Tasting #54: Speyside Tasting

Tasting #54: Speyside Tasting

Tasting #54: Speyside Tasting

On Wednesday, June 24th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 54th tasting. The focus of this tasting was whisky from the Speyside region of Scotland. We had bottles from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society as well as others to round out this great tasting.

Here is what we tasted:

  • Aberlour A’Bunadh Alba
  • SMWS 54.80 ‘Banana Mexicana’ – Aberlour 
  • Cadenheads Miltonduff 11 Year
  • SMWS 1.217 ‘Mezzalunas at dawn’ – Glenfarclas
  • SMWS 44.118 ‘Get your castanets clacking’ – Craigellachie
  • SMWS 44.117 ‘Happiness is a warm bung’ – Craigellachie
  • SMWS 36.171 ‘A smooth ride’ – Festival Bottling of Benrinnes

35 members were online using Zoom for this really fun tasting.

For scores, please visit our Scores page.

Tasting #42: SMWS November Releases

Tasting #42: SMWS November Releases

Tasting #42: SMWS November Releases

On Wednesday, November 6th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 42nd tasting as a club! The theme of this tasting was New November Releases from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. We will be doing similar tastings once a quarter going forward as we really enjoy tasting some of the new expressions that are being released. 25 members were in attendance for this outing!

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • SMWS 1.211 – Glenfarclas – 8 YR ‘Ironing a lemon’
  • SMWS 64.111 – Mannochmore – 8 YR ‘Pleasing sweetness, playful heat’ 
  • SMWS 44.114 – Craigellachie – 12 YR ‘Sweet peas and toffee trees’
  • SMWS 9.167 – Glen Grant – 23 YR ‘Part of the furniture’
  • SMWS 16.39 – Glenturret – 18 YR ‘Sweetness and spice laced with mystery’
  • SMWS 73.114 – Aultmore – 17 YR ‘Total eclipse of oloroso’
  • SMWS 10.176 – Bunnahabhain – 11 YR ‘Tea-smoked salmon’
  • SMWS 53.276 – Caol Ila – 6 YR ‘Ein kleiner deutscher samurai’

It was a fantastic night of tasting new expressions. 

Check out the scores! Scores

Slainte!

Tasting #37 Recap: SMWS Tasting

Tasting #37 Recap: SMWS Tasting

Tasting #37 Recap: SMWS Tasting

On Wednesday, July 24th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club welcomed Tom Smith, the USA Director of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, to Saratoga Springs. He hosted a fantastic tasting of the July Outturn releases of the SMWS. Along with the whisky, we were entertained with history of the SMWS, a variety of toasts and some discounts on membership and bottles. 35 members were in attendance for this tasting!

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • Cask 93.107 – Glen Scotia – 7 Year ‘Flexing the mussels’
  • Cask 1.209 – Glenfarclas – 7 Year ‘Waxing a hot woodsman’
  • Cask 5.70 – Auchentoshan – 18 Year ‘In the absence of convention’
  • Cask 35.224 – Glen Moray – 23 Year ‘Fata Morgana’
  • Cask 52.25 – Old Pulteney – 11 Year ‘A morning at the beach’
  • Cask 53.287 – Caol Ila – 12 Year ‘Ye olde medisin’

It was a fantastic evening with Tom and we look forward to another visit in the future. Everyone enjoyed this special treat. Cheers!