EPIC TASTINGS!

@newreverie

Newreverie - if I recall correctly, you are from the Houston area. May friends, family and yourself be safe and on a return to normalcy during this difficult time

Linking this thread to a post on another thread (what are you drinking now) in which @paddockjudge posted a photo of some of the bottles recently made available at his daughter's wedding.

connosr.com/so-what-are-you-drinking-now-w…

First, it should be noted that without even a drop of whisky, this was an epic wedding. Beautifully choreographed with the perfect balance of simplicity and detail. Wonderful bride and groom, and to be honest, part of me was wishing my daughter had a father like the bride's.

In terms of the suitability for this thread, @paddockjudge laid out what could have been the best selection I've seen in a long time (there were more great whiskies than I tasted at the last SOT). I am sure I am missing a few spirits, but there were so many I could never have tried them all. I missed out on Glenfarclas 15, Glendronach 12, JW Green, a Jack Daniels, Highwood 90/20, CC20. I did enjoy Delord 32 or 33 YO Armagnac, AP30, Port Charlotte heavily Peated, and Elijah Graig Barrel Proof 69.7%. One person who I will not publicly shame deliberately added ginger ale or Sprite to AP30.

The reason I say it could have been the best selection, is that there was a cache of 6 bottles that were made available for VIPs (read: people who would not add soda). We were each given 6 playing cards (From Forty Creek) with stickers of the following gems: Glenlivet 21 Archive, Bushmills 21, Glenlivet Nadurra 16 YO (55.5%), Four Roses 125. Anniversary edition, Macallan CS, and last, and least least, Laphroaig 18.

I almost felt cheated because I felt obligated to enjoy those 6 at the expense of missing out on the ordinary stuff.

@paddockjudge , this was an epic tasting because the celebration, the company, and the spirits were perfect!

Let's just be clear though, I only added ginger ale to the Alberta Premium 30 Year Old just to drive @paddockjudge crazy! Which didn't really work.......

@talexander, that's not a drive, that's a putt, but I was already several under par and one near miss didn't put me over. ;)

@talexander, I've never tried Alberta Premium 30 yo with ginger ale. Is it good? Is that what I should do with my spare bottle of AP30?

@Victor if you have a spare bottle of AP 30 than you don't deserve to have any. Given that it is an irreplaceable bottle you don't have a spare even if you have 20...

I will gladly provide you with ginger ale and cheap rye in exchange for any extra AP30 you have...

@Victor Ha - ONLY if you are ambivalent about it. Yes, it made a good rye-and-ginger, but I only really did it in a half-hearted (and slightly drunken) attempt to annoy @paddockjudge Which is a terrible thing to do to a wonderful human who was so generous. What's the famous movie line? "I cannot refuse a request at my daughter's wedding..."

@talexander, did you guys ever consider that you and @paddockjudge might be birthday-sharing doppelgangers? I'm not sure which one of you is the "good" one though. When you are both blitzed out of your minds you might be able to figure out the answer to that question. I would like to know.

@talexander, the only thing missing from that evening was the company of @Victor, @Dramlette, and @Maddie. Soon enough we'll have a celebration in Montgomery County.

...did you add a twist of lemon to that classic cocktail?

@paddockjudge Alas, I did not. Perhaps that was the missing ingredient that would have sent it into the stratosphere???

Had I been present in the flesh at the wedding reception for @paddockjudge's daughter I would most have looked forward to some drams of the Glenlivet 21 yo Archive. It has been too long since I have had a taste of that one. I may yet one day pay some steep price that it now costs to get some for myself.

@paddockjudge, so did that Albuquerque batch of Elijah Craig 12 yo Barrel Proof pass muster? I may have had a sip of that batch from @Nock but I am not sure. I haven't opened my own bottle of it yet. I keep remembering @Benancio saying, "We bought the last three bottles of Elijah Craig 12 yo Barrel Proof in the state of New Mexico."

And @Nozinan, did you like the Laphroaig 18 yo?

@Victor,

We were not able to successfully drunk-dial you...

Also, at the wedding reception did @paddockjudge tell the story about how he once was given a pass by Canadian customs on 567 bottles of whisky coming into Canada? It is a rare degree of charm that allows something like that to happen.

@Victor,

We were not able to successfully drunk-dial you, heck, we couldn't complete the task of a team picture with three attempts; however we did manage to successfully call a cab three times, using a PHONE...making two other groups who were waiting for a ride very happy. The fourth cab took another ninety minutes to arrive, in which time I, a few family members and a pair of neighbouring brothers opened a Highwood Ninety 20 YO, CC 20 YO, and a Whistle Pig 10 YO, while also checking for a good seal on about a dozen bottles that were previously opened that night. The cab arrived at 3:30 a.m. The driver wanted to call another cab so that he wouldn't have to drive and instead could join us. We were home and fast asleep before the clock struck four.

The Albuquerque batch of Elijah Craig 12 yo Barrel Proof passed with a near perfect score. I can say without any reservation that the two best bourbon I've had in the past year are Four Roses 125th Anniv. Ltd. Ed. Barrel Proof Small Batch 51.6% abv. and Elijah Craig 12 YO Barrel Proof (Batch 11) 69.7% abv. ...and a tip of the hat to @Benancio for allowing us the privilege of buying the last three bottles of Elijah Craig 12 yo Barrel Proof in the state of New Mexico.

@paddockjudge. I am a bit ambivalent that you did not succeed at drunk-dialing me in the middle of the night. You've proven before that you guys are quite capable of it. While I of course like the attention, I also was very happy to sleep through that night. I figure that you at least considered it, and in this case was what counted most. The thought was a better result (for me) than would have been the actual accomplishment. It also saved you paying for an international call. Win-win.

@Victor, ...ever so slight exaggeration, it was only 216 bottles.

@paddockjudge, yeah, I thought that my number was a little bit high...

Congrats on this special milestone Paddock Judge

@Victor Yes, the L18 was one of the spirit highlights of the evening. Others that worked out well were, well, see my previous post. All were different, all were great. I won't choose just one...

@Nozinan I knew you would like the Laph 18. I still have a 50ml sample that I put aside in case we ever met up somewhere. I guess I'll just go ahead and drink it now that you have lost your virginity.

Sounds like @paddockjudge's little girl had one heck of a wedding...or at least the most favoured guests did. I wonder if her new husband is a malt head. That would set him up well with his new father-in-law.

@BlueNote I'll reserve the final word for @paddockjudge, but the groom was certainly on the VIP list, and I saw him taste some pretty good stuff.

Family, Friends, & Fun.

I went to a wedding and an epic tasting broke out. What can I say? My daughter got married and we had a great time. @talexander and @Nozinan joined me and two hundred other guests in a weekend of ceremony and celebration.

Cut to the chase....In addition to the usual bar stock, there were a couple of dozen whisky, rum, and brandy.

Let me begin by listing Bottles Not Opened...because the alternatives were staggering, pun intended.

Glenfarclas 15 YO, Johhnie Walker Green Label 15 YO, Gibson's 18 YO, Booker's 2015-01, Talisker 10, Maker's 46, Blanton's Original, Highwood Ninety 20 YO, CC 20 YO.

The Alternatives: Four Roses Single Barrel, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, Laphroaig Cardeas 2012, Red Breast Cask Strength 12 YO, Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Scottish Barley Heavily Peated, Jefferson's Reserve, Glendronach 12 YO, Cognac Tesseron Lot No 90, Armagnac Dupeyron Hors d'Age, Bas-Armagnac Delord 33 YO 1981, Smith and Cross Navy Proof Rum, El Dorado 12 YO Rum, Alberta Premium 30 YO, Crown Royal Monarch, Forty Creek Heart of Gold.

Bunker Busters (Whisky Lover's Exclusive): Glenlivet Archive 21 YO, Bushmils 21 YO Rare, Four Roses 2013 Ltd Ed Small Batch BP 125th Anniversary, Glenlivet Nadurra 16 YO 0712U, Macallan Cask Strength, Laphroaig 18 YO.

It would have been nice to present a couple of dozen Bunker Busters; however, there might be two more weddings in the near future...if not, it won't be difficult to arrange an epic session and thin out the bunker.

@paddockjudge It was incredible - we can't thank you enough for such a wonderful weekend!

@paddockjudge I echo @talexander's sentiment. Even without the whisky it was a great wedding and a privilege to attend!

@paddockjudge Good thing all of those 200+ guests weren't maltheads. Your legendary bunker would have taken a much more serious beating.

Last night we had an epic tasting with @Robert99, @thecyclingyogi, @talexander, @cricklewood, @paddockjudge and a couple of non-members. Details to follow but considering I just cleaned everything up at 315 am...it was EPIC!

I want an invite next time! What a line up.

@casualtorture Wait till you see what we had...

The afternoon stretched into the evening. By about 530 we were all here, and with plenty of food and plenty of glasses, we began.

The main theme was Canadian whiskies but there were some others:

• Chivas Regal 12 YO (40%). A bottle I was given by the husband of a patient, who told me it was from "before the war". Likely he meant one of the Gulf wars. it was pleasant and a good start.

• Highwood 90/20 (45%) - a head to head of the burgundy and white labels. Consensus was that the burgundy label (older) was a touch better.

• @paddockjudge is the official CONNOSR alchemist. We first tasted Wiser's Dissertation and then literally blended a dissertation of our own - I will let @paddockjudge disclose the secret recipe if he chooses.

• Crown Royal Noble Collection wine barrel finish 40.5%

• Eddu French Buckwheat whisky 42% - surprising and really good.

• Redbreast Lustau 46%

• The Whisky Agency 27 YO Irish single malt (Cooley) 45% - Delicious!

• Old Grand Dad Bottled in Bond 50%

• Old Grand Dad 114 (57%)

• Stagg Jr. (64.5%)

• WhistlePig 10 YO single Barrel CS - finished in bourbon barrel. 54.7%

• Lot 40 CS First Edition 55%

• Macallan Double Cask (Brimstone edition)

• Canadian Club 40 YO (45%) - oldest Canadian I've ever tasted - subtle and tasty

• Wiser's 35 YO (50%) - Bold and tasty

• Forty Creek Heritage (40%)

• @Robert99's Blend to resemble Macallan CS

• Macallan Cask Strength (60.1%)

• Amrut Single Cask (Bourbon) barrel 3443 (60%) - one of the stars of the night for me.

• Hazelburn Rundlets and Kilderkins (50.1%) - delicious!

• Port Charlotte 10 YO (50%)

• Talisker 57 North (57%)

We finished with a mystery bottle which was revealed to be Louis Royer Cognac VSOP bottled at 53% - a great end to a great line-up.

We did lose a few people along the way but at the end a few of us remained standing.

What I liked about this event is that before the evening no one knew everyone else but everyone know someone else. When I think about epic tastings, of course we come together to try spirits, but to qualify as truly epic I have to be able to answer yes to whether I would have enjoyed myself without any alcohol present and I have no choice but to say YES.

We ended the evening with new and stronger friendships and the memories of some really good spirits.

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@Nozinan It was a wonderful afternoon / evening - thank you so much!