First Post - Something Different

This blog is intended to be a record of my whisky collection, tastings and trips. I've enjoyed whisky since my 20's but it's really into my 30's and 40's that I started enjoying the subtleties of it rather than just as another drink. I'm no being drinker, sometimes a drop won't touch my lips for a few weeks, sometimes I might have a couple of drams in an evening. I enjoy a beer or two as well, particularly Belgian beers so expect those to pop up from time to time too.

I currently have 25 bottles in my collection - not large by any account, but each bottle has a story and a reason for having it. All of them are open and are meant to be drunk and enjoyed. 

Some come from from Whisky Runs - trips with friends in my Alfa Spider to a distillery, an overnighter and scenic drive home. Great fun and a fantastic way to see the country. 

• Clynelish
• Blair Athol
• Glenkinchie
• Singleton of Glen Ord

My bottle of Dalwhinnie from the first of these runs has been drunk, and very nice it was too. Another is required!

I've picked up a couple whist on other drives, two from the Whisky Castle in Tomintoul 

• Aberfeldy 12yo
• Aberlour A'Bunadh Cask Strength, Oloroso finish.

And from the Bladnoch distilleries earlier incarnation; 

• Bladnoch 11yo Lightly Peated, Sherry Finish, Bottled in 2012

From day trips with some friends;

• Glen Grant Majors Reserve - and my little Key pin badge.

And these from trips away with my wife;

• Nc'nean from the Dunkeld Whisky Box
• Kingsbarns Dream to Dram from the distillery in Fife
• Connemara, a souvenir of a trip to Dublin to see ZZ Top 
• Fettercairn Fior - bought at Aberdeen Airport on my last trip to Azerbaijan

Others are a reminder of several Christmas holidays in Lossiemouth while my wife did her training at Dr Gray's in Elgin. All were purchased from Gordon & MacPhail

• Bladnoch Adela 15yo Oloroso Cask
• Bladnoch Samsara Californian Red Wine & Bourbon cask
• Blantons's Single Barrel Bourbon
• Gordon and MacPhail bottled Tomatin 11yo
• Michter's Rye whiskey, a belated purchase due to the covid restrictions.

Another excellent shop which is nearby, the Inverurie Whisky Shop has provided some too;

• Tamnavulin double cask
• Glen Dronach 15yo
• Arran Amerone cask finish
• "Scorpions" Macmyra finished in German Cherry wine and Oloroso casks (!)

And lurking in the cabinet;

• A quarter bottle of Oban 14yo
• A half of Glenlivet Founders Reserve
• Drambuie (for a cold night)
• Several Macallan miniatures
• Woodford's Reserve Bourbon - Double Oak finish bought in Stavanger on a return from  Norway trip.

So, that's the collection. The most recent arrival, today in fact, was an odd choice.

My wife and I went to drop off a parcel at the collection point which happened to be the Inverurie Whisky Shop. Whilst gazing at the shelves I noticed a bottle with the logo of the German band the Scorpions on it.  I quite like them, their 80's and 90's songs are a real guitar fest and brilliant driving tunes, but I thought the bottle might be a novelty rather than something worth trying. However I turned it over to get some idea of exactly what it was. I was surprised to read that it was produced by the Swedish distiller Mackmyra after maturing in bourbon casks it was finished with a spell in Spanish Oloroso Sherry and then German Cherry Wine casks. This didn't sound like a novelty supermarket whisky with a band logo on it, so I bought it, as much to try the Swedish whisky as for the band affiliation. 

So to my first tasting. Pop on "Rock You Like A Hurricane" from '84's Love at First Sting to set the mood...

Colour first - in the bottle it's a rich brown with a slightly golden orange tone

No age statement and a rubber cork. First time I've seen that, even my small bottles have real cork. 

Smell - not much of a nose, but there is a sweetness to it which I suspect comes from the cherry. 

It's 40 % so I'm not expecting it to be a harsh burn. 

Here goes...

It's soft and not very thick tasting, a very gentle taste with a light, quick clean finish. There's not a great deal of taste, more hints of it and reminds it me of my Glen Grant. 

Third sip and it's getting better, perhaps as the spirit in the glass opens up a bit. I can taste the light vanilla and warmth of the Sherry and at the last edge of that a sweeter cherry. It's still a light drink though. None of the pyro explosion I'd expect from association with an 80's metal band. 

A few drops of water open it up all the more. Now the flavours start to come through and the Sherry warmth grows a bit, as does the dryness of the finish, still with that final taste, almost scent, of cherry at the end. It's the better for it, I think. It would probably go down very well with a mixer (I like coke and ginger beer) and some ice as a summer drink. 

If mixers aren't you're thing, look away now....

I have a bottle of Fentimans Curosity Cola to hand, so let me try that. 

Almost a rum like spicy taste now the cherry much more forward in the mix. I like that. Ginger beer later tonight I think.

This is a mild, soft light drink which is probably aimed at a wide audience of drinkers rather than dedicated whisky fans but, you know, it's not too bad at all. Like the band themselves, not to everyone's taste, but if you don't take yourself, the music or the whisky too seriously there's plenty to enjoy.