The "take" on whisky friendships and Islay virgins!

Jo Lawson and I became friends through twitter and the #whiskyfabric that we all weave. I was fortunate enough to meet her last year while I was staying with Dave Alcock. We took advantage of the fact that many of the UK weavers lived within driving distance and we all went on a two car, one day trip to Wales to visit Penderyn of which I wrote about last year on my blog:

http://whiskylassie.blogspot.ca/2014/06/leg-2-bristol-wales-camouflage-fake-bake.html

The minute I met Jo, I knew we would be friends for life. She is this bubbly, intelligent, kind and huge whisky enthusiast that loves life and you can't avoid how contagious that is!!!

When a few of us decided we would all go to Feis Ile 2015 this year, Jo stepped up to the plate, took the plunge and with no fear and a suitcase full of stuff met us on Friday May 22 to spend a full week with a bunch of crazy writers, bloggers, whisky nuts and putzes (is that a word?!). For all of us who got to spend time with her, I think I can easily say she touches way more than your heart.  There is an exuberance and craziness to her that gently rubs off and leaves you either laughing until your sides hurt or in tears when it's time to drop her off at the ferry.

Here's to you Jo! May your enthusiasm and love for everything #whiskyfabric be bestowed on many more fantastic people, for years to come.  Until next time my lovely whisky friend and sister!!! Slainté

I give you, Jo Lawson's take on her first big whisky trip:

"If I had to describe my first visit to Feis Ile in one word, that word would be FRIENDSHIP! Even right back in January when I started planning my trip, people I'd never met started offering me help, advice and support. This guidance was especially useful during the madness that is the activities booking process. I don't think I would have got on any tours without all their help. Getting to Islay continued this theme of friendship, as I travelled up with Steve and Jon in their hire car. Freely sharing their knowledge, gained on previous trips to both Speyside and Islay, I felt like I had my own personal tour guides.

On arrival at Islay House, for an evening of Jazz and whisky, old friendships were renewed and new ones
formed. This pattern continued throughout the Festival. Everywhere I went, I was greeted with smiles. People would just introduce themselves and start talking tome. Distillery staff would cheerily offer free drams and information. Nothing seemed like too much trouble for them. I was sharing a cottage with Johanne, Graham MacKenney, Angar and Thomas Speller, and my roomy for the week, Crystal Coverdale. 

As a Feis Ile virgin, I was depending on these people to guide me and they didn't let me down. They all proved to be some of the most generous and kind people I have ever met. Taking me to distilleries, showing me the sights and giving me sample bottles, empty and full! Linked by a love of whisky and a desire to share their knowledge and passion with others, this feeling of unconditional friendship just seems to be the norm for the #whiskyfabric. I have learnt so much on this trip, both from distillery tours and just by talking to people. I have visited every distillery on the island, seen the similarities and differences and loved every minute. 

Sharing a cottage with people with such a breadth of whisky knowledge was an education. They are not experts, they're just a bit further along their whisky journeys than I am and happy to show me the different paths my future journey could take.
On our final evening together, I shared a short poem, that I had written, with my cottage mates. I now dedicate it to all the wonderful #whiskyfabric people I met on Islay.

A toast to Islay:

Like a golden river flowing, it's amber heart a-glowing,

Clinging to the glass, it's water with class,

Sharing a dram with good friends, as another day ends,

It's peat fire, not coal, that brings peace to my soul.

Slainte Mhah X

Thank you Jo for sharing your love, thoughts and lovely photos about Feis Ile.  

Lassie, out... for now ;)

Have Tomatin Cù Bòcan 1989, will travel!!!!

Every October, NOTHING scared me more during my childhood then the stories my grandfather told us about the black dogs of hell. The mythical red eyed creatures that roamed the wooded areas of Ireland howling and stealing bad little children. 

Nothing good ever came of the people who saw them and of course my grandfather relished in the gory details that made us squeal and wriggle in fear. Was enough to make me run all the way to bed, pull blankets over my head and wouldn't allow my grandmother to turn the lights off. I was scared half out of my wits for years... Now that he's gone, I miss those stories and him very much. 

As most of my regular readers know, I had the trip of a lifetime this past spring spending an entire month in Scotland. Lots of spooky stories along the way, especially at the distilleries. I often found my thoughts drifting to grampy and I'd smile wondering if he would scowl at the thought of me "swilling" uisge beatha or if he would have been proud :) 

Not long after my first trip to Scotland I realized we had driven right by the Tomatin distillery. Didn't know it = didn't stop. So this time, I made sure this was one of my chosen and planned stops. What I didn't expect was to spend most of an entire day visiting the distillery and WHAT A DAY it was!!!

Two of my very good friends Ansgar & Thomas (the duo that makes up Whisky Speller) were there with us as well, which of course only made it even more memorable.  Here is their account:

 http://whiskyspeller.blogspot.nl/2014/06/traveling-to-west-for-some.html

I personally fell in love with Tomatin whiskies in 2013 to the point where they replaced Talisker which was my favorite Scottish distillery for almost 7 years. Thus far, not one single Tomatin whisky has disappointed me. 

The tour itself was most excellent (blog about that soon!) but the biggest thrill for most of us geeks is getting to sample whiskies not yet available to the market or only available at the distillery. I have a bottle of the Cù Bòcan (on my 2nd one) and love that it's an easy going, sippable every day dram for excellent $ value. It's a hybrid that slips in really well somewhere between a Speyside and Islay whisky. Sweet, slighty smoky dram. It's truly one of the better NAS whiskies that came out in 2013 that I love to share.

Trying to look "calm" 

So when we went into the tasting room and Graham Eunson took out the Cù Bòcan 1989, needless to say my mouth began to water and I was trying really hard not to show my excitement. However some of those present that day didn't exactly hold back?! Errr wait, oh...that is me in the picture isn't it?! Ok, ok so I may have squealed, danced and possibly yelled "THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE EVER!!!" a few times... Let's just say the group had many good laughs at my expense that day because I don't hide emotions that well. Worse poker player ever. 

But I digress, back to the whisky... a small sample was poured for all of us and I was tempted to take out my note book but didn't. This entire day was simply about enjoying the moment. We didn't overindulge as we are responsible whisky people. We did however leave at the end of the day with samples to enjoy later, purchases of distillery only bottlings, glassware, clothing and a few other goodies to take home with us. The cars were loaded! But even so I wanted to ensure that everyone had a really great experience so I was happy to share the 1989 Cù Bòcan sample with the Spellers and sent some home with them back to the Netherlands. 

A few weeks later I was in now visiting Paris. I was alone for that portion of the trip. It had rained most of the day and I had been out walking around the Père Lachaise cemetary. I was soaked when I got back to my hotel room. I had a headache, I was a bit homesick and was in need of a nice warming dram. I went through my bag picking through sample bottle after sample bottle and nothing was really speaking to me so I gave up & went to take a hot shower. When I came back to my room I grabbed a pair of socks and that's when the Cù Bòcan fell out. Perfect! I happily sighed and reached for a Glencairn (At that point I had almost 20 from the trip) I opened the window blinds, turned off the overhead light and lay on the bed with my dram & notebook. No sooner did I write down the words: campfire ashes, did my window light up and a loud crack of thunder boomed overhead. It started to rain really hard and I could hear people scrambling to get out of the storm. A symphony of angry car horns, bicycle bells and rain bouncing off the cobblestones were mixed in between the thunder and light show. I left my bed and walked over to window with my dram. I opened the two large windows as wide as I could, grabbed a chair and watched the world unfold below me. It lasted a good 30 minutes and I sat there completely mesmerized. It wasn't until the storm was over and there was nothing but a few raindrops left behind that I realized that like the storm my whisky was gone. I looked back at the bed where my notebook was and peered down into my now very empty glass. Oooops.... Two words. That was all I had written down. I had simply enveloped myself in the warmth of the whisky while being completely enraptured by the glistening streets of Paris. I again had apparently very much enjoyed this whisky but without taking notes. I wanted to kick myself. Dejected I rinsed the glass, closed the window and fell into bed. My trip continued and it was fabulous but alas it was time to go home. 

Once I settled back into my life in Canada I started making enquiries as to whether or not this particular bottling would be available here and if so how much. I was determined to get my hands on some more. October I was advised and it would retail for $400.00. Frack, fudge, fallopian tubes!!! Well, that's that I thought but then, as always my horseshoe appears. 

On our very recent trip to Toronto (late September) we had a #whiskyfabric get together and a very dear friend Rick Culver (@rmculver) PULLED IT OUT OF HIS BAG... Lucky Lassie you say?  Hell ya I say...

Happy dance = redemption = WRITE NOTES this time you idiot!? And so... I did. I poured myself a dram and snuck off to our bedroom for just a few minutes & dug out my notebook. 

I didn't want to turn any lights on so I sat on the floor next to the bed, covered myself with a blanket and used the flashlight on my phone. Nose in glass and pen at the ready I balanced my I Phone as well as I could so that I could see what I was writing. Having created a bit of a blanket fort, the smell was surrounding me completely and it was it was purely sinful & delicious... 

Nose: The smell of the left over ashes after a bonfire has died down. Tinned pineapple pieces (the kind that my mom put in my school lunches). It has an earthy quality to it, like a wet mossy forest. Honeyed, creamy... 

Palate: Oh my... greeted by dark chocolate covered crystallized ginger pieces. Quite rich and there's hints of dried figs or prunes. Almost meaty in quality like walnuts or Portobello mushrooms (I wrote a ?). Mouthwatering and zesty orange on the swallow. 

Finish: Long, lingering and smoky. The taste of a good cigar after one exhales.  

Notebook closed and I turned off the flashlight app. "Thank you" I whispered in the darkness and off I rushed back down the stairs to the rest of the party. The company was awesome, the evening now perfect because I had been reunited once again totally by chance with the "dog". I nursed that dram for almost an hour, refusing to drink any other whiskies afterwards. 

Tomatin whiskies have provided me with some very memorable drams and moments. Most often they come to me through serendipity. This one only cemented that yet again. I tend to believe in karma and the supernatural. After all, some things are simply not meant to be explained but just enjoyed. I will forever have not one but three great stories of this whisky: first with fantastic friends in Scotland at the distillery with the people who created it, on my own during a dark rainy Paris storm and yet again in my homeland on Canadian soil tucked under blankets with a flashlight. 

So... grampy I often feel that you are the angel that is always here ensuring I make it through life's lessons but also allocates some of the good things that place too. In this case, I'm going to give you credit for this one and hope that this is payback for all the times you scared the beJesus out of me with your stories of howling hell dogs. I'm much older now and I can safely say in this case after three glorious attempts the "dog" has finally been tamed... for now at least.  

With just over 1000 bottles of the Cù Bòcan 1989 made it is available worldwide (except USA) but is somewhat scarce and rare. I recall hearing some might still be available at the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and the Good Spirits Co. in Glasgow. 

In Alberta Canada now, appx retail price $375 - $400. Check out places like Kensington Wine Market & some Calgary Co-op locations as well as Vinomania or Wine and Beyond in Edmonton. Nova Scotia will get in early 2015...

Graham MacKenney if you are reading this I have a birthday coming up and of course Christmas is right around the corner. I'm just saying - I could be really brave and take a 4th chance on encountering this smouldering dog. ;)

Lassie

Toronto roadtrip: 66 Gilead, Still Waters, Forty Creek and Fabric get together!

Ahhhhh "Taranta"... City of subways, cable cars and a million miles of year round construction?! How I missed you so. Well, not really. It's not the city I love but the people and places I get to go once I arrive. Some say Toronto is the armpit of Canada however I tend to disagree. Of all the Canadian cities I have visited over the many years I've been on this earth, Toronto has the largest population of amazingly friendly and caring people. I guess it's sort of the "New York" of Canada for me, which is why I try to get there as often as I can. Case in point, Forty Creek Weekend took place again this year on September 27-28th and so began the planning process a few months ago to get up there, see people, visit distilleries and taste good whiskies. 

Steven (mr_goalie7959) and Sandra Radcliffe have become good friends of ours. I can't begin to describe how much we enjoy their company and staying with them when we come to Toronto. Steven shares a passion for whiskies that equals ours. Sandra balances us all out as the voice of reason. I used to think I was one of the most organized people I knew. I do not exaggerate when I say, Sandra beats me 100X over and is not only brilliant at multitasking but has one of the sharpest & wittiest sense of humors I have ever heard. I can only hope to repay them both some day soon for their generosity, peace of mind and fantastic memories thus far.  

Thursday night we arrived at Billy Bishop airport (downtown Toronto) and were immediately met by Steven & Sandra. Luggage loaded and off to the Distillery District for a fabulous supper at The Beer Hall. http://beerhall.millstreetbrewpub.ca/ If you are in Toronto and want to try something a little different, I would recommend this place hands down. The long "communal" tables are reminiscent of the old days of the beer halls, there's a heated patio, the beer was pretty good (I'm not a fan), the service was awesome and the food quite delicious indeed. 

Bellies full, of course we had to go shopping. So straight to the LCBO at Summerhill to browse and pick up a few good bottles. The rest of Thursday night was spent catching up, sharing a few drams and eventually falling into bed for a good night's sleep.

Friday morning I woke at 5:00am in order to go meet #whiskyfabric friend Jarred Lindale (@thecyclingyogi) for a hot yoga class. Yes, you read correctly. A hot yoga class. It's important to me to try and spend time with the people I really like so when Jarred told me he wasn't going to be around for the weekend due to a family commitment but offered the hot yoga class and a coffee date right afterwards I said yes immediately. Might sound crazy for some of you but again I believe in making the most of my passions and friendships. I loved the yoga class and it was nice connecting with Jarred. *Thanks bud!*

Back on a subway by 8:00am to the house, a quick rinse/clothes change and we are on the road with Steven to get to Prince Edward County which is about 2 hours away. Why would you go there Lassie you ask? I'll tell you why =  It's a hidden little gem on the shores of Lake Ontario that has wineries, golf and so many other great little get away ideas.  

For us the goal was to get to 66 Gilead Distillery and try their latest whisky releases but we also wanted to stop along the way, visit a few wineries and see the sights. As always a few funny little things happened during our travel. First we stopped off at a lovely little Inn to drop off Steven's son who had business there and found out the owners were not only from New Brunswick but their family (an uncle) was Graham's grandmother's neighbour AND on the other side of the family, the paternal great uncles had meat stalls side by each (as we say here in the Maritimes) in the Saint John City Market. It may be 6 degrees of separation everywhere else in the world, but in NB I assure you it's always 2...

Off to 66 Gilead Distillery right before lunch to try their latest releases of whiskies. It was my first time visiting the distillery. It is small but offers a very pleasant atmosphere with chickens running around, an art gallery, a tasting room nestled in the house (built by a hops grower in 1874) and the distilling unit is in back.  www.66gileaddistillery.com

I started with the Wild Oak Whisky. Matured 3 1/2 years and bottled at 47%. This is a whisky made with 51% corn, 30% rye and the remainder a mix of wheat & peated barley. I tried asking a few questions about the wheat's origins as well as peated barley but unfortunately the gentleman pouring didn't know and I didn't find anything on the website. It is also not colored or chill-filtered.

Nose: Really Oaky, no surprise considering the name. Very sweet on the nose like hard Christmas candy and a bit of a medicinal smell, hints of orange oil (like furniture polish). 

Palate: Again really oaky, extremely drying and a bit bitter on the tongue. Very peppery and quite tannic in nature (reminded me of the taste I get after I drink Earl Gray tea). 

Finish: Hot, very hot! I didn't find it to be a long finish, but the "burn" definitely stays with you for a few minutes. If the flavor profile they were looking for was oak... then they achieved it. 

The second whisky I tried was their Crimson Rye. A 100% rye whisky aged 3 1/2 years in barrels that contained French Pinot Noir. Bottled at 47%, not colored or chill-filtered.

Nose: Sweet, spicy but not really strong on the nose. The rye seems a bit muted.

Palate: Hot, peppery but thin with not much character.

Finish: REALLY HOT, ground cinnamon powder (I literally exclaimed whoa! as it took my breath away)

Overall (and this is comparing them to all the whiskies I tried over the weekend) these were my least favorite. Although I found the flavor profiles quite unique, my personal opinion is that these are not ready yet. I can't say for sure they are flawed as in something wrong with the process but there is missing components in both whiskies as they are not quite balanced and simply too "hot" for me to enjoy. 

There is a delicate dance that takes place between barrel oak and spirit and I'm thinking that dance needs to be longer for these whiskies or that the wood chosen might not be the best choice. I may be wrong, but that's my gut instinct. They both retail at $68.95. 

For me personally, they are a pass for now but I do look forward to trying more of their products as time goes by. 

Off to lunch in Bloomfield - (www.agrarianpec.ca).  Something simple yet elegant - Fresh tomato basil soup with a grill cheese sandwich. Delish and jumped back in the car pick up Steven's son, stopped at a few wineries along the way, then back to the house in Toronto and to the best part of the weekend. 

This again is where #whiskyfabric always impresses me and touches my heart because Steven & Sandra hosted 14 people in their home from all walks of life from the fabric on Friday night. Yes, 14!!!

Sandra spent the entire day cooking recipes that either contained or paired with whisky. The table was beautifully set out, the house smelled amazing and she's a genius! We had a traditional Cullen Skink with Whisky Soda bread followed by Short Ribs, Polenta and roasted fall carrots. We finished off the evening with a lovely tart that was loaded with A'bunadh Batch 18 whipped cream. I requested sweat pants at least twice during the evening and I bow my chef's hat down to one of the best cooks I've ever come across (don't tell my grandmother I said that ok?!) 

The rest of the evening was spent enjoying each other's company, catching up, discussing and drinking everything whisky. Here is the line up of what was available for all to try (we all pitch in and bring bottles). 

Once the people all left, we helped Sandra to the best of our ability (she's effective let me tell ya!) and the house was back to almost normal, most of us retired to another fantastic evening of sleep. 

Early Saturday morning I was the first one up, coffee was ready as were some of Sandra's pumpkin muffins (are you getting my drift at how wonderful this woman is?). The house came alive slowly but surely and by 9:00am we were on the road again. Stephen and I picked up Maryse (@Bergamot63) and we headed up to Still Waters Distillery as a group. We originally started as 3, ended up as 10 but Barry & Barry were happy to see us all. We met Graham, Rick (@rmculver) and Lydia (@actionGeologist).

I tried a few more of their single malt releases (sorry didn't take notes for those, just enjoyed) as well as their very soon and upcoming 100% rye (95% rye, 5% malted rye) to be released on Saturday October 25th at 10:00am.

This was my 2nd time (2013 as well) trying it and I have to say I absolutely fell in love with it last year. That love affair still goes strong! It's the BEST new rye I've tried this year so far and when it becomes available I will be getting several bottles.

Nose: Dusty hay barn (right after the bailed hay has been stored). Floral and delicate spiciness (geraniums) with hints of powdered sugar. The longer it stays in the glass the more it develops a creaminess (French toast). 

Palate: A lovely roller coaster ride that starts with full mouth feel, sweet toffee pudding and grabs you with a bit of peppery spices like ginger & cloves. 

Finish: Long sweet heat. Hot pepper meets honey. Knowing I was in Toronto when it's this "" close to market almost gives me goosebumps. If I lived in Toronto, I'd be the first in line waiting to get bottles of this as there will only be about 300 bottles available. I always encourage people to try everything, take it on my advice that this one cannot be missed. It truly is a must try if you like 100% rye whiskies. If you see Stalk & Barrel at a whisky show, do yourself a huge favor and try it!

By the way, Barry & Barry will be at the NB Spirits Festival this year on Nov 21st so please stop into their booth!

On to Forty Creek!!!  We hit the highway for 11:45 and wouldn't you know it - Construction!? Our spirits were not dampened but I was seriously going to beat someone up if the smoked ribs were sold out when we got there!!?? That didn't happen, thankfully. We ate, we advised we were there to pick up our bottles and we went on a guided tour of the distillery. 

Overhead of the tour group in traffic mirror

It doesn't matter how many times I go one of these, there is ALWAYS something magical about being in the barrel warehouse! It smells divine. Tour over and run in quick to get/pay for our reserved bottles of Evolution. 

John's 8th limited release. Packages in hand, off to see John to get them signed (of course). While we waited in line I got my first taste of Evolution and I have to say I was really confused. Understandably, when they are pouring the taster they use small little plastic wine glasses and it was almost impossible to really smell the whisky so I simply enjoyed it and didn't think about "rating" it all that quickly. We saw many people of the #whiskyfabric while we were there, I had the chance to talk to Tim, got my hug from Lynn, saw Terri flit by a few times and of course spent a few precious moment with a tired but very happy John Hall (he had to put ice on his wrist that night from signing so many bottles). We left the distillery with the car full and again Steven kindly dropping us off at the airport on his way home. Our flight was spent talking about the weekend, the friends, the whiskies and how lucky we are to be living in these times. Canadian whiskies are booming for a reason - there are some really great whiskies coming to market.

We stayed in Moncton that night and it wasn't until the next day that we popped one of our bottles (yes, we buy more than one - always) and shared it with our friend Eric Lewis (@Eric_B_Lewis). It was 11:30am, hehehe...  We all enjoyed the dram, took out a few of the other Forty Creeks Eric has in his collection and tried to create a flavor "trail" of sorts of where the Evolution fit... We had different opinions but all enjoyed the dram together.

I drank more of the Evolution Tuesday night and then last night I really had the chance to quietly sit with it. So as you can see I went to the tub and enjoyed a good size dram while I relaxed with my feet up so to speak. So what is Evolution? As stated, it's Forty Creeks' latest limited release. Bottled at 43%. It starts its whisky journey like many of John's whiskies as an original concept and idea. So let's turn back the clock to early 2002 when the distillery was still in its infancy. John aged this whisky in ex-bourbon oak for 3 years, then he decided to re-distill it. HE DID WHAT!? Yes, you read correctly: He re-distilled the whisky using his copper pot still. Then he said to himself (as he was a wine maker at that time as well), I think I'm going to put this whisky in some French Oak barrels that held some of the Cabernet Sauvignon wine I make. Constantly checking on this whisky until this year 2014 when he felt it was ready. It spent 9 years soaking up the characteristics of the Cab Sauvignon & French Oak. Do you think he was done then? Well of course not because John loves to do things "differently". Then he hand picked some very personal and favourite barrels that he had tucked away to balance and round out the whisky. All of a sudden the name Evolution certainly makes sense to me?!

So what did I think:

Nose: Very rich and full bodied smell. It did remind me a bit of a previous release called Portwood but with a spicier kick to it. My mind immediately thought: Copper pot meets Portwood!? With a bit more time in the glass it turns to juicy wine gummies with hints of sweet dried fruits (fig newtons). There's a bit of clean nuttiness there as well, like blanched almonds or maybe marzipan. The nose is quite intriguing and pulls you deeply into the glass. 

Palate: Didn't quite match the rich full bodied effect of the nose. It sort of did remind me of a red wine from a colder region such as South America. It was fruity, with hints of dried cherries or plums. A bit spicy and drying in nature, sort of like ground cinnamon. Complex, but not quite what I had on the nose.

Finish: Short, sweet, spicy and to the point. Doesn't linger for a very long time.

(As a side note, the next morning I nosed the empty glass and I really had to work hard to find any of the spices left)

So what do I think of this latest release... I really like it. Graham and I had a good discussion about this yesterday and what I came away with is I pretty much have a Forty Creek for all the seasons and drinking moods. I have easy drinking: Barrel select & the Double Barrel. For rich warming drams I have the Portwood or the Copper Pot. I love the Heart of Gold as my light/delicate summer dram and my go to has always been the Confederation Oak. Happily I shared the last of my John's Private Cask (my special, I'm having a bad day dram) with Steve Beam (@stevehasbeans) on his recent trip home and it was glorious! So now I have yet another to add to my great collection. This one is also very easy drinking and I can see it fit somewhere between my Confederation Oak and the Portwood. It's sweet but not overbearing or sickly. It's rich but not quite heavy or full bodied and doesn't leave an after taste. 

I'm glad John takes chances and does things his way. I'm even happier that I get to enjoy his releases year after year. 

It's with trepidation that I look forward into the future when it comes to Forty Creek and with good reason. I've had a "good thing" for the last 8 years and I hope John's way of pushing the limits and going in new and different directions continues...

Overall my entire weekend was a fabulous one and I had no doubt that it wouldn't be. I know amazing people, I love good whiskies and I am truly a blessed Lassie...

Thanks Toronto, thanks #whiskyfabric and thank you Steven and Sandra from the bottom of my whisky soaked soul!!!

Love always TO and see you again, really soon...  


Lassie

ROAD TRIP!!!! French Whisky samples anyone?

In the fall of 2013 my friend Franck Debernardi (http://lacavedecobalt.blogspot.ca/) decided to celebrate his blog's 3rd anniversary by hosting a twitter tasting #FrenchWhiskyTT. A little while later, I received the 5 samples he had provided to the participants. (Too cool & lucky me)

Then I went away to Scotland and a few other lovely places, came home, went back to work and the next thing I knew it was the 1st of August??? I happened to be cleaning my whisky room a bit and organizing stuff when I saw the 5 lovely samples still sitting there. I carefully opened #1 and took a sniff. I was also in the middle of packing for a week away for work when it struck me, I was going to be gone for 5 nights. Hmmmm, 5 nights, 5 samples...  5 quick and easy blogs!!?  DONE!!! Packed a whisky glass and my Cave de Cobalt samples and I was a happy camper. It's Monday night and I popped open the first sample. It was a hot and muggy night, not the best of environments for a whisky but I pushed forward on my quest. 

Sample #1 - On the nose: Red rich ripe cherries!  Once it's sat for a little while, a really strong smell of demerara sugar and/or a spicy sweet rum.  Quite an aromatic little sample!  On the palate: Again very sweet, tropical in nature (coconut cream, vanilla, powdered sugar with hints of ripe banana.  The finish was a bit of a surprise because it was a bit on the bitter side and very short.  

I decided not to add any water as I was enjoying the sample just as it was.  A thunder/lightning shower started and I opened the window. Heavy air, hot, muggy with a strong warm breeze.  I was transported to the first night I was in Paris in June.  I arrived around 9:00pm, went straight to the hotel, dropped off my stuff and headed directly to the tour Eiffel. I walked around for a little while, bought a crepe and took some photos.  A huge thunder storm was approaching and I captured this:

It was glorious! I quickly walked back to the Metro and jumped on. Five stops later, I was at my stop and it was pissing down sideways! Stuck in the subway for about 20 minutes and finally it let up or at least I thought it had. I took off running just as it started to come down again.  I ran all the way back to the hotel laughing and was soaked.  It was almost 3:00am, I was in Paris and I was loving every second! 

And just like that, my happy memory and sample #1 was gone. How appropriate to enjoy this one during the height of a hot and sticky night filled with thunder and warm wet breezes.  TOO COOL... as always.

The reveal:  Sample #1 was a French Single Malt - G. Rozelieures, Rare Collection from the Grallet Dupuis Distillerie, 40%, NAS. 

Not bad at all for a sipping whisky on a hot summer night!   Can't wait to see what sample 2 brings on Tuesday...

Cheers folks

Lassie

Behold the whisky, hardships & unconditional love in my life...

On April 25th I left for my once in a lifetime trip that would cover 8 countries, many whiskies, adventures and so many new friends. I was due to be back on July 2nd. Unfortunately my father became ill and I made the decision to go home as soon as I could. Whisky will always be whisky but I only have one dad. 

The strange part about all this is that him getting sick was the biggest blessing and gift I could have received. I know that sounds extremely weird right!? But it was. Just about the same time as my dad was getting progressively sick so was my Bernese Mountain Dog Jack, except we had no idea. The symptoms seem to point to a somewhat harmless water born bug that could be cleared up with antibiotics.  

My dad... yah, he pulled through albeit slowly. My dog... not so much. I landed in Canada on Monday June 16th and 5 days later, Jack was gone. Just like that... Life turned upside down, heart broken and massive void created in a matter of seconds. He was my "big" little boy. For the non dog owners, I don't expect you to understand at all. Jack came into my life 6 years ago as a result of my partner's desire to get a Bernese Mountain Dog. I had never even heard of that breed but had had dogs most of my adult life. I truly had no idea what we were in for... ;)  

He arrived and immediately had a profound effect on all of us. He was an old soul from day one. The most expressive and hilarious dog I have ever been fortunate to have in my life. It is as a result of getting Jack that I started writing again. The joy, turbulations, adventures, stories and absolutely everything Jack brought to our lives was fantastic. 

Was.... Man, what a fucking hard word to use/type. Was... past tense. I've only spent 5 days without him in my life and it already feels like a lifetime. Each day does get a bit easier but there are moments like hanging a wool sock on the clothesline and finding a big clump of his hair stuck to it. A chuckle, a good cry. Walking by the freezer in the basement and fully expecting to see him stretched out there, startled awake hair all screwed up because he was snoring and didn't hear me...  another chuckle, another couple of tears and snot bubbles... :)  

Something else I have learned from all of this, another blessing so to speak...  Even though I was away for 50 days AND tried 355 whiskies I am NOT an alcoholic. Yah, another weird and strange blessing, hehehe. I didn't NEED a whisky to cope with Jack's death. As a matter of fact it was the last thing I wanted to put to my lips. A few days later, a hot bath, some good music and a whisky. Nothing since then, just coping, healing and helping the other lovely Berner in my life get through this as he's never known life without Jack. 

Next Monday, the 30th, will be another rough day as we will receive Jack's ashes. The finality of it all will truly set in but one thing is for sure, I'll be raising a very special dram that day to a very special dog. The interesting part of that is finding what dram will be suitable. How does one toast a dog who was stubborn, hilarious, loving, dedicated, a bit of a couch potato (literally), sweet, inspiring, soft and truly a personality like no other. Jack marched to his own drum at his own sweet time at all times from day one... 

I'll figure it out and I know I'll find the perfect dram because through it all he was the perfect dog for our family.

Here's to Jack, my sweet "big" little boy. May my memories of you bring me years of joy & laughter... I will miss you always.  

With so much love...

Your "mom"

Leg 2 - Bristol, Wales & camouflage fake & bake!

Leaving Scotland was difficult, I felt like I was leaving home and as I took one last look around the lovely city of Edinburgh I had tears in my eyes knowing I had experienced one of the best month's of my life.  The whisky, the sites, the people and the experiences will forever be part of who I am becoming.  I thank you all for that...

Leg 2 begins on a train leaving the core of the city bound for Bristol and a very good friend that I have been waiting almost 2 years to meet.  This person is someone I have admired not only for his witty banter & unwavering friendship across the ocean but because of his tenacity & deep understanding for all things related to life. Those who have had the utmost pleasure to be in his presence, KNOW what I'm talking about.  His writings about whisky are unique, brilliant and sometimes so poignant it reduces me to tears.  Is there ever any fear that the people I meet from the #whiskyfabric will disappoint, sure there is!  Has it happened during this journey... only once.

So back to the train...  It didn't take long for the scenery to change.  We travelled down the coast along the waves crashing on the sandy beaches.  I became really homesick and found myself longing for the shores of NB, the boats I sail on and my friends.  I missed Heather & Vicki, my two closest "girl" friends.  I craved the smell of the salty air.  Then the scenery changed again.  It became green, lush and miles of farmland and crops appeared.  The familiar stone constructions turned into red brick. The Scottish accents slowly disappeared & the next thing I knew we had arrived in Bristol. I walked to the library and wrote a few emails, a blog and made a few photocopies.  I handed the young lady a 5 pound note and she stared at it like it was monopoly money.  "What is this?" I answered 5 dollars.  She brought the money over to a co-worker, they stared at me all the while conversing.  She came back. "We don't take this money here" she stated matter of factly.  Apparently I was much further from Scotland than I thought?  Off to a pizza joint to wait for Dave A I went, albeit a bit more confused at that point. 

The anticipation grew and as soon as he walked through the door and gave me a great big bear hug, I knew "all was well". It was like seeing a brother I had been missing.  It was hard to contain the joy I felt. For people who don't get it, I can't explain it to you. Even though some of these friendship started as "virtual" they have become something more. 
The next 4 days were spent relaxing with drams, a bit of sight seeing and getting to know him & his lovely wife better.  We ate, we laughed and we shared. On the last day in Bristol the "Pants Posse" was formed.  Jo, Tom, Adrian, Kat, Dave, Dave & I congregated at the "Alcock" for a morning dram, some discussions & photo ops... Hilarity ensued almost from the get go as we all set out in two vehicles to visit Penderyn distillery in Wales. I must admit, the tour (IMO) was not worth the journey. It was one of the worst ones I've ever experienced. Why? Because they are under construction at the moment and the tour consisted of: 10 minutes in a room reading panels including a video, followed by a "tour" of the tasting area. The lovely young lady did her best I assure you, but the information was very scripted (almost identical to the website info) and we could only see some of the actual distillery from behind a windowed glass area. The whisky we tasted, albeit very nice was simply the core range. 

The distillery had been contacted ahead of time of our visit however when we arrived the staff didn't know & went upstairs to confirm with management on site that day. Did I "expect" special treatment, by no means, but with the likes of Dave W, Kat P, Adrian B, Dave A, myself and two fairly new people that belong to a whisky club, I guess I had hoped for a bit more "geekiness". Just a few minutes from someones time to maybe show us the new stills coming in or anything else that might have wet our appetites & provided that extra little touch for whisky enthusiasts as ourselves. Driving 4 hours for a 45 minute tour of the tasting area seemed like such a let down, and again I am speaking for myself on this matter.  The way I look at it, of the 7 people that went on this trip, our total followers combined on social media is almost 10,000 people so the general consensus from most of us was that Penderyn missed an opportunity to really promote itself as a unique Welsh experience.

So, moving on... the tour may have been meh but what happened over the rest of the course of the day, well that is where the exciting & at times hilarious part of the day took place. I won't go into any details other than: "Eating sandwiches outside the Tesco doors & fake orange tans" will be something I will giggle about for the rest of my life.  
Back to Dave A's to say our goodbyes with a firm promise that I'll be back in 2015 with Graham in tow.  Off to the next #whiskyfabricRoadtrip destination:  A week spent at Whisky Discovery Headquarters with Dave W & Kat P...  Ohhhhh, the stories I'm about to tell!!!!

In closing I want to say the following: Some of the best part of my journey is not about the whiskies, it's about the people and the experiences we are creating along the way. I am extremely fortunate & blessed to have met so many wonderful people to date. To the 6 other people who were the Pants Posse that day, thank you for enriching my life and allowing me, albeit briefly, to be a part of yours.  I am forever grateful for your kindness & friendships.


Sincerely,

Lassie

20 things I learned about Scotland, so far...

Hello lovely people of the #whiskyfabric!!! Sorry I haven't been writing but with no access to a laptop or the internet on a regular basis (long story), I have been very much unable to post anything since my first week away. Let me bring you up to speed...  I've been gone for 33 days!  All of which were spent in Scotland. I've been to the Speyside area, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Arran, Campbeltown, and a few places in between. It has truly been a magical trip so far.

I do plan on writing many posts about my experiences as 95% of them have been most memorable. It's like Disney world for whisky enthusiasts!!! But for now I'm going to do a recap of what I learned about being "in Scotland"...

1. You CANNOT buy coffee cream anywhere! So, drinking morning coffee has been a very interesting experience!?

2. To my friend Linda's utter disgust: They do not have bug screens on windowns or doors and if you ask them, they don't know what they are.

3. As a visitor to Scotland you are expected to eat a big Scottish breakfast EVERY morning!

4. "They" don't have an accent, "we" do...

5. I am automatically considered an American until I say I'm from Canada, then I get laughter and a huge apology.

6.  DO NOT try to go anywhere on a Wednesday afternoon after 1:30pm (just about everything closes down for "market day")

7. The only thing most young people know about Canadians, they have learned on South Park.

8. Drinking beer here is apparently safer and more tasty than water.

9. Whisky in Scotland is twice as expensive than in Canada.

10. If you don't understand the person speaking to you, smile and look like a deer in head lights... They will know immediately to rephrase or speak more slowly.

11. Nobody here wears Ughs and I can't tell you how refreshing that is!

12. You shall and will dance at a Ceilidh and it won't matter how much you plead injury or shyness.

13. Haggis.... IS GREAT! Especially with a whisky sauce.

14.  Scottish people are are amazingly wonderful & patient with tourists.

15. Friends are easily found, and sharing whiskies even easier.

16. Taxi drivers KNOW ALL, trust me on that one.

17. The Bonaccord in Glasgow is the MUST go to bar, double trust me on that one. Tell Paul Whiskylassie sent you...

18. There are more sheep in Scotland than people (hehehe)...

19. There are no faceclothes and in some cases, bringing your own toilet paper is a good idea (not kidding).

20. If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes. We saw hail, snow, sunshine, fog, mist, rain and heard thunder all in the same afternoon.


Words of wisdom, I assure you. Feel free to add your own in the comments section. Stay tuned for posts.  Will do them as soon as I can!


Next part of my journey takes me to Bristol and other parts of the UK. 

I bid a very sad farewell to Scotland.  I will indeed be back...

Lassie

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, Day 2... Trucking right along!

Having fallen asleep well past 1:00am, totally exhausted after day 1, I was a bit shocked when I woke up at 7:30 the following morning. I padded down the stairs into the kitchen of our rented house and made myself a pot of coffee. I sat in silence looking out over the garden just taking in the sunshine, the peace and the birds. Day 2 at the Spirit of Speyside was about to begin...

With over 400 events over the course of 4 days to choose from it was really difficult to pick the ones I really wanted to go to. I just didn't want to drink a bunch of whisky, I wanted to experience Speyside in as many ways as I could. I started my day with the James Fleming Walking Tour with Ann Miller. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for a light hike through the hills & town of Aberlour. 

Along the trail we found nature at its best as you walk along a babbling brook, the Linn of Ruthie and six images of whisky components taken at a microscopic level. The walk was refreshing, interesting and well worth the few dollars I paid. If you want to learn more about James Fleming please click here: http://www.aberlour.com/our-legend/the-19th-century/ 

With a mango chutney chicken sandwich from the delicatessen, we were on our way to Roseisle Distillery for our next tour. I will talk about it briefly in this blog, but a full blog about it is coming in the next few weeks. Walking through Roseisle was like being on the deck of the Starship Enterprise!  

4 stories up!

It is a state of the art distillery and since I love chemistry SO MUCH... It was an amazing experience with regards to carbon footprint and everything a distillery can do to be as cost effective as possible. Back in the car, quick trip to the Tesco and back to the house to cook a proper spaghetti supper, which was superb since the house we rented has a fresh herb garden. :)

Packed up the car and headed over to Elgin to see Charlie McLean & Michael Urquhart at the Droughty Cobbler. What a fantastic & intimate venue for the festival. I was impressed not only with the whisky selection, but the staff knowledge! Up the stairs to a cosy area where we all had the pleasure of listening to Charlie & Michael talk about reflecting on their whisky lives with an interactive audience. Discussions were informative, funny and insightful. The surprise of the night was a blind whisky

that Michael would only describe as a 50 year old Speyside whisky that had been distilled in 1939. My gut instinct told me it was a Mortlach. I went home quite elated that I had taken part in such a great night.  

The awesome Gavin Smith, that is all!

 All and all, day 2 was great!  Later that night as I drank a lovely independent bottling of Mortlach, the lot of us had a fantastic discussion about very old whisky. Two things I learned from Day 2: Appreciate the moment! Be present, be willing to absorb and never stop learning.

I think Day 2 really drove home the "spirit" that exists during the whisky festival. Speyside is a magical little part of Scotland where whisky is an experienced that is lived, not just nosed and drank.

Off to bed, yet another exciting day ahead of me for day 3: International Women of Whisky Day. #IWOWD

Cheers from a very happy Lassie!