London Whisky Show 2019

@RikS it is worth mentioning that there have been at least three batches of Amrut Naarangi. What I have been drinking is from Batch # 003, June 2017. You and I may be drinking Naarangi from different batches. Of course we can still taste it quite differently even if it is from the same batch.

@RikS Great choices! I am happy for you. What an experience. I am with @RianC about being suspicious of any whisky that was aged for X years in an ex-bourbon cask only to have year finish in something else. It tells me that the bottlers simply don’t think the whisky good enough to warrant the price tag without a little pizzazz. I am always afraid that I will open the bottle and begin to peel back the layers to discover an inferior spirit beneath layers of sweet and round. I feel like this has happened to me a few times with a few distiller’s editions and other “finished” whiskies. It isn’t a universal experience for me, but certainly I would want to try the whisky first. And now you have! Well done. I would love to try that Talisker 41yo. It sounds like a series they are doing. The 40yo last year was similarly finished but in Quo Vadis amontillado sherry.

The Sazarac 18yo and the Handy are certainly eye openers for rye whisky. Amazing stuff.

Also very jealous you got to try the new Octomore 10 series. I am actually a bit shocked about the low ppm this time around. I like the ex-bourbon only approach. I certainly will want a crack at the 10.3 if I can.

I am very curious to try the new Amrut Espresso. Makes me wonder if I need to pick up a bottle of Naarangi before it is all gone. What do you think @Victor? Is this something I would want a bottle of? Or simply the wrong direction for me?

@Victor I remember that SOT very well. I met you there for the first time. when we got to the bourbon table there was one pour of Pappy left and you insisted that I try it.

I also go to taste Stagg (Sr.) for the first time. Mmmmm

@Nock I can't speak for @RikS' sample/batch, but I would be surprised if you did not like the Amrut Naarangi which I have been drinking. Sour w/o being too sour, bitter like you like it, with orange and sherry. There is zero like it on the market. ZERO. Of the 20 or so people with whom I have tasted Naarangi, everyone liked it, novice and experienced drinkers alike. Universal acclaim. About how many whiskies can you say that?

@Nozinan that May 2014 day and night in Toronto is burned into my memory. Such wonderful times, hanging out with you, introducing you to Tom Alexander (whom we had already known for 2.5 years at that point), the fabulous Ashok Amrut Master Class, the rest of the Spirit of Toronto tastings, the before-SOT whisky tasting party and the two after-SOT whisky tasting parties, finishing with going back to @cyclingyogi's place with him at 0330 hrs.

@RikS - Thank you, that's very kind and thoughtful. I don't often sport lapels these days but would welcome the memorabilia so long as you're sure you wouldn't want it? I'll pm you as I can't see me in London anytime soon.

I'm glad you enjoyed the festival and got to sample some great drams by the sound of it. We discussed the potential logistics of attending next years festival but with childcare and costs it just might not be practical. We shall see ... That said, Bristol runs at least two decent sized (although that term is certainly relative here!) festivals annually, one of which I attended the other year, so they might have to suffice for now.

@RikS - If it's not bitter it's orange jam, not marmalade That's got me hankering for the Frank Cooper's ...