Robbie Burns whisky tasting.  Hello from The Friends of the Quaich in Qualicum Beach, Canada.

We celebrated the Bard at our January tasting. Our hosts, Bob and Kathleen Drinkwater did a terrific job , you can see Bob lighting the Haggis with an ample amount of Glenlivet (left) with Mike Baird also in frame..

Our first dram: Bruichladdich – Laddie 10 – Oak Matured. A new bottling for 2013.

Nose: A touch of honey and lemon, the former perhaps even molasses.

First taste: A little peat, although this is unpeated.

Liquorice with lingering bitter lemon and at last the subtle oak.

A very acceptable whisky.

Next up: Kilchoman – Winter 2010 release. This is only 4 years old.

Matured in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrel.

Nose: Big Peat, Vanilla.

Pear and citrus with a sweet toffee finish. This is remarkable for one so young, somewhat reminiscent of a Port Charlotte, just a little less peaty.

We can’t wait for a 10 year old from this new distillery.

Bob decided to finish the evening with the bottle of Glenlivet and we did enjoy the velvety smoothness of this classic 10 year old.

The whisky club members (16 of them) will be on the road again in September this year, taking a whiskey tour of Ireland. Once again the club will be travelling with MCLEANSCOTLAND – we did a Scottish tour with them and we are still taking about it!

The Irish tour is getting everyone excited and we are all looking forward to meeting up with Liz and Paul again, as we did recently at the Victoria Whisky Festival.