it was love at first dram. Bowmore 12yo has salt and sherry. Talisker 10yo and Lagavulin 16yo are newcomers in my sessions, but TOP 5 stuff both. And when it's time to enjoy smooth and drinkable stuff, then thumps up for Balvenie. All three variations I've tasted are great. There's a distillery to watch.

E-pistle #03/11 - My First E-pistle

1 – Laphroaig 10yo C/S (57.3%, OB)  -  I love this lamp petrol; medicinal, earthy, tarry
2 – Lagavulin 16yo (43%, OB)  -  Loads of peat and power, but still sophisticated
3 – Cragganmore 12yo (43%, OB)  -  Pure, clean and balanced
4 – Glendronach 15yo 100% Sherry (40%, OB)  -  Charming chart climber
5 – The Macallan 12yo (43%, OB)  -  Fits every situation
6 – Bowmore 12yo (43%, OB)  -  Salty and seaweedy, kinda smooth
7 – Balvenie 10yo Founders Reserve (43%, OB)  -  One of the best tenners I know
8 – Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB)  -  Peppery gent
9 – Highland Park 12yo (43%, OB)  -  Forgotten treasure, got to have this more often
10 – Glenfarclas 105 (60%, OB)  -  Overpowering, sweet, kicks like a mule.

On 01/01/2003 Matt's 'Malt-O-Meter' said: 37 single malts sampled and scored.

1 - Aberlour 10yo (40%, OB, 84 pts)
2 - Auchentoshan 10yo (40%, OB, 81 pts)
3 - Balvenie 10yo Founder's Reserve (43%, OB, 86 pts)
4 - Balvenie 12yo Double Wood (40%, OB, 87 pts)
5 - Balvenie 21yo Port Wood (43%, OB, 89 pts)
6 - Bowmore 12yo (43%, OB, 86 pts)
7 - Bowmore 15yo Mariner (43%, OB, 87 pts)
8 - Bunnahabhain 12yo (43%, OB, 82 pts)
9 - Bushmills 10yo (40%, OB, 76 pts)
10 - Cardhu 12yo (40%, OB, 67 pts)
11 - Cragganmore 10yo (40%, OB, 89 pts)
12 - Dalmore 12yo (43%, OB, 80 pts)
13 - Dalwhinnie 15yo (43%, OB, 78 pts)
14 - Drumquish NAS  (40%, OB, 40 pts)
15 - Edradour 10yo (40%, OB, 79 pts)
16 - Glendronach 15yo Sherry Casks (43%, OB, 87 pts)
17 - Glenfarclas 105° Cask Strength (60%, OB, 84 pts)
18 - Glenfiddich NAS Special Reserve  (40%, OB, 64 pts)
19 - Glenfiddich 12yo Special Reserve (40%, OB, 72 pts)
20 - Glenfiddich 15yo Solera Reserve (40%, OB, 79 pts)
21 - Glen Grant NAS  (40%, OB, 68 pts)
22 - Glenlivet 12yo (40%, OB, 79 pts)
23 - Glenmorangie 10yo (40%, OB, 81 pts)
24 - Glen Ord 12yo (40%, OB, 80 pts)
25 - Highland Park 12yo (40%, OB, 86 pts)
26 - Isle Of Jura 10yo (40%, OB, 65 pts)
27 - Lagavulin 16yo (43%, OB, 90 pts)
28 - Laphroaig 10yo  (40%, OB, 86 pts)
29 - Laphroaig 10yo Original Cask Strength (57.3%, OB, 91 pts)
30 - Loch Dhu 10yo Black Whisky (40%, OB, 40 pts)
31 - Macallan 12yo (40%, OB, 85 pts)
32 - Macallan 12yo (43%, OB, 86 pts)
33 - Oban 14yo (43%, OB, 81 pts)
34 - Scapa 12yo (40%, OB, 78 pts)
35 - Speyburn 10yo (40%, OB, 68 pts)
36 - Springbank 12yo (46%, OB, 79 pts)
37 - Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB, 89 pts)

This is the list so far.
Check out the latest issue of Malt Maniacs for the freshest additions.
 

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