April bled into May as COVID ravaged India. No distraction can counter how senseless and devastating the situation is… family, friends, neighbours… there are no words.

So rather than event attempt to say more, will acknowledge this ongoing human tragedy and send condolences to all directly and indirectly impacted anywhere in the world.

Shifting gears, what did we try this month? Our Whisky Ladies in Europe thought it time to crack open the quintet generously sent by the folks at The Belgian Owl. Tasting notes to come soon…

• The Belgian Owl Origine Pot Still unaged spirit 46%
• The Belgian Owl Identité 36 months, first fill bourbon 46%
• The Belgian Owl Passion 36 months, first fill bourbon, single cask 1538337 46% Bottle 29
• The Belgian Owl Intense 40 months, first fill bourbon, single cask 1538452 72.7% Bottle 177
• The Belgian Owl Evolution 48 months, first fill bourbon 46%

I also dug into my personal tasting notes “archive”, bringing to light a remarkable tasting evening held last september in London with Sukhinder Singh of The Whisky Exchange. As we tried 10 whiskies – yup 10! – I shared a few observations in three parts:

• Part 1 – Glen Elgin 21 year 48%, Glenburgie 21 year 59.4%, Speyside Blended 45 year 45.1%
• Part 2 – Inchiro’s Malt Chichibu “On The Way” 51.5%, Glentauchers 22 year 46.6%, Ben Nevis 23 year 52.7% 
• Part 3 – Inchmurrin 9 year 55.3%, Port Askaig 12 year 45.8%, Peat & Sweet 55.2% (Elements of Islay), Ballechin 15 year 55%

In Germany, I confessed to augmenting my wee whisky collection with a few Gordon and MacPhail bottles as it is no longer possible to obtain directly from the UK.

Thanks also to the intrepid persistency of a fellow Canadian in Nurnberg, she managed to track down in Vancouver a Shelter Point Artisinal Single Malt from 2020, bringing it back to Germany. Hooray!! I was so touched with her effort and kindness, bringing a wee taste of Canada to my European home.

In the meantime in France, one of our fabulous Euro Chapter Whisky Ladies went to meet Benjamin Kuentz, the man behind Maison Benjamin Kuentz that has enthralled us with his creations. She hunted down at La Maison du Whisky in Paris some earlier editions of Le Guip, Aux Particles Vines, augmented by an eagerly anticipated new edition of Aveux Gourmands. Something for an upcoming tasting!

We also have waiting in the wings another box set of minis from The Whisky Warehouse No. 8… because it is always good to have something to look forward to – particularly in these continued strange COVID times.

Curious to know more? Check out a few other ’round-up’ summaries:

• Whisky Lady – April 2021
• Whisky Lady – March 2021
• Whisky Lady – February 2021
• Whisky Lady – January 2021
• Whisky Lady – Farewell 2020
• Celebrating 1000 whisky posts!

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Additionally, there are the two ‘off-shoots’ with:

• Whisky Ladies of Mumbai blog with the continuing adventures of the lovely ladies in India
• Whisky Ladies European chapter insta with our new explorations in colder climes!