Three evenings at SMWS London

I don't often get the opportunity to spend an evening in the SMWS's London headquarters but a recent Trade Show held at Earls Court had me commuting down from Bedfordshire for three consecutive days. (I was originally scheduled for just two days manning our stand at the RailTex exhibition but my MD pulled out of his final shift and called me in at the last minute).

It so happens that 19 Greville Street, the London home of the SMWS, lies on the Bedford to London main line just a stones throw from Farringdon, and so my mission was to ensure I went home from Earls Court via Farringdon underground. If they had been open early for breakfast I would have made sure I was there for that too!

On my journey home after the first day of the show I could only stop for a couple of drams as I had foolishly left my car at the station and would have to drive home later. I carefully read the current out-turn and found an interesting bottling from Jura's only distillery, so first on the menu was 31.26

Whisky Discovery #410

SWMS 31.26 'BBQ Smoke by a Rolling Sea' 24 Year Old (53.6% abv)

Highland Island Single Cask Single Malt Whisky

I'd not come across a club bottling from the Isle of Jura before and was really looking forward to this recent release. Distilled on 27th September 1988 this was matured for 24 years in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead, resulting in just 262 bottles at 53.6% abv)

It certainly didn't disappoint with some smoky aniseed and plenty of brine on the nose, along with the sweet scent of butterscotch popcorn. The peat smoke was much more forward on the palate, with a sweet and spicy BBQ sauce and earthy notes.

Knowing that I could only have one more dram I asked Phoebe (@whiskybars) for a recommendation and this recent bottling from the Ardbeg distillery was selected.

Whisky Discovery #411

SWMS 33.125 'Salted Caramel Lollipop' 7 Year Old (64.4% abv)

Islay Single Cask Single Malt Whisky

I love a peaty Islay whisky and this complemented the Jura perfectly. So this young Ardbeg was distilled on the 9th May 2005 and matured for just seven years in a first fill barrel yielding just 250 bottles at an impressive 64.4% abv.

It was delicious and just what I was expecting; lots of smoky peat, with notes of tobacco and leather on the nose. It started off a little medicinal to begin with on the palate but settled down to be more sooty. with some sweet smoke and a little brine.

With my fix for peat satisfied I made my way back to Farringdon Station, jumping on the first train heading towards Bedford only to find that the train I had jumped on was going to go right past my station without stopping. My wife and her friends had done just this only the week before, and I remembered laughing at them asking why they never read the information board beforehand, and here's me doing exactly the same thing. Unlike them I heard the train announcements on the journey (they would have been far too busy talking) and so made plans to hop off at Luton to wait for the next train that would stop for at my station.

Day 2 For my second day of playing commuter I'd organised being dropped off at the station in the morning so I would be able to have a couple of extra drams after the show. 

My show partner for day two was our Production Manager, Peter. I've worked with Peter for 15 years and we've had a few beers over that time, but never a whisky. Peter lives along the same main line into London, so it was fairly easy to convince him that we should stop off for a drink or two on the way home from the show. I had told him about the SMWS lounge and he was keen to find out more. With Peter not being a whisky drinker we started with a beer, settling for a 'Bitter and Twisted'  from the Harviestoun Brewery while I explained how the SMWS started and as we started reading our way through the menu, the numbering system and how the wonderfully inventive names are created along with the sometimes contradictory tasting notes printed on the labels.

Since 'converting' to whisky I have been very keen to preach what I have learnt so far and to demonstrate the vast range of smells and tastes that can be found in the different expressions.  Our first dram was chosen for us, and with the help of Sam (@DramforSam) we tried to convey some of the wonders that always amaze me in some fine whisky.

Whisky Discovery #412

SMWS 59.43 ''Caramel Swirl Ice Cream' 29 Year Old (56.4% abv)

Highland Single Cask Single Malt Whisky

We started of with one of the special 30th Anniversary bottlings and a 29 year old from the Teaninich Distillery. I'd not heard of this distillery before and had to look it up in Malt Yearbook to find our more! The majority of this whisky produced at Teaninich is used in the Johnnie Walker blends and it is all matured off site.

So this anniversary dram was distilled on the 8th November 1983 and matured for 29 years in a refill hogshead yielding 252 bottles at 56.4% abv

This started with sweet fruity notes, especially pineapple, and there was plenty of vanilla caramel too. It was quite dry on the palate, black tea like, yet still quite sweet and creamy, a great start to our evening!

For our next dram I thought we should try something young and lively, light and fragrant and Sam chose this Mortlach for us. I tend to think of Mortlach as a sherried whisky, usually with an element of 'struck match' to it but this was not the case with this single cask offering:

Whisky Discovery #413

SMWS 76.95 'Tropical Fruit Salad' (58.2% abv)

Speyside Single Cask Single Malt Whisky

A ten year old distilled in 2001 matured in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead yielding 307 bottles at 58.2% abv. Tropical fruit is what it said on the label, and tropical fruit is what we got!

After two quite light fruity numbers I wanted Peter to experience a sherry cask and asked Sam to find a suitable number. An eleven year old from the Glen Moray distillery was poured

Whisky Discovery #414

SMWS 35.86 'A Sumptuous Breakfast Dram' 11 Year Old (59.3% abv)

Speyside Lossie Single Cask Single Malt Whisky

A fabulous contrast to the first two drams which was immediately noticed by my guest. This Glen Moray was distilled on 17th May 2001 and matured in a First-fill ex-sherry butt yielding 629 bottles at 59.3% abv

With a fabulous rich nose of toast and rich marmalade, polished wood and dates. Wonderfully rich on the palate with a heavy fruit cake, perhaps just the hint of struck match? Peter's first thoughts when nosing this whisky was that it reminded him of the gas used in the dentists when he was a child, and I told him that there were no right or wrong answers, it's all perception from your own experiences.

With a tick in the box for a sherry cask malt, I though I would try to explain the difference between a single malt and a single grain. Sam recommended his current favourite and poured us our next dram

Whisky Discovery #415

SMWS G4.2 'Attractive spirit in a cloak of oak' 28 Year Old (55.4% abv)

Single Cask Single Grain Whisky

A single cask grain whisky from the Cameronbridge Distillery, distilled on the 6th April 1984 and matured in a refill ex-bourbon hogshead for twenty eight years, yielding just 218 bottles at 55.4% abv

I explained to Peter the differences between grain whisky and single malts, and that the majority of whisky made is grain, and used for blended whisky. I told him what I had recently learnt following our Glory of the Grain tweet tasting a few weeks back, and that a good single grain whisky is all about the wood it's been matured in.

There was plenty of wood notes in this one, it reminded me of the wood shop we had at the yard, where we would season some of the best cuts of wood naturally. There were also notes of tobacco and sweetness of a rich honey. Quite bourbon-esque on the palate, sweet with a hint of liquorice.

I was keen to show Peter some peated whisky next and so we moved our tasting journey across to Islay. Sam picked this next one as it was a good balance between the peated spirit and a sherry cask

Whisky Discovery #416

SMWS 3.193 'Baby Faced Arsonist' 14 Year Old (57.7% abv)

Islay Single Cask Single Malt Whisky

So this Bowmore was distilled on the 25th September 1997 and matured in a refill sherry but for 14 years, yielding 601 bottles at 57.7% abv

A lovely sweet scented smoke came across on the nose, but there was a definite maritime note underlying with a salty seaweed type note. On the palate the maritime note was foremost to me with smoked mackerel with honey and mustard. I loved this and thought it was a great introduction to the peated spirit

With time ticking on, and now knowing that I had to make a return journey the following morning (my notice came via a text message during our adventure) I went back to Sam for our last dram for the evening. I wanted something a little more medicinal.

Whisky Discovery #417

SMWS 53.176 'Pain is so close to Pleasure' 20 Year Old (56.6% abv)

Islay Single Cask Single Malt Whisky

What a fabulous name for this twenty year old Caol Ila. It was a single cask Caol Ila that started me off on my whisky journey, so a fitting end to the evening? Distilled on the 17th January 1992, this was matured in a refill hogshead for twenty eight years yielding 285 bottles at 56.6% abv

Great Islay nose with heavily peated notes, although by no means as heavy as a Laphroaig or Port Charlotte (I'll try that with Peter next time). Wood smoke and barbecued mackerel complete with burnt skin, a touch of menthol too. It's peaty on the palate and quite different to the previous Bowmore. 

A perfect end to our evening which had me savouring this for the first part of the journey home. So what was our favourite? Peter really liked the sherried Glen Moray, 35.86 which I must admit was a damn fine dram (I went back the following evening with every intention of revisiting it alongside 35.85, but there was none of the earlier release left). For me The Caol Ila was my favourite of the evening, but it was a close call between the six excellent drams chosen.

Day 3 My re-arranged third day at the trade show was spent with our Sales Manager Philip, the man who first introduced me to whisky and so I was planning on taking him to 19 Greville Street after the show. Unfortunately he already had other commitments and so I returned alone.

It was a glorious afternoon in London so I started with a cold beer - I needed it! I sat down to review the menu while contemplating whether I should make an evening of it or return home in time to make the Balblair Tweet Tasting scheduled for later on in the evening. I had come prepared, bringing both whisky samples and glasses with me so I could take part wherever I ended up at eight o'clock. I decided (quite sensibly) that I should make my way home for it and settled for just one dram before catching the six o'clock train home.

Running through the menu I was intrigued by the description of this:

Whisky Discovery #418

SMWS 85.23 'Burnt granary toast with bramble jelly' 12 Year Old (59.4% abv)

Speyside Lossie Single Cask Single Malt Whisky

I later found out that this was from the Glen Elgin distillery, another new one to me and one you don't see around ordinarily. This distillery too is owned by Diageo and usually found in blended whisky only.

Distilled in September 1999 and matured for 12 years in an ex-sherry butt, yielding 367 bottles at 59.4% this has the typical sherry influence note of struck matches. I quite like the light sulpher notes when it's like this. There's also that yeasty note when making a granary loaf. It's sweet on the palate though as the label note says quite aggressive, though I'm not sure if that was because of the high abv. A drop of water gives that burnt toast note and the jammy note compliments the toast!

So in three evenings of dropping into the SMWS London home I had made nine new whisky discoveries, but to be fair I could find a new whisky discovery every evening for a long time in this place! I'd also introduced a friend to the pleasure of a quality single malt who has already asked when will we be going back again.

Whisky Discovery #281

Isle of Jura 30 Year Old 'Standing Stone' (44% abv)

Island Single Malt Whisky

Circa £350.00 70cl

The new Jura 30 Year Old

The Jura distillery has recently added a 30 year old single malt whisky to its collection which will be available from selected whisky stores across the world this month. I don't think this is the first time Jura has released a 30 Year Old as I'm sure I've noted some limited releases previously, but this will be an addition to the core range from them.

Called the Standing Stone, or ‘Camas an Staca’ in Gaelic, the new expression takes its name from the largest of Jura's eight standing stones. Known as ‘The Bay of the Protecting Rocks’ this imposing 12 foot obelisk is reputedly all that remains of a stone circle laid some 3,000 years ago by the earliest Diurachs to appease the spirits.

The iconic Jura bottle is presented in a beautiful display case that opens its doors to showcase the bottle and reveal the story of the whisky. Meticulously detailed, the bottle is in-filled with copper wax, with a matching metal plaque.

Official Tasting notes

Nose: The seductive nuances of sandalwood, tuberose, lime and spicy patchouli soon usher in hints of vanilla, Java coffee, tangerine and crushed Ogen melon. Whispers of sea spray, spicy apple and honeyed figs linger in the background.

Taste: Fleshy oranges, tangy liquorice, coconut and sweet pineapple are followed by orange rind, black cherries, dark toffee and sun dried raisins.

So What Did I Think?

I'm really grateful for Whyte and Mackay for supplying this tasting sample before general release. In addition at around £350 a bottle it's slightly out of my budget, and certainly out of my drinking budget. I guess the target market is going to be serious collectors and investors which is a shame as I thoroughly enjoyed my experience of it. I've checked on-line and haven't seen it for sale yet so it's release must be imminent.

On the nose it's rich, sweet and full; sweet caramel toffee and vanilla, there's an underlying  subdued orange note, not bright and zesty, but dark and almost chocolate orange like. There is a little coffee on the nose, but from Java? I couldn't tell you. Fruit comes in by way of dates and figs and there it a little saltiness to the nose too.

The subdued orange notes are on the palate too as is the dark chocolate, Rich toffee and light liquorice along with some mild chilli spice. The majority of the maturation period has been in American white oak before three years spent finishing in Oloroso Sherry butts from Gonzalez Byass gives this whisky the classic sherried fruits of black cherries and raisins. The mouth-feel is smooth yet decadent, luxurious and sweet, with fine dark chocolate orange and black cherries.

The rich dark chocolate orange stays right to the very end, a long and satisfying finish. I wish I could have gone back for more, and it will be something to look out for at one of the whisky shows in the New Year, as I would certainly like to sample this again.

As I mentioned earlier, it is beyond my budget, and probably beyond most peoples budget, which is a shame as I would love to have some on my shelf to turn to every now and then. This is a very enjoyable whisky, and one I think would go really well after a big dinner. For now, I'll just have to stick to my bottle of 16 Year Old Jura which shares some of the characteristics at a budget I can afford!

Berry Bros & Rudd Tweet Tasting

The Whisky Wire's second Tweet Tasting for November, and we were treated to four single cask whiskies from Berry Bros & Rudd.

Berry Bros & Rudd are Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchant, established in the 17th century. Their flagship store has been located at 3 St. James's Street, London since 1698 when it was founded by the Widow Bourne. A supplier to the royal family since the reign of King George III, historic customers have included Lord Byron, William Pitt the Younger and the Aga Khan, and very soon ME.

Berry Bros & Rudd created the Cutty Sark whisky, and pioneered the vintage concept for The Glenrothes single malt Scotch whisky. 

Today members of the Berry and Rudd families continue to own and manage the family-run wine merchant. Berrys' Own Selection Scotch Whisky comprises an extensive range of own-label bottlings of fine and rare vintage Single Malt whiskies including several bottlings at cask strength. 

Berry Bros. & Rudd has supplied fine spirits through our `Berrys' Own Selection' for well over a century, making Berry's one of the earliest Independent bottlers. By 1909, they were offering 1897 Macallan and 1885 Talisker by the gallon or dozen; to name a few.

Four generous samples and a new note book for tastings!

I've tasted a few whiskies from Berry Bros & Rudd before, coming across their stand at the Whisky Lounge Midlands Fest when Rocky introduced me to three great drams that Saturday afternoon.

Unusually the #BerryWhisky Tweet Tasting took place on a Thursday evening, the first time this year anyway, but proceedings as usual started promptly at 1900 and I just made it back from work in the atrocious weather conditions we were experiencing, to get myself sat down in front of the computer with my glasses, samples and note book:

Whisky Discovery #260

Littlemill 1992, 20 Year Old (54.6% abv, Bottled 2012)
Lowland Single Cask Malt Whisky
circa £80.00 70cl

The Littlemill distillery was founded at Bowling to the west of Glasgow on the banks of the river Clyde in the 1770’s and laid claim to being Scotland’s oldest distillery. It ceased producing whisky in 1992 and was dismantled in 1997, the remaining buildings were destroyed by a fire in 2004.

Triple distillation was practised at Littlemill until around 1930, so it's likely that this was not distilled in the true 'Lowland' style, and this would have been distilled in it's final year. I've only tried one Littlemill previously, and that was at the recently Whisky Exchange whisky show.

So What Did I Think?

I found this to be initially dry and  grassy on the nose, but this quickly developed into a damper cut grass note. It slowly evolves with fruit appearing; ripe bananas, soft peaches and a milky chocolate nose. A little longer in the glass and more fruit appears, or perhaps I simply missed it initially, with melons but there's still those damps cuttings underlying and a little spiciness in the background. Returning to the glass later it has become much more floral on the nose and the damp cuttings note has evaporated.

On the palate there is an initial sweetness of soft fruits, peaches and melons again, before the spice builds up then fades to a tea tannin dryness with some honey and lemon.

This is the second Littlemill of my journey and just as impressive. There's not a great deal of Lowland single malt around these days and as well said on the label; 'When excellent examples such as this appear they make Littlemill's sad demise even sadder'

Some of my favourite tweets for this expression

‏@AnneEJones Floral, apple sponge, runny honey and er... Rice Krispies
‏@abbeywhisky Definite melon, peach, and possible some ripe banana
‏@TheWhiskyWire Milkybar buttons floating in a cup of green tea with lemon
‏@cowfish Nose: Wet flannels, gravel and ferns up front, toffee sweetness, cornflakes, white choc & ginger hiding underneath.
‏@TIA568B On the nose, quite light, fresh, grassy, spicy, herbal, golden delicious apples and white grapes
‏@LRWhisky Loving the floral fruit combo wrapped in white chocolate. New version of fruit and nut maybe?
‏@themisswhisky On the palate: Peach cobbler, pineapple upside down cake, bubblegum and bitter lemon
‏@greatwhisky German pfeffernusse, more raspberry, more damp ferns (plants, not Cotton or Briton)

Whisky Discovery #261

North of Scotland 1973, 38 Year Old (46% abv Bottled 2012)
Single Cask Grain Whisky
circa £125.00 70cl

The "North of Scotland" distillery was opened in 1958 at Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, the distillery being established from converted brewery buildings, with the interesting twist that it initially produced both Malt Whisky and Grain Whisky from the same column stills. However, this proved to be rather unsuccessful and so after only a few years production was switched to just Grain Whisky.

The distillery was closed in 1980 and finally totally dismantled in 1993.

While Malt Whisky can only be made from barley, Grain Whisky is made from a mixture of grains, typically wheat and maize (corn) and it may also contain barley. Grain whisky is distilled in a continuous column still, also known as Coffey still. Coffey still distillation is generally accepted to yield lighter and less complex flavour than pot still distillation (distinctive to malt whisky).

In Scotland, pure Grain Whisky is seldom bottled, it is typically used in the production of blended whiskies that combine grain and malt whiskies. Occasionally well-aged grain whiskies are released as "single grain whisky".

Scotland is the home to 6 grain distilleries: Cameronbridge, Girvan, Invergordon, North British, Port Dundas and Strathclyde. Together they annually produce six times the amount of malt whisky. Only three of the aforementioned distilleries bottled their own single grain whiskies: Cameron Bridge, Black Barrel (from Girvan) and Invergordon.

So What Did I Think?

I have great memories from 1973 - I was a young schoolboy growing up in Mauritius with golden beaches, sugar cane fields, wild guavas that we used to collect and make jam, and so many other tropical fruits. I was always in the water when ever possible, whether swimming, snorkeling or sailing, it was a wonderful childhood. Amazing to think that this whisky had been laid down to mature at that time!

I initially found this to be rich and spicy and it reminded me of leather armchairs, polished wood, old library books and a 'Bourbonesque' nose. There were coffee notes too, dark sweet coffee (although not black) and similar to the Thai 'Kopiko' sweets. There were fruity notes underneath trying to burst through the richer notes. However after a while in the glass it became much sweeter and lighter with a great deal of spicy vanilla and an almost dark spiced rum note. I am really starting to become rather fond of an aged single grain. Tropical fruits eventually break through too. This is all about the wood and a quality cask was chosen to mature this single grain imparting a complexity of flavours in the nose.

There are bags of vanilla on the palate, though not too sweet and a nice spicy pepper kick. The coffee notes return on the palate and there is a liquorice note towards the end.

There is a lovely glowing warm finish, with a little sweetness and some spicy pepper on the tongue complimenting the vanilla cream.

Some of my favourite tweets for this expression

‏‏@abbeywhisky First thing I got was boot polish! not in a bad or kinky way!
OliverKlimek Nose: Your trademark old grain nose: Apricot, crème brulee, vanilla
‏@themisswhisky My first nose note would be simply, "Christmas morning" - I can't say why though...
‏@EdinburghWhisky Maple syrup poured over a tropical fruit (again) salad. Toffee sweetness too!
‏@cowfish Dear everyone. Tell no one that old grain is good, the prices are going up too much as it is... Love, Billy
‏@WorldWhiskyDay Definite crispy bacon and maple syrup with pancakes thing going on!
‏@whisky4everyone Nose is packed with vanilla, butterscotch, wood spice, bitter orange and waxy furniture polish
‏@TheWhiskyBoys Taste: sweet soft fruits, fruit trifle, complex & quite delicate, a little mild spicyness
‏@TheWhiskyWire Definitely getting a coffee note coming through
‏@TIA568B Lots of cola cubes, maple syrup over tropical fruit, icing sugar on kiwis, a little rummy and some vanilla chewits.
‏@Rockyajl Good level of wood, not too much for 38yrs. Lovely creamy texture. Bit more fiery than I was expecting though.

Whisky Discovery #262

Isle of Jura 1976, 35 Year Old (53.5% abv Bottled 2012)
Island Single Malt Whisky
circa £199.00 70cl

The inner Hebridean island of Jura lies to the north-east of Islay and takes its name from the Norse gaelic meaning deer island. Today there is a population of some 200 people and 2000 deer. Jura is the sole distillery on the island. I've tasted most of the core range from this distillery, but I think this is my first independent bottling, and certainly my first single cask.

So What Did I Think?

This was distilled in the long hot summer of 1976, who can forget that (if you're old enough to remember anyway) I remember being on Southsea beach in August and there was a plague of Ladybirds - thousands of them floating in the sea at the waters edge. Anyway I digressed a little there. So the mash for this distillation probably used the last available water as we were all on hosepipe bans and bathing with friends in 1976. We learnt that this whisky had been matured in a Sherry hogshead, It was certainly the darkest of the four drams. 

It also had a very complex nose which went on evolving over time. Initially it was quite delicate with a Parma ham note, but slowly as it was teased out it became richer and darker, almost decadent; Dark toffee, damp charcoal, beach hut salty mustiness, furniture polish notes, a little sweet smoke. Rich sherried fruit; raisins and walnuts, a little menthol starts to sneak out too

This was much softer on the palate than I was expecting, with the dark soft toffee again, it's a little malty and fruit comes through by way of dark cherries. There's an intense chili pepper kick that hits the middle of the tongue, only for an instant before sweetening again with liquorice toffee and a tobacco note towards the end. As it starts to fade there is an Earl Grey tea dryness evolving with a light sooty smokiness.

Some of my favourite tweets for this expression

‏@greatwhisky Wow... this is big... very complex! Anyone else getting some peat smoke?
‏@BBRrob First tiniest hint on the nosing, parma ham (other regional hams are available!)
‏@LRWhisky Heavy nose, rich Victorian smoking rooms, oak panels and a real life game of Cluedo. Decadent
‏@weheartwhisky Someone appears to have replaced my Jura with Ribena. With a garnish of smoked ham. Works for me.
‏@Rockyajl Slight whiff of cheesy feet mixed on with some toffee and nuts. Gorgeous golden colour.
‏@abbeywhisky Another great nose, slight earthy notes along with some leather and spice
‏@TIA568B A nicer nose than I've had from any other Juras, lots of oak, slightly earthy, more wood, maybe a little vegetable matter
‏‏@themisswhisky Big, bold, chewy sweetness (leather dipped in brown sugar) to start, but underlying kalamata olive and chorizo note
‏@OliverKlimek Smoked mackerel garnished with dried figs and sprinkled with hick soy sauce... most unusual but intriguing
‏@ChrisWhiskyman Mature, leafy Oloroso with a light medicinal note and a touch of smoke. Very clean, no sulphur
‏@EdinburghWhisky Brine, old wooden boxes that live in the shed for no reason and aniseed

Whisky Discovery #263

Bunnahabhain 1989, 21 Year Old (46% abv Bottled 2012)
Islay Single Cask Malt Whisky
circa £89.00 70cl

Bunnahabhain translates as “mouth of the river” from the gaelic, the river in question being the Margadale which flows into the Sound of Islay near to the distillery. Although generally a more lightly peated Islay this expression is an exception as it was produced from a batch of stock using barley at a higher level of peat-smoke exposure.

Last weekend I had my first experience of distillery releases tasting both the 12 and 18 Year Old expressions at the Wine & Spirits Show in London. However I have a Signatory Vintage 1997 cask strength heavily peated expression on my shelf, and had another peated expression 'The Sound of Islay' from Cambridge Wines earlier this year

So What Did I Think?

Someone couldn't do the math for the label of this expression. Distilled in 1989 and bottled in 2012, it would be difficult to be a 21 Year Old - it got lost somewhere for a year or two! It must be either a 22 or 23 Year Old depending upon the months, but I don't think it really matters!

I got a light fruity pear drops on the nose initially but it quickly settled down to almonds and icing with the lightest of peat smoke. The nose gets quite spicy after a while in the glass too.

It had a lovely spicy palate with salted nuts, citrus zest and sweet scented smoke. With more time in the glass the palate reveals some herbal grassy notes too, and the sweet scented smoke gets a little sooty. I think this was my favourite of the four tasted this evening, although the Littlemill is a very close second.

Some of my favourite tweets for this expression

‏@abbeywhisky Liquorice, sweet flavours, almonds, Christmas cake & brandy on the nose
‏@TheWhiskyBoys Nose: gentle smoke, almonds, vanilla
‏@themisswhisky All about the caramel apples for me here. There are these Halloween candies from Canada
‏@TheWhiskyLounge Breath of fresh air after the Jura. Over-ripe banana, slight marzipan, cold salted butter packet, orange pith
‏@LRWhisky Loving the Christmas marzipan on the nose
‏@SohoWhiskyClub Wow! lots of peach, watermelon, rich exotic fruits, grapes, bit of green apple, with some burnt ash type stuff.
‏@cowfish It's all about the starmix - the butteriness is from the fried eggs
‏@EdinburghWhisky Lovely. The almonds and vanilla work so well. The smoke hides a dry lemon zest underneath. Pistachio too!
‏@whisky4everyone The nose of the Bunna 89 is delicate with honey, vanilla, malty cereals, icing sugar, green apple plus hints of brine & banana
‏@greatwhisky Nose is kinda like green fruit gums, very slight peaty goodness, honey on ryvita!
‏@themisswhisky Oh...a beautiful bundle of honey, hickory wood chips, green apples, sea salt and pistachios...lovely!

As per previous Tweet Tastings there was a great deal of tweeting going on and to see what happened search on the #BerrysWhisky hashtag on twitter for the full story!

Yet another great experience and another highlight of my whisky journey, registering a fabulous four new ‘discoveries’ A massive THANK YOU to Steve Rush at @TheWhiskyWire  Amanda and her team at The Great Whisky Co. @GreatWhisky who organised it all and of course Rob & Adrian from @BerryBrosRudd

This events tweet tasters were:

@TheWhiskyWire @BerryBrosRudd @BBRRob @Rockyajl @TWLEddie @TWLAmanda @TWLJoe @GreatWhisky @ChrisWhiskyman @S_Rob @cowfish @WhiskyTasting @themisswhisky @WorldWhiskyDay @WhiskyDiscovery @TIA568B @LRWhisky @weheartwhisky @TheWhiskyBoys @abbeywhisky @sohowhiskyclub 

@whisky4everyone @AnneEJones @EdinburghWhisky @OliverKlimek @whiskywardrobe @galg

If you want to be included in the next Tweet Tasting make sure you are following @TheWhiskyWire on Twitter to find out what is happening.

For more information see: www.thewhiskywire.com Don't forget to also check out www.greatwhisky.co.uk and for information about Berry Bros & Rudd visit: www.bbr.com

Jura Twitter Tasting

I took part in The Whisky Wire's Jura Tweet Tasting last Wednesday evening and made sure I got out of the office in good time to get home and prepared to sample the five great drams from the Isle of Jura.

The five sample drams arrived from The Isle of Jura, I didn't know what to expect following the last Tweet Tasting from the English Whisky Co. where four 'blind' samples were sent to tease us. 

The Jura samples however, were all clearly labelled and from their core range of single malts, with one exception, and 'jewel in the crown' a limited edition 21 Year Old.

Only one of the five drams sent was completely new to me, but the tweet tastings are always great fun, and it is always interesting reading others reactions to the whiskies we're sampling.

Steve Rush of the Whisky Wire had sent all of the Tweet Tasters some notes as well as a tasting mat with the whiskies laid out in tasting order, and as the hour approached photographs of the set-ups were being posted, mostly similar to mine below, and with everyone ready, we started promptly at seven o'clock:

My set up ready for the #JuraTT tasting session

Dram #1 Isle of Jura 10 Year Old 
40% abv Silver Winner at 2010 IWSC Awards
Circa £25.50 70cl

10 Year Old 'Origin'

This was one of the the first whiskies I tasted at the very beginning of my journey (Whisky Discovery #5) I bought a bottle of Jura 10 Year Old following an episode of 'Three Men in a Boat' with Dara Ó Briain, Rory McGrath and Griff Rhys Jones. In the fifth series they went to Scotland and Rory visited the Jura Distillery, the whole scene looked very idyllic, and the whisky looked and sounded fantastic. I loved it initially, but then went off it for a while for some unknown reason. Then when I returned to it later in the year I 're-discovered' it and was sad to see the end of the bottle.

The symbol printed on the 10 Year Old, or Origin, packaging is the traditional Celtic symbol for birth and is therefore the whisky at the beginning of the Jura collection.

To try this again within the Tweet Tasting group was great fun and opened up a great deal more from this core expression from Jura. My blog post for this 10 year old really doesn't do the whisky justice, but then I had only just started drinking whisky and knew little about it, and my blog wasn't even born at that time, just a 'liquid log' recording the whiskies I was discovering.

This 10 year old is light and delicate with a warming honey finish. Lingering taste of warming gentle oak, honey and caramel, soft liquorice and roasted coffee beans. I hadn't noticed previously but this time there was a definite young pine cone nose to this 10 year old at first, before giving way to soft fruits, sweet peaches and apricots. After a while longer in the glass a malty oakiness started to develop, there was a salty tang. and orange marmalade too. On the palate there were tastes of sweet caramel, dark chocolate, salt, buttery shortbread, and white pepper spices. The finish was fairly short, salty and white pepper. A great start to the evenings tasting.

Some of my favourite tweets for the 10 Year Old:

‏

@TheWhiskyBoys Nose 'Firstly honey coated cigarettes, singed flower petals, over stewed tea, salty and dry'

‏@fr1day 'Smells like you're walking through a pine forest, nibbling on a green apple'

‏@HTFWhisky 'definitely a buttery palate, but also quite salty at the same time! Like Norwegian salted butter cooked in honey!'

‏@ifotou 'Palette more of the seaside saltiness with dark cocoa and still some citrus notes, pine cones and crushed sunflower seeds'

‏@TIA568B 'Finish: Very dry, grapefruit pith, salty, leaves a bit of a citric bitterness in the mouth.'

Dram #2 Isle of Jura Superstition NAS
43% abv – Gold Winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2009
Circa £29.00 70cl

Superstition

I've still got some of this on my shelf, a Christmas 2011 gift, so have got to really enjoy this lightly peated Jura (Whisky Discovery #31)

The difference in my blog posts from the beginning of my journey to one year on is clearly evident! I got in touch with the distillery to find out more about the make up of Superstition at the time.

Superstition is lightly peated with hints of smoke and spice. This lightly peated malt – which incidentally Islanders believe is bad luck to be cut before May – features the Egyptian symbol of the Ankh cross which is believed to bring good fortune of immortality. 

A no age statement whisky brought together from a selection of different aged casks, some as old as 21 years

The nose is fresh, lightly peated, floral; with hints of orange blossom, sweet butterscotch and white pepper, lots of white pepper. There's a salty tang too. On the palate it's immediately salty or briny, before the sherry influence of rich fruits kicks in, then butterscotch and burnt vanilla, again the spice white pepper at the end. Once again this whisky evolves nicely in the glass slowly releasing it's secrets.

Some of my favourite tweets for Superstition:

‏@rodbodtoo 'nose: salty and lightly peaty. Bacon? The ghost of Bacon? Posh aftershave'

@FrazerJ 'ohh bamm, very pleasant peaty smooth, bit of heather/green - lovely smoke. I am buying this' 

‏@HTFWhisky 'On the nose I get a wealth of salty butter and suggestions of peat.'

@TheWhiskyBoys 'Palate - sweet & thick citrus fruits (orange, pineapple), dusting of just lit peat fire smoke, wine gums, sherry'

@sgilboa 'On the palate - warm, peppery, oily AND dry.caramel, brown sugar, coffee notes. Nuts, nutmeg on the finish'

Dram #3 Isle of Jura 16 Year Old (Diurach's Own)
40% abv – Gold Best in Class at the 2010 IWSC Awards

Circa £43.50 70cl

Diurachs Own 16 Year Old

First tasted this 16 Year Old at Whisky Live in London earlier this year, (Whisky Discovery #52) I was looking forward to revisiting this expression.

Those who hail from Jura are known as Diurachs and the Diurachs like nothing better than sharing their island’s history, legends and folklore over a dram of 16 years old.

The Diurach’s Own has rich flavours of dark chocolate combined with oranges and spices, with sweet toffee and honey to finish.

I tweeted that on the initially I had softwood sap on the nose - continuing with the pine cone theme! I also found a little acetone too, but being an ex-boatbuilder I quite like the smell of this. 

After a while fruity notes start to open up peachy apricots and blackened bananas. The 16 Year Old is not as peppery as the earlier two.

This Jura 16 Year Old is definitely moving up my wish list, and loved it's alluring sweetness, smooth and creaminess, and its light salty tang I found these first three whiskies tasted didn't need water at all, but always try adding a drop or two just to see the effect. As with the previous two the finish was quite short.

Some of my favourite tweets for Superstition:

‏@whiskyrepublic 'A more challenging nose, having to work a little harder, again a pinch of pine, soupcon of smoke, flighty fragrance'

@ifotou 'stunning sweet dried fruits, and pine trees, still has that seaside saltiness fresh wet forest leaves'

‏@WHISKYILEACH 'smells like my shed the day after I was using varnish a wee bit'

‏@stevenmcc82 'Jura 16 always reminds me of weathers originals, honey, toffee and vanilla' 

@PresleyKa 'Very over ripe banana, you know the ones that go black in your fruit basket because you've forgotten to eat 1 of your 5 a day.'

@HTFWhisky 'palate reminds me of Honey Ice-cream from the Halo Shop in Tywyn near Aberdovey in Wales. Very smooth feel in the mouth.'

Dram #4 Isle of Jura 21 Year Old 200th Anniversary Edition
44% abv
Circa £99.00 70cl

200th Anniversary 21 Year Old

This was the one Jura I was really looking forward to and this was my Whisky Discovery #154

A special commemorative bottling to celebrate 200 years of distilling at Jura Distillery. Finished in 1963 Gonzalez Byass sherry casks. (1963 was also the same year Jura was re-established on the Island.)

The limited edition pack contains a unique personal invitation from the distillery manager to visit the Jura distillery for a private sampling. Twenty-one owners of the Jura 21 will be selected to stay in the luxurious Jura lodge. 

Flawless finish of soft marzipan, crushed walnuts, fleshy pear and tangy orange peel. Whispers of succulent maraschino cherries, plums and soft liquorice complete this memorable masterpiece.

So What did I think?

I'm not quite sure why this limited edition commemorative bottling has been released at just 44% abv, I would have though at least 46% and possibly cask strength? That said however, this still was rather special. As with the previous four expressions time in the glass revealed more as the nose evolved, but I tweeted, rich dark orange marmalade, toffee, sherried fruits, sultanas, figs and a little furniture polish too, a very complex 21 year old, yet very smooth light and delicate and totally delicious.

Some of my favourite tweets for the 21 year Old

@sgilboa 'more subtle on the nose (apart boom of alcohol), gentle, rich, ripe plums, sultanas, apricots, oak'

@TheWhiskyBoys 'Nose - Caribbean fruits, chlorine, fresh beach air, cedar wood shavings, floral drawer liner, unlit cigar, metallic/brass'

@whiskyrepublic 'deep & dark, sherry & polish on the nose, I'm getting hints of orange ( a theme for me tonight)'

@AlasterPhillips 'nose: ripe bananas, cold earl grey tea, a large bowl of milky coffee and the marzipan off the top of an xmas cake'

@TheWhiskyWire ‏'Dried oak smeared in lemon curd'

@rodbodtoo 'palate: very smooth, light and a touch oily. Malty, with fruit round the edges, and a bit of sherbet lemon'

Dram #5 Isle of Jura Prophecy NAS
46% abv – Gold Best in Class at the 2010 IWSC Awards
Circa £49.00 70cl

Prophecy

This was the second of the the two Jura expressions I first tasted at Whisky Live earlier this Year, (Whisky Discovery #53) and one that has been high on 'Dad's Whisky Wish List' stuck on the fridge.

The seer foretold that the last Campbell to leave Jura would depart on a horse and cart with only one eye to lead the way. This prophecy came true when the last Campbell, who had lost his eye in battle, left the island on his white horse. 

To celebrate the seer’s mystical prophecy, each bottle has the symbol of the ‘all seeing eye’ to watch over this fine spirit.

This is a wonderful smoky peaty, Islay nose to the Prophecy - I love a peaty whisky! It's not got the medicinal notes that some peaty Islays can have, but it does have a wonderful beach bonfire nose, salty creamy and liquorice too - for me, this is very enjoyable and I'm pleased to see an abv content of 46%

Some of my favourite tweets for Prophecy

‏@whiskyrepublic 'nose - I'm getting the sea here - walking through a fresh fish market, briny, someone's burning leaves'
@NickDaBird 'nose- lemon zest, creamy, bonfire and tobacco weighs in- smoked bacon?'
‏@fr1day 'Wet, matted leaves covering a forest floor set on fire & smouldering (any idea how hard it is to get that fire started?!)'
@TIA568B 'Nose: Very floral peat, smoke, salty & coastal, citric zesty, charcoal, a bonfire on a beach, no lactic notes so far!'
@TheWhiskyBoys 'Palate - wait! is this an Islay.., powerhouse of peat, salty seaside, oily, BBQ coal, touch of smoked gammon'
@TIA568B 'Palate: Peaty, earthy, burnt wood, still a dry coaliness about it (Welsh steam?), sweet, nutty, sweet, vanilla, but very dry'

As per previous Tweet Tastings there was a great deal of tweeting going on and to see what happened search on the #JuraTT hashtag on twitter for the full story!

Yet another great experience and another highlight of my whisky journey, revisiting four and  registering a fabulous new ‘discovery’ A massive THANK YOU to Steve Rush at @TheWhiskyWire and everyone at @jura_whisky

For more information see: http://www.thewhiskywire.com/ and http://www.isleofjura.com/ and don't forget to sign up and become a Diurach too while you're there (check out my Whisky Clubs page too)