Whiskey Secret Santa

Cazale

A standalone thread for the whiskey secret santa night organised by the regulars on What whisk(e)y are we drinking? (Part 2). There will be 15 of us getting together to try our samples on 23 Dec from 7pm.

Those who can't make it on the night can sample them beforehand and post their opinions on the night if that's easier. The more pictures and tasting notes etc we get the better it'll be. I'm looking forward to seeing what everybody got and what they think.

Cazale

I've matched with two people as we had odd numbers taking part. Both of my samples arrived safe and sound along with some very interesting tasting notes!

Beanstalk

Good work Cazale! Looking forward to it. I will blind taste them then just look at the notes after a few sips.

Hodors Appletart

Want to echo the sentiment on the organisation of this, it's a great idea, nice one Cazale!

I'll drink my two samples over this week and post opinions and thoughts on the 23rd. As I said in the other thread, I received two samples that kind of mirror the ones I send, so I'm happy that my match will enjoy what I've sent, and I'm intrigued to try my ones.

Just as a point of interest, I'd be up for doing an exchange once a quarter or something like that, if there was interest in keeping this up, I'm not as prolific at buying new whisk(e)y as others, but I've an interesting enough collection I think, and usually buy or receive a bottle of something about three or four times a year.

Black Sheep

I could definitely see more regular exchanges being a thing. We could also see about being more specific on the pairings?, For example, we could try matching people who want Irish only, Scotch only etc ?

I should be OK for the 23rd.

Hodors Appletart

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120013590#Comment_120013590

Are people really that set against Scotch, or Irish - what about other expressions? Japanese, Indian? Dare I say American? 🤠

I'm of the opinion that taking part in something like this is a way to open horizons, experience something you might not have ever thought to buy before possibly because of bias, or previous experience with drinks from certain places.

odyssey06

I think there's pros and cons to the different approaches.

'pairing up' creates overhead for the organizer, if they're ok to take it on, grand.

Or, maybe have an Irish only night around Paddy's weekend.

Burns Night is a bit soon for a Scotch night but maybe a Scotch only night would worth trying.

But rest of the time a free for all.

Black Sheep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120013642#Comment_120013642

I've drank very widely, so it's not really a case of expanding horizons at this point. I wouldn't even say I'm set against anything... I still drink the odd Irish for example... but at the same time I do have a preference for scotch or world whiskies over it. I don't dislike anything, it's all interesting, but equally given the choice...

I suspect there are a fair few others who would have a similar view, I know there are people here who are very much focused on Irish whisky for example.

Its opt-in anyway, you could still go in for a completely blind exchange and perhaps others might opt into particular categories.

For this Christmas I actually sent an unusual blended scotch and a bourbon incidentally...

Cazale

I would definitely be up for more sample swaps and theme tasting nights. A quarterly organised sample swap would be brilliant.

I did have an idea for a Burns night tasting thread on the 25 January where we try Scottish whiskey from our own collections rather than a swap. I'll get the secret santa out of the way and post about it in January.

Electric Nitwit

Another echo, thanks for organising Cazale

My mum arrives for Christmas on the 23rd so I'll have to do my drinking in advance and have notes prewritten, but I hope to be able to follow the thread on the evening

My plan is drink half blind and make notes, them see what it is and have the second half. I suspect I have preconceptions (good or bad) about some whiskies so I'm intrigued to see if my opinion changes!

Black Sheep

It's too late now to go back, but I'm starting to regret not taking that approach now, Electric Nitwit. Good compromise.

Hodors Appletart

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120013687#Comment_120013687

I think we're fairly similar, but I wouldn't be able to take part in a St Patrick's swap, for example, as I've really no Irish that I'd be comfortable sending out, never mind 2 samples - I've the end of a bottle of 3 Swallows, and a bottle of Teeling Single Malt here, I never go out of my way to buy Irish at all and everyone I know, knows I'm a "scotch drinker" so I usually get gifted bottles of that.

I'd LOVE to have my horizons broadened in the Irish regard though.

********

I'm also a little confused about the pairing aspect, is it really necessary even with an odd number of people? Could it not just be a complete running order, where Person A receiving from Person B doesn't necessarily send to Person B - like this

A --> B

B --> C

C --> D

D --> E

E --> A

That also works and is better for odd numbers, and it's how any work or friends & family Secret Santa's have worked for me in the past.

Electric Nitwit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120014553#Comment_120014553

I'll also drink until I'm half blind 🤣

1901Rory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120013909#Comment_120013909

Good idea. I think I’ll take that 2-step approach too

irish_goat

Not got mines yet, but we've had some postal strikes up here so that might explain the delay.

ZV Yoda

Received mine today.

Thx Secret Santa!

Electric Nitwit

Had my whiskies. I wrote proper notes for Friday but the short version is that I won this game!

I mean, I know it wasn't a competition

...but I still won 🤣

HenryCase

Think I am coming down with something. If I can still smell and taste on the 23rd I will do it then, otherwise I may have to leave until after Christmas

irish_goat

Got my samples today. Looking forward to tasting.

Black Sheep

I've drank both of mine! While the going was good... I'll write them up tomorrow though.

Cazale

Here is the original draw for the whiskey Santa. We had a couple of late entries so had to change a couple to the matches below -

ZV Yoda - runningonwhiskey90

Cazale 1 - Beanstalk

The plan is to drink and post what we thought tonight from 7pm but that's just a guideline. There is no problem if people want to drink them later in the week or have already sampled them. Just post here when you do!

HenryCase

Confirmed with COVID unfortunately. I'll try to do a small taste of mine to see how I get on later but will leave some until after Christmas to do the samples justice

Beanstalk

Gonna dip into mine shortly. Just gotta wrap all these presents so will be well deserved after!

Cazale

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120029129#Comment_120029129

Same here. Hope all is well.My sense of smell is totally gone and my sense of taste is severely dulled. Tried an Ardbeg Uigeadail yesterday and couldn't smell or taste any peat. Just got ethanol off it. Looks like I'll have to sit the tasting out as like you say I wouldn't be able to do the samples justice.

Black Sheep

I'm going to put my notes up now if that's OK- might be tied up later with family stuff.

First of all, thanks to DARK KNIGHT for participating and sending two really good samples... One in particular was an eye-opener for me and I have to say thoroughly exceeded my expectations.

In tasting order:-

1. Bushmills Causeway Collection, 10 year old, 46% ABV

The notes that DARK KNIGHT sent me advised that this was a single malt finished in Oloroso but a final 2.5 year stint in Cognac. He wrote a slightly deprecating note that it was 'something different'.

I wouldn't say I dislike Bushmills as a distillery but I find them mixed... I might be the only person on the forum who doesn't really like Black Bush, but I've enjoyed some of the age-statement whiskies that Bushmills release, and their older ones are very good value. I've also really liked the Bushmills sourced by some bottlers/bonders... In particular I had a 13 year old Friend at Hand from Belfast that was Bushmills and it was top notch.

I don't know much about the Causeway Collection other than they are Ireland only releases, I think? And possibly a focus on unusual wood finishes.

This was a revelation of a whisky for me - sometimes timing really matters, and it was the right whisky at the right time. I had it a couple of days ago in the early evening, when I had just finished a 12 hour shift. Unlikely probably most of you, my 'days off' are now, not over the Christmas period... I'm working on Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day, and likely to get pulled in on New Year's Eve as well.

So having that whisky at about 4pm was kind of my sigh of relaxation as I knew I had a few days break before the 25th. Well, a few weeks to do jobs around the house and clean the place for family!

My palate was clear of anything sweet or spicy, I could smell and taste the whisky immaculately. Not always the case when we have a whisky in the late evening I think, eh lads?

It has a light body but the 46% ABV is reasonably punchy, quite an alcoholic wash... Again, could have been because my palate was very clear. What knocked me for six was the phenomenal depth of nose... Very vinous and beguiling. I like a whisky that I spend as much time nosing as I do drinking. A few mouthfuls and I found it did not dissapoint. Well structured and sharp, but that cognac finish is very evident and I really really liked it.

I've had one cognac-finished Irish whisky before - the Lambay small batch - and also enjoyed that. It's obviously it's something that gels well with my palate.

I don't know what a bottle of this goes for now, but I think at one stage they were around 100. For a 10 year old this good, great value if so.

1. Redbreast 12 year old cask strength 57.2% ABV

DARK KNIGHT's tasting notes referred to it as 'one of the best cask strength released to date'. In an Irish context, hard to argue with. The Redbreast 12 year old has become an iconic Irish whisky, a benchmark by which other whiskies are measured... Not just pot stills... But also age statements in that range... And perhaps more importantly, whisky at that price point. Although a lot of fans remember the days when it was markedly cheaper than it is now, I don't think anyone would seriously try to argue that the regular 12 is 'bad value' at the price it currently is.

I have a minor beef with the 12 in that it is the whisky equivalent of 'Godwin's law' (In an online argument, someone at some point must make a Hitler / Nazis comparison). At times the Redbreast 12 has become like that, no matter the discussion or the request for a recommendation, someone reaches for Redbreast 12 to suggest. It's hard to argue with, it's a great whisky, but sometimes I think it has become over-exposed.

Enter the cask strength... Here we have all the beauty of the single pot still 12 but the depth and punch of cask strength. It's certainly an improvement for those of us who have drank a decent amount of 12 and want more. Among the core Redbreast offerings I would opt for the cask strength 12 as a 'step up' from the regular 12 before I'd suggest the 15. I am not sure about Lustau... Haven't had it recently enough to say.

I drank the cask strength without water for the first few sups, and then diluted it to about 50-53% which is still punch enough to make it an invigorating experience.

Concluding remarks - thanks for participating, DARK KNIGHT, and I hope you enjoy what I sent you.

Funnily enough, I think we picked similar whiskies in a way... One with an interesting finish, and one cask strength.

Electric Nitwit

That crap timing @Cazale and @HenryCase, hope you're not too bad and it doesn't mess up Christmas for you

Great notes @Black Sheep, the Bushmills Causeway sounds really interesting, will keep an eye out for it

Beanstalk

@Cazale and @henryc@HenryCase that's thats really unfortunate get well soon!

Sunds great @Black Sheep and well done @darknight. Also I know what you mean about tasting whiskey earlier and the day and the palate being mmaculate! I haf mine just now.

I got mine from @Cazale and I was definitely intrigued on tasting. Here they are and here's my initial tasting notes:

"1a. Sherried. Seems younger but after a bit of water there's a lot more cloves. Almost heather. Theres definitely peat or some kind of smoked malt in it. Needed a lot of time to open up but now its lovely. Is this scotch?

Sample 1b. Gorgeous smell very unique. Butterscotch, citrus, desert wine. Like an old sweet of some sort that I can't place. There's a slight funkiness. Strange whiskey. I like it. "

Both very unusual for me tbh. I've never had anything like them. Delighted. 

Here's @Cazale's notes:

The Highland Park is very fiery, volatile and delicate at the same time. I really needed to give it time and it's ends up being very complex with a beautiful finish. The Dark Silkie Component I loved. Very unusual and also I absolutely love the peated whiskies and i really like the funkiness and was delighted i recognised that element. I should add this sample was unpeated.

Totally surprised by these samples. And delighted! Thanks very much @Cazale ! Merry Christmas folks!

Cazale

Great notes @Black Sheep. I've worked too many Christmas and Stephens days over the years so I feel your pain! I hope you get a rest and a few drams in between.

I've always had an indifference to Bushmills and whilst I've enjoyed some of their stuff I'd subconsciously never seek it out. The father in law is a big fan of Bushmills 16 and I'll always get a sup when I'm visiting but it's never excited me the way some of the Midleton stuff does.

The causeway collection has thrown up some interesting releases with different wood finishes. Helen Mulholland who was one of the brains behind that collection has recently joined Lough Gill Distillery which was taken over by Sazerac. It'll be interesting to see what they do there.

The Redbreast 12 Cask Strength is in my top ten whiskey list. It's hard to beat especially at less than €100.

odyssey06

As a general point I sampled some of the Bushmills Causeway this year - Pomerol, Vermouth and Cognac Cask and thought they were all delightful. But then 'Black Bush' was a gateway for me :)

Onto my tasting notes. I'm obviously not a super tasted as I can't hold a candle to the excellent notes above!

Sample #1

Craigallachie 10

I enjoyed this one. Obviously a Scotch. Nice to broaden the horizons as I don't drink much peated Scotch and I like a chance to try a new distillery. This has just the lighest touch of smoke to it I think.

Sample #2

Glenallachie 13 Batch 6 PX Cask Strength

I couldn't tell if this was Scotch or Irish, PX muddies the waters I guess.

This was a sensational whiskey, really hit the spot. Have had Glenallachies before and this one is a blockbuster.

Information I'll crib from CWS:

The whisky was matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry puncheons, Rioja barriques and virgin oak casks... Waves of dark chocolate, treacle, mocha, heather honey and almonds, fused with cinnamon, marmalade and grapefruit.

Whiskey Samples.jpg

Black Sheep

I am a Glenallachie fan boy at the moment.. So that sounds awesome.. thinking of trying to go to the CWS dinner and tasting on the 26th if I can wrangle it at home.

Cazale

I'm glad you enjoyed the samples @Beanstalk I'm raging I can't try yours as the sample notes were something else! I look forward to trying them and reporting back in the next week or two. I haven't tried either which is a bonus too.

Electric Nitwit

Here's my notes...

Sample 1: 40%

Blind

Nose: more alcohol than I was expecting from a 40% bottling. Definitely get a hint of something, but I'm not great at identifying these things, perhaps it's a flavour from a bourbon barrel. I'd guess it's Irish

Taste, front: oh, very smooth, none of the alcohol I could smell. I'd say vanilla, as clichéd as it is. It's really nice

Taste, back: has an alcohol punch, again more than you'd expect from 40% but not in a bad way. It's very clean and smooth at the finish, very nice. I still think it's Irish, it's familiar but I can't place it

The first half went down really fast, which is a very good sign

Reveal: Midleton Very Rare 2019

Reaction: ah man, this is a bit emotional for me. My daughter was born in 2018 and I got her a bottle. I've also had a sample of that, which is probably why this tasted familiar. My son was born in 2020 and I managed to track down one for him in the end. The hunt for that was what brought me to this thread! Nice to have the middle year here, and a very generous whiskey to send to a stranger, thank you very much

Revised taste: no, still the same, I think. Though I am enjoying it more, knowing what it is

Afterthought: as it's Midleton, I thought I'd have a Redbreast next, interesting comparison. And, wow, the Redbreast (which I normally like) is almost undrinkably rough. It really is incredible just how smooth MVR is

Genuinely, thank you, that was great. Looking forward to number two tomorrow

*****

Sample 2: 64.5%

Blind

Nose: Incredibly, for the strength, I don't get much of an alcohol whiff. Getting hints of Christmas pudding, guessing it's maybe sherry casked

Taste, front: more Christmas pudding, which floats away to give a more woody taste. Almost a hint of cigar smoke

Taste, back: can feel the alcohol now, but much less than expected. That woody flavour is really coming through now, it's really good

I have no idea what this is. The closest I can think of that I've had is Balvenie Double Wood

Reveal: Dark Silkie Cask Strength

Reaction: seriously, my best friend couldn't have picked two better whiskies. My dad's from Donegal. I've had the Silkie and like it, I bought him the Red Silkie for his birthday and it was really good. I've been wanting to try the Dark for a while but not got to it. So again, this feels like a very personal choice, which is really nice

Revised taste: yeah, still the same, phew! OK, I'm looking online now, think I have to get a bottle! This is a really fine whisky, especially as it must be quite young. I'm delighted it's Sliabh Liag, I love seeing a Donegal distillery do great things. Can't believe it's so strong, it's very easy to drink for that, this could be dangerous!

Repeating myself, but thank you so much. Those are two amazing whiskies to send out, I have undoubtedly won this Secret Santa! I hope you like the ones I sent, you've set the bar very high

And once more, thanks Cazale for organising, this has been brilliant!

Black Sheep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120029848#Comment_120029848

Great tasting notes, can see why you enjoyed these. Context is everything with whisky sometimes.

Electric Nitwit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120029857#Comment_120029857

It is, which is why I wanted to taste blind initially. They're both very fine whiskies, the Silkie Dark Cask Strength was a particularly great one 🙂

1901Rory

Just tuning in now. Good to see all the notes already. Sorry to hear @Cazale and @HenryCase that you’re out of action and I hope you get back to tiptop form soon.

Cazale

Great to see so many people trying and enjoying their samples. Some great tasting notes so far especially those blind tasting. I was going to blind taste but it just stresses me out. I have ptsd I think from blind tasting in the past! I prefer knowing what I have.

How did everybody go about choosing samples for their match?

1901Rory

Notes from blind tasting half of each sample yesterday.

Sample 1 58.7%

Nose: Chocolate, sherried, currant, vanilla, red apple, cinnamon. Rich, heavy, beautiful.

Taste: Like a redbreast, very tasty, tastes like a pot still, peppery. That’s the business. Don’t know too many cask strength pot stills. RedBreast, Blue Spot, Powers JL single cask are all that come to mind. Think it is a blue spot as that got a lot of fans on the boards.

Sample 2 40%

Nose: Sherried, apple, not astringent or spirity, splintered fire wood, small bit of chocolate, some other fruit - pineapple?

Taste: a bit tannic, peppery, seems like a pot still, a bit young on the taste. Some pear.  

Tastes better returning a second time, and a third time. Less sure it is a pot still. Especially after tasting sample 1 which i am sure is a SPS.  Seems more watery after tasting the CS. But very nice.

Beanstalk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120029846#Comment_120029846

You're very welcome I'm delighted you haven't had then before they're both my favourite from the last year. Feeling very Christmassy now

1901Rory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120029929#Comment_120029929

The big reveal for me. Thanks @Cazale for two super samples 👍️

I’m pretty bowled over by the Blue Spot which I hadn’t tried before now. It’s a helluva whiskey, and half thinking I must get a full bottle (if I can find one).

I would never have picked out that Sample 2 was a MVR - I would have figured it was something more "ordinary" so it's always interesting what blind tasting throws at you. I think I had that MVR at whiskeylive2017 and it is no slouch. But for me it is overshadowed by its companion.

HenryCase

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120029912#Comment_120029912

I didn't have much in the way of interesting Irish. I thought anything I had people on here would have tasted before.

So I went with a Scotch I liked and haven't heard mentioned on here and a Japanese whisky that has changed its profile recently and rebranded. It's difficult to track down the version I sent so thought it was something different.

If the person hates both I will send something else :)

janiejones

Notes from the tasting

Sample 1 40%

Light and bright. Very tasty. Very easy. Nothing challenging here. Tastes of more. Don't have the vocabulary for this one. Just really enjoy it

Kilbeggan single grain 8 year old. This makes sense now.

Sample 2 43%

This one immediately has more going on

Nose: Creamy vanilla. Midleton potstill.

Palate: there's a kick there. Harsh. Lots of good stuff but bitter.

Back to nose after first sip, some of that harshness and now some apple

Nose is great, really top class. Palate not so much

Did mellow the longer it was in the glass

Jameson blenders dog

Insect Overlord

Absolutely fascinating to read this thread as an independent observer. I didn't have the bottle (pardon the pun!) to join in.

Some really interesting notes here about some whiskeys I've tried and others I haven't. Looks like this Secret Santa was a great experiment for all involved (Covid excepted!)

For those folks, get well soon. For all on the forum, Merry Christmas.

1901Rory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120029848#Comment_120029848

Great notes, but the reactions pieces in particular. 👏

Cazale

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120029972#Comment_120029972

Glad you enjoyed them. The Blue Spot is a beast of a whiskey. It was probably a tad unfair to send it with the MVR as it's a hard act to follow.

@1901Rory sent me the following:

Poit Dhubh 21

Nikka From The Barrel

Kyasuku Japanese Whisky

Three very intriguing samples and it's a pity I can't try them tonight. The Port Dhubh sounds right up my street. A peated blend of at least 21 year old Scottish Malts. I've tried the Nikka before in The Dylan Bar in Kilkenny but I was a few drinks in at that stage so it'll be good to try it at home. The Aldi Japanese blend will be an interesting bonus!

Black Sheep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120029912#Comment_120029912

In terms of choosing, I knew I wanted to send interesting whiskies but I decided early on I would not send anything heavily peated... This excluded about 2/3 of my selection.

In hindsight maybe I shouldn't have worried, but I wanted people to enjoy what I sent and was trying to avoid someone just being disappointed, on the off chance they were just dead against smoky whisky.

That left me with a narrower range and I picked one scotch and one bourbon that I was pretty sure would be new to whoever got them. The scotch has not been widely reviewed but I like it, a bit unusual and a blend, and from a bottler. The bourbon is a special one but I'll say no more.

Cazale

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120030013#Comment_120030013

Maybe next year!

1901Rory

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120030143#Comment_120030143

Glad there are some that you haven't tried before, and I hope you enjoy them. BTW, thx for organising the whole shebang.

gordonl

Sample 1 (46%)

Nose: Brown sugar and honey, maybe a bit of caramel as well. Definite notes of Rye too.

Taste: Vanilla, Oak char, quickly giving way to the rye spices again and a note of black pepper creeping in as well.

Finish: Medium finish that's all about the rye and bit of vanilla in the background.

Sample 2 (50%)

Nose: Freshly cut hay, with a hint of lemon citrus following on.

Taste: Red apple dominating a bunch of tropical fruit notes, can definetely get pears as well.

Finish: Short, getting wood spices, white pepper and fading out with white chocolate.

Reveal:

#1 Sazerac Rye

#2 JJ Corry The Batalion Batch 3 (6 YO single grain aged in Bourbon casks, finished in Tequila casks)

Thanks Santa!

I was pretty sure that #1 was going to be an american rye, so I'm happy i landed in the ballpark.

#2 threw me for a loop though, lovely whiskey, although i've no reference for what Tequila will do to a whiskey. Nice to see unusual cask choices.

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120030013#Comment_120030013

Same. Would have loved to have been involved but I've neither the whiskey collection nor the whiskey knowledge to participate although I've really enjoyed following here and on the main thread

Hodors Appletart

Apologies I never got to this last night.

It looks like Cazale sent me mine, and I to him.

I received Aberlour Casg Annamh and Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt (an older expression)

I had the Casg Annamh first, earlier in the week. I found it to be very red-apple skin and some earthy spices on the finish. It's an interesting whisky, and I don't mind Speyside at all, but there was just something a bit too tannic or something in it for me. It had an incredibly long finish, and as I allowed it to sit in the glass in a room with a fire going, it opened up a bit as it warmed, and the spiciness (like cinnamon or ginger) came to the fore a bit more, and some of the sweetness from the sherry I think started to come through.

On Thursday night then I had the Nikka Taketsuru having begun my journey into Japanese whiskies over the last year or so, I was very excited to receive this one. For reference, I have a bottle of Yoichi Single Malt and a Nikka From The Barrel here of my own. This is a lovely dram, very smooth to drink with no burn at all. I couldn't detect any of the smokiness, but that didn't matter, I really enjoyed this sample. Complex flavours of citrus fruits and spices I wish I had more of this for xmas day.

Cazale

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120030910#Comment_120030910

Your Secret Santa was @HenryCase It sounds like you got two really nice drams to try!