Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique 57.1%

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Behind the remarkable rise of Kavalan was Ian Chang – known for his kindness, exacting attention, and incredible nose. After 15 years of bringing awards and recognition to Kavalan, Ian moved on in 2020. Rumour had it that there were pressures to more aggressively capitalize on their success, speeding things up in a way that may compromise quality. Be that as it may, Ian Chang has moved on to Japan to Komoro Distillery, part of Karuizawa Distillers.

Bottom line, this particular expression from Kavalan is part of their heydey period, shortly after the Vinho Barrique expression won awards for its intense aromas and flavours. This particular expression was a well-traveled whisky – from Taiwan to Germany to UK… opened in October 2023 in London. Then a small sample made its way back to Germany, then further on to India where I settled down to consider it one fine evening at the close of 2023.

Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique (2016) W160331032A 57.1% Bottle 048 of 201

  • Colour – What a stunning deep ruby
  • Nose – Oh my! What a luscious aroma, mahogany wood, dusty black pepper, overripe melon, tart cherries and chocolate, stewed plums
  • Palate – Equally powerful on the palate! Like chewing on cherry wood, dates, nutty caramel, sweet spices, intense
  • Finish – Dry, with plenty of red wine tannins, something a tinge soapy
  • Water – Opens up with the nose shifting from intense dry fruits to juicy plums, ripe figs, caramelized walnuts and then on the palate, shifts to ripe kiwis, berries and red grapes

Talk about intense! Big and bold. No mistaking this is one full-bodied voluptuous whisky with a lot going on. Heavy, commanding attention. Even after the glass was empty, the aromas swirled around. Berries and vanilla and wood. Quite something!

What do the folks at Kavalan have to say about this expression?

Vinho is fully matured in used American oak wine barrels that have been toasted and recharred in a way that brings out fruity vanilla notes from the wood into the whisky overlaid on a delicate background of complex fruitiness.
It has a complex and multi-dimensional background of pepper, spice, dates and other fruits, such as ripe melon and mango together with kiwi and a delicate blend of bursting citrus fruits.

As for the official tasting notes, here you go:

  • Nose – A rich fusion of vanilla and caramelized sugars with dark chocolate on top. Ripe melon and mango together with kiwi and a delicate blend of citrus fruits burst. Pepper is also present in the background waiting to be noticed.
  • Palate – The taste ends with clean and complex flavours embodying all that is best in the finest malt whiskies enjoying a long aftertaste.
  • Tasting – We suggest drinking Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask neat.

Would I agree? Yes…though personally, I preferred it with a bit of water.

Curious about other Kavalan experiences? There have been more than a few over the years – mostly from the period of 2008 – 2016 when I tended to come across Kavalan more readily via whisky shows or complements of Malt Maniac Krishna Nakula:

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Balvenie 19 year “A Revelation of Cask and Character” 47.5%

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Sometimes tracking down a dram is more of an adventure than the dram itself! In this case, rumors reached our London host of something “special” being released by Balvenie, Something memorable that sold out immediately. Where there is a will, there is always a way. And in this case, it came via a Hong Kong (or was it Singapore?) connection to a London store known to many but not yet experienced by myself.

We found ourselves interacting with a very knowledgeable salesperson, who converted a quick pick stop to merely pick up the coveted bottle to an animated discussion about various malts and then other spirits. Needless to say, we did not walk out with just one bottle.

What drew us there in the first place? The Balvenie 19-year “A Revelation of Cask and Character” was released in October 2023. It is the first of their new stories series, matured in sherry casks and created as a tribute to the coopers who work at the Speyside distillery’s on-site cooperage. It was also touted as the first whisky creation of their new malt master Kelsey McKechnie, with the formal passing of the whisky baton from David C. Stewart, who shifted from malt master to ambassador.

As I didn’t take tasting notes from our experience in London, I brought home a wee sample. Which then in turn made it from London to Nurnberg to Mumbai to Kalote, Maharashtra.  Opened at the end of 2023, with some desultory jazz in the background, our cats curled purring on my feet, our dogs outside exhausted after an hour of vigorous play chasing a frisbee, it seemed just the right moment to pour a glass, relax and experience.

The Balvenie 19 year “A Revelation of Cask and Character” 47.5% GBP 309

  • Colour – A deep amber, almost having a hint of ruby
  • Nose – Fruity and vanilla, stollen, dried fruits, orange rind, toasted scones with clotted cream, apple sauce, more of that vanilla
  • Palate – Starts a bit prickly, clear wood influence, cherry pits, cherry biscotti with roasted pistachios, light chili chocolate spice, nicely balanced
  • Finish – Slightly bitter – more almond than pistachio

The nose is most enjoyable, inviting, and sweet vanilla cream with pastries. Is it the most remarkable dram of the year? Not by a long shot. And in my humble opinion, it is rather overpriced. However in a supply and demand market, clearly this one managed to catch the fancy of many folks.

Yet for a chilled-out evening in the Maharashtran countryside, it perfectly fits the mood. And for that, I was quite grateful to have an opportunity to not only experience it once, but twice.

Here are the official tasting notes:

  • Nose: Intense ripe fruits and caramelised orange peel reveal beautifully toasted oak and milled barley
  • Taste: Bold and balanced, flavours of currants, cherries and raisins give way to chewy fig, rich cacao and a creamy nutty finish.
  • Finish: Long and lingering

Hype or not, it is an enjoyable dram, just a pity it is for such a steep price tag.

If you are curious about other Balvenie experiences, read on….

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One Fine London Evening over Balvenie, Braon Peat and Kavalan

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As 2023 drew to a close, I had some time off and made the most of it by catching up with tasting notes. In the case of this trio, they were opened one special evening in London. At the time, I didn’t take any notes, just enjoyed the experience. However, as our host knows me well, we packed up three minis for later perusal. Somehow I wasn’t inclined to revisit the samples in Germany, so brought them with me to India.

Here is the trio we decided to open the evening following The Whisky Show in London.

Sukhinder chided us for going only one day to The Whisky Show, so for 2024, we resolved to go for both days. And yes, we already bought our tickets – this time it is earlier in September so the 9-month countdown has begun!

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London Appetizer – Glenfarclas, Aerolite Lindsay, Smokehead High Voltage

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There is something comforting about the familiar. Like sprawling on a comfortable old sofa, curling up under a faded, soft blanket… so too with revisiting a familiar dram or two. Made even better by being with a favourite tasting companion, getting ourselves into the whisky mood before spending a full day at the 2023 Whisky Show in London. Call it the appetizer before the main course!

Up first was a carefully selected starter – a familiar family-owned friend – Glenfarclas. It had been a while since my tasting companion had sipped a Glenfarclas… happy to oblige!

Glenfarclas 15 year 46%

  • Nose – Fresh apples and pears, fall leaves, loads of sweet, digestive biscuits, pastry with vanilla cream, some salt
  • Palate – Fabulous and lip-smacking. Yes, lip-smacking. Light spice, restrained fruit, a bit minerally and dry, a nice contrast to the nose
  • Finish – Carries on with the theme, ending is slightly bitter.

We really enjoyed the nose – really quite outstanding. With a mighty fine palate. It was just perfect for our mood and moment.

Up next was a 10-year-old Islay – one that I had previously only had a whiff, rather than true sampling. What did we think?

Aerolite Lindsay 10 year 46%

  • Nose – Happy peat, a hint of maritime salt spray, tinned peaches, leafy, a bit of iodine, curiously even chaat masala – the kind with black salt that you sprinkle on fresh cut tropical fruit, then shifted back to a more classic styled peat
  • Palate – Cinnamon and peat, a touch of leather, balanced with a nice spice
  • Finish – Very sweet cinnamon

Not complex yet still left us satisfied. We speculated which Islay distillery, was slightly in favour of Caol Ila as it was more approachable peat.

You may ask… Why these two? The 1st was to get into the whisky groove. The 2nd to shift into peat. And then? They were the build-up to Smokehead… I was promised it wasn’t as bad as my first experience or even my second… I was promised something a bit better than palatable… something enjoyable. I was promised… but did it deliver?

Smokehead High Voltage 48%

  • Nose – Burnt embers and ash, hint of lemon and iodine, acetone, funky and sour, plastique, mold like a monsoon cupboard
  • Palate – Very sharp, big, and bold, some sweet with the peat, heavy fruits with some cinnamon peaking in
  • Finish – Sweet, tempered and long

Do yourself a favour. If you are tempted to try – DO NOT take a big swig. I sputtered, Yes sputtered. And made a face. Not a pleasant face. Well… it isn’t just an ashtray. However, it is still clearly designed to be a bit overwhelming. Like a frat house dare. “Booom! Gotcha!”

Sorry… three strikes and you are OUT! It simply is not my style of whisky. For those who want to clobber themselves with peat, knock yourself out. But me? Will simply pass.

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London Whisky Show 2022 – The Unbelievable Truth About Whisky

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London’s The Whisky Show has some fabulous masterclasses! As I relaxed on our farm just outside of Mumbai, I reflected on various tasting experiences from 2023. From master classes to private sessions, from partnering with others to solo, I flipped through my tasting notes book to spot a few experiences not yet shared.

One truly stood out – I feared I simply could not do it justice. It was a truly special session from 2022! So I checked my scribbles to see if there was enough to share a flavour of this incredibly amusing Masterclass: The Unbelievable Truth About Whisky!

For those not familiar, The Unbelievable Truth is a UK Radio 4 game show devoted to truth and lies. Each panelist must deliver a short speech that is simply chock full of lies with the occasional, well-hidden truth. The others must then try to discover the truths whilst not falling for the lies.

In the case of this Masterclass, The Whisky Exchange’s Billy Abbott led the panel with Gregg Glass from Whyte & Mackay and Whisky Works, James Saxon from Compass Box, Alex Bruce from Adelphi, Sam Simmons from Atom Brands (aka That Boutique-y Whisky Company), and the brothers Phil & Simon Thompson from Dornoch Distillery. Billy was the arbiter of truth, backed up by researchers Oliver Chilton (whisky maker and Head BLender for independent bottler Elixir) and Dr Nicholas Morgan (author, archivist, and authority on Scottish whisky). All of the whiskies were selected and donated by their makers with the proceeds of the tasting going to Dorothy House Hospice Care, supporting their work across the south-west of the UK.

It was like stepping into a private gathering of old friends, catching up and telling tall tales over a fine dram or two.

All of the whiskies were donated by their makers and all of the proceeds of the tasting went to Dorothy House Hospice Care, supporting their work across the south-west of the UK.

Invergordan 1998

We kicked off with a grain from Whisky Works – the latest venture with Greg Glass. We could immediately tell it wasn’t a typical Scotch malt. On the nose, we found a lovely floral element, peaches and vanilla cream, herbal, followed by strawberry, apricot, and spearmint. On the palate, it was simply gorgeous, juicy fruits with a delightful spice. Simply stellar! Such a stunning whisky.

Compass Box Flaming Heart 7th Edition (2022) 48.9%

We continued with blend from James. Fruity, with a hint of smoke on the nose. Surprisingly peaty on the palate. A long strong finish, spirited with a cinnamon close.

The blend brings together Glen Elgin, Balmenach with the smoke stemming from Laphroaig, Caol Ila, and Talisker. Add to this mix were further Compass Box blends such as their Highland Malt Blend with five years in toasted virgin French oak casks, joined by remnants of Flaming Heart 2018, Peat Monster Arcana, and Nectar 15th Anniversary edition… so in truth it is a blend of blends!

The Sandebud Fusion 6 year 58.9% Adelphi

The Compass Box blend was followed by an offering from Alex of Adelphi. Very interesting! We later learned that it is a combination of Ardnamurchan and Sweden’s High Coast single malt – peated and unpeated.

On the nose we found peat and sweet mash, slightly sour, cured meats, and tinned mandarin orange.  On the palate, it was surprisingly mineral, creamy, and nutty, curiously compelling with a quaint character. It had quite a fab finish, dry wood, long and strong.

The XXX Blend 30 year, Batch 1 42.5%

From the folks behind ATOM Brands with That Boutique-y Whisky Company, Sam was up next. On the nose, we were greeted by caramel, chocolate and coffee, vanilla ice cream, and apple sauce with cinnamon. On the palate? Wow! A mix of so many elements from peat to sweet, silk to stone. Remarkably good. The finish returned to apples and sweet spices. It is made of seven casks and retails for Eur 233

Dornoch 4 year old (2018) 55.5% 

We closed with a young dram from Thompson Independent bottlers. For the nose – fresh, sour yet draws you in, almost meadowy, ginger joined by apple orchard. On the palate, sweet spices, panettone, with a lovely finish. Yum.

So from young to old, malt to grain, blends to single cask, tale tales to truths, what a wonderful way to explore a few drams with industry experts.

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Whisky Lady – October to December 2023

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This year I really felt like I truly experienced winter! I spent late October to early November in my hometown of Winnipeg, Canada – which greeted me from the air with snowy whiteness! Plus remained in Nurnberg, Germany all the way til the last week of December – til I finally flew home to Mumbai, India.

It was a good quarter whisky-wise! This year I didn’t make it to that many whisky shows, however, I was NOT going to miss London’s Whisky Show 2023!! It was followed by a very special evening with the founder both of the show and The Whisky Exchange – Sukhinder Singh – always such a pleasure. Here are a few highlights:

Wow! We are already contemplating whether to come back in 2024 for just 1 day or attempt the weekend.

Then later in October, I made it to my 1st Schottland weekend – a remarkable weekend gathering of whisky friends in Franconia. A few highlights included:

This was followed by a trip to Winnipeg, Canada where I joined The Cabinet meeting in November. Our theme was “Alt Islay” to which I brought two Chorltons: An Ardmore and Staoisha plus a North Star Caol Ila. Our lads anchored our alternative Islay expressions with a Bruichladdich The Organic 2010 and Ardbeg’s Ardcore.

Curious about Finch‘s Schwabian distillery, I picked up an Octet sample pack and shared it one wintery November evening with friends. Our favorites were the Emmer Edition, Spelt Port, and Sherry.

Back in Nurnberg, I had not one but three whisky-tasting sessions. The first was dedicated to India as part of a Diwali celebration featuring:

PS – I later followed this experience with a special Paul John Christmas Eggnog indulgence – what a treat!

The second was a more sociable evening with a group of gals keen to learn more about whiskies. For this evening, I brought out bottles previously tasted:

The third was another session with our International Nurnberg whisky-tasting group which focused on exploring closer to our European home. We explored:

My 2023 ended with a trip home to India with tasting sessions planned for early in the new year! I can’t wait!

Here is wishing you and your loved ones a fabulous new year!

Curious to know more? Check out a few more summaries:

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Germany’s Ayer’s Alligator 57.7%

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Sometimes you skip what is sitting in your own backyard. Monuments missed, landmarks overlooked, vistas unseen… Having lived in Nurnberg for over four years, much of what tourists do remains undone. And that includes a whisky tour of Altstadthof Brewery and Distillery where our local small-batch whisky Ayer’s is produced. I have certainly had the beer from there. And more than one wine-tasting event. Even a tour of the underground tunnels. But unbelievably have yet to make it for one of their whisky tours or samplings, despite being a mere 15-minute walk from my home. For shame!

So when we decided to close the year with an exploration of continental European whiskies, it seemed the perfect opportunity to check out what is practically in our backyard! A fellow member steered towards their cask strength expression – specifically with an Alligator char. Alli-what you may ask?

First off is understanding why it is important to char the oak barrel. The concept is simple – charring opens up the wood – making it easier for the spirit to extract flavours. There are different char levels with alligator being one of the highest, so-called as the wood takes on the texture of alligator hide.

So enough theory, what about practice?

Ayer’s Alligator (2017 / 2022) 57.7%

  • Colour – Dark copper, edging on amber
  • Nose – Young, fresh and sweet, honey, tobacco, cotton candy
  • Palate – Began a bit fruity with pear, then shifted into toast with butter, something that is almost akin to peat without actually being peaty
  • Finish – Satisfying
  • Water – Makes it even more accessible

We were overall quite pleased with this one! After the unique Fary Lochan, we feared the Ayer’s might pale by comparison, whereas it held its own. We thought it might be a bit bold or harsh, instead, it was smooth and easy to enjoy. A happy surprise!

With this experience, I am reminded that it is past time to check out this wee distillery, sooner rather than later once back in Deutschland in the New Year.

What else did we explore that evening from the European continent?

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Denmark’s Fary Lochan 6 year Moscatel Finish 62.1%

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Dram discoveries are the hallmark of any good whisky festival! In this case at the London Whisky Show with That Boutique-y Whisky Company with Dainish distillery Fary Lochan. In the midst of hundreds, this one stuck with me as something unique, something worth exploring further.

So when I spotted this bottle on sale for Eur 94 from Whic.de., I jumped at the chance to try more! I kept it waiting for just the right opportunity… which came in the form of our International Nurnberg whisky tasting group’s December session – in celebration of continental European whiskies.

One new member was keen to try something Nordic. Perhaps from Finland where he lived for some time. I immediately thought of recommending Teerenpeli, then remembered the Fary Lochan and offered it as an option…. which was immediately accepted.

The whisky was a complete hit! Which alas also means the night will be remembered for something quite singular for our group – nearly draining a full bottle! Granted it was 500ml not the standard 700ml. Additionally, as it was such a unique dram, there were a couple of sample bottles poured for further consideration (including me!) at a later date. However, it prompted thinking about how we organize our evenings and some different possibilities in the future, in hopes that next time around we just might be kinder to our collective contributors.

What makes this whisky unique is how its light smoke comes from nettles – inspired by nettle-smoked cheese from Funen. Producing very small batches, variation is to be expected. So what we try today may not be what we find in future.

So… how did we describe our experience? (aside from nearly draining the bottle!)

Fary Lochan 6 year (8 Feb 2016 / 10 Feb 2022) Moscatel Finish, Batch #05 62.1% Bottle 231 of 288

  • Nose – Quite a different aroma – cheese, herbal, wet leaves in the forest, earthy then became fruitier as it opened up – from tropical to orchard, joined by some bourbon vanilla
  • Palate – Coats the palate, fig marmalade, hot chocolate, waxy, some pepper, complex with many different elements interwoven
  • Finish – What a finish! Long, more of that earthy element joined by chocolate and tobacco
  • Water – While not necessary, it opens it up revealing wild honey, the hint of fruits found without water blossomed with… from citrus to orchard to tropical and back. Simply delicious on the palate

It was really very good. There was something distinctly different, a bit tricky to pinpoint exactly and describe. Just that the more time we spent with it in the glass, the more we enjoyed it. This isn’t simple or straightforward. It isn’t classical or traditionally complex. And yet it has something unique that draws you in…

What more do we know? It was first aged in 1st Fill ex-Bourbon barrels for 3 years and 3 months and then finished for 2 years and 9 months in Moscatel Sherry, producing a mere 288 bottles. Bottled at cask strength, you might think it would be powerful and pack a punch. Instead, its singular character sings through clearly yet isn’t punchy or overwhelming. At 6 years, some whiskies come across as young and a bit harsh, others easily pull it off. Clearly, we found that the Fary Lochan fits the 2nd category where 6 years was a perfect age for this expression to be bottled.

Now I am EVEN more excited to try these Fary Lochan samples thanks to Tobi from BarleyMania, joined by a 30ml of this expression.

What about other whiskies sampled from Denmark?

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Switzerland’s Säntis 6 year Snow White No 8 Pineau 48%

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Switzerland is known for many things – gorgeous mountains and lakes, chocolate and cheese, watches and banking… but whisky? That isn’t exactly the first thing you think of… in fact, just 25 years ago it wasn’t even legal! However, like many parts of the world, Switzerland is now very much in the whisky-making game.

My first brush was the Old Bear from Langatun Distillery – courtesy of a recommendation from the good folks at The Whisky Exchange in London. It was smoky and certainly left an impression.

Next up was a random selection from a spirits shop in Munich on a trip, before there was even a possibility of moving to Germany. In this case, it was the surprisingly accessible Forty-Three Swiss Highland Single Malt Whisky.

Fast forward a few years and I found myself living in Nurnberg, Germany. And three years ago, in December 2020, there was a mini from Säntis in an Advent Kalendar I tackled as a pre-Christmas project.  In this case, it was the Säntis Malt Himmelberg Edition 43%. I have to admit, it didn’t exactly impress. Why? In part because it reminded me of drinking a Radler – a sweet lemony beer – more than whisky!

So when a Säntis was recommended for our European whisky session in December 2023, I decided to keep an open mind. I have learned one should not judge a distillery solely based on one experience alone.

What did we think?

Säntis No. 8 Snow White 6-year Pineau 48%

  • Nose – At first it was just a hit of alcohol, then sweetened into candy, a bit nutty, plum skins, curiously it reminded me more of schnapps than whisky!
  • Palate – A bit aggressive and prickly, past the pepper were wine tannins, shifting from plum skin to grape, very dry and a mixed red fruit jam (the kind that doesn’t have a distinguishable type of berry or fruit), lemon-lime soda (or dare I say? Radler!), maybe joined by some cherry?
  • Finish – It was like it was impersonating a sherry finish but wasn’t quite able to pull it off, some generic cola

We really didn’t mean to be uncharitable, however descriptions like “headache-inducing” and “one flavour blob” were bantered about. We generally agreed that the nose outperformed the palate and finish. And if anything, it had a schnapps-like quality – depending on your opinion of schnapps, this could be a good or not-so-good thing.

Our discussion turned to the many distilleries around Germany and Switzerland that started off brewing beer or distilling schnapps, and then veered into the whisky business. Using stills meant more for distilling fruit than malted barley mash does lead to some curious results. I confessed how my original impression of German whiskies was direct to the point of being a bit harsh, lacking nuance and complexity. Until I discovered St Kilian and Aureum and a few notable others, which both show a different, much more interesting range and style.

But back to the Säntis, our whisky contributor shared the story of the Lochar distillery’s Swiss “whisky trek“…. starting with one inn, there are now some 26 barrels found at different hiking locations around Switzerland. Each barrel is slightly different, thanks to the differing maturing conditions such as altitude or barrels.

She found the boxed set with two nosing glasses – available online for around Eur 72. What more do we know? It was initially aged for 5.5 years in small beer barrels of the Appenzeller Brewery Locher before being finished for 8 months in ex-Pineau des Charentes casks from France.

It was a bit of a disappointment, however, we then thought to put it into context. If we spent a day trekking in the alps, the crisp cool air, coming in from such exertions, would this do the trick? Perhaps. And context is everything! So let us be more charitable and go back to the glorious views, cheese fondus, and chocolate… In my case, a memory of a couple of days in Weggis earlier this summer, including a boat trip on Lake Lucerne for a fabulous meal with great company.

What else did we explore in our European evening?

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Closing the year with a continental European exploration…

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We held our last Nurnberg International Whisky evening mid December. It was an exploration of continental European whiskies and more from France, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, and Portugal. We went well beyond our three-bottle focus however it made for a proper year-end close to an evolving tasting group.

So what did we explore?

So let’s begin at the beginning… from our 1st session, we were introduced to the concept of a calibration dram. In this case, I thought the Bellevoye would be a nice way to set the stage for our evening. Their whiskies are approachable and generally have an easy-drinking style – a perfect way to “whet the appetite” for delights to come. As each bottle had a slightly different approach, I gave everyone the option to choose which best matched their mood and inclination. The reactions to the different options –  Blue (French Oak), White (Sauternes) or Red (Grand Cru) were so positive that a couple of folks did a tasting within a tasting – sampling all three!

We then moved on to the Whisky “Main Course”… and for that, you will simply have to check out the separate tasting notes. Suffice it to say, the Fary Lochan was a singular and memorable whisky, the Ayer’s surprised us by being far more enjoyable and interesting than expected, and the Säntis? Well, it was a bit of a disappointment, however, that goes with the territory when exploring whiskies! It is also a good example of a certain direct style of whisky that works for some.

In between, a mystery bottle was circulated. It was completely unlabelled with no clue provided. We sniffed it. Sipped it. Considered it. Whilst nothing remarkable, we gave it due attention discovering beneath the plastic and diesel was a dark cherry, mowed grass, wood polish, and then sweet cotton candy. On the palate, it was easy to drink, perhaps a hint of tobacco but nothing else really stood out. The reveal? Not a whisky at all. Instead, Arc Royal VS Cognac 40%, which is available for a mere Eur 20 at any Aldi. Our contributor pulled out a printout of wildly different tasting notes – from those that completely trashed the Cognac to those that were exceedingly kind. In our case? We were somewhere in between, but generally positive.

We closed with a merry round of nibbles and a few additional splashes of this and that… including a Madeira from Marques Campoalto. Increasingly we are seeing whisky finished in ex-Madeira casks. The Welsh Penderyn was an early adopter of using Madeira cask finish for a core expression, however, the Irish also joined this bandwagon with Tyrconnell, with the Scots also part of this trend – such as Loch Lomond’s Inchmurrin Madeira and many more. This is exactly why one member brought a bottle along – to show how the original fortified wine smells and tastes to help us better understand how this contributes to the final Whisky product with a Madeira finish.

As a kind of “desert”, we closed with a Beerenweine honey whisky liqueur – the kind of liqueur that you can get at local Medieval fairs all over Germany. In fact, I brought a bottle of their herbal schnapps – called Druids Fire – back to Winnipeg for a bit of fun.

As this company also makes mead, talk turned to the local honeyed mead available at the Medieval pub near the castle, how some folk’s palates tend towards sweet and others not (in case you wondered, I am generally in the not category). This is why when I did try a wee sample, I was reminded why I prefer my whisky unadulterated and not overly sweet!

Overall it was an evening that crossed the line from careful consideration of three focus whiskies to something social, making for a marvelous evening and a brilliant way to close the year.

If you are in the Nurnberg, Germany area and interested in learning more about our Nurnberg Whisky Explorers activities, check us out on Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/nurnberg-whisky-explorers/

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