This is the 1st tasting notes post from a monthly private whisky club in Mumbai, India. We are into our 3rd year and somewhere along the way I became the unofficial ‘scribe’. Hope you enjoy!
Tasting Notes from 20 June 2013
Following our standard format, we blind tasted before revealing the whisky. This month featured: Oban 14 year, Deanston 12 year, The Six Isles and Yellow Spot.
“Oh us fortunate few! What an evening it was!”
Oban 14 year – Golden amber colour. A light fruity sweet nose. Unexpectedly oily, chewy body with a spicy bite yet smooth. Short finish. Felt familiar, nice yet not exceptional.
Oban 14 year (photo: Carissa Hickling)
Deanston 12 year – A little ‘extra’ brought out by our host for those who missed trying it in an earlier meeting. Nuanced nose with over ripe fruit, sweet and spicy on the palate, lovely finish with a hint of spice that slowly dissipated. Delightful!
Deanston (Photo: Carissa Hickling)
The Six Isles – A vatted malt with single malts from the Scottish Islands: Islay, Jura, Mull, Arran, Skye and Orkney, this one kept us guessing! Quite peaty on the nose with hints of spice and other elements. Burnt ash, rich, oily on the palate yet with only a drop or two of water transformed into an exquisite smooth sweet whisky that would even pair well with desert. A lovely mellow finish. What a wonderful surprise!
The Six Isles (Photo: Carissa Hickling)
Yellow spot 12 yr – From Ireland, a single pot still Irish whisky produced for Mitchell & Son of Dublin, matured in bourbon, sherry and Malaga casks. Note was fresh and sweet with hints of a complexity to come. On the palate, initially a blend of sea salt and honey, it rounded out with chocolate to fruit, supported by a woody robustness. The finish was particularly superb! Complex, with a gorgeous flavour that lingered… It has garnered some very well deserved praise from Jim Murray (and us)! An exceptional whisky that hit all our favourite counts for a wonderful malt.
Yellow Spot (Photo: Carissa Hickling)
Any different opinions? Any recommendations along the lines of Yellow Spot?
For more posts on our tasting sessions and whisky explorations… check out my other blog Whisky Lady.
Related posts:
- Whisky Tasting – Balvenie Triple Cask, Wasmund’s, The Speyside (17 Oct 2013)
- Whisky Tasting + Food Pairing – Cragganmore, Talisker, Lagavulin, Springbank 18 year (19 Dec 2013)
- Whisky Tasting – Singleton Artisan, Sullivans Cove, Bowmore 21 (17 Apr 2014)
- Whisky Tasting – Jameson, Green Spot + Redbreast (21 Nov 2013)
- Whisky Tastings (Sept 2013) – Glenturret, Auchentoshan, Kilchoman Machir Bay (Sep 2013)
Everyday Asia 
I predict that within a month from now, this post will be generating the most hits on your blog for the foreseeable future 🙂
Let’s see! 🙂 Sampling single malts has been a ‘passion’ for some time. Really enjoy our little club of folks serious about exploring different whiskys. The only challenge is sometimes travel gets in the way of making it our monthly evenings. Won’t miss the next one as I’m hosting!
There’s nothing like people with eclectic interests,lol.
I agree with Lady of the Cakes. Though personally I don’t really drink whiskey so can’t comment on the actual taste!
Hehe! I just discovered that the mall linked to my current accommodations boasts a “Whiskey Baron” on the 3rd floor… naturally closed til tomorrow. Have a feeling it just might be the subject of a future post! 🙂
Yellow spot 12 yr would be nice to try but unfortunately not available at the LCBO in Ontario 😦
I love the idea of blind tastings. I think it’s something I’d like to (and should) try . . .
And I agree about the Oban 14, but I really like the Oban 18!
You might be surprised at what the LCBO can arrange to bring in! My aunt and uncle have been running a whisky club in Fort Frances for nearly a dozen years and regularly get special imports of less usual items.
Those all sounded great! I tend to go towards the more smokey scotches so I’ll have to try the 6 Isles. Yellow spot also sounds good. Thanks for the recommendations.
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Good stuff. Good reviews. I shall return, my whisky friend.
Many thanks! Always nice to hear from a fellow ‘whisky afficiando!’
My privilege and pleasure.
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