Manchester Whisky Festival

Well it was fun! Got to try some very nice 'black token' drams - Talisker 25yo, 1974 Glen Grant, Highland Park 21yo. And I also had a long argument with Diageo over caramel colouration of their whiskies which was a good laugh, (OK I'd had a few by this point so I couldn't help make my opinions known along with a couple of other festival-goers). I also had some new Arkansas whisky but I've completely forgotten what it was, (D'oh). Aged just a few months and in an unlabelled bottle but it was good stuff!

Berry Brothers, Springbank, Kilchoman were the big hits for me. I had long, enthusiastic chats with all of them - they all struck me as being very very enthusiastic about their work and whisky and my respect for them is increasing all the time.

@Nemesis101 Great stuff. These kind of events are brilliant as you get to see, touch and taste some great bottles. As with you, I find chatting to the people the best part. You can learn so much.

I'm jealous of some of those, the HP21 in particular. Thanks for letting us know about it, I'm sorry it's too far for me to make it

@tjb The HP21 was somewhat brilliant and I left the festival with a bottle of it in hand. I'll get the tasting notes up at some point but the overriding quality that stood out was its incredibly long complex finish.

I also tried a Paul John Indian Whisky which I thought was a couple of notches above Amrut. Subtler and smoother. However I tried it right at the end of 5 hours of non-stop whisky drinking so my memory was getting a bit hazy by then, :-) It did leave enough of an impression that I think I'll consider trying a bottle at some point though.

@Nemesis101 Great Whisky you tasted I see.

You mentioned Berry Brothers, Next month I'll be at a local nosing and tasting session hosted bij Doug McIvor. Apparently he's the Spiritmanager en Brand ambassador of Berry Brothers & Rudd. I'm excited about that.

What was your experience with Berry's? I've never tasted any of their bottlings.

@wtrstrnghlt - Berry's are my favourite indie bottler without question, (Signatory do some good stuff but aren't quite at Berry's level). They are a bit pricier than most but I have never had a bad bottle from them. Chatted to their representatives at their stall on Saturday and as mentioned they were very enthusiastic. They had several bottlings on offer - from the 1974 Glen Grant, a 1989 peated Bunnahabhain right through to a younger 2003 Bowmore, along with their own blend. I asked about other bottlings that weren't there, (eg 1988 Bunna 24yo sherry cask) and they were on the mark straight away answering any and all questions. In short, they know what they're doing and are good at their work! I think you'll enjoy the tasting session.

I've still got some of my Berry's 1983 Caol Ila I bought at last year's festival. Been slowly savouring that one for over a year.

@Nemesis101 Thanks. I'd better save up for 'the bottle of the evening' then. :)

@Nemesis101 I agree with you on the Paul John. The Edited and Briiliance are both good but the peated cask Strength was the winner for me. If you are looking to buy a bottle I might hold off until end of Nov as they are launching a new expression and possibly a cask strength next month. I was lucky enough to have had preview and think its a very solid option.

I haven't tried Berry's yet, will have to add it to my ever-growing wish list of things to try. The more I drink the longer my list gets. Such is the burden of Whisky drinker.