Blog. Balmoral invites Paul to a whisky tasting

How do I turn this down? I didn’t. I wafted along there looking forward to tasting a few drams, maybe meeting a few known whisky associates. Welcomed in by Fraser (who invited me in the first place), then introduced to G&M drams and a quick nose around to see who/what was here. A nice lassie with Highland Park and Auchentoshan beckoned, so I duly obliged taking a dram of Three Wood Auchentoshan to start the evening off. A nice chat and a dram of HP Origins, a good start. I turned around and Ally fae Tomatin was there, I know him from a few tasting before, good man so he is and offered me anything he had! So I took a slug of Tomatin 1995 (excellent value at £99.99) it was superb by the way. A chat and a promise to return (or was it a threat?), I dondered over to Bunny Heaven man, where there was a dram waiting for me; Ceobanach @ 46.3%, this was savoured and needed another just to be sure, the second was as good as the first. It was just about here Fraser came back for a chat, a good evening, many American guests here having a great time, Fraser introduced me to G&M Private Collection; 4 bottles worth £24 the set – he reckons this is the only bar in UK (the world?) with this set.

Mortlach 1951, 63 year old; Glenlivet 1952, 62 year old; Linkwood 1953, 61 year old; Strathisla 1957, 57 year old. I wished I could have sampled these, but they were not available this evening (will need go back for a private tasting soon), there are no too many of these bottles to be found anywhere, it reminds me of a Dalmore collection, BUT BETTER! After a nibble on some cheeses to refresh my palate I wandered back to Ally for a Cu Bocan 1988, peaty, but no too much so, grand! So what else attracted my taste buds? Raasay distillery were there with a sample or two which hit the spot again, their stills are in, All the way from Tuscany. Something to see here in early 2017. Benromach quenched my thirst also with a nice wee 35 year old.

The evening drams were interrupted with a cake cutting ceremony, which I fell for, as you do. I ended my dramming with a Glen Scotia Double cask from Gary, well, after having been there recently it would be rude not to eh? It was a delightful couple of hours dramming away, munching cheeses and cake, a chat with Fraser, Ally, my wee lassie pal at HP and I was off away to bed. It was a great night, am looking forward to next year – 4^th birthday dramfest.

Paul McLean   http://www.mcleanscotland.com/   http://www.whiskytours.scot/