Illuminati-R-Us

I'll get back to that series, I am sure. Thanx!

To heal my embarassing ignorance, I bought a bottle of Tomatin's base-level 12 yo yesterday. I cannot abide these large gaps in my knowledge, and I'll report back after suitable evidence has been gathered.

Happy sciencing!

Yes, I'll also look forward on the results of your research. As I say, the results of mine were pleasing.

I wasn't too impressed after the first dram. A harshness combined with a somewhat off-kilter sweetness + a burning alcohol component - maybe I shouldn't have taken my dram tired, and maybe not when the whole dining and living room was still reeking of the pork roast which I had prepared earlier that day (my first, yay!). But so far, Talisker is still my one and only Scotch with a T.

Of course, there is now almost a whole bottle to science on, so adequate follow-up is assured. And no competition inside the house.

A decent start, and Talisker is indeed very good. I was unexpectedly given a bottle of whisky today, by somebody who asked if I’d mind popping up to Caithness to advise them on community archaeology stuff, including an 8 mile walk mostly off path and picking our way through boggy marshes. Which I cheerfully did before anybody mentioned whisky. I can’t remember what it’s called, glen something, a speyside single malt. Upon returning home I of course opened it for sampling purposes and it was pretty nice. I’ll science it alongside Arneb.

I found, from my taster set, that some Tomatins were better than others. Surprisingly, the Legacy - the cheapest if you buy a bottle of it - was nicest. The supposedly more refined ones did indeed match Arneb's description. But then experimentation is what small taster bottles are for.

Science update. Another day off work doing archaeology stuff. Walked 6 miles, the first bit steep and taking us from sea level to 1600ft, into a wee hidden glen to survey a 19th C farm with an archaeologist friend. Then the walk back, so I’m knackered. Re-sampled the whisky and.... well, in the cold light of day it is utterly bland and uneventful. Also, I’m too old to walk 8 miles one day then 12 the next, all fairly rough and/or steep. On the plus side, I’m not doing any more walking/consultancy until Sunday, which the whisky will not last to.

My research activities will be severely hampered by Lent, for which Garrul has ordered alcohol abstinence. I'll have the Sundays off from fasting (in good Protestant fashion, every Sunday is Easter), so I can enjoy a drink on Saturday night. But no casual sciencing on weekdays.

I went old school and had a Talker last night. Very pleasant. Rather than play barman roulette, I asked for no ice and the water on the side. He reached for a pint glass, to be corrected by the other barman who gave me a shot glass of water and a straw to use as a pipette.

Ah yes, I'd forgotten that some good whiskies can be improved further by a little water. I was taught that at a tasting at the Scotch Whisky Centre in London, but the night that followed made various things foggy.

Heid the Ba wrote:had a Talker last night.

Not familiar with this term, could you elaborate?

g-one wrote:

Heid the Ba wrote:had a Talker last night.

Not familiar with this term, could you elaborate?

Talisker. I blame autocorrect, and not the Talker. Though as you can see autocorrect has struck again.

I managed to get my hands on an impossible to get first bottling of The Hearach. The whisky from the Isle of Harris, where I used to live. An extravagant birthday gift last week, from a father-in-law of whom I had already been immensely fond. Unopened, it would be worth thousands of pounds within a few years. However, I’m not a wanker, and am happy to report it is absolutely gorgeous. Probably the best whisky I have ever tasted. I will keep this as long as I can, dispensing very small tastes to nobody but my very finest friends. See you in August, Heid!

Woohoo! I'll have mine with ice and coke . . .

Heid the Ba wrote:Woohoo! I'll have mine with ice and coke . . .

Would that be a treasonous offence punishable by death in your country?

g-one wrote:

Heid the Ba wrote:Woohoo! I'll have mine with ice and coke . . .

Would that be a treasonous offence punishable by death in your country?

Yes. Yes it would.

Lianachan wrote:

g-one wrote:

Heid the Ba wrote:Woohoo! I'll have mine with ice and coke . . .

Would that be a treasonous offence punishable by death in your country?

Yes. Yes it would.

Jeez guys! Wouldn't you mix that with 7-Up?

Lance wrote:

Lianachan wrote:

g-one wrote:

Heid the Ba wrote:Woohoo! I'll have mine with ice and coke . . .

Would that be a treasonous offence punishable by death in your country?

Yes. Yes it would.

Jeez guys! Wouldn't you mix that with 7-Up?

I don't know what they're even talking about. Whisky makes anything better. I'll have mine to flambée a steak.

Imagine then putting ketchup on that steak. That would not even begin to approximate the abomination put forth above.

Please make sure that steak is at least very well done, or better yet, blackened throughout!

Lance wrote:Please make sure that steak is at least very well done, or better yet, blackened throughout!

How barbaric!

Мастер wrote:

Lance wrote:Please make sure that steak is at least very well done, or better yet, blackened throughout!

How barbaric!

The ketchup will stick better!

*scribbling furiously in his whisky naughty list*

Lianachan wrote:*scribbling furiously in his whisky naughty list*