Springbank eat, sleep, dram, repeat tour was absolutely worth the journey and the price. For those of you considering the adventure, here are some tips.
The last few years Armagnac has experienced a small renaissance. The traditional single producer rustic brandy has struck a chord with connoisseurs. At the start..
SMWS 26.151 – Fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers – Clynelish 26yo 47.3%
Let’s do a SMWS Clynelish tasting! I’ve had very little Clynelish and have heard wonderful things about this bottle. Nose Tangerine, peach/apricot cobbler, honeysuckle, jasmine,..
Nose: cherry cola bbq sauce, which if you haven’t made it, now belongs at the top of your bucket list. It a tough debate which is better Vs Dr Pepper sauce. But with ribs, the real secret is the balance between your rub and the sauce. The best rubs are brown sugar, celery salt, powdered mustard, paprika and used coffee grounds. And this pour somehow pulls in elements which bring me back. Hands down the best rib combo you’ll ever brew. Deep earth sweetness, talking RJs raspberry licorice. Which has nothing to do with any anise derivatives, just a good old earthy fruit chew.
Palate: This is much better than I was expecting. But as buddhist scripture says expectation is the root of all suffering. And I am not suffering in the slightest, take that optimists. Dang, wish I had a bigger sample. Rasberry was truly on point. Espresso gin and tonic. Little takes me back to grandpas pipe tobacco and scratchy wool sweaters. Gamey biltong with a touch of smoke. Dark chocolate with seasalt. Sojourn continues his deep obsession with Acai. An obsession I dont mind in abstract, but in practice its a pricey addiction.
Rating: 7 / 10 – This is actually quite lovely. I was expecting a mass blended and bitter brew after my disappointment with the 2022 PX release. Instead I found a nice classic springbank dna with great fruitiness and earthiness that palo cortado brings to the table. I do wish I could try it at 16 years, to see how it continues to evolve. At market price this is an easy call. Secondary pricey are silly thought and for what I see people asking (beacause I checked) I’ll take a 1993 glendronach any day.
Glendronach 1993 19 Year Oloroso Sherry Butt #542 60.3%
Nose: grape tootsie pop right after crunching into the middle, stone fruits, vanilla, raisin nut bran, over ripe fig, oatmeal raisin cookies, pfeffernusse
Palate: apricot black tea with an intense tannin bite, raisins, black peppercorn, bergamot, tobacco leaf, intensity 11 heavy roast espresso, black forest cherry, quite syrupy on the mouthfeel
Rating: 6 (Ryan) / 8 (Shane) 10 – the first sip is potent and dark bitterness, but then the rich syrupy fruit explodes and the pairing is pretty glorious for me. Ryan says its too bitter.
Nose: light green olive brine, browned butter, subtle stone fruit, vanilla, oak, charcoal briquette, kombucha, cold cigarette smoke from the day before
Palate: interesting sweetness, turkish apricots, unripe plums, and the boom bitterness of aspirin and green bell pepper, very very strong oak, touch of matchstick
Rating: 3 (Ryan / Shane) / 10 – the latest 15 year releases are just plain weird. While this isn’t sulfury, its sulfur adjacent enough for me not to enjoy it.
Balcones Texas Single Malt Whisky Plumpjack “Texicali Booze” #16009 EU Oak Bottled 64.1%
Nose: grape jolly rancher, sarsaparilla, salted dark licorice, anchovy, dry old wallet
Palate: copper, grape electrolytes, both artificial and salty. a lick of port reduction on a cutlet. Cut globe grapes in tonic.
Rating: 5 / 10 (Ryan / Shane) – this is an odd one. It’s both enjoyable and kind of hard to drink. In ryan words … I think I like it… maybe… It’s a fun little ride?
Balcones Texas Single Malt Whisky Goody Goody #14160 Used FO Ex-Rmb 64.2%
Nose: rum raisin ice cream, grape nerds / poprocks, nougat, cold wood cabin, tomato vine (after some time and sipping)
Palate: ice sweetness at the front, vanilla, rum raisin ice cream from the nose, less grapey, nice quality wood, a strong grape vinegar kombucha vibe, black tea, that core modern Balcones sour note. Tried it with a big splash of water and it becomes elegantly grapey with a gnarly bitter note. Better at full proof.
