Gathering Minutes – April 2010

Minutes of the Meeting
of the

Old Scotch Nosing or Tasting Society

(Old SNOTS)
April 24, 2010

Members Present:                                                      Single Malts Present:

Bruce Card                                                                  Ardmore Traditional Cask
Gary Machovina                                                          Glengrant 10 yr old
Tim Robinson                                                              Mortlach 16 yr old
Jim Dice                                                                       Pittyvaich 12 yr old
Bobby Fowler                                                              Craigellachie 14 yr old
Teri Newman                                                               Hazelburn 8 yr old
Dan Eckstrom                                                             
Steve McAllister                                                         
Alicia McAllister                                                         
Mike Russel
Mark Caslen
Mo Verling
Mark Richardson
Stan Skavdal
Jim Sabella
John Arsenault

1.  This addition of the Old SNOTS was scheduled to occur at the Belleville residence of Steve McAllister.  However, when the City of Belleville decided to dig up the streets around his home it was decided to move the event, and events they are, to the O’Fallon home of Jim Dice; thus preventing the guests from walking two blocks from their cars to the event.  Since our esteemed Old SNOT from Glen Carbon, (not you Halpin) Gail Wojtowicz was still recuperating, it was decided to not drink her Scotch in her absence (we do have scruples).  Instead we feasted on Steve McAllister’s recent purchase from Loch Fyne Whiskies in his native land of Scotland (and you thought he was from Carlinville).  Seems that the gentleman from Loch Fyne was able to teach Steve a lesson or two about whiskies on his recent visit, as the selection was heavily weighted to the Speyside region.  Perhaps an old dog can learn a new trick….naaa, not this dog.  

2.  Following a grilling of bovine and a modest selection of salad and spud (back to our roots) the cast of characters settled down to a hearty meal capped off with delicious Key Lime pie from Teri.  Since virtually none of us had yet sampled these selections, we decided to make this a tasting straight out of the bottle rather than a blind tasting.  At least there was no electioneering for the local Islay.  On to the tasting notes:

a.  Ardmore Traditional Cask

“I smell peat”-Jim; “I smell it too”-Stan;  “Actually smells nice”-Steve;  “There is peat in this”-Stan; (editors note: So do ya think it’s peaty?); “Oily aftertaste, almost like a CaoLila”-Bobby;  “A before bed whiskey”-Steve;  “Chlorine taste”-Mark R. (What’s he been drinking?)

b.  Glengrant

“That has a Speyside nose”-Jim;  “Like red licorice”-Steve;  “I can’t stand licorice”-Stan;  “No bite at all”-Steve;  “No finish”-Gary;  “Light color”-Steve;  “Like a port cask rather than a sherry cask”-Teri

c. Mortlach

“Same Speyside nose”-Jim;  “Less sherry nose than Glengrant”-Stan;  “I taste soap”-Steve (apparently Steve had his mouth washed out a lot during his formative years);  “Alkaline, slippery”-Gary;  “That taste good!”-Jim;  “I like it”-Stan;  “Bacon in a glass”-Steve;  “But one that’s good for you”-Bobby

d.  Pittyvaich

“Dark color”-Jim;  “It’s located right across the road from Mortlach”-Steve;  “Not much nose”-Steve;  “Smells like a pear”-Gary;  “Fruity taste”-Steve;  “Oily”-Mike R.;  “Hint of peat”-Stan

e.  Craigellachie

“Butterscotch nose, I like that”-Stan;  “Light flavor”-Jim;  “Dirty sock smell”-Dan (where’s his nose been?);  “No bite to it”-Gary;  “No finish”-Steve

f.  Hazelburn

“Similar to first one”-Stan;  “A little iodine; we’ve got the sea now”-Mo;  “A little salt there”-Bobby;  “No pears”-Gary;  “A man’s whiskey”-Steve (who was he talking about?);  “Not a scribe’s whiskey”-Dan (scribe’s note to self…have neighbor kid cut Dan’s valve stems on next visit);  “Doesn’t settle…drinkable”-Mark R.; 

3.  Since the Scotch was provided from only one person for this event, there was no real reason to pontificate for one’s own selection over another as we have seen at previous gatherings.  On the other hand, Steve was having split personality issues trying to decide which of his Scotches to vote for.  I think he was hallucinating at one point over a mythical bottle of Talisker, but then we won’t discuss Steve’s “hallucinations.”  A simple vote was taken, the Ardmore won with 6 votes and the Hazelburn was a close second with 5 votes.  Truth is, there wasn’t a dog in the group (unless you count Dan) and the nice folks at Loch Fyne Whiskies did an outstanding job of selecting whiskies for us…Thank You!

4.  The next gather of the Old SNOTS will be held at the Highland, Illinois Republican Headquarters of Teri Newman.  You’ll find her house by looking for the “Elect Newman” signs.  Until next month remember, don’t drink and drive; call a cab and pour another dram. 

“Cab for Bean?!”