Patrick Whaley
Minnesota, U.S.A.
Patrick is our youngest correspondent. For his second report, he managed to land an interview with Mr. Derek M. Gilchrist, Marketing Director at Morrison Bowmore.
See Patrick's factsheet for details.
2000
Subject: E-Report #8 - Last 2001 E-Report The Sale, The Holidays, The Warning, The Tasting Notes The big sale hit my favorite liquorist and I was there the first night. They had a tasting and I did a little sampling. I tried A'bunadh,
Balvenie Islay Cask, and Glenfiddich 15yo Solera. The A'bunadh was very good, I can't wait to open a bottle. Johannes didn't have very high remarks for the Islay Cask but I was rather surprised. Only time will tell when
I get to spend more time with the Islay Cask. I was also surprised by the Glenfiddich 15yo, it was quite pleasant. I couldn't believe how many
people showed up the night of the sale. The single malt area was packed, I 've never seen it like that before. It was so crowded that you constantly kept bumping shoulders with people. I saw people filling their
carts with single malts and I had to laugh, I thought that I was the only one in that did that. Bottles were flying off the shelves. The Laphroaigs were selling good, Lagavulin even better. Talisker sold very well
as did the Mac 18yo. Every Aberlour product they had (A'bunadh, 10yo, 15yo, and 21yo) was selling very well also. Another big seller was Glenmorangie Sherry Wood Finish. People seemed to be eating up the Balvenie
10yo and 12yo, but I suppose that it is understandable since they were tasting both of those that night. The biggest was the best seller of the night, Glendronach 15yo. I couldn't! believe how fast this stuff was flying
off the shelves. They must have sold two cases in a little over an hour. Here is what I picked up that night:
Glenmorangie Sherry Wood Finish Some side notes: The HP 12yo came in a new package,
the box, as well as the bottle was square. I didn't intend on getting another bottle of Springbank 21yo, I figured that they would be there for awhile. When I arrived I saw that they had four bottles left.
Sometime during the evening I noticed that there was only one left so I grabbed it. I figured why not since they are not producing anymore for a number of years. Much to my amazement, they were able to get more.
I'm glad I bought that bottle because there was a little price gouging. Normally, the Springer 21yo sells for $99.99, $79.99 when it is on sale. Now the regular price is $159.99 and the sale price is $119.99. I
picked up the Balvenie Port Wood because it was too good to pass up, it was either $40 or $45, quite a deal for a 21yo malt. They also had the new Balvenie 25yo Single Barrel, nice presentation package but not interested. The holidays were very good, I had a great time. I tried my hand in the kitchen and the results were mixed. Luckily, for some things there was
very little preparation involved. I wanted to try some new things and get some special things since it was the holidays (you're supposed to splurge right?). I had shrimp cocktail; a smoked salmon appetizer with foie
gras, white truffle oil, and caviar; clam chowder; and baked lobster. The smoked salmon wasn't very good. It was my first time trying caviar and foie gras and it was a pretty good experience. The texture of the
foie gras was great. The caviar was very nice. It was salty and tasted of the sea, reminded me of a great Islay malt. The clam chowder was very good. I could have done better with the lobster, I've
definitely had better. I did have a few malts, Laphroaig 15yo and Macall! an Gran Reserva. The finish of the Laphroaig 15yo has calmed down since the JOLT. The night was capped by family and a few friends gathered
around the table enjoying a glass of Dom Perignon. Yes, the holidays were very good. WARNING! This is my first warning. It's not
about a whisky, it's a beer. I feel compelled to tell others because nobody should drink this garbage. It's so bad I just have to do this. Do not drink Young's Luxury Double Chocolate Stout, it is horrible.
I love chocolate, love it, but chocolate and beer do not mix. Whoever thought of this idea should be subjected to the punishment of being kicked in the head... repeatedly. The carbonated chocolate flavor does not go well with
the beer flavor whatsoever, it is an extremely bad match. I couldn't even finish half of it, I poured it out. And to who the hell is this crap supposed to be a luxury for I ask, Willy Wonka?
The following tasting notes have been gathering dust for a couple months now, time to get them to the press.
Glenlivet 18, ODB, 43% alc/vol
The nose developed nicely, I like the sweet notes. The light floral and grass notes remind me of the spring when the flowers are blooming, what a wonderful
smell. The refinement of this malt shows in the nose. This malt develops nicely over time, the nose reveals new layers as does the palate. The finish is a bit lacking. Score: 83. Note: this is
just one of several tasting notes of this malt, I just picked this set at random. Glenmorangie 18, ODB, 43% alc/vol The finish has some heat to it. The nose is probably
the most dynamic part of this malt. I was hoping for some vanilla or chocolate like in the Port Wood Finish. For it's age, this malt is more aggressive than I thought it would be. I was expecting something more
mellow. It also had a good malty note in the nose. This malt almost seems straightforward. Score: 82. Note: once again, this is just one of several sets of tasting notes chosen at random. It did
settle down and become better after it breathed for awhile. Highland Park 12, ODB, 43% alc/vol The finish is very impressive; big,
strong, peaty, totally covers the mouth, very long. The nose is also very good, I really like the contrast of the strength of the peat and the softness of the heather. Its a strong malt and the heather adds an
interesting dynamic to the malt. This is very good. Score: 89. Glenmorangie 10, ODB, 43% alc/vol The nose was a bit strong at
first, I was very impressed by it. There seems to be a good mix of elements in this malt. I am surprised that a malt this young has the complexity that it does. I think that this malt is pretty good. It's
tough to compare this with the 18yo. It's somewhere along the lines of comparing the Laphroaig 10yo and 15yo, they are both good and because of that I don't know how to rate them. So, you could pretty much flip a
coin. But of course, Glenmorangie is no Laphroaig, not by any stretch of the imagination. Score: 80.
Glenmorangie Madeira Wood Finish, ODB, 43% alc/vol The nose is definitely
interesting. This malt would be easier to score if I had tasted madeira. I have never tasted it before and if I did I would know what to look for. The Madeira is a nice medium weighted malt with a very nice nose.
The finish has a nice burst of intensity, stays for 8 seconds or so, tapers off, and hangs around for awhile. The finish is definitely good. This malt is perhaps subtle, and too thin in the middle. The 10yo has more
flavor, is more balanced, and more lively, which I like. This malt is not in the same league as the Port Wood Finish, which is superior. Glenmorangie Sherry Wood Finish, ODB, 43% alc/vol I've never encountered a sherry malt with a nose
like this, it is very different. I can't identify what it is. This nose is tricky, I almost feel as if there are layers I haven't gotten to. I almost think that I can taste or smell bourbon in it. After 15
minutes or so the nose starts to settle down. On the palate, it is a typical sherry malt. The finish isn't as woody as in other sherry malts, which is a very nice change. The palate also starts to settle down, but
not the finish.
Glenkeith 1983, ODB, 43% alc/vol This malt is better than I thought it
would be. It is somewhat similar to the Glenmorangie 10yo/Glenlivet 12yo, but more mellow than the Glenmorangie 10yo. The finish is definitely short, it almost slips right by. The barley/cereal/grain note is
rather pleasant. I would possibly classify this whisky as light. For a light whisky I think it is very good. This is a very approachable, drinkable whisky. A longer finish and a tad bit more flavors could
help this malt. But still, it is better than I thought, a good whisky, I'm impressed. Score: 75. Benriach 10, ODB, 43% alc/vol
The nose is similar to Glenkeith. It also has some other similarities to Glenkeith, the barley/cereal note in the finish, and the taste. It definitely
feels heavier than Glenkieth. The best component of this malt is the nose, the middle is lacking, and the finish is decent. It has a little more depth than Glenkeith, but Glenkeith is more rounded. Score: 74
. Longmorn 15, ODB, 45% alc/vol Shows some complexity, good
flavor on the palate. The finish is a bit short, which makes this malt less rounded than it could be. The sharpness of the sherry in the nose is evident, which I don't particularly care for. The sherry in the nose
tones down after awhile revealing a more subtle sherry, which I find nice. The nose definitely gets softer. Pretty good stuff. Score: 80.
Strathisla 12, ODB, 43% alc/vol Very, very good nose, pretty good
balance of sherry and smoke, but the sherry tends to overpower. The palate is nice and soft, smooth, almost silky. With time the nose settles. Also with time, the finish loses flavor. This malt seems to fall
apart with time. Initially, this malt would have scored in the 80's. I would say drink this within 20 minutes. Score: 74.
Macallan Gran Reserva 1979, 43% alc/vol This stuff
is really dark in the glass. It doesn't seem to have the fullness or the luxuriousness as the standard 18yo 1979 that I have had. The nose definitely isn't the same, missing the fruity notes. After time, the spice
becomes real subtle and shows up on the palate. As expected, this malt is put together very well. It is definitely well rounded and balanced, what you get in the nose you get in the palate and the finish. Like I
said before, it doesn't have the fullness, fruitiness, luxuriousness, or the voluptuousness of the standard 18yo 1979. The standard 1979 seemed to have more flavor and depth and a better nose. Nevertheless, this is a
very good whisky, being well balanced and well rounded. It needs a bit more flavor and the oak starts to become almost too much. I was surprised that the sherry wasn't as overpowering as I thought it would be, goes to
show the balance of this whisky. Overall, I would consider this a medium malt. So to sum up, the Gran Reserva is short on flavor, too much wood, missing the fruity notes, the fullness, silkiness, voluptuousness, a
lesser dynamic and less rich nose when it is compared to the standard 18yo 1979. Score: 87. Bowmore Legend, ODB, 40% alc/vol I am surprised by this malt, it is better
than I thought. It reminds me of how much I like Islay malts, since this is the first one that I have had in quite some time (this was about a month before the JOLT). This malt has a good peatiness to it. I love
malts like this, the peat just stands out. Some people may think that showcasing the peat may just reduce this malt to being one dimensional. And here is where I throw analysis right out the window. This malt may
be straightforward and one dimensional but it is to my liking. The style is simple but I really like it. It's not as big, bold, brash, or as sweet as the Laphroaigs or Lagavulin, but it is very good in it's own
right. The downside to this malt is that it loses some steam after it has been in the glass for awhile. A very easy drinking whisky. Score: 77.
Bowmore 12, ODB, 40% alc/vol
The nose smells deep and thick. Some sweetness develops after a few minutes, at first it is salty and peaty. The finish has a good dose of peat that
gathers some intensity and lingers. This malt is just the style I like, letting the peat be the center of attention. It may be simple, but it is good. Nice and peaty on the palate. A nice, rounded
malt. Score 83. Whew! That should do it for the report, time to go relax. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Subject: E-Report #7 - My Malt Madness As we all
know, some time ago, Johannes was struck by a serious case of malt madness. As a result, Johannes was placed on a big ban. And as we all know, the big ban has been broken. Malt madness is very contagious. I
know this because I caught it. Malt madness makes you lose control of your sensibilities, perceptions are distorted, reason is lost. The only reasoning you have when struck by malt madness is do I want it? Yes I
do. Well it costs...I don't care. The madness, the craziness, that is the essence of malt madness. The following is the result of my malt madness. Johannes thought it would be interesting to see the prices
that I paid over here. The prices are included, with a d following the ones that I got a discount on. Mini Glenmorangie Set ($16.99d)
Quite a serious case of malt madness huh? Now some notes on the purchases. I ordered some of these bottles from Park Avenue Liquors. I was
extremely disappointed when I got these bottles because they didn't come with their boxes. Some people might not care but I paid a lot of money for some of them (the Balvenies, Macallan Gran Reserva, Port Ellen, one bottle of
Provenance). I ordered the other two bottles of Provenance from Wine and Liquor Depot, both came with their boxes, needless to say I was very pleased.
In a previous update I stated that I wouldn't buy any independent bottlings. Well, this has obviously changed as I have purchased a bottle of Douglas Laing
OMC Port Ellen. I did so because I noticed that upon my purchases of Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain that there will be only two distilleries from Islay that I have not sampled. I love Islay malts, and I have always
wondered what Port Ellen and Caol Ila taste like. The only way to find out is to purchase independent bottlings of them. It is only a matter of time until I pick up a bottle of Caol Ila, and I am sure that there will be
more Port Ellen to come. Am I going to impose a ban on myself?
Lastly, Johannes and I have been engaging in a little war lately. We have been trading emails back and forth taunting each other. I'm not exactly sure if it is two
kids acting immature, or if it is a friendly gentlemanly one-upps-man type of game. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Subject: E-Report #6 - Update Fall is on its
way and it's almost time for the Islay's to come out and play. This fall/winter season line up looks to be rather interesting. The current prospects are Bowmore Legend, 12, 17, Dusk, Voyage, Bunnahabhain 12, and Ardbeg
10. I am looking very forward to these malts as I am a big lover of the Islay malts. I have some other malts up for evaluation but it appears that my plate is very full. I came across some mini bottles and I
couldn't pass them up, so those will probably be next. Highland Park 12 Glenlivet 18
Glenlivet 12 vs. Glenlivet 18 (see notes above) Glenmorangie 18 Until later......., Happy tastings. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Subject: E-Report #5 - Update I'm finally back
writing another piece. The last half of the school year was rather intense, but now it is over. I can relax a bit. I have two requirements left for my degree and then it is time to move on. And now for the
tasting notes and some other ramblings. Aberlour 10 A few weeks ago I was out to dinner and ordered Laphroaig 10. I haven't had
any Laphroaig in quite some time. Oh the memories came back in a hurry when it was brought to the table as the smell of it hit me instantaneously. It was as great as I remembered. I miss that stuff, truly
wonderful. Since I am on the subject of Islay's, I want to talk about another one, Bowmore Cask Strength. I have been enjoying it very
much, it keeps getting better and better. I think it is a superb malt. It is definitely a peat reeker, nose, palate, and finish. I remember it being so peaty, which is why I really like it. I will have
another serious tasting session with it as this bottle is also almost empty. Don't be surprised if I readjust the score on this one. I have found that a malt is very good or exceptional if I think to myself, "I
wish the bottle wasn't almost gone." And that is the case with the Bowmore Cask Strength. This update is rather short, as I have had my
hands full and things on the whisky front have been rather slow. I have a few bottles that are ready to be opened and rated but I am going to have to hold off on that. I may be going to college out of state in a couple
of months and it I would feel better opening them later. I wouldn't want to risk leakage or any other problems (the whole opening container thing). In the waning moments of my pursuit of my degree, I had a change of
heart, I didn't want to spend the rest of my life doing something with the degree I am about to earn. So, I plan on going back, to do something that I really want to do.
In closing, is Johannes crazy or what? That guy has been going nuts lately with all of his new acquisitions. He has given new meaning to malt
madness. One day Johannes may need a support group for his Maltoholism, lol. I would be more than willing to help, and to help drink some of those bottles. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Subject: E-Report #4 - Update
Finally the
semester has ended and it is time for a break. Hopefully I will get to have a few good nights of tasting. I have quite a bit to cover in my update, 4 sets of tasting notes, including my first head to head, and an
incident at a restaurant. So here we go. Bowmore Cask Strength Cardhu 12 And now for my first head to head! I put two heavyweights to go at it, to dual for Islay
supremacy, Lagavulin 16 vs. Ardbeg 17. I sure was excited, for this was my first taste of Ardbeg. Lagavulin 16 Ardbeg 17 Does the Ardbeg have what it takes to dethrone the king? After all, when you're #1, there is only one place to go,
and that is down. Who gets the Islay bragging rights? Who takes it? Which distillery reigns supreme? Lagavulin. I find the Ardbeg to be lighter than Lagavulin. Lagavulin also has a bigger, more
intense finish. I also think Lagavulin is more full bodied than Ardbeg. I like the chocolate in the Ardbeg. The nose isn't that of a typical Islay. Ardbeg is a complex malt. The 17yo isn't as bold as
Lagavulin or the Laphroaigs. Lagavulin is big, but it is so well balanced. It is powerful, but not overpowering. Lastly, I was surprised by the color of Ardbeg, I've never seen an Islay that light. As far as
ratings, I give Ardbeg 17 an 89. Back in November I went to a nice restaurant. They had the best single malt list that I have seen at a restaurant. I decided to try something
that I have never had, so I chose Springbank 12. I was getting excited, I've heard so much about Springbank. My excitement soon dissipated when it arrived tot he table. It came in a glass that you usually
get at a bar when you order something straight, I don't know the exact name of the glass but I hope you know what I am talking about. I was so disappointed. I knew I wasn't going to experience it properly, so I just
drank it for enjoyment. The coconut in the nose was rather pleasant. It cost $11.50, and for that much it should come in the proper glass. The restaurant was a classy one, but I can't believe that with the amount
of money you spend that you can't get a proper glass. That's it for this update. I'm looking forward to a nice purchase of malts soon. Everyone have a Merry Christmas and a
Happy, safe New Year. I still haven't decided what I will be drinking that night, I'll figure it out later. Back in 2001. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Subject: E-Report #3 - Update Busy, busy, busy. School is back and I have my hands full! On top of that, I am
searching for a graduate school. Single malts have taken the back seat. So it may be a bit understandable that my future single malt encounters will be minimal. Anyway, on to the good stuff. I've included my
ratings and some notes from my latest tasting. Ratings As I touched upon in my first update, I know that some people don't like ratings and think that they aren't worth much. Even I will
concede that ratings are not indicative of a universal agreement. Simply, we all have our own preferences. But nevertheless, those of us who embark on this journey, are on the quest for the best malt. My ratings
are not static, they are adjusted from tasting to tasting, or upon reflection. So here are my ratings: 90's is excellent and should not be missed at all, 80's is above average and very good, 70's is average, 60's is something
that I really don't prefer. Lagavulin 16 96 So that's a look into my world of ratings. Bowmore 15 Glenmorangie Port Wood I want to touch on one last thing before I
end my update, multiple bottlings vs. a single bottling. I do think that some distilleries may put out too many bottlings and sometimes it presents a problem, I don't know which one to pick! It's also tricky because you
may have purchased a bottling from a distillery that has many products in its line and not like it. Then when you go back to the liquor store, you stand in front of another one of their bottlings and debate. Will it be
good, or will it be a downer? Hit or miss. In a way, I suppose that is one thing that makes this exciting. I also do wish that some distilleries would expand their current line up. Wouldn't it be nice
to pick up, say a 10yo or 20yo Lagavulin? I'd love that. But on the other side of the coin, would it be the same caliber as the 16? I really liked how Glenlivet expanded their range. I tried the French Oak
once and I liked it. I really would like to see a Laphroaig 21yo bottling. I've heard that the 15 and 30 are worlds apart, night and day. I don't think I will be able to get my hands on the 30 for quite some
time. A 21yo bottling would show a glimpse of the process of Laphroaig aging. And of course, it would be more affordable than the 30. That's it for now. I hate to bring this up already but, pretty
soon I'll be trying to decide what I want to uncork for New Year's. I'm sure I'll hit that in the next update. Enjoy your tastings. ---------------- Subject: E-Report #2 - Interview with Derek M. Gilchrist of Bowmore First off Mr. Gilchrist, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some of
our questions. So here we go! How long have you been at Bowmore? What is a typical day for you at the distillery? What is your favorite part of the job? What do you attribute to the boom of single malt scotch in recent years?
What characteristics do you think constitutes a great whisky? Names like Bowmore, Lagavulin,
Laphroaig, and Ardbeg are considered be top notch malts, if not powerhouses. What makes Islay such a breeding for producing top caliber malts in your opinion? Is there any friendly competition amongst the distilleries on Islay?
Why has Bowmore chosen to market such a broad range of official bottlings? Do you have any particular favorite within the Bowmore range? What was the actual age of Bowmore Surf? What exactly goes into the Cask Strength?
What proportion of malt is casked in first fill sherry, refill sherry, It seems that Bowmore
switches direction in the older bottlings. The 21 and 25 are much mellower than the Mariner. Even the 17 is in that direction. Do you select certain casks to be older bottlings? And if so, what criteria are used? What made Bowmore
decide to use new and different styles of finishing we see in the Claret, Voyage, and Dusk bottlings? What is in store for Bowmore in the future?
Any new bottlings in the years to come? On behalf of Malt Madness, thank you very much Mr. Gilchrist. Derek M. Gilchrist -------------------------- Subject: Malt Madness E-Report #1 Hello everybody and welcome to my first update. First off I would like to thank Johannes for giving me the opportunity to express my opinions on SMS, It feels great because
the scene where I live is almost nonexistent. There is a very good liquor store here that has around 250 single malts. Now I have the opportunity to interact with others on a regular basis. Now for a little background info on
me...I am 22, I live in Minnesota in the US, and I am in my last year of pursuing a bachelors degree. From there it is off to graduate school. Anyways, I stumbled onto single malts out of curiosity. If I
remember, some of the first single malts I purchased were Cardhu, Glenkinchie, and Glenlivet 12. Then one day I came across Islay malts. I can't remember which I had first, Laphroaig 15 or Lagavulin. I do remember
my first Lagavulin experience. I didn't even get the cork all the way out of the bottle and wham! It hit me. I removed the cork and the scent became stronger and stronger. I said to myself, "This is
gonna be real good." I had no idea how good it was going to be. I was instantly hooked. Lagavulin is my favorite malt, and I get it at a good price, $35.99. I am extremely fond of the Islay malts.
In my next update I will include my own ratings and it will be apparent how much I favor them. Now I want to throw in my thoughts regarding ratings. I have read quite a bit about the topic lately and I didn't
know it had such a political feel. Some people suspect that distilleries offer free whisky to writers in turn for a good review, or some sort of financial agreement. I was perusing Michael Jackson's latest malt
companion and noticed the outrageously high scores awarded to the Macallan malts. It appears that MJ has a propensity for sherried malts. It could be true but other sherry malts did not score as well. Or it just
may be that Macallan is MJ's favorite. But then again, we all have our own bias for things. Like if I wrote a book, malts that obtained scores in the 90's would be dominated by Islay malts. All I want is the
truth. If Macallan is MJ's favorite, I want to see that in the book. You can call this MJ bashing or whatever, but we have to remember that the writers do not dictate out taste. I respect what MJ has done for the
industry as he has helped many people. I can recall the enthusiasm I had when I purchased my first Mac, the 12 yo which was rewarded a score of 91. That enthusiasm deteriorated rapidly as I made my way through
the bottle. I did not like it. I found it to be too sharp in the nose and in the finish. But to be fair, I am going to give it another shot down the road. I was greatly disappointed, but this was before I
got a good grasp on the whisky scene. I do like Macallan but I think it is overrated. Another reason I feel this way is because I'm not a huge fan of the sherry taste, but it is growing on me. I will hit the Mac
issue again in my E-ssignment. Thanks for reading, until next time. |
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