(I’m still on holiday, so what better time to start the guest blogger series? Next time remind me to pick a week with better weather though) I hand you over to Keith Wood from Whisky Emporium who asked if he could blog about his top 10 whiskies. When I saw what his top 10 was, how could I refuse?
Hi everyone, Keith here. As someone who once boasted a collection of almost 400 bottles of single malt, the result of a hobby, nay passion, which has now spanned almost 25 years, I feel that I should know just a little about whisky. Especially as I managed to turn my passion into a small business when I originally opened Whisky Emporium and then, a couple of years later, a whisky bar here in Munich which in turn boasted almost 150 different malts on the whisky shelf.
Throughout my various tastings and even my day to day business I was constantly and repeatedly asked one question, “What is your favourite whisky?”
After much thought my answer to this question would be quite non-committal, not through apathy, but because I have no single favourite as my favourite is quite literally what I choose to put into my glass at any one specific time, which means it depends upon my mood, location and selection at that time. Sometimes I will prefer light, complex and delicate, other times I need the in-your-face peat and smoke of an Islay. Then how I could not like some of the excellent sherried offerings which sit on shelves begging to be chosen?
So, when it comes to what I would term ‘everyday drams’ I can honestly say that I have no single favourite.
But, what about my all-time greatest?
This made me think and, after much thought, deliberation and pontification I have indeed managed to define my all-time ‘Top 10’ whiskies, my criteria being based upon not only quality, but impact. Exactly why does one remember a particular dram? For me, it’s due to pure impact. Why do I remember that one more than any other? Maybe because at that particular time, it just blew me away!
You should already realise that we are now talking serious whisky, absolute quality and performance within a glass and not what I would term my everyday drams.
At this point you may be forgiven for asking why this is appearing here on Richard Paterson’s blog. Well, it’s due to the fact that an astounding three entries in my all-time top 10 are due to Whyte & Mackay, or more accurately Richard himself and perhaps the best way to explain is to rely on my personal notes of the time(s), so I offer the following to you;
Richard who? Here I am, sitting in a hotel meeting room overlooking George Square in Glasgow and listening to some chap called Richard Paterson telling me he’ll kill me if I, or any of the other 30 or so attendees of this Masterclass should commit the cardinal sin of dropping even a single cube of ice into my whisky. Well, I am also a devout follower of the ‘no ice’ faction, but I say old chap, isn’t this just a tad strong?
Of course, this was my first meeting with Richard who turns out to be more magician than mercenary. As Master Blender for Whyte & Mackay he has the basic responsibility of not only creating jolly good blends, but also selecting casks and ‘marrying’ them for release as single malts.
Did I say marrying? The second time I met Richard he was performing a marriage on his stand at the whisky festival!
Did I say jolly good blends? This particular Masterclass included two unbelievable examples; a 30 year old and a 40 year old Whyte & Mackay – truly magical!
But back to the matter in hand; The star of the show here was a Dalmore 40y and at Cask Strength! This particular whisky was a preview to a new 40 year old Dalmore which would be bottled the following Spring, but at a reduced strength from this CS version. We were indeed a lucky minority of people to sample this whisky in all its true magnificence before bottling.
The Result: Unsurpassed in my experience before and since. A legend that is my No. 1 all time whisky in my ‘Top 10′.
Here are my actual notes for this masterpiece;
Dalmore, 40y, Cask Strength
Nose: My goodness, this has wood, some smoke, every dark fruit & berry that I can think of plus a few more. It has rich sherry that one would never find on a supermarket shelf or in most good wine shops and, somewhere in there too, are hints of nuts, marzipan and just a dash of orange.
Palate: Smooth luxury beyond belief, everything promised by the nose (of the whisky, not Richard!) rejoices on the palate in total harmony, but I’m still going to add a couple of drops of water.
With 3 drops of water (No Richard, liquid not solid!): This opens into an even more sublime experience which just keeps on and on and on ……..
Overall Impression: Did I say magical and long finish? This whisky etched its magnificence in my brain and I am still enjoying the experience many years later!
OK, that takes care of my all-time No. 1, but what about the rest?
Picture the scene; It was Sunday afternoon, 11th March 2007 and I had just popped in to The Munich Whisky Festival to meet a few (whisky) industry people and look in on a masterclass which interested me. Meetings and masterclass finished, I decided to complete the afternoon with a wander around the stands, when I noticed Richard at the Dalmore / Jura stand.
He recognised me and called me over and we chatted generally about my living in Munich and also his life on the road, or more accurately, the amount of time he spends in the air flying between events. Whilst we were chatting, an unmarked bottle magically appeared in his hands and even more magically, a very generous dram suddenly occupied my glass.
Just one nosing told me all I needed to know, rich, dark fruits, marzipan, slight citrus elements, luxuriously old wood and even a hint of smoke. This was something good and I think I knew exactly what; as about a year previously I had the absolute privilege to sample a new Dalmore at 40 year old, but straight from the cask at CS. This was something similar and yes, Richard confirmed this was the 40 year old at the bottling strength of 40% ABV. Delightful and thank you Richard for what are now two of my top 10 drams and well worthy of the accolade. Magical!
Dalmore 40 year old, 40% ABV
Colour: Rich, very dark sherry
Nose: Dark fruits (black cherry, bramble – blackberry, raisins), slight citrus notes, marzipan and a lingering hint of smoke.
Palate: Smooth and luxurious, even velvet with those dark fruits dancing on the palate along with the marzipan, but other nuts like hazelnut and walnut also join the party which lingers long and doesn’t want to end.
Finish: Very long and slightly dry.
Overall impression: Stunning, excellent dram which is incredibly deep and intense.
So, we now have two versons of The Dalmore 40 year old in my top 10, but if that isn’t enough, that same original masterclass included a Jura 33 year old which was beyond any Jura I had previously experienced. Luxurious, creamy and yet immensely complex with a delightful selection of flora, grasses, honey and faint nuts it was another splendid example of the master blender’s, or master cask-selector’s, art.
With the CS Dalmore 40 year old as No.1, the bottled Dalmore 40 year old at 40% ABV as No. 7 and the 33 year old Isle of Jura at No. 8, Richard has achieved the unthinkable achievement of three different drams in my all-time Top 10.
Congratulations to Richard ‘The Nose’ Paterson!
My complete ‘Top 10’ may be viewed on Whisky Emporium’s main tasting note page.
Kindest regards and keep up the good work,
Keith Wood
Whisky Emporium
http://www.whisky-emporium.com/UK/index.htm
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