Get busy child (I guess I didn’t know)

[ornoth]

So there’s this liquor store in Gummint Center: Federal Wine & Spirits. I’ve never been there, but I read on BeerAdvocate that they had a decent selection of scotch whiskies. And last week they were having a scotch tasting.

Now, it was put on by the Speyside distillery, and I really had never heard of Speyside (the brand, not the region, which is famous for its distilleries). Basically, I went into the event expecting to be given some comparatively inane spirits. In fact, I was going there more to see if I could pick up some Bruichladdich for our next scotch night than to try the Speyside.

I’d been warned the place was small. It was about the size of my kitchen, in fact, but lined to the rafters with liquor. I also knew that the tasting would take place in the cellar, so I climbed down the staircase that was barely wide enough for my hips.

The cellar was, indeed, a cellar. Like, cement walls and floor, and piled to the beams with boxes of liquor. It warn’t no fancy wine cellar!

My first big surprise was that somehow they’d stacked about 250 people in this cellar little more than twenty feet square. It was kinda reminiscent of the Rat when Powerman 5000 played there, except better lit. Somewhere beyond my sight I could hear a soft-spoken voice blathering in Scots, and I saw a couple guys in suits traversing the mosh pit, serving. I snagged a glass and got a dram of something (it turned out to be a sneak-preview of Speyside’s 12 year old) that presumably wasn’t on the tasting sheet. Tasting sheet?

I had just gotten a tasting sheet when I heard the magical words “Port Ellen”. Port Ellen was one of the most beloved distilleries when it was shut down twenty two years ago, and the few remaining bottles are very, very highly prized. And it looked like I was going to get some… for free!

See, in addition to the Speyside, that company owns something called “Scott’s Selection”. Before he started the Speyside distillery, its founder was a warehouser, and he collected barrels (and barrels) of fine scotch. This is a common scenario, leading to what are called “independent bottlers”, which are often a source for hard to find malts, cask strength bottlings, and other such specialized products.

One look at the tasting sheet and I almost shat meself. Aside from the mundane Speyside, they were serving six whiskies, all at cask strength, two of which were from distilleries which closed decades ago, with an average maturity of 26 years, and which command an average price of $230 per bottle! This was insanely good stuff.

Here’s the official list, just so that you can drool a bit:

Longmorn 35 Y.O. 1968 61%
Glenlivet 33 Y.O. 1968 52%
Littlemill 20 Y.O. 1984 62%
Macallan 31 Y.O. 1973 44%
Highland Park 19 Y.O. 1985 54%
Port Ellen 21 Y.O. 1982 52%

Needless to say, I was absolutely blown away. If my friends’ whisky night was like Christmas, this was like… I dunno, I don’t even have the words.

And, yes, I did go home with a bottle of that Port Ellen, not so much for myself but for some friends who know how it should be valued, as well as the Bruichladdich. My Visa took a torpedo, but letting that Port Ellen come all the way to Boston and elude me is something I know I would have regretted for the rest of my daze (sic).

Comments

[ailsaek.livejournal.com]

Congrats. That sounds like a marvellous experience. (No, I still haven't learned to appreciate the stuff myself, but I can appreciate your appreciation.)

[ornoth.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I don't think I'd appreciate it much myself were it not for a couple episodes during the DargonZine trip to Scotland. And it definitely takes some nosing around to see what you like. There are definitely scotches which are more approachable than others.

I certainly wouldn't pass myself off as an expert, but I've read a bit, and I have done what I could to try a broad spectrum of whiskies. But it's a very dangerous (i.e. expensive) thing to get into, apparently. Hopefully that doesn't make me snooty. I guess it's just a new are of knowledge I'm trying to develop...

And BTW, happy advanced birthday to you, as well. I'll think about you at the appropriate time, of course. I should probably send you a note with something more personal...

[ailsaek.livejournal.com]

Oops. Um, happy belated b'day, btw.

[librarianinwa.livejournal.com]

Hm. I've tried a scotch and some whiskeys, but I tend to prefer the small batch bourbons from Kentucky. Your description has intrigued me, and I plan to keep my eyes open for opportunities to explore other types of whiskeys a bit more.

[ornoth.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I really haven't tried any bourbons, so I can't say anything there. But there are definitely some scotches that are more approachable than others. Stay away from Islays, and consider the Highland Park.

The best way, of course, is to buy drams at bars/restaurants until you've found something you really like. It can be pricey, but less pricey than buying a whole bottle of something you don't like. Oh, and there's some kinds that come in nip bottles, which are doable, too...

Hope that helps...

[rubyred660.livejournal.com]

I've been down there for wine tastings. They also send nice weekly emails on "wines of the week" - wonder if they do the same thing for scotch. Either way, very cool place - glad you got to check it out!

and uh, happy belated bday as well.

[ornoth.livejournal.com]

Yeah, was very interesting. Pretty cool place. And now they own my firstborn!

[blowtorch-betty.livejournal.com]

Birthday?

When was it?

Jeez.

[ornoth.livejournal.com]

Let’s say I’m a Scorpio, and my birthday’s in October. That’s about as much info as I need to give out. I’m a bit funny about birthdays…