I understand at least one person got a little tipsy during this Bend Spirit Club outing.
I’m sorry I missed it!
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Lance’s Scotch fest – when ‘tasting’ just won’t cut it
A great time was had by our biggest group yet. And all the Scotch. Gone. Geez.
July 2009 Spirit Club Lineup
Our July tasting is just around the corner! Wednesday, July 8, 2009. though the weather has cooled down considerably and floating the river from the house has been shelved (until the heat comes back!), we’ll have a great time tasting some great SCOTCH at my house.
That’s right – it’s SCOTCH. I was considering a completely different direction anticipating a hot day, but when it came right down to it I was more than happy to jump back into my favorite Spirit family.
With help from Mark at East Bend Liquor, we have these five selections to taste. Each one met a criteria I wanted to satisfy:
- The ‘Everyday’ Scotch
- The ‘Random’ Pick
- The ‘Curious’ Spirit
- The Personal Favorite
- The ‘Big Gun’ Selection
The ‘Everyday’ Scotch:
DEANSTON 12 YEAR OLD
Nose: Dry. Light peat. Grass. Linseed, leather.
Palate: Lightly oily. Sweet. Lemon-zest. Lemon-grass. Lightly malty.
Finish: Sherbet. Lemon-zest again. Grass. Appetising nutty dryness.
Comment: More of a Lowland style. If Deanston were regarded as a Lowland distillery, it would score higher.
Price Point: $20
The ‘Random’ Pick:
Speyburn 10 Years Old
Nose: Fresh, clean and aromatic with a rich lemony fruitiness.
Palate: Medium-bodied with a delicate, fruity character and a dry, warm, peaty finish.
Finish: A bit too soft but later enhanced by a spicy note, releasing a slight bitterness. Chewed stalk.
Comment: Quite a pleasant pre-dinner dram, with light nibbles perhaps. A little shy though. Would yield more at a higher alcoholic strength or in a few years.
Price Point: $25-$40
The ‘Curious’ Spirit:
Yamazaki 12 Years Old
Nose: Flowery. Fresh herbs. Biscuity.
Palate: Lightly clean and sweet. Honeyed. Intense.
Finish: Burst of concentrated perfumy sweetness, balanced by cereal-grain notes and Japanese oak.
Comment: A pioneering malt in Japan, for which Suntory deserve great credit. In its early days, it was rounded and delicate, as though wary of offending anyone. Now it is more intense, confident and elegant.
Price Point: $46
The Personal Favorite:
Macallan 12 year old
Nose: Vanilla with hints of ginger, dried fruits, sherry sweetness and wood smoke
Palate: Deliciously smooth, with rich dried fruits and sherry, balanced with wood smoke and spice
Finish: Sweet toffee, dried fruits, lingering wood smoke and spice
Comment: From Lance: One of the strongest Scotch pairings with a good cigar
Price Point: $53
The ‘Big Gun’ Selection:
LAGAVULIN 16 Year Old
Nose: Intense peat smoke with iodine and seaweed and a rich, deep sweetness.
Palate: palate develops, oily, grassy, and, in particular, salty notes emerge in a long, sustained, aggressive, attack.
Finish: A huge, powerful, bear-hug of peat.
Comment: The driest of Islay malts, and an established classic.
Price Point: $88
Much thanks to the many sites and Scotch afficionados who give us a spring board for our own comparison and review.
A BOUNTY for our next Vodka tasting
I’ll admit I’m curious as hell about Danny Aykroyd’s viral marketing campaign for Crystal Head Vodka. Sure I wanna know if the juice itself is any good, but the bottle is GODDAMN BRILLIANT!
I have a standing $50 bounty for anybody that brings this sucker to our next Vodka tasting – and yes, I get to keep the bottle!
Photos from April 2009 Gin Tasting
Ian did a GREAT job hosting our Gin tasting in April. I think many of us were surprised to actually find a good sipping GIN out of the bunch. And perhaps most suprising… the realization that Tanqueray is the Gods own piss… terrible stuff…
April 2009 Spirit Lineup – Gin
Ian is stepping up to provide a foray into the world of Gin.
The line up so far:
Broker’s Gin
Description:
The distillery uses only traditional pot stills. Continuous distillation using column stills is more efficient and is used by the major brands, but pot stills are better for extracting maximum flavor from the botanicals in a traditional hand-crafted fashion.
The copper pot still used for producing Broker’s Gin was manufactured by John Dore & Co, long recognised as the finest still-maker in the world.
The base spirit for Broker’s Gin is triple-distilled pure grain spirit made from English wheat. The flavor is provided by ten natural botanicals, the primary one of which is juniper berries – as in all gins. The botanicals are steeped – soaked – in the base spirit in the still for 24 hours. This is the first part of the flavor-infusion process. The still is then fired up for the final, fourth distillation, which completes the process.
There is an underground spring beneath the distillery, which provides a source of soft, pure water.
Dried botanicals are sourced from all over the world and shipped to the distillery in sacks.
The botanicals used in Broker’s Gin and their sources are: Juniper berries, Coriander seed, Orris root, Nutmeg, Cassia bark, Cinnamon, Liquorice, Orange peel, Lemon peel, Angelica root
Appearance: Crystal clear, displays long legs on swirling, which then become droplets on the side of the glass.
Taste: Body is so thick it could be mistaken for an oil or glycerin when it hits your lips. A bracing mixture of licorice, juniper, citrus and the other spices rush headlong through the palate leaving a warm oily wake, mild tingling on the lips and tongue and a hint of juniper. Very clean, with a very interesting mixture of licorice and citrus notes. Slight warming burn on the way down. Finish has cream spinach notes and resin. For a high proof gin this stuff is remarkably smooth.
Citadelle
Description: The recipe for Citadelle Gin was developed by a distillery in Dunkirk in 1771. Dunkirk was one of the first ports of call in Europe for many explorers sailing back from the Orient, whose ships were laden with exotic herbs and spices.
Citadelle gin is triple-distilled from wheat and spring water. Before being steeped in neutral alcohol, the botanicals are carefully selected and then placed in a specific bag. This infusion is then distilled to capture each separate aroma, so that the intermingled, complex flavors can develop independently.
Citadelle gin offers a subtle bouquet, with aromas of juniper and citrus. It is elegant, soft, and smooth on the palate. It has a long aftertaste which expresses its aromatic complexity to the fullest. At 44° – 88 proof, Citadelle gin is perfectly balanced between intensity and finesse.
The botanicals listed are: savory, nutmeg, angelica, cumin, cinnamon, almond, iris root, juniper, fennel, violet root, paradise grain, orange peel, cardamon, star anise, cubeb, coriander, lemon peel, cassia, and licorice.
Dry Fly
Description: They start out with their excellent vodka as a base and then use a blend of the usual suspects of juniper and coriander, with lavender (I’ve seen that before in a couple), along with mint, dried Fuji apples, and hops – which is something no else we know of has attempted.
Appearance: Clear and bright with a touch of oiliness/viscosity to the body, good long legs. When it is chilled it takes on a wonderful thick glasslike appearance even when shaken.
First Impression: Juniper and lavender bouquet in the nose with a hint of coriander, but this is all overlaid with a intriguing blanket of apple and hops, giving it somewhat genever like aromas with the slight bite and tang of a nice mint.
Taste: Tastes more like a genever with citrus, lavender, and apples than a London Dry. Very complex, aromatic and wonderful. The taste was balancing act between the aromatic start, a very herbal / earthy middle and a dry finish with mint tones that make you look forward to more. Warming end but no burn. Delicious!
Soft water wheat, juniper berries, dried Washington apples, mint and hops
Tanqueray
For every 500 berries they claim to use about 20. Berries are from Tuscany. Other ingredients include grain, coriander and angelica root. For the first three distillations they use a continuous still system which means there is very little time between the steps. The fourth distillation is where the magic happens. The liquid is vaporized and infused with the hand selected botanicals inside “Old Tom”, an original still that survived through the air raids in 1941 and is called the “One shot”
Special Guest
We may be fortunate to have somebody in the know bring us a bottle of Organic Nation’s excellent gin.
A few photos from Rum night
Jon pulled off a great night of Rum tasting. Thoroughly enjoyable, very educational, gave us all a new appreciation for Rum. And Star Wars books. And Barbies….
March Spirit Lineup – Rum
Bend Spirit Club member Jon D. is taking on the daunting task of introducing the group to Rum. According to Jon, “I am going to stick to a somewhat narrow view of rum this time with mostly golden and dark rums. Staying away from light rums (mostly for mixed drinks) and spiced rum due to the diversity of recipes. Showing 3 of 5 total. These 3 are a variety of the mid priced selections. I plan to add a good tasting cheaper rum, and a top shelf brand.”
The line up so far:
Ron anejo aniversario
Description: Ron anejo aniversario a premium blend of 6 year old pot-stilled rums aged in used oak
Tasting Notes: lots of flavor with a harsh bite
Price Point: $36
ABV: 40%
Country of Origin: Venezuela
Pyrat XO Reserveis
Description: a select blend of fine, 15 year old Caribbean rums
Tasting Notes: sweet and smooth to drink
Price Point: $29
ABV: 40%
Country of Origin: Anguilla, Caribbean
Sea wynde rum
Description: a traditional naval pot still golden rum
Tasting Notes: harsh and strong flavors
Price Point: $40
ABV: 46%
Country of Origin: Jamaica – Guyana
And at least two more rums to surprise us.
Please call Jon for directions. Don’t forget your contributions to the host at the door. Show up at 8pm, tasting will start at 8:30.
February Spirit Lineup – Vodka
We will be sampling several nice Vodkas thanks to host Jason Hamlin. Directions and time available to members. Please don’t forget your door contribution for the host!
Cîroc
Description: Unlike most vodka that is traditionally derived from corn, sorghum, rye, wheat, or potatoes, Cîroc Vodka is made in France from “snap frost” grapes.
Color: Crystal Clear
Aroma: A peculiar bouquet reminiscent of turkey dressing.
Flavor: Light and Fresh.
Finish: Sweet with a noticeable grape taste.
Distillations: Five.
Made From: French “snap frost” grapes.
Country of Origin: France.
Ketel One
Description: Ketel One Vodka is distilled from 100% wheat and made at the Nolet Distillery in Schiedam, Holland. It is distilled in alembic copper pot stills, filtered over loose charcoal, and rests in tile lined tanks until ready.
Color: Crystal Clear
Aroma: Enticing aroma of essence of lemon (not fresh lemon), blossom, dried herbs, mineral, brine, anise and white pepper.
Flavor: Clean, lightly citrusy and tinged with lemon, with a touch of sweetness.
Finish: Long, long, clean, tasty finish showing good weight and depth, with just a touch of heat. Menthol aftertaste.
Distillations: Numerous times, charcoal filtered
Made From: Wheat
Country of Origin: Holland
Chopin
Description: Handcrafted in small batches in the town of Polmos Siedlce, Poland, Chopin is a time-tested classic for vodka-lovers everywhere.
Color: Crystal Clear
Aroma: Faint aroma of green apple
Flavor: “Slightly sweet” and “well-rounded” with “perhaps a hint of apple.”
Finish: “medium-length, pleasing burn,” but “very little aftertaste—it’s remarkably clean.”
Distillations: Four
Made From: Stobrawa potatoes, which come from local farms in the Polmos region – actually boasts a higher starch content than regular potatoes, making them an excellent choice for distillation.
Country of Origin: Poland
Stolichnaya
Description: Stolichnaya – or more popularly “Stoli” – is one of the most popular vodka brands on the market today.
Color: Crystal Clear
Aroma: A touch of alcohol backed by notes of warm grain
Flavor: Bright and airy
Finish: Quite smooth, with that vodka bite being almost non-existent and the taste fading relatively quickly.
Distillations: Four.
Made From: Wheat and rye, mixed with artesial water from the Kalingrad region and filtered through quartz, sand, activated charcoal and woven cloth.
Country of Origin: Russia
Jewel of Russia Classic
Description: Terrific authentic Russian vodka made with a mix of wheat and rye, and filtered through charcoal made from the stones of peaches and apricots. A great all-rounder, good from the freezer or in cocktails.
Color: Crystal Clear
Aroma: Mild herb, grain, camphor and a faint cherry tone.
Flavor: Vanilla, custard and pear flavors with mild citrus.
Finish: Lightly spiced lively finish.
Distillations: These vodkas undergo through a continuous triple distillation process so no one really knows the exact number. To say that the vodka is distilled 15 times or more is just simply silly.
Made From: Mix of wheat and rye.
Country of Origin: Russia
Diamond 100
Description: It seems there is always a new vodka out there that is trying to outdo the several hundred others out there in terms of how many times it was distilled or filtered.Well, the bar has just been set higher- a lot higher – by way of a accident during Thanksgiving Break last year. Somebody at Bendistillery left the equipment running…They filtered this vodka 100 times through charcoal and lava rock, then age it slightly in oak.
Color: Clear as glass, body is heavier than water but not excessively so.
Aroma: Very little scent at all.
Flavor: Stones, in a nice positive way-tastes like a high end mineral-water.
Finish: Nice mineral-type edge to it and a crisp light bite at the end and a touch of grain. Exceedingly smooth – light but textured mouthfeel, it just glides down the throat, silky, warming at the end.
Distillations: They filtered this vodka 100 times through charcoal and lava rock, then age it slightly in oak.
Made From: Wheat
Country of Origin: United States
YAZI
We will also get a really nice treat at the end of the tasting! Lance Hardy gave me a bottle of YAZI, Ginger Flavored Vodka for my birthday last month. Definitely is in one of the coolest bottles that I have ever seen…and Ginger root is an aphrodisiac as well. Vodka + Aphrodisiac = Really Great Time! ;-P
December Spirit Lineup – Tequila
Notes from the crew:
Nichole: Tequila, tequila, tequila….how I love my tequila. I have to give props to El Tesoro Platnium for a well made tequila, but my true love goes to Cuervo 1800 Anjeo. The 1800 has such a smooth, rich and well-rounded taste and finish. The spicy yet sweet flavor warms me up and keeps me begging for more. Don’t mix, don’t even ice it, drink it straight for a fantastic tequila experience. If you need some help, let me know and I will help you taste test 
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We will be sampling several nice Tequilas thanks to host Nichole Schirm. Directions and time available to members. Please don’t forget your door contribution for the host!
EL TESORO PLATINUM
Color: Crystal clear
Aroma: Earthy agave character, like pavement after a summer rain. Smoky with floral notes
Flavor: Intense and pungent on the attack. Exceptionally smooth. Sweet, thick, and viscous in the mouth. White pepper and lemon flavors mix with the agave
Finish: Harsh and hot; essence of agave with incredible length, texture and style
Age: Bottled within 24 hours of distillation to maintain that bold, traditional tequila taste
CASCO VIEJO ORO
Brought up this week from Mexico by Brad and Kathy.
Color: Pale silvery gold
Aroma: Gentle agave, caramel cream and warm pickle F
Flavor: Brisk entry leads to a dryish, light to medium-bodied palate with mashed currant, grilled pepper, notes of vanilla, and sweet pickling spice flavors
Finish: Hot fade of caramel, white pepper and steely minerals
Age: 2 months
HUSSONGS REPOSADO
Color: Pale yellow
Aroma: Earthy, ginseng agave aromas with some smoke and pepper
Flavor: Strong and mellow on the attack with complex intensity. Caramel, oak and smoke flavors
Finish: Medium with sweet agave and smoke flavors
Age: Between 2 months and 1 year in oak or other woods such as beach wood
CUERVO 1800 ANEJO
Color: Dark Amber with copper highlights
Aroma: Oak driven agave with caramel, vanilla and toasted coconut flavors; spicy notes with marzipan, mineral, ripe fruit and orange rind.
Flavor: Rich, smooth, rounded, spicy agave taste
Finish: Pleasantly spicy with a long well rounded finish
Age: Rested in mostly French oak, with a small portion from American oak for up to 3 years.
