| N O R T H S T R E A M - pointers & setters - Hunting - Fishing - Diving |
| Being a scotch whisky aficionado, and knowing several others with the same kind of interests, i.e. hunting/fishing/gathering and cooking exquisite meals from this, accompanied by some splendid single malt whisky, that's what life's all about. So why not mention some of the whiskies I'm enjoying at the moment.... |
ABERFELDY :
Why not start with this whisky from the little hill township of Aberfeldy, from where some of
my wife Hayley's ancestors came from. One of her grand-uncles was a well-known game
keeper in the area. (Here in NZ I sold a pup to a South Island game keeper which he
called Tay. He used to work as a game keeper in that area of Scotland, where Aberfeldy
is located just east of Loch Tay and overlooks the raspberry growing Tay Valley.)
In fact the Aberfeldy area is called the 'Heart of Scotland', where Perthshire's highest
mountain, deepest loch and longest glen meet. Renowned for its heather honey nose,
the Aberfeldy single malt almost evoces the red grouse laughing on his escaping wings!
Why not start with this whisky from the little hill township of Aberfeldy, from where some of
my wife Hayley's ancestors came from. One of her grand-uncles was a well-known game
keeper in the area. (Here in NZ I sold a pup to a South Island game keeper which he
called Tay. He used to work as a game keeper in that area of Scotland, where Aberfeldy
is located just east of Loch Tay and overlooks the raspberry growing Tay Valley.)
In fact the Aberfeldy area is called the 'Heart of Scotland', where Perthshire's highest
mountain, deepest loch and longest glen meet. Renowned for its heather honey nose,
the Aberfeldy single malt almost evoces the red grouse laughing on his escaping wings!
TALISKER
The only single malt from Isle of Skye, Talisker is actually more of a real
winter warming whisky; smoky, peaty, peppery, huge and powerful!
It is also one of the six classic single malt whiskies - which in addition to
(the island whisky) Talisker are the very fine Cragganmore (Speyside),
the Edinburgh malt Glenkinchie (Lowland), the highest Scottish distillery
Dalwhinnie (Highland), the western merchant town's own whisky Oban
(West Highland) and the great sea battered distillery of Lagavulin (Islay).
Talisker has been called "the most individualistic of single malts" and as
hot and powerful as "the lava of the Cuillins". The Cuillins being the
dramatic hills of Skye, the island home of Talisker. The distillery is on the
west coast of the island, in an area where Gaelic is still spoken.
The only single malt from Isle of Skye, Talisker is actually more of a real
winter warming whisky; smoky, peaty, peppery, huge and powerful!
It is also one of the six classic single malt whiskies - which in addition to
(the island whisky) Talisker are the very fine Cragganmore (Speyside),
the Edinburgh malt Glenkinchie (Lowland), the highest Scottish distillery
Dalwhinnie (Highland), the western merchant town's own whisky Oban
(West Highland) and the great sea battered distillery of Lagavulin (Islay).
Talisker has been called "the most individualistic of single malts" and as
hot and powerful as "the lava of the Cuillins". The Cuillins being the
dramatic hills of Skye, the island home of Talisker. The distillery is on the
west coast of the island, in an area where Gaelic is still spoken.
HIGHLAND PARK
From the northern most of Scotland's distilleries, Highland Park has been
made in the Orkney islands since 1798. It has been called "the greatest
all-rounder of malt whisky" and is definitely one of my all-time favourites.
The most commonly sold is the 12 year old, which is excellent, while the
18 year old is the flagship. Very aromatic and appetising, heather-honey,
fresh oak, remarkably smooth and rounded. As they said at the Royal
Mile whisky shop in Edinburgh; "If I smoked I would have a cigar with this
one." Highland Park is similar in style to my favourite district; Speyside.
(See next month..)
From the northern most of Scotland's distilleries, Highland Park has been
made in the Orkney islands since 1798. It has been called "the greatest
all-rounder of malt whisky" and is definitely one of my all-time favourites.
The most commonly sold is the 12 year old, which is excellent, while the
18 year old is the flagship. Very aromatic and appetising, heather-honey,
fresh oak, remarkably smooth and rounded. As they said at the Royal
Mile whisky shop in Edinburgh; "If I smoked I would have a cigar with this
one." Highland Park is similar in style to my favourite district; Speyside.
(See next month..)
THE MACALLAN
The superlatives for this "chateau of whisky" are many, including "the
Rolls Royce of whiskies". The Macallan distillery was one of the first to be
founded in Speyside and probably my all-time favourite.
Macallan whiskies have been matured extensively in Spanish oak sherry
casks, specially selected in Jerez where they have been prepared with
dry oloroso sherry for up to two years. The Macallans are smooth and
well-rounded with honey sherry and oak, and a whiff of smoke.
The Macallan is also one of the malt components in nice blended
whiskies like The Famous Grouse.
THE FAMOUS GROUSE
This blended whisky was originally marketed to the many sportsmen who
came to hunt in the Highlands. In the 113 years past since it has come a
long way further and is established the World over. It is also the most
sold whisky in Scotland, where on average three drams of Famous
Grouse are consumed per second! Among the malts used to create this
great blended whisky are The Macallan, Highland Park and Glenrothes.
Three years ago a special peated version was created initially for the
Swedish market, The Black Grouse. The following year a special version
meant for chilling was released called Snow Grouse, with a Ptarmigan on
the label.
GLEN MORAY
Another Speyside whisky which I just recently had a bottle of. This whisky
is mostly matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks. It's a fairly light and
fruity whisky (too light for me), sometimes referred to as a woman's
scotch. The biggest followers of Glen Moray are found in Italy, where it is
a popular single malt.
Glen Moray is not to be mistaken as Glenmorangie, an excellent Highland
whisky - their 10 year old very popular world-wide - though Glen Moray is
now in fact owned by Glenmorangie.
Glen simply means valley in Gaelic. The most famous and the world's
biggest selling single malt is Glenfiddich, also a Speyside whisky.
(Glenfiddich means "valley of the deer".) The other top selling malt
whisky of the world is another Speyside called The Glenlivet.
The superlatives for this "chateau of whisky" are many, including "the
Rolls Royce of whiskies". The Macallan distillery was one of the first to be
founded in Speyside and probably my all-time favourite.
Macallan whiskies have been matured extensively in Spanish oak sherry
casks, specially selected in Jerez where they have been prepared with
dry oloroso sherry for up to two years. The Macallans are smooth and
well-rounded with honey sherry and oak, and a whiff of smoke.
The Macallan is also one of the malt components in nice blended
whiskies like The Famous Grouse.
THE FAMOUS GROUSE
This blended whisky was originally marketed to the many sportsmen who
came to hunt in the Highlands. In the 113 years past since it has come a
long way further and is established the World over. It is also the most
sold whisky in Scotland, where on average three drams of Famous
Grouse are consumed per second! Among the malts used to create this
great blended whisky are The Macallan, Highland Park and Glenrothes.
Three years ago a special peated version was created initially for the
Swedish market, The Black Grouse. The following year a special version
meant for chilling was released called Snow Grouse, with a Ptarmigan on
the label.
GLEN MORAY
Another Speyside whisky which I just recently had a bottle of. This whisky
is mostly matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks. It's a fairly light and
fruity whisky (too light for me), sometimes referred to as a woman's
scotch. The biggest followers of Glen Moray are found in Italy, where it is
a popular single malt.
Glen Moray is not to be mistaken as Glenmorangie, an excellent Highland
whisky - their 10 year old very popular world-wide - though Glen Moray is
now in fact owned by Glenmorangie.
Glen simply means valley in Gaelic. The most famous and the world's
biggest selling single malt is Glenfiddich, also a Speyside whisky.
(Glenfiddich means "valley of the deer".) The other top selling malt
whisky of the world is another Speyside called The Glenlivet.
THE GLENROTHES
This is also a Speyside whisky. I was given a bottle distilled in 1992 and bottled
in 2005 as a present. It's more pricey than my Speyside favourites and is more
perfumy and spicy-fruity than I like. An interesting acquaintance but not really my
cup'of'whisky. However The Glenrothes is one of the malts used in excellent
blended whiskies like The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark.
THE DIMPLE
This is one of my favourite blended whiskies. I first tried it when staying over at
Danish pointerman Thorkild Reintoft's place, where him, Erik Skeel and I spent
the whole night discussing pointers & pointer breeding over that bottle of Dimple.
I'm not sure if Skeel at the time still was the DPK chairman or if Reintoft had
taken over. We obviously became exceptionally clear-minded as the night
proceeded and the bottle emptied. That was probably also the time we first
agreed on pursuing some old Danish Alsbjerg/Boga lines from Sweden back to
Denmark. (Some time later we leased Axelas Bugg from Sweden.) Anyway, back
to The Dimple whisky. It was first produced by John Haig and is bottled in the
distinctive triangular pinch bottle. The hand-applied wire mesh wrapped around
it, was originally designed to prevent the cork from coming out during export
shipments through rough seas. Glenkinchie and Linkwood are amongst the
malts used in this splendid de luxe blended. It's bottled at 15 years old.
This is also a Speyside whisky. I was given a bottle distilled in 1992 and bottled
in 2005 as a present. It's more pricey than my Speyside favourites and is more
perfumy and spicy-fruity than I like. An interesting acquaintance but not really my
cup'of'whisky. However The Glenrothes is one of the malts used in excellent
blended whiskies like The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark.
THE DIMPLE
This is one of my favourite blended whiskies. I first tried it when staying over at
Danish pointerman Thorkild Reintoft's place, where him, Erik Skeel and I spent
the whole night discussing pointers & pointer breeding over that bottle of Dimple.
I'm not sure if Skeel at the time still was the DPK chairman or if Reintoft had
taken over. We obviously became exceptionally clear-minded as the night
proceeded and the bottle emptied. That was probably also the time we first
agreed on pursuing some old Danish Alsbjerg/Boga lines from Sweden back to
Denmark. (Some time later we leased Axelas Bugg from Sweden.) Anyway, back
to The Dimple whisky. It was first produced by John Haig and is bottled in the
distinctive triangular pinch bottle. The hand-applied wire mesh wrapped around
it, was originally designed to prevent the cork from coming out during export
shipments through rough seas. Glenkinchie and Linkwood are amongst the
malts used in this splendid de luxe blended. It's bottled at 15 years old.
J & B RARE
Cutty Sark
CHIVAS REGAL
Royal Salute
Cutty Sark
CHIVAS REGAL
Royal Salute
ABERLOUR a'BUNADH
LAPHROAIG
ARDBEG
CAOL ILA
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LAPHROAIG
ARDBEG
CAOL ILA
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