oddly enough, Strathisla...

Strangely the first wallop is of the Strathisla 12 yr old from the Strathisla Distillery that brings us the blended Chivas Regal range.
This is actually quite appropriate because apart from growing up around the odd Johnnie Walker Red Label [ooer ;-) ], Chivas Regal was the flashest of drops to grace our home [Yes, really].
My dad was a lover of a wee tipple [ahem], but not so much into whisky as I recall. One day, however, he came home with a super humongous bottle of Chivas [won in a raffle at the blessed C.T. Club in the 'Tron] and we were all in awe. What amazed me was the metallic look box it came in.
Here I am, around 30 years later sipping on the Strathisla brother of that drop.


I must add that I have a limited sense of smell and therefore my tasting ability is impaired, yet still strangely accurate at times. In this case, I suspect not, but here we go.

I found it to be smokey, tasty, initially spicy with a gradually sweetening aftertaste, ending in an aromatically uplifting effect [affect?] on my palate... does that make sense?

Now let's see what the distillery itself says about it's product:

Nose: Rich and fruity, with a complex array of hay-like aromas balanced with a dry oakiness
Taste: Full, fruity and hay-like flavours, with a mellow nutty sweetness
Finish: Rich and mellow

http://www.maltwhiskydistilleries.com/

Islay malts - Uisque beatha... the water of life.

Beavearneo and I favour the strongly flavoured and distinctive Islay malts. Here is a link to the island and a run down of the range of treats available.

"An eilean anns a'ghloine.
An gloine anns an làmh"
The isle within the glass. The glass within the hand

Whisky Walloping

My dear friend, Bevearneo, has done what no other has managed - turned me into a Whisky drinker. Previously I found the stuff vile and off-putting. Luckily, Bevearneo's passion for Single Malts of the Isle of Islay has lead to me seeing the error of my ways. I know now that Whisky is a treasure to be savoured.
In these blog posts, I will introduce Whiskey's that we have purchased and tasted. The four or five of us who I suspect will be invovled with th etasting are normal plebs with no claim to connoisseur status, but with different tastes, hence there may be some interest in comparing notes.
The hardy crew of reprobates I shall assemble include myself [David], Bevearneo, Ricardo, Vike and possibly Deeknow and a splendid chap I haven't met in person but who I know shares an interest in the malty treats. [I'll confirm his interest and prefered nickname before going any further.]
Feel free to join us in leaving comments/opinions on whiskys being discussed.