Scotch (5th one, Tastings #40)

Scotch Tasting (January 23rd, 2025)

This was our 5th Scotch Tasting, it was a lot of older Scotches, to see if we can beat the Macallan 12 yr, Sherry Cask.  There were some crazy good Scotches in this line-up.  I’m not sure how I ‘one up’, this one.  ie What’s next, after this….  The bottles in question were;

I was able to get the Highland Park 18 yr, at a good price, so we included it in the tasting.  It gets a 99/100 on distiller.com.  I was curious to try the Craigellachie 17 yr, since its part of the Dewer’s distilleries, and I do love Aberfeldy, which is also a Dewer’s distillery.  I have to say, after trying the Craigellachie 17 yr,  I still like Aberfeldy, better, its more fruity, and lighter.  I included 9 bottles in the tasting this time, since I officially ‘sold out’ for the 1st time, I sold 24 racks!  So I had to measure out 1 oz each, normally I just fill the bottles or tubes,.  In order to compensate for the smaller volume, I added an extra bottle to the tasting.  I consider 24 participants a sell out, since although it’s a 26 oz bottle (750ml), some european bottles are only 700ml (we had 2 like that), and we have to pre-taste the bottles, to set the order, so I consider 24 participants, a sell out.

I really enjoyed the Glen Garioch 18 yr, it is a higher proof, and a sweeter Scotch.  I included the Bowmore 18 yr, for those that like smoky, not my fav, but I know some love it.

So the competition was on! We had 19 on the call.

We had 4 new participants, Mike & Collin, and Daniel and Sean…I hope you guys had a good time, and hope to see you on other tastings!!

I was shocked that Macallan 12 yr Sherry Cask placed 2nd to last, this time!  Only AnCnoc 18 yr placed lower, which is an expensive bottle, and I enjoyed the AnCnoc 12 yr, in a previous tasting.  Most other scores, were within a narrow margin, but the winner did make a 8.1, setting itself apart from the crowd. Glen Keith 21 yr was the winner, I find it was good, but not distinctive.  I’m wondering if the average for Scotches isn’t a fair measure, given some like Smokey and some like Sweet….so a bottle strong on either side, will not get a good score, by one side, so middle of the road therefore wins…I dunno, just a theory.

I included the tasting map, but we are going up in $$, so fewer and fewer of our selections are on the map these days.

In terms of people guessing, 2 people got 2 correct, out of 9, congrats to Emilio and Alison R.  6 people got 1 right.  So we don’t seem to be good at guessing Scotch as a group, odd since Scotches are so much more distinct in flavour than say most rums or tequilas, imho.

The Winners!

1st Place (8.1) $200 CAD/?? 

2nd Place (7.8) $110 CAD/??

3rd Place (7.8) $190/$170 USD

The next Tasting in February will be High Proof Blanco Tequila, Feb 28th.

The Survey Results