Minutes of the Meeting
of the

Old Scotch Nosing or Tasting Society
(Old SNOTS)

August 14, 2010

 Members Present:                                                      Single Malts Present:
Bruce Card                                                    Clynelish 14
Mike Peet                                                     Glen Ord 12
Tim Robinson                                                Glenmorangie Original
Jim Dice                                                       Dalmore 12
Bobby Fowler                                                 Old Pultney 12
Teri Newman                                                 Ben Nevis 10
Don Halpin                                                                 
Steve McAllister                                                         
A.J. McMillan (V)                                                       
Mike Russel
Mo Verling
Stan Skavdahl
John Arsenault
Mark Caslen
Mark Richardson

1.  This meeting of the Old SNOTS was graciously hosted by Mark Caslen and his “really good friend” Pat.  Thank you Pat for opening your home to our group of orderly, reticent, introverts (yea right).  The munchies and dinner were great and Mark was on his best behavior. 

2.  This gathering featured one virgin to the group, A.J. McMillan.  Thanks for joining us A.J. we’ll look for you to be an expert by next month, no pressure.  It should be noted that one of our relatively new members created the fopaw of the evening by failing to take the price tag off his bottle of Scotch before presentation to the members assembled.  This was especially embarrassing as it was, well quite frankly, a cheap bottle.  Mike Peet will forever be known as the Minnie Pearl of Old SNOTS…and if you don’t know who Minnie Pearl was, then you’re too young to drink Scotch with this group of curmudgeons.  Speaking of too young, Teri’s campaign manager Chris dropped by later in the evening.  We thought he looked too young to drink, he probably thought he’d found a convention of nursing home “walkaways.” 

3.  Assembled in Pat’s living room, we all settled in for a long winter’s nap….no wait, that’s a Christmas story…we settled in to sample the finest of beverages Scotland has to offer.  That is of course, a collection of Highlands.  That’s right folks, you don’t have to drink dirt with these Scotches and you don’t have to worry about damaging your circulatory system by sending your salt levels through the roof.  No, these Scotches have variety in their flavor and made for a great sampling, at least for those of us refined enough to tell. 

4.  The reviews.

a.  Ben Nevis 10
“Typical Highland taste”-Steve;  “Smells nice”-Teri;  “Cherry”-Stan;  “Vanilla”-Mo;  “Fruits in there”-Mo;  “Just give me the bottle”-Teri;  “Sweet flavor, but not a sweet finish”-Teri

b.  Glen Ord 12
“Light nose”-Jim;  “Entirely different”-Steve;  “Not sweet”-Mike P.; “Little grass smell”-Mo;  “Butterscotch nose”-Bobby;  “Little oily”-Stan;  “No finish”-Mark R. 

c.  Clynelish 14
“Burnt nose, ammonia almost”-Steve;  “I like that, there’s salt in it and caramel”-Stan;  “How can you taste caramel and salt?”-Mike P.;  “Nice nose, short finish”-Teri;  “A little salt, nice finish”-Stan;  “A walk in the sand dunes”-Mo (our philosopher for the evening) 

d.  Old Pultney 12
“No nose”-Jim;  “No taste”-Jim;  “I agree”-Mike P.;  “Softer flavor”-Steve;  “Good for gargling for a sore throat”-Jim;  “I get sore throats a lot”-Steve;  “Doesn’t even have a good aroma”-Mark C.;  “Serve to people you don’t want to see again”-Teri;  “Pretty grassy and mild”-Mo;  “Beginner’s Scotch”-Stan;  “Rub on baby’s gums when teething”-Teri;  “One dimensional”-Bobby;  “Premixed Scotch and water”-Teri

e.  Dalmore 12
“Nice smell”-Jim;  “Very oily, very sweet”-Steve;  “I’ve licked stamps with better taste than this”-Mark R.;  “Taste like Drambuie”-Steve;  “Almost pineapple nose”-Mo;  “Is there a spittoon for the Scotch?”-Tim;  “It’s like they stopped making it after the nose”-Don

f.  Glenmorangie Original
“That’s odd”-Steve;  “Taste like honey”-A.J.;  “Molasses taste”-Mike P.;  “Strange nose, no real taste”-Jim;  “By the time you get to Scotch #6, your taste buds are dead”-Steve;  “Pure sugar”-Bobby;  “Don’t taste in your mouth, not until finish do you taste it”-Tim;  “Too much sugar!”-Bobby (gagging);  “This makes my eyes water”-Bobby 

5.  The comments from the cheap seats finally died off and we commenced with our vote for the favorite in this blind tasting.  The winner in a landslide was the Ben Nevis 10 with Clynelish 14 and Glenmorangie Original bringing up a distant second and third.  It was noted that the winner was a mere 10 years old.  Then Mike P. brought up the fact that McAllister has underwear older than that…perhaps from the time of the Eisenhower Administration.  Let’s just not go there.  

6.  The next gather of the Old SNOTS will be held at the O’Fallon residence of Gary Machovina where we’ll sample Scotches from the islands (that includes the Islays for you purists).  As mentioned by the guy in the Springbank shirt, “We’ve done this before.”  Hope to see ya all then, even you Minnie Pearl.

“Cab for Bean?!”

On the other hand, the GlenDronach 12 yr old was a bit disappointing.  I was looking at some whiskies at The Wine Merchant in St Louis, and bought the GlenDronach on recommendations from the staff.  I should have known better, as I usually prefer the more assertive whiskies such as Springbank or Talisker.  I would rate the whisky as average, to slightly below average, with such Speyside staples as Aberlour, Balvenie, Cragganmore, Macallan, Longmorn, and Mortlach offering more interesting alternatives.  I should have tried something more in my range, such as an Edradour Ballechin, or revisited a distillery I haven’t had in a while, such as Bruichladdich or Bowmore.  On the other hand, you don’t really know what you like unless you have something to compare it to.

Minutes of the Meeting
of the

Old Scotch Nosing or Tasting Society

(Old SNOTS)
July 17, 2010

Members Present:                                          Single Malts Present:
Bruce Card                                          Imperial 1991 (G&M)
Anna Card                                          Dallas Dhu 1982 (G&M)
Mike Peet                                           Kilchoman 3
Don Halpin                                          Macphunn 18
Bobby Fowler                                       Bladnoch 1992 (Signatory)
Darren Swansen (V)                              Allt-a-Bhainne 12 (Dun Bheagan)
T.J. Kennett                                                                
Steve McAllister                                                         
Alicia McAllister
Bill Webster
Lisa Webster                                                   
Mike Russel
Mo Verling
Erin Meinders
Stan Skavdal
John Arsenault
Paula Arsenault
Jim Sabella
Mark Caslen
Gary Machovina
Gail Wojtowicz

1.  The Old SNOTS assembled at the Arsenault’s expansive manse for this month’s gathering.  Despite our best attempt to overwhelm the venue with 21½ of us (the half being the Webster’s young son Isaac), John and Paula’s home was more than up to the task and there was plenty of room left over.  They even had two grills standing by which we managed to load up.  As we all anticipated, John and Paula were superb hosts and we look forward to the next time we can invade their home.  However, after we all left, they were likely calculating how much they could get for their house and how quickly and quietly they could leave town.   

2.  Our continuing efforts to defrock all virgins appear to be working.  (Bwa-ha-ha-ha.)  The only virgin at this gathering was one Darren Swanson, brother-in-law of Bobby Fowler and damn fine imitator of the Irish brogue.  Because this virgin was brought in from out of town I’m now wondering if there’s that many left.  That’s not to say that there aren’t some who are on the verge of regaining their virgin status.  (Wouldn’t that be a neat trick?)  In fact, Don Halpin just avoided getting his whisky cherry back by showing up for this gathering (I was going to make a comment about his giddiness at the beginning of the tasting followed by quiet reverence at the end, but thought I might be crossing the line.)  Another attendee, who most had never met before, was George Risse, a recent transplant to Illinois from Arkansas . . . certainly, you would think, among the only virgins left in that state.  But, as it turns out, George was recognized as the very person to whom the brainchild of the Old SNOTS belongs.  So, if there ever was a person who could not be called a virgin, it would be George.  It’s one of the few things he could not be called.  We also welcomed back the husband and wife team of Bill and Lisa Webster who were visiting foreign countries (including ours it seemed) after Lisa’s retirement in Korea.  It was great having them back.  Finally, we need to recognize that the normal scribe was, once again, absent.  Jim Dice was in the North Country with the Boy Scouts canoeing the Boundary Waters.  I’d venture to guess that the Scouts were constantly looking over their shoulders knowing that Jim had a paddle in his hand.  Fortunately, Mike Day was with them to ensure Jim’s paddle stayed in the water.  (We’ll have to ask Jim when he returns if the water he drank began to take on the character of the Balvenie DoubleWood.)

3.  This gathering’s theme was based on a request to the experts at Loch Fyne Whiskies, the Old SNOTS adopted Scottish whisky shop, for a tasting line-up from the list of whiskies the Old SNOTS have not tried.   The line-up they recommended included one Islay, one Lowland and four Speyside whiskies.  It was a challenging and thoroughly enjoyable tasting.  Once again, the good folks at Loch Fyne Whiskies have done themselves proud.  Now, on to the reviews.  (With this many Old SNOTS, I discovered that trying to hear all the comments was a little like sitting behind home plate and trying to hear what was being said by someone in the left field bleachers.  I apologize for those who made noteworthy comments that don’t show up here.  Blame it on the C-5 and the passage of years.)

a.  Imperial 1991
“I’m waiting on Bobby” – Don; “Huh??” – All; “Yeah, Bobby’s always got the best comments.” – Don; “Green apple” – Wojo; “Good finish” – Gary; “Ton of sherry on the nose”- Mo; at this point the door to the deck behind Stan and Mo kept opening of its own accord to which Wojo observed, “Loch less monster”; “Summer scotch” – Mo

b.  Dallas Dhu 1982
“Softer nose . . . much” – Don; “Butterscotch and a little salt” – Stan; “Good scotch for company” – Mark (it took me a while to figure this comment out until Mark said “Not for me, for company”; “Weak and unimpressive.  A good scotch for Dice.” – Wojo; “Bought at the Dollar General store” – Don; “At Overstock.com” – Bill

 c.  Kilchoman 3
“A 3-year old Islay?  Standby” – Mo; “For those wearing socks . . .” – Wojo; “I wonder where my fertilizer went?” – unknown; “Campfire and insecticide” – Wojo; “There we go” – Alicia; “Peat without the scotch” – Bruce; “This is real scotch” – Gary; “Woof” – Darren; “Virginia ham smokehouse” – Bobby; “Scotch soaked in Kingsford”- unknown; “One dimensional” – Bill

d.  Macphunn 18
“Smells musky, like truffles” – Alicia; “Five weight oil?” – Bill; “Very sweet” – Anna; “A breakfast whisky” – Erin; “Better than A’bunadh” – Gary; “A lot of sherry” – Mo

e.  Bladnoch 1992
“Typical lowland” – Bill; “I’m not tasting much at all after the Macphunn” – Don; “Not much there” – Wojo; “I smell spinach” – Steve; “Certainly is grassy” – Mo; “Lemon grass and pepper at the end” – Alicia; “Tart and fresh, like lemonade” – Steve

 f.  Allt-a-Bhainne 12
“Very light” – Stan; “Cream soda” – Bill; “Cream soda?” – unknown; “Arkansas scotch” – Don; “Great starter scotch.  Dice would like it.” – Mark

4.  The vote was taken and it was no contest, though based on the comments, I was surprised . . . the winner with 12 votes was the Macphunn 18 yr old cask strength Speyside.  Also receiving votes were the Imperial 1991 with 5 votes and the Kilchoman 3 yr old with 4 votes.  This time, a smoky, peaty whisky didn’t win and Jim Dice wasn’t there to enjoy it.  But in an interesting twist, after the voting was complete and folks started helping themselves to the whisky they wanted more of, the only whisky to be completely drained was the Kilchoman.  So we have a whisky that came in third in the voting and yet, by virtue of its flavor, disappeared the fastest.  (And no, I didn’t fill my glass to brim.)  I’m still trying to make sense of that conundrum (as is Gary who bought the bottle).

5.  The next gathering of the Old SNOTS will be at the residence of Mark Caslen’s “really good friend” on 14 August.  I’m sure Mark will tell me how I could’ve said that better, but there it is.  The theme will be whiskies from the Highlands.  Until then, Slainte and . . .  

“Cab for Bean?!”

To The BUMS . . . Slainte!

Greetings fellow tipplers…

Join us at the Merch on Monday, July 12th at 6pm as we feature the Chieftain’s line of single malt scotches and two of the new Amrut range of single malts from India. Whiskey expert and friend of the store, Ed Kohl will be on hand to pour and talk about the distilleries and the importance of independent bottlers in the whiskey business. Here’s what we’ll be featuring wiith sale pricing:

1989 Glen Moray 18 Year $65.99 on sale
Speyside, Highlands

1996 Benrinnes 11 Year Tokaj Cask Finish $49.99 on sale
Speyside, Highlands

1996 Dalmore 11 year Madeira Cask Finish $52.99 on sale
Northern Highlands

1993 Glen Rothes 14 Year Burgundy Cask $54.99 on sale
Speyside

1985 Glencadam 22 Year $84.99 on sale
Eastern Highlands

NV Amrut Single Malt 46% abv $36.99 on sale
Bangalore, India

NV Amrut Single Malt Cask Strength 62.5% abv $56.99 on sale
Bangalore, India

Please call 314.863.6282 for reservations. We are asking that you call with credit card and contact information to help us make the check-in process at the event quicker and more efficient. Hope to see you next Monday

Cheers!

Dave Davis
The Wine Merchant, Ltd.
20 South Hanley Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63105

Start Time: 1800
Date: 2010-07-12
End Time: 1930

Minutes of the Meeting
of the

Old Scotch Nosing or Tasting Society

(Old SNOTS)
June 26, 2010

Members Present:                                                      Single Malts Present:

Bruce Card                                                   Lagavulin 16
Mike Day                                                      Lagavulin 12
Tim Robinson                                               Talisker 10
Jim Dice                                                       Ardbeg Blasda
Bobby Fowler                                                Talisker 18
Teri Newman                                                Laphroaig ¼ Cask
T.J. Kennett (V)                                            Bruichladdich Links (Turnberry 10th)
Steve McAllister                                                         
Alicia McAllister                                                         
Mike Russel
Brant Dixon (V)
Mo Verling
Erin Meinders
Stan Skavdal
John Arsenault

1.  This meeting of the Old SNOTS was graciously hosted by Bobby Fowler at his residence on Scott Air Patch, Cornfield County, Illinois.  A large gathering attended this event in spite of the Islay selections for the evening’s tasting.  A minority of Islay lovers were giddy with anticipation at the prospect of washing their steak down by swigging iodine flavored brine and could be seen prior to dinner salivating over the various labelings.  You know who you are. 

2.  Two virgins joined us for the first time at this meeting, T.J. Kennett and Brant Dixon.  T.J. lives across the street from Bobby and no doubt has heard of our little gathering more than once from our host.  Brant comes from our office on base and has often heard highly exaggerated stories of The Old SNOTS from members who will (and should…Steve) remain nameless.  After dinner we assembled the whiskies on Bobby’s best “Dora the Explorer” table.  Somehow that seemed to fit this group.  Because we had more than one selection from a couple of distilleries, our senior curmudgeon Mr. McAllister decided to dispense with the blind tasting in place of a “head to head” competition.  The scribe believes it’s because he was afraid his beloved Talisker wouldn’t hold up to the competition.  Anyway, it was time to get our glasses wet.  Oh, yeah; it was noted that Don Halpin was absent.  Apparently he had called just hours earlier to inform Steve that his request for a kitchen pass had been disapproved.  Too bad; the Islays would have helped relieve the pain of that nose ring Don. 

3.  The reviews.

a.  Lagavulin 12
“Iodine, nothin’ else!”-Jim; “Sweet”-Mike R;  “Quite a finish too”-Steve;  “It’s not sweet”-Bobby;  “Peet and iodine with sweet finish”-Teri;  “Nice buttery finish”-Mo;  “Has a kick”-Steve;  “Nice with water”-Bruce;  “{water} Tones it down”-Mo

b.  Lagavulin 16
“Doesn’t burn the nose as much”-Steve;  “Calmer nose, seaside”-Mo;  Definitely peaty, but has more flavor”-Steve 

c.  Talisker 10
“Light nose”-Jim;  “Butterscotch”-Mike R;  “Tolerable”-Jim;  “Peppery”-Teri;  Scribes note:  The group was suspiciously quiet during this tasting, perhaps because we’ve tasted this one so damned much in the past.  It’s become the Glenlivet of Islays.

d.  Talisker 18
“Butter nose”-Jim;  “Little fruity nose”-Mo;  “Citrusy nose”-Steve;  “Lemon grass”-Bruce;  “Nothing to this, lost it’s complexity”-Mike R;  “The 10’s better than the 18”-Jim;  “That’s how we voted in a blind tasting”-Steve

e.  Laphroaig ¼ Cask
“Smells like old socks”-Jim;  “Smells like the first Lagavulin”-Steve;  “Sweeter than I expected”-Mike R;  “Carmel beginning but finishes harsh”-Mo;  “Rips your tongue out”-Steve;  “Water completely changes the finish”-Mo;  “I’d run my car on this one”-Teri;  “Water did not help THAT”-Mike D;  “BP Scotch”-Teri

f.  Ardbeg Blasda
“Same nose as Talisker 10”-Steve (That’s because Talisker 10 is all he drinks);  “Nice finish”-Mo;  “Like the water’s already been added”-Steve:  “Tame”-Mo:  “The Islay for people who don’t like Islays”-Brant;  “NO, it’s not”-Jim;  “No flavor”-Bobby;  “No finish to it”-Steve

g.  Bruichladdich (Note:  This bottle had particulates in the bottom.  Either bad bottling or Bobby’s been drinking straight from the bottle again.)
“Taste like a Highland”-Jim;  “The opposite side of the island”-Steve;  “Flowery”-Bobby;  “After you’ve been assaulted, this one comes by to make you better”-Mike D;  “Scotland’s most westerly distillery”-Teri;  “That means it’s almost an Irish Whisky”-Mo

4.  The vote was taken and the winner with 5 votes was the Bruichladdich with the Lagavulin 16 coming in with 4 votes.  The Lagavulin 12 and Talisker 10 each acquired 3 votes.  For those of you paying attention, it comes as no surprise that a Scotch tasting much like a Highland won in the competition of Islays.  Just stating the facts here Steve.  At this point someone brought out the bottle of 20 year old Sheep Dip for sampling.  Many appeared to enjoy this oddity even though it is a mixture of both Islay and Highland whiskies; obviously a selection at odds with itself. 

5.  The next gather of the Old SNOTS will be held at the O’Fallon residence of John Arsenault on 17 July and will feature selections recently purchased from our friends at Loch Fyne Whiskies.  See ya all then. 

“Cab for Bean?!”

Minutes of the Offsite
of the

Old Scotch Nosing or Tasting Society

(Old SNOTS)
June 9, 2010

Members Present:                                                      Single Malts Present:

Jim Dice                                                       Glenlivet 15 yr old
Gary Machovina                                             Jura 10 yr old
Mike Day
Brant Dixon
Steve McAllister                                                         

1.  I can hear someone say it already.  “Hey!  Wait a minute!  Aren’t all Old SNOTS gatherings offsites?”  Well . . . technically . . . yeah . . . but that sounds like quibbling to me.  Let’s just for a moment think about this. 

Socrates:  Where do we have our gatherings now? 
Phaedo:  At the homes of various Old SNOTS. 
Socrates:  And those homes are separate and distinct?
Phaedo:  Of course, you old dolt.
Socrates:  Careful there, youngster.  And what do they have in common?
Phaedo:  Duh, they’re made of wood and brick and stone and other stuff that houses are made of.
Socrates:  And what else?
Phaedo:  Oh for Christ’s sake (even though he wasn’t born yet—I like the sound of saying that), just get on with it!
Socrates:  They’re all in Illinois.  It’s the “site” of our gatherings.  The gathering about to be reported on was in New Jersey.  New Jersey is not Illinois (even though they rival each other for being the most politically corrupt).  It’s not the “site” of our gatherings.  Therefore, since we were not in Illinois, the site of our gatherings, but were in New Jersey, this must be an offsite.  This is why, in thousands of years from now, people will think I’m a genius. 

 Ah, the dangers of having a philosophy major in your midst.

2.  The members present were all at the Global Mobility Wargame at Ft Dix.  Actually, there were more of the Old SNOTS at the wargame (Mark Caslen and Mike Peet), but due to various commitments, the ones listed were the only ones to actually participate in the Old SNOTS offsite gathering.  Several of us talked about bringing whisky in our checked bags, but no one did.  We, instead, decided to rely on the availability of single malts in New Jersey.  Mistake.  There’s a reason everyone says that McGuire AFB/Ft. Dix is out in the middle of nowhere.  We found one open liquor store on our way to lodging.  It was almost a scary place, lined with temporary shelves and stocked with bottles best known as containing alcohol designed to cheaply and reliably get you stupid.  The young man behind the counter had more tattoos and body piercings than I could bear to look at.  After passing by stacked cases of Bud Light and shelves of cheap wine, suspect vodka, tequila with and without worms and sloe gin, we came to the shelf with whisk(e)y.  There, at the bottom, below the rows of Jim Beam and Old Crow and Jack Daniels sat a lone bottle of single malt and from the dust on the top of the box it had been there for some time.  It was the Jura.  Gary Machovina and I decided to rescue it.  We then went to the Class VI at Ft. Dix where the selection of single malts was only marginally better.  Jim Dice bought the Glenlivet there.  And that constituted the selection for our offsite.  We collectively scratched our head wondering why the state with the highest population density could sustain that dubious distinction given the dearth of single malts.  Something else for Socrates to ponder.

3.  The standard Old SNOTS practice of grilling steaks before sampling wasn’t going to work, so we went to Pudgy’s.  And that’s all I’m going to say about that.  The gathering actually happened in the lobby of the lodging office.  We originally thought we’d meet outside so some could smoke their cigars, but the rainy weather prevented that.  So we found a corner with some comfortable chairs and tables and pulled out our bottles and plastic cups from our bathrooms that recently had the sanitary plastic wrap removed and sat down to the sampling.  It should be noted that one of the group, Brant Dixon, is, in all actuality, a virgin.  However, because this offsite gathering was not a typical one, he will remain a virgin until he successfully makes it through an “onsite” gathering.

4.  While there are no existing notes surviving from the gathering, I can attest to the fact that the that one of the group, who will go nameless but refused to perform his prescribed duties as scribe for this offsite gathering, described the Jura as tasting like “dirt.”  The others said that they felt like they needed to brush and floss after tasting the Glenlivet.  Mike Day, knowing the outcome but apparently wanting to rub someone’s nose in the “dirt,” forced a vote.  There were 4 votes for the Jura and 1 for the Glenlivet. 

5.  We’ll get back to an “onsite” Old SNOTS gathering at the home of Bobby Fowler on 26 June.  The theme for that gathering will be whiskies from Islay and Skye. 

 “Cab for Bean?!”

Greetings fellow tipplers! It\’s that time again where we explore all things smoky in our 3rd annual Peatfest extravaganza. Our tasting lineup is forthcoming but we will be sampling malts from Scotland, the U.S. and also new expressions from the Amrut Distillery located in India. We will be ending the tasting with the Bruichladdich Octomore 2nd Edition which is the peatiest malt on the market, weighing in at large and in charge 140ppms! This tasting will sell out quickly so get your reservations in quickly. Please call 314.863.6282 for reservations. We are asking that you call with credit card and contact information to help us make the check-in process at the event quicker and more efficient.

Thanks for all your support!

Dave Davis

The Wine Merchant, Ltd.
20 South Hanley Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63105
314-863-6282
800-770-8466
314-863-5670 (fax)

Start Time: 6 PM
Date: 2010-06-24

Minutes of the Meeting
of the

Old Scotch Nosing or Tasting Society

(Old SNOTS)
May 29, 2010

 
Members Present:                                                      Single Malts Present:
Teri Newman                                                 Aberfeldy 12 yr old
Gail “Wojo” Wojtowicz                                    Bowmore 12 yr old
Mo Verling                                                    Glenfiddich 15 yr old
Stan Skavdal                                                Aberlour 12 yr old
Mike “Peeto” Peet (V)                                   Glenfarclas 12 yr old
Mark Caslen                                                 Scapa 16 yr old
Steve McAllister                                            Auchentoshan Three Wood
Alicia McAllister                                             Sheep Dip 20 yr old (not voted on)     
                                                                 Strathisla 12 yr old (not voted on)

 1.  Despite the fact that we were tasting free whisky this gathering, we only managed a rather small showing as you can see from the Members Present list.  I don’t get it.  If we were giving away money for free, I’d expect our showing would have been much larger.  What’s more important here, Folks?  Actually, I know for a fact that some took advantage of the three-day weekend and went out of town.  Others, including our full-time scribe (for the purpose of these minutes, aka Tinker Bell, about which there will be more later), were on full-blown vacations, otherwise known as work avoidance behavior.  Those of us with our priorities straight were treated to the hospitality of Teri Newman and her husband John.  After we’d gone through all six verses of “Over the River and Through the Woods” so many times we couldn’t stand it anymore, we arrived at the Newman residence north of Highland, IL.  Among those that made the trek was Mike “Peeto” Peet, otherwise known at this gathering as “VIRGIN” which he rather gleefully accepted noting, with a wry smile, that he certainly looked forward to losing this label just as he had once before.  We all kept our distance from him after that.  Set deep back into a wooded area, the house felt like a private retreat and it was only the sound of I-70 that reminded us we weren’t deep in the Ozark hardwood forests.  If you recall, Teri told us we had to see John’s “man-cave.”  In fact, it was truly amazing featuring all things LSU, an impressive array of model military hardware and more collectible football figurines than I could begin to count.  My personal favorite, though?—a six pack of Monty Python’s HOLY GRAIL ale.

 2.  As I mentioned, the whisky we sampled this time was free.  Wojo, who I’m happy to say looked great after her surgery, provided every drop.  In fact, she acted as the middle-man bringing whisky sent to her from Alyson Anderson of Republic National Distribution Co. in Austin, TX.  You may ask who Wojo had to pay to get such a relationship.  Actually, Wojo has a niece, Wendy (I’ve no idea if Wendy has brothers named John and Michael or if she has a Newfoundland named Nana or if her last name is Darling, all of which wouldn’t surprise me given the happy ending).  Wendy knows or works for Alyson who saw our Old SNOTS website and was intrigued.  Alyson sent Wojo a box of whisky hoping for our reaction.  Well Wendy and Alyson, Wojo and the Old SNOTS’ Lost Boys (and girls) are happy to oblige. 

3.  Following the grilling of steaks accompanied by salad and Teri’s “world famous” and pretty damn good potato salad, the gathering sat down to the business at hand and started sampling the whiskies.  On to the tasting notes:

a.  Aberfeldy
“This is for beginners.” – Teri; “Soft” – Steve; “Not much to this” – Mo; “Next!” – Steve

b.  Bowmore
“Oh yeah!  The sea . . .” – Mo; “Woohoo!” – Wojo; “Is there any 7-Up?”  After receiving a number of glares, “What?” – Peeto; “There’s a lot of peat here.” – Teri; “I just licked an ashtray.” – Mark; “I like this.” – Stan

c. Glenfiddich
“Not much nose.  Some allspice.” – Mo; “Very spicy.” – Alicia; “I could do this all night.” – Wojo; “A light dram.  Not complex, but a nice drop.” – Mo; “Apple.  It’s better than Glenlivet.” – Wojo

d.  Aberlour
“Holy cow.” (That’s code for “Is that all there is?”) – Steve; “Unremarkable.” – Mo; “All its got going for it is sweetness.” – Teri; “This would be good for morning oatmeal.” – Alicia; “I don’t like the finish.” – Stan; “What finish?” – Steve  

[It was at about this point that if Peeto had had gills, they’d have been green.  If whisky is an acquired taste, he hadn’t yet.  He later confided (never confide to an Old SNOTSter something that could be used against you) that over the weekend he went to a McDonalds with a newly asphalted parking lot and had immediate flashbacks to the Bowmore 12.  As far as this writer is concerned, if it kept him from eating at McDonalds, that’s another reason to like Bowmore.]

 e.  Glenfarclas
“Carmel nose.  Really sweet and syrupy, like you’d use on pancakes.” – Steve; “The McAllisters must really like breakfast.” – Peeto; “A sweet, beginner’s scotch.” – Teri

f.  Scapa
“You could make cranachan with this.” (Cranachan is a Scottish dessert made with a whisky that won’t overwhelm the rest of the ingredients) – Alicia; “Scotch on training wheels.  That’s why Jim [Dice] would like it.” – Wojo; “There’s a touch of salt.” – Stan; “This tastes like the water’s already been added.” – Wojo; “Absolutely!  That’s a perfect description.” – Mo

g.  Auchentoshan
“Wow, this is entirely different.” – Mo; “Oooo . . . started with butter and then switched to salt.” – Stan; “It has the freshness of lemonade.” – Steve

After we’d tasted and voted on this group, Wojo brought out two more whiskies from Alyson—Sheep Dip 20 yr old and Strathisla 12 yr old.

h.  Sheep Dip
“This is Sheep Dip?  Very surprising.” – Steve; “Peaty and hints of the sea.” – Mo; “Actually, this is very good.” – Wojo; “Not at all like the Sheep Dip I remember.” – Alicia; “Hey wait, it’s a blend!  We may have broken the rules!” – Mo; “Actually, it’s vatted, but you’re right.” – Steve (The difference is that blended whisky includes grain alcohol as its base while vatted whisky is nothing but a mixture of single malt whiskies.)

 i.  Strathisla
“Limey.” – Wojo; “As in the fruit.” – Steve; “Not a Sassenach.” – Mo; “Michael Jackson says it tastes like juicy oak.” – Mark; “What is juicy oak?” – Steve; “But I can taste Juicy Fruit.” – Mo

 4.  Before I get to the vote, you may recall I mentioned Tinker Bell in the first paragraph.  Well, in fact, during the whisky sampling I heard a tinkling sound, like the sound of tiny bells.  I brushed it off as the sound of wind chimes outside or clinking of glasses in the dishwasher or the result of 16 years of flying C-5s.  As it turns out, it was our vacationing scribe, Tinker Bell, trying to whisper in my ear via a text message that he voted for the Highland whisky.  We discounted this attempt as biased and misinformed and, as a result, faeries all over the world dropped dead.  No big loss . . .  A simple vote was taken and the winner was Bowmore, two-to-one, with 4 votes and the Glenfiddich was second with 2 votes.  All agreed that it was an interesting and revealing lineup!   A hearty and sincere “Thanks” to Alyson Anderson and Republic National Distributing Co.

5.  The next gathering of the Old SNOTS will be held at the home of Bobby Fowler on 26 June.  The theme for that gathering will be whiskies from Islay and Skye. 

[With apologies to J.M. Barrie.]

 “Cab for Bean?!”

Ardbeg Corryvreckan was crowned the Best Single Malt Whisky in the World for 2010.  The Ardbeg distillery website describes it as “A deliciously deep, powerfully peaty and wonderfully wild whisky – Ardbeg Corryvreckan is the epitome of ‘the untamed spirit of Islay.”  I may just have to find some of that.

Other single malt category winners were:

Best Campbeltown Single Malt Whisky – Springbank 18 yr old
Best Island Non-Islay Single Malt Whisky – Highland Park Earl Magnus
Best Speyside Single Malt Whisky – Tomintoul 33 yr old
Best Highland Single Malt Whisky – Balblair 1975
Best Irish Single Malt Whisky – Bushmills 21 yr old Maderia Finish
Best Japanese Single Malt Whisky – Yamazaki Sherry Cask
Best Rest of the World Single Malt Whisky – Solist

There were also sub-category winners too numerous to mention here.  If you’re curious about the rest, find issue 87 of Whisky Magazine and buy it.  It’s worth the cover price.