Small Sips After a Big Hiatus

Again, work gets in the way of enjoyment, and whisky tasting/drinking has been slow. Leisure is what a man would if he did not do it for the purpose of keeping himself alive. Play, as opposed to work. And it is, supposedly, in play and leisure that a person best finds and expresses himself. I think that's some kind of Aristotelian philosophy that I'm completely butchering, but the point is: work and no leisure makes a person less of himself. But what if you love your work? Or what if, you drink whisky and write tasting notes for a living? What is work? What is play? What is leisure? Who are you?

But I digress.

Finally found some time on Friday night to catch up with JP, collect 2 books that he helped me to buy, and try a few different drams. These three were tried at Auld Alliance, as usual.

Cadenhead Small Batch Craigellachie, 18 years 1994/2013 (54.4% abv)

Colour - dark gold, almost amber.

Nose - This one noses like what I've come to expect from Craigellachie. An old type of Speyside matured in dry but good sherry casks. Rubbery and leathery nose, with hints of dry sherry - not really sweet red fruit, but more like...the scent of a red wine stain on a shirt that hasn't been to the dry cleaners yet. I'm pretty sure that's not what "dry sherry" is supposed to mean. A hint of smoke under the leather, and I think suggestions of nuts. An oaky undertone stays throughout the nosing.

Palate - Tastes very much like it noses - rubbery and leathery in a good way. A little bit of sulphur, and something meaty - more like a seasoned jerky rather than barbecued meat. Sweeter than it noses - the sherry comes out more, and actually tastes fresher and brighter than the sherry you get on the nose. Pretty good! Not much nuts. Maybe I was wrong with the nose. Despite the high strength, this doesn't burn much, though there are some spices - cinnamon and nutmeg, I think. Oak remains on the palate, and maybe a hint of burnt sugar. Development on the palate isn't very long, and nothing very surprising, but overall, good sherried Speyside, and stays true to Craigellachie's character.

Finish - Not very long. And this is where I think this dram is most clearly inferior to the 31. Short-ish finish on some drying oak tannin infused with a bit of sherry. Remains a little meaty still.

Overall - Undoubtedly a good whisky, but doesn't quite make it into the hall of fame due to its predictability and short-ish finish. But that's probably because I've been spoilt by having the official 31 year as my first Craigellachie.

G&M Connoisseur's Choice Glenallachie 1992/2009 (43% abv)

This dram was tried unintentionally - JP and I ordered the Craigellachie, but was given the Glenallachie instead. Frankly, a mistake anyone could make. Auld Alliance were nice enough to give this to us free (they can't pour it back into the bottle anyway!), and served us the Craigellachie after that. Yay. Bonus whisky!

Colour - Light gold, almost white wine

Nose - Rather a lot of cut grass. Green and fresh, with a fair bit of vanilla and icing sugar. Mm. Doesn't smell very complex, this one.

Palate - Oh, this tastes younger than it actually is. Maybe the wood wasn't doing its job properly? Slight alcohol burn, and, again, rather green on the palate too. Grass and a soft vanilla/honey touch. A bit of oak and slightly bitter after a while.

Finish - Unremarkable. Slightly bitter, a bit of...star anise? Oak tannin, and no more.

Overall - Fairly easy and pleasant, but not memorable.

And I think I've got to get back to preparing stuff for work. Shall have to write about the other two whiskies another time! Longrow C.V. and Hakushu Sherry Cask 2013!