Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 16:42:44 GMT

Bob How was your head the following morning? Was it the cigar, the curry, the Christmas pud ( what a mixture ) or the Talisker?

Wynne

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 14:28:45 GMT

[quote user="bob lehner"]Drank the whole bottle of Talisker[/quote]This made me reflect in retrospect on SPVS Snowscene this year when one delegate went home early and left a bottle of Scotch behind with the then President who he asked to share it amongst the rest of the vets. Having surprisingly identified me as the most responsible person she entrusted it to my care. This, knowing my hardly risk averse attitude to the whole skiing scene and sometimes rather, shall we say, over-enthusiastic approach to apres-ski activity, was something of a leap of faith!

However, I lived up to this trust and on the last night shared it fairly amongst those who were still left standing after that day's exertions both on and off the slopes, but there were surprisingly few takers. So half a bottle went home with me to return to a late season weekend ski trip I undertook with another vet. We didn't finish it even then (well...he did bring some bottles of wine as well) and it is now (or at least was last seen) residing in the wine cellar of the apartment we stayed in which just happens to be also owned by a vet. At least I can honestly say I was still only sharing it with vets!

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

Clive Ansell — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 13:58:19 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"][quote user="Clive Ansell"]I like a splash of Malvern spring water with mine,[/quote]Presume into a spare bidon on your bike Clive? I have to say that London tap water doesn't seem to detract from the experience - maybe it adds a layer of additional complexity. I don't go with the enhancing the nose and palate bit, the water just makes it go a bit further![/quote]

Indeed, but the Malvern's are a 100 mile round trip, so not this time of the year very often.

Adding water is more of a habit I think, not sure how much if any difference it makes other than, as you, say, making it go a little further.

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 13:22:44 GMT

[quote user="bob lehner"]Drank the whole bottle of Talisker - smoked a vile cigar and then spent the rest of the night being violently and repeatedly sick.[/quote]Well if you were daft enough to neck a whole bottle then the outcome was predictable, but I'd still put my money on the cigar!

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

bob lehner — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 13:19:13 GMT

Malt whisky - yuk. I spent the summer of '71 working as a ghillie on the beautiful Glen Afric deer estate with another vet student. Job mainly entailed leading a fat Highland pony up the mountain to collect the stag bodies which had been shot by the filthy rich London bankers who hired the estate.

Anyway my 21st birthday fell in the summer and the Laird of Glen Afric somehow heard about it. He sent a bottle of Talisker and two enormous cigars. We cooked up a large curry - followed by a Christmas pudding (!) which for some reason we had found hidden in our bothy.

Drank the whole bottle of Talisker - smoked a vile cigar and then spent the rest of the night being violently and repeatedly sick.

To this day I have never touched another drop of whisky and even the smell of a passing bottle makes me retch.

Happy days!

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:43:00 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]I like a splash of Malvern spring water with mine,[/quote]Presume into a spare bidon on your bike Clive? I have to say that London tap water doesn't seem to detract from the experience - maybe it adds a layer of additional complexity. I don't go with the enhancing the nose and palate bit, the water just makes it go a bit further!

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

Clive Ansell — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 12:08:42 GMT

I like a splash of Malvern spring water with mine, I collect it directly from one of the springs when I can, although last time I was there the council had put up an 'elf an safety notice saying it hadn't been tested and was therefore not drinkable - I'm still alive though.

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

James Laidlaw — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 03:47:11 GMT

Definitely an Octomore fan - have the first 10 yo unopened as yet and a recent duty free purchase of version 7 or 8 I think...

I also picked up an amazing Japanse single malt from the now closed Karuizawa distillery after attending the whisky show in London (totally recommend this event!!!). Unfortunately it's now selling for around 1500-4000 pounds at auctions so I'm not sure I can open it without at least wincing significantly...

I'd also recommend "Smokehead" which is supposedly from an unknown Islay distillery but very reasonably priced and very drinkable if you like peated malts.

Too much choice. And no cubes. Sometimes a drop of water as it's supposed to bring out characteristics of smell and taste more.

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 23:48:28 GMT

[quote user="David Mills"]Now another poser. I'm a two cube man.[/quote]

David, I thought you had a girlfriend?

Men take their whisky as it comes. Look into something called 'whisky stones' if you need to cool it.

The oldest I have is a 21 year old Glenlivet, bought as a gift. If you drink Laphroaig it is amazing how that changes from the pretty harsh 10 year old standard expression through to the 18 year old ones (I have a standard 18 year old and an expression called 'old peculiar' - it is). I went to a Whisky show in London (there is a story) and got to try a 1983 Laphroaig and it was incredible. Less harsh and so complex. That was beautiful.

You can sometimes see something like a 12/15/18 tasting set in gift packaging. You can get them going up to 26 years old, but the price climbs quite rapidly:

https://www.masterofmalt.com/tasting-set/glenfiddich/glenfiddich-tasting-set/

I warn you - if you don't know about Master of Malt (and like whisky), beware. Sorry Arlo, but it's by far my favourite website. I've even started drinking some gin.....

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

David Mills — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 23:36:52 GMT

I've always been tempted by the really long aged ones, 30 years+ but never taken the plunge. Thoughts?

Now another poser. I'm a two cube man. Even when ordering north of the border.

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

Martin Atkinson — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 22:32:01 GMT

[quote user="robin scott"]Which one do you consider the best[/quote]I like Islay malts for the characteristic iodine/seaweed palate with the very strong smokey, peaty palate. Some people find them a challenge but anything else tastes insipid afterwards. I marginally prefer Lagavulin to Laphroaig (I'm sipping one of those now) as its a bit softer, and IMO Ardbeg is more like a Highland than an Islay. My favourite Highland is Talisker. Also in my present armory is Strathisla, Auchentoshan, Aberfeldy, Talisker Dark Storm and The Macallan. I recently discovered Welsh malts in the form of Penderyn this year and declare them very acceptable with a characteristic flowery/fruity palate.

As said there are no bad malts but some like generic Glenlivet and Glenmorangie are a bit too bland and 'mass market' for my tastes. I have at one time had 50 different malts as of course I can't pass judgement until I've tried them but I confess I've never heard of Glen Marnoch - sounds like a made-up name for Aldi! I've established my favourites and its unlikely I will ever try them all.

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 21:47:21 GMT

It's a toss up for me whether I like talking more about cows or whisky.

My current favourite is the Octomore 7.1. It's just so smoky. So, so smoky. I have limited edition AR7 bottling and that is special. I don't buy whisky to look at, but to drink - that is the only one I'd be reluctant to share too readily!

The Lagavulin distillers edition is nice, and the limited edition 8 year old is amazing for such a young whisky.

I have a number of different Laphroig expressions (8, cough) and that's a nice journey to work through and compare and contrast.

YULA is the nicest, smokiest blend I have ever tried, and comes in a lovely box.

For an off the wall suggestion the Glen Marnoch (from Aldi) is actually perfectly drinkable, and cheaper than anything else I own by a good margin. Keep a bottle in for those that don't know whisky but want to try a single malt. It's also a good one to get the connoisseurs to guess the distillery and the price.......

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

Clive Ansell — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 21:32:52 GMT

Lagavulin and Laphroaig are my favoured poisons.

RE: Martin Atkinson and Islay Malts

Phil Hyde — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 19:10:52 GMT

The title of this post is the definition of clickbait to me!