On January 15th I went to Den Bosch to join the Bottoms Up tasting at De Whiskykoning. This is an annual event on which he puts most of his open bottles on a big table and everyone can have a go at it. Since such an amount of booze will surely attract many people it is on invitation only and, luckily, I got one again! Here are the highlights (not everything, some were far from interesting)

Lagavulin Feis Ile 2008, 52.9%
I had tasted this some years ago at, probably, the Islay tasting that he usually does in November. The nose had heavy peat smoke, with a salty and fishy edge to it, as well as some tea. The taste was dry and smoky with hints of smoked eel. A slightly sweet and salty finish with oranges and tea again.

Macallan 18 1979 Gran Reserva, 40%
On the nose it had leather and blood oranges with a slightly woody edge. The palate is thick and dry with lots of sherry, fruit and citrus. A long finish with quite a heavy, feinty edge and lots of fruit again. Terrific stuff but it could use a few more points in its ABV.

Glengoyne 28, 50.4%, 2000
A single cask bottling of Glengoyne from 2000, bottled at 50.4% is can nicely hold its own. This is a fruit bomb from the start, with creamy fruit, liquorice and honey and orange (that seems to be a theme here). Again lots of fruit on the palate with a somewhat heavier undertone. The finish is also fruity but displays some more wood as well. Quite dry.

Springbank 12, 1995, Blackadder Raw Cask, 55.7%
This was not one of the best whiskies of the afternoon, but its flavour was so rediculous that I wanted it in here! The nose starts with an overwhelming aroma of rice crispies. Liquorice water and burnt bacon follow. The flavour is less rediculous, quite sharp with lots of sherry and paxerette wouldn’t surprise me either. Overripe fruit too. The finish goes back to what the nose did with the rice crispies. More interesting than it is good.

After these drams I tried some random bottles I picked up from the 200 that were there. A Connemara from a tall bottle, from before they used the shorter ones. A Cask Strength Bowmore with a bottle print which was quite nice as well and an old 14 year old Glen Scotia. A 1984 Limited Edition Glen Moray was also quite interesting.

Hirsch 16, 1974-1990, 45.8%, gold top
Hirsch 16 is one of those old terrific bourbons with a story. This one was stored in stainless steel for a decade and bottled around 2000 while still being only 16. Its a very full flavoured bourbon with of course some corn syrup on the palate but it reminded me most of those light sweet cigars some people smoke. Very autumnal and good!