Whisky Lounge......

[Wardjrz]

...Am attending a Whisky Lounge tasting tonight in Leeds.

6 single cask whiskies - can't wait.

I know one is a 29 year old Caol Ila, yum.

Eddie Ludlow, the Whisky Lounge proprietor, is a good guy and his tastings are usually fun and relaxed rather than stuffy and formal.

Think there are still a few tickets left if anyone's interested but move fast!

[GravityJohnson]

Denied! I was supposed to be staying up in Leeds tonight as I had a meeting there in the morning....it's just been cancelled though.

[SmokeyDave]

Denied! I was supposed to be staying up in Leeds tonight as I had a meeting there in the morning....it's just been cancelled though.

Console yourself with one of those glorious Cohiba Robusto's nestling in that rather well stocked humi of yours

Have a great time Wardjrz!

[Wardjrz]

Come anyway. I'm sure work won't mind.

Best ?15 you could spend legally today.

[Pandyboy]

Sounds good, and for ?15 a bargain!

[whisky77]

The 29 YO sounds like a real winner. Let us know how you find it to drink.

[Wardjrz]

Well! Another great Whisky Lounge event.

There were 5 drams on taste rather than the 6 I thought but it wasn't a problem - still good value at ?15 with a ?5 voucher for one of the 20cl bottles on sale.

I don't do flowerey tasting notes, I think it is a bit poncey, but here is what I did note:

1. The Festival Blend. Bottled 2012 at 46%
This is a blended malt (they used to be called vatted malts but that isn't allowed anymore) made up of three speyside malts - Glenburgie, Glentauchers and Mortlach. I thought it was a gentle opener. Nothing wrong with it but nothing to really mark it out as special. Priced at ?15 for a 20cl bottle.

2. Cragganmore 1989. Bottled 2010. Single Cask at 53.5%
This was very nice, but I am a fan. It was very different from the official bottlings but that is the fun of single cask bottlings. I found pears and syrup on the nose. Priced at ?24.95 for a 20cl bottle.

3. Bunnahabhain 1990. Bottled 2012. Single Cask at 53.1%
This was disappointing for a Bunna. I really like Bunna usually and the colour and nose were excellent.
I felt that the spirit was a bit too light to contend with the sherry cask it had been stored in for 20 years.
It did leave quite a nice mouth feel, a bit if a fizz on the tongue. Priced at ?28.95 for a 20cl bottle.

4. Bowmore 2000. Bottled 2011. Single Cask at 46%
This was interesting as at 46% I wasn't expecting the power it delivered. With a malty cereal nose it had quite a long finish and a smoky aftertaste. This was my second favourite of the night. Priced at ?19.95 for a 20cl bottle.

5. Caol Ila 1982. Bottled 2012. Single Cask at 56.4%
Initially there wasn't any peat on the nose (probably a leftover from the Bowmore). On second nose the peat became evident. The taste was everything I like about Caol Ila without the oiliness that I sometimes get from it. This was without doubt the best dram of the night by some way. Priced at ?34.95 for a 20cl bottle.

I did wonder about 20cl bottles but Eddie explained that his passion was sharing. He added that bottling them in this way meant they were all affordable which I understood. The prices listed are before the ?5 discount voucher was applied.

We left with a Bowmore and a Caol Ila.

This was a 90 minute or so informal tasting. It was fun and enjoyable. I'd recommend Whisky Lounge Events to anyone who sees them advertised in the area.

Afterwards I went to The Hop (an Ossett Brewery pub) near to the Station in Leeds and had a pint of organic Perry which finished off my night well.

[bfg84]

Sounds good, just a coincidence that you enjoyed the ones at the end more?

[spirit_of_will]

Sounds like a great evening! Really ought to get into my Whisky more - just so that I can have another ridiculously expensive hobby!

[whisky77]

Glad to hear you had an enjoyable evening and enjoyed the Caol Ila.

[Wardjrz]

Dan

No concidence that the last two were the best. The others were just palate openers.

The drams were english singles so no real fear of objectivity being affected but the taste buds were certainely wide awake by time the Caol Ila arived.

Good value and a good evening, I'd recommend it if The Lounge comes to a town near you.

[bfg84]

Dan

No concidence that the last two were the best. The others were just palate openers.

The drams were english singles so no real fear of objectivity being affected but the taste buds were certainely wide awake by time the Caol Ila arived.

Good value and a good evening, I'd recommend it if The Lounge comes to a town near you.

does sound great mate, not normally a big whisky fan but after trying some at the Big Smoke and finding a couple that I quite enjoyed its something id like to explore more!
If there ever was an event in Lincoln id be up for going but not much makes it this way and I don?t think driving home would be a good idea!