Does this count? CNY challenge update and final evaluation

In the end, there was insufficient time and energy to find that one last whisky to bring the CNY 15 day - 15 new whiskies challenge to a successful end. We are stuck on 14, without a final, proper tasting note to round it off. Pity. Would have been perfect to end off the challenge on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, which also happens to be my birthday, according to the Lunar calendar.

But perhaps there is a mystery whisky to the rescue...

At WT's home last Thursday, there was a flask of mystery whisky. Something that WT's father had put into a stainless steel flask more than a decade ago. No one remembers what it is anymore...Dare I hazard a guess??

Colour - Light gold.

Nose - When the flask was first opened, there was a burst of something that smelt like sherry. That's 10 years of alcohol fumes bursting out at one go. Intense. Subsequently, the whisky could not be smelt anymore. After pouring it out, it surprised me. No sherry at all! Instead, honey and vanilla. This must be a blend, right?

Palate - Honey, vanilla. Not much wood, and just a little bit of alcohol. Fairly smooth, but taste-wise, a little flat and unexciting. Pleasant, for sure. Unfortunately, the number of years spent in the flask has imparted the whisky with a bit of a metallic edge.

Finish - Nothing much. A tiny bit of spice, a bit of vanilla, and it disappears.

My guess is that this is a Chivas. Perhaps a Chivas 12 from more than a decade ago. No one remembers, and we'll probably never find out...But the most important question is, does this count? Have we finished the CNY 15 days - 15 new whiskies challenge?!?

****************************************************************

Just to recap, the 14 (+1) that we've tasted this CNY are:

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye (Not so good)
Johnnie Walker Blue King George V (Nice but not worth the price)
Taketsuru 21 years (Great, if obtainable at a reasonable price)
Auchentoshan Three Wood (Pretty decent and interesting!)
Balvenie 30 years (Wonderful)
Glenfiddich 18 (Smooth, but a little plain)
Hibiki 17 (Great, though prices are shooting up)
Macallan 18 (Good sherried whisky)
Macallan Estate Reserve (Good, but feels like the wood is a bit out of balance)
Santis Edition Santis (Good, easy drinking, but not easily available)
Ardbeg 10 (Good entry level Ardbeg)
Hibiki 12 (Smooth and nice. Prices are increasing too)
Penderyn Aur Cymru Madeira (Mm. Have lots of water at hand)
Yamazaki 12 (Good! But hard to find at a good price)
+
(Mystery Whisky)

***************************************************************

Best whisky: Balvenie 30
No surprises here, as the oldest, most expensive one also happens to be the best one. The Taketsuru 21 is a close second, at less than half the price.

Best value-for-money: Santis Malt, Edition Santis
Good, pleasant drink at an affordable price (if you can find it)

And that's a wrap! Many thanks to the friends who shared their whiskies, and contributing to this little tasting challenge! A pity that we couldn't do the last one properly. Ah well. There's always next year!