Notes from Round I of the recent Signatory tasting with Ed Kohl at San Francisco's City Club. This was a great evening with excellent malts, tasty appetizers, and good company. I owe a big thank you to Sam Filmus of Impex Beverages and JVS Imports for the invitation! ---------- Signatory 1991 Highland Park 18 Year … Continue reading Notes from The 11/10/10 Signatory Tasting, Round I
Whisky Reviews
Kilchoman Single Cask Release, The Whisky Shop Edition – Review
I hate to gloat, especially since friends and family back in the Midwest received an early snow this past weekend, complete with power KO'ing fury and wet, slushy stuff that I'm sure made driving fun, but we've had an exceptional past several days here in San Francisco. Sunny, temps in the mid-70's, not much wind...in … Continue reading Kilchoman Single Cask Release, The Whisky Shop Edition – Review
Notes from the Bruichladdich Tasting, Round III
Round III of notes from a recent Bruichladdich tasting: Bruichladdich 1989, 19 Year Old "Black Art" Right off the bat, let me mention that Black Art has perhaps the coolest packaging of any spirit I've come across. Granted, it's not very traditional as far as Scotch goes, nor does it do much to show off the … Continue reading Notes from the Bruichladdich Tasting, Round III
Notes from the Bruichladdich Tasting, Round II
Round II of notes from a recent Bruichladdich tasting focuses on 3 uniquely finished expressions: Bruichladdich 16 Year Old, Cuvee E, Chateau D'Yquem Sauternes Cask Sauternes is Bordeaux's exceptional trademark sweet wine, and Chateau D'Yquem stands far enough above the others to earn the ranking of Premier Cru Supérieur. Sauternes is the best-known example … Continue reading Notes from the Bruichladdich Tasting, Round II
Notes from the Bruichladdich Tasting, Round I
Bruichladdich is a relatively young distillery in many ways. Originally opening in 1881 it survived several moth-ballings and ownership changes until finally in late 2000, new owners, including the owners of the Murray McDavid independent line, took over and began the transformation of the distillery into one of the most innovative in the world. Today, … Continue reading Notes from the Bruichladdich Tasting, Round I
Kilchoman Summer 2010 Release – Review
*Thanks to the good folks at Impex Beverages for the sample. I know I've touched on this before, but those of us who live in the Bay Area are exceedingly lucky and also exceedingly smug (to the point of obnoxiousness) about our access to excellent, local, organic food. For my part, I am boundlessly grateful … Continue reading Kilchoman Summer 2010 Release – Review
Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey – Review
Ok, aside from being the location we all know and love from the cover of Led Zepplin's "Houses of the Holy" (cue "No Quarter" here, side 2, 3rd song) the Giant's Causeway in northern County Antrim is also the locale for some legendary antics of the Irish hero, Fionn mac Cumhaill. According to one legend, Ol' … Continue reading Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey – Review
Bargain Bin Fridays #6, Lord Calvert Canadian Canadian Whisky
I was just as surprised to learn there actually was a Lord Calvert as I was to learn there was a Lord Calvert Canadian Canadian Whisky. As it turns out, George Calvert was the first Lord Baltimore (though definitely not the best, see below...seriously) and the 8th Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland. He started his political … Continue reading Bargain Bin Fridays #6, Lord Calvert Canadian Canadian Whisky
Balblair 1991 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Review
Thanks to the good folks at International Beverage for the sample! So, there's this Pink Floyd song (and I do apologize, it's a post-Syd Barrett song, but just bear with me) on the album Ummagumma called "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict", which, despite its glaring … Continue reading Balblair 1991 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Review
Balblair 1997 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Review
Thanks to the good folks at International Beverage for the sample! A locally grown, crisply sweet, juicy Honeycrisp apple is one of the surest signs of Fall here in San Francisco, where far too few leaves change color to give the full effect. September and early October usually holds some of the best weather we … Continue reading Balblair 1997 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Review
THE CASKS 