Comments on: Scotch Tasting at Ellen’s http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/ The daily journal of a puppeteer and SF author. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:21:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mary Robinette Kowal http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/comment-page-1/#comment-20072 Mary Robinette Kowal Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:19:06 +0000 http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/#comment-20072 Mmm... jealousy. Mmm… jealousy.

]]> By: Mary Robinette Kowal http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/comment-page-1/#comment-20071 Mary Robinette Kowal Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:18:41 +0000 http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/#comment-20071 I haven't tried Tyrconnell. Must give that a sip. I haven’t tried Tyrconnell. Must give that a sip.

]]> By: Mary Robinette Kowal http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/comment-page-1/#comment-20070 Mary Robinette Kowal Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:17:38 +0000 http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/#comment-20070 I will have to check that bar out. Sounds lovely. I will have to check that bar out. Sounds lovely.

]]> By: Mary Robinette Kowal http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/comment-page-1/#comment-20069 Mary Robinette Kowal Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:05:06 +0000 http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/#comment-20069 You need to have guests more often to help you out with the overstock. You need to have guests more often to help you out with the overstock.

]]> By: Mary Robinette Kowal http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/comment-page-1/#comment-20067 Mary Robinette Kowal Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:02:59 +0000 http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/#comment-20067 Clearly you are a serious Scotch drinker. I've only come to it in the past two years so am still learning the ropes. Part of the problem I ran into describing the scotches is that I only know wine terms. Clearly you are a serious Scotch drinker. I’ve only come to it in the past two years so am still learning the ropes. Part of the problem I ran into describing the scotches is that I only know wine terms.

]]> By: Brian Dolton http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/comment-page-1/#comment-20052 Brian Dolton Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:44:16 +0000 http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/#comment-20052 Interesting. I wwas sipping a 10-yo Ardbeg last night, as it happens (and I have a current collection of about 25 different single malts, including most of the Islays). I find Adbeg peatier than Caol Ila, which I generally find quite phenolic and a "higher" note than the mid-to-lower-rang Ardbeg (Lagavullin is down at the bottom of that scale). I'm no longer up-to-date with all the Bowmore variations. In the past I've found Bowmore the "average" of all Islays, so I drink it less than any of the others, though arguably it's a good introduction to Islay precisely because of that; but as noted, they just have too many different bottlings now to keep up (many whiskies are going down this route, which makes it tough for someone who buys whiskies to drink, rather than to collect/speculate). To give context, my favourite whiskies are probably: Glenfiddich Rum Finish (as recommended by Ian Banks in his book "raw Spirit") - astonishingly good. Rich, smooth, powerful, and I don't do tasting notes because my palate/nose aren't sophisticated enough to do the whole "straw! oranges! leather notes!" thing. Lagavullin - for me, much better than Laphroaig in peaty-Islay-world. Though it's been a long time since I had it - but I have an unopened bottle which will probably be the one to open when the Ardbeg is done Caol Ila - the sharp phenolic, seaweedy quality of this gets me every time. The best I had was a bottle from a Calvados cask, and the taste really came through - a fantastic combination which I would buy again like a shot if I bumped into it, but I never have (I suspect it was a one-off experiment). Glenkinchie - smooth and light, but very pleasant. A sipping-while-you-chat whisky, rather than one that demands your attention over and above anything else. Balvenie Doublewood - the caskign of this adds a lot of depth and complexity without overpowering the whisky (as some caskings do) ro just failing to impart the right notes (as others are guilty of). I have no idea how I am going to import my whisky collection to the US. :( Interesting. I wwas sipping a 10-yo Ardbeg last night, as it happens (and I have a current collection of about 25 different single malts, including most of the Islays). I find Adbeg peatier than Caol Ila, which I generally find quite phenolic and a “higher” note than the mid-to-lower-rang Ardbeg (Lagavullin is down at the bottom of that scale).

I’m no longer up-to-date with all the Bowmore variations. In the past I’ve found Bowmore the “average” of all Islays, so I drink it less than any of the others, though arguably it’s a good introduction to Islay precisely because of that; but as noted, they just have too many different bottlings now to keep up (many whiskies are going down this route, which makes it tough for someone who buys whiskies to drink, rather than to collect/speculate).

To give context, my favourite whiskies are probably:
Glenfiddich Rum Finish (as recommended by Ian Banks in his book “raw Spirit”) – astonishingly good. Rich, smooth, powerful, and I don’t do tasting notes because my palate/nose aren’t sophisticated enough to do the whole “straw! oranges! leather notes!” thing.
Lagavullin – for me, much better than Laphroaig in peaty-Islay-world. Though it’s been a long time since I had it – but I have an unopened bottle which will probably be the one to open when the Ardbeg is done
Caol Ila – the sharp phenolic, seaweedy quality of this gets me every time. The best I had was a bottle from a Calvados cask, and the taste really came through – a fantastic combination which I would buy again like a shot if I bumped into it, but I never have (I suspect it was a one-off experiment).
Glenkinchie – smooth and light, but very pleasant. A sipping-while-you-chat whisky, rather than one that demands your attention over and above anything else.
Balvenie Doublewood – the caskign of this adds a lot of depth and complexity without overpowering the whisky (as some caskings do) ro just failing to impart the right notes (as others are guilty of).

I have no idea how I am going to import my whisky collection to the US. :(

]]> By: Ellen Datlow http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/comment-page-1/#comment-19985 Ellen Datlow Sun, 02 Mar 2008 06:56:43 +0000 http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/#comment-19985 I visit London annually and have been bringing back a bottle of something different every time.. although this time, (February) I couldn't afford a new one--turns out I have no more room anyway--I'll have to drink it up a bit quicker. I visit London annually and have been bringing back a bottle of something different every time..
although this time, (February) I couldn’t afford a new one–turns out I have no more room
anyway–I’ll have to drink it up a bit quicker.

]]> By: Chris Billett http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/comment-page-1/#comment-19967 Chris Billett Sun, 02 Mar 2008 02:12:38 +0000 http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/#comment-19967 I like the Ardburg, but at home at the moment all I have is a bottle of Talisker. Incidentally, Mary, you are quite close to one of my favourite bars in the world, where I did in fact drink the best single malt of my life. It was the Balvenie New Wood, if I remember right, and the bar is this one: http://www.brandylibrary.com/ ... there was a little guy sitting at a piano playing Thealonius Monk (Well You Needn't) while I leaned on the cushioned bar and chatted to Gabe Mesa. Maybe you met him at WFC. The place is right by Tribeca station, and I recommend it if you're ever looking for somewhere quiet! I like the Ardburg, but at home at the moment all I have is a bottle of Talisker. Incidentally, Mary, you are quite close to one of my favourite bars in the world, where I did in fact drink the best single malt of my life. It was the Balvenie New Wood, if I remember right, and the bar is this one:
http://www.brandylibrary.com/

… there was a little guy sitting at a piano playing Thealonius Monk (Well You Needn’t) while I leaned on the cushioned bar and chatted to Gabe Mesa. Maybe you met him at WFC. The place is right by Tribeca station, and I recommend it if you’re ever looking for somewhere quiet!

]]> By: Kai Jones http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/comment-page-1/#comment-19959 Kai Jones Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:12:23 +0000 http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/#comment-19959 That Ardbeg was my favorite for years. Now I'm drinking Tyrconnell. That Ardbeg was my favorite for years. Now I’m drinking Tyrconnell.

]]> By: Todd http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/comment-page-1/#comment-19956 Todd Sat, 01 Mar 2008 23:37:28 +0000 http://www.maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/scotch-tasting-at-ellens/#comment-19956 One of my passions as well, especially when shared with a fellow aficionado. I've had the pleasure of all you listed except the first two. I think I'm ultra jealous of Ellen's collection. Enjoyable as single malt is anywhere, I learned that nothing beats it in the homeland. Thus, I was in heaven when my wife and spent a 2006 holiday on the Isle of Skye and I got to tour the distillery of my absolute fav: Talisker. We can't wait to go back. One of my passions as well, especially when shared with a fellow aficionado. I’ve had the pleasure of all you listed except the first two. I think I’m ultra jealous of Ellen’s collection.

Enjoyable as single malt is anywhere, I learned that nothing beats it in the homeland. Thus, I was in heaven when my wife and spent a 2006 holiday on the Isle of Skye and I got to tour the distillery of my absolute fav: Talisker.

We can’t wait to go back.

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