November 2009 Meeting - WEDNESDAY 25th

[TheWhiskeyBro]

The committee have the pleasure in announcing that the last official tasting of the year will be a premium tasting which will take place on the 25th November in Brooks Hotel.

We can already confirm it will be available to members at the normal €10 price as a thank you for your support in 2009, so it will be definitely one not to miss.

Non-members, newbies and guests can participate at a very reasonable €20 on this occasion.

Forum members are encouraged to suggest bottles that they would like the opportunity to taste at this event.

We have set aside a larger than normal budget for this one. So we want to stretch that as far as possible to deliver a memorable night. The suggested format is 3 Irish and 3 Scotch (flexible)

Ideas and suggestions please.

[Michael Foggarty]

i have a bottle of belgian whisk to throw into the mix if you want

[JohnM]

What's the per-bottle budget for this one, Leo?

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Well approximately double the normal budget, I'm trying to get the best whiskey possible for around €80 -€100 average, so we can go slightly over on one bottle if we get something interesting for slightly less!

[JohnM]

That sounds good. If you need anything, let me know.

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I can offer any of the following ...

Bushmills 17yo Single Cask Rum Barrel (The one Ally had a couple years ago)

Kilbeggan Ltd Edition 15yo

Tyrconnell 14YO Single Cask Malt

Glenrothes 1984 (Dis Nov '84 Bot Mar '02)

Balblair 1989 (Old bottle 2003)

[JohnM]

They all sound good.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Following our recent committee meeting it has been decided that to celebrate our first year in existence we will focus our 2009 Premium Tasting on the best of Irish Whiskey, listed below are some of the finest Irish Whiskies produced in recent years, the list as fans and enthusiasts alike know is not exhaustive. Let us know your preferences and we will try and finalise a line up based on what members and visitors want.

Bushmills Rare Aged 21 Year Old
Bushmills Carribbean Rum Cask
Bushmills Single Cask Bourbon Barrel
Bushmills Single Cask Rum Cask
Bushmills Single Cask Sherry Butt
Knappogue Castle 1993
Jameson Signature Reserve
Jameson Gold Reserve
Jameson 18
Redbreast 12 Year Old
Redbreast 15 Year Old
Midleton Very Rare 2005 2006 or 2008
Locke's Grand Crew Cask 696
Tyrconnell 15 Year Old Single Cask #351 #354 #1854
Connemara Cask Strength (2007 Bottling L7016)
Knappogue Castle 1993
Greenore 15 years Old

New Bottlings which may or may not appear in time for end November

Writers Tears (Irishman) 40%

Cooley are rumoured to be considered releasing some of there oldest age statements yet, hopefully in time for Christmas, watch this space as we try to find out more.

So this is your tasting, please let us know what you would like to see.

[jcskinner]

I can also offer a bottle of the Bushmills rum cask or Bushmills single bourbon cask 14 yo (bottled a few years back, not the one Ally currently is selling.)
I also have a spare Midleton VR 2007 without a box which could suit being opened, as it's not collectable in its current state. You could have my Greenore 15 yo too. I've never opened it, and when I did get to taste it, I found I liked the 8 yo better!
There is that 60s Redbreast too, but we might want to hold that back for a chronological Redbreast tasting or a pps tasting at some point.

[JohnM]

Again, everything sounds good to me.

Maybe a good mix of Midleton, Cooley and Bushmills would be good.

Here's a picture of the Writers Tears bottle, which is missing an apostrophe.

http://www.voyagerwineclub.pl/pl_vwc_ir ... shman1.php

[jcskinner]

i have a bottle of belgian whisk to throw into the mix if you want

Would love to see you hold onto that for a world whiskies tasting in the New Year.
A round-the-world tasting should be on our list for next year, I believe.
I'm fairly closed-minded about whiskey coming out of anywhere other than the big 5 - Scotland, Ireland, Japan, USA and Canada - and maybe others are too.
Perhaps we need such a tasting of Australian, New Zealand, French, German, Swedish, Indian, Belgian etc drams to open our palates and our minds!

[JohnM]

I have had a Lamerlaw that was very good. I think, potentially, you can make good whisky almost anywhere in the world. I don't think there's any terrior when it comes to whisky. You can grow barley nearly anywhere. Already, within the established whisky-producing nations, there is a wide variety of climates.

[jcskinner]

Technically, you could.
I'm just not convinced that the know-how and traditional expertise in whiskey distillation exists in great amounts outside the five countries I named. But I'm open to being persuaded by evidence to the contrary!
Anyhow, it's maybe a debate for another thread. I'll stop spamming this one and leave it for its intended purpose - for people to discuss what premium drams they'd like to sample in November.

[Michael Foggarty]

I can offer the CWS Midleton Single cask from last year.

I would hope that we have the next Single Cask available by then as surely that would be a must?

[DavidH]

I can offer the CWS Midleton Single cask from last year.

I'd love to have this one! I'd prefer it to an ordinary Midleton or a Jameson 18yo.

And if there is a new one (PPS, I understand) then, yes, absolutely, that too!

[TheWhiskeyBro]

There goes the budget , but I'll do my best to make room for it ... i'll e-maill MF to discuss, thanks for the offer, much appreciated,

[Luke Gough]

How about one of these?:

Bushmills Single Cask Bourbon Wood (Cask Strength NCF)
SMWS 23 Year-Old Longmorn (Cask Strength NCF)
Blantons Single Barrel Bourbon (Never with an age statement, but always outstanding)

I'll put up one of the above FOC, 'tis almost the Season after all...

[Luke Gough]

I can offer the CWS Midleton Single cask from last year.

I'd love to have this one! I'd prefer it to an ordinary Midleton or a Jameson 18yo.

And if there is a new one (PPS, I understand) then, yes, absolutely, that too!

PPS?! Ye Gods!!!

More news on this please!!!

[Luke Gough]

How about one of these?:

Bushmills Single Cask Bourbon Wood (Cask Strength NCF)
SMWS 23 Year-Old Longmorn (Cask Strength NCF)
Blantons Single Barrel Bourbon (Never with an age statement, but always outstanding)

I'll put up one of the above FOC, 'tis almost the Season after all...

Attention those in admin: Let me know which of these you'd like in good time - this month will flash past!

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Hi Luke,

your generous offer is much appreciated,

The committee has already agreed the November tasting will be Irish only, and as we already have 2 special Bushmills bottles lined up for this tasting, we will pass on this for now.

We hope to have a PPS only tasting in 2010.

The CWS single cask will be a 14 year old pure pot still bourbon cask, similar to the Greenspot 12 year old single cask. It's characteristics are closer to a greenspot than the sherried redbreast 12/15.

I will keep note of your other offers and might approach you in 2010 for one of the other tastings (FOC or otherwise)

Thanks again

[Luke Gough]

You're more than welcome!

[DavidH]

I edited the title of this thread to emphasise that the meeting will be on WEDNESDAY, November 25th, in Brooks Hotel. We had trouble booking a venue for the usual Thursday.

[DavidH]

Booking for this event is NOW OPEN

We have introduced this system so we don't have to disappoint guests on the night. At our last tasting the room filled to capacity and we had to turn away some guests. This way, you can be sure of your place before you set out.

[John]

Hi All,
I can't believe there are only 18 places left for the Society Tasting finale this Wednesday. If you haven't booked yet then clearly you like living on the edge!!
J.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Hi All,

We are now fully booked for tonights tasting, with approx. 40 due to attend, so it should be a good evening.

Should anyone be unable to attend, please let us know so we can offer their place to someone else.

If you haven't booked, keep watching here today for any spare places that might come up, or feel free to chance your arm tonight in the hope of a no-show.

Thanks for the interest...