Tasting #69: Westland American Single Malt

Tasting #69: Westland American Single Malt

Tasting #69: Westland American Single Malt

On Wednesday, January 27th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 69th tasting. The focus of this tasting was Westland American Single Malt Whiskey out of Seattle. We were joined by Jeff Greenstein who walked us through the core line expression followed by three limited edition Westland bottlings. We were fortunate to get our hands on two Garryanas from 2019 and 2020 and an exclusive single cask for the NY market. It was a fantastic tasting and thanks so much for Jeff for joining us and co-hosting such a fun evening.

Here is what we tasted.

  • Westland American Single Malt – American Oak
  • Westland American Single Malt – Sherry Wood
  • Westland American Single Malt – The Peated
  • Westland Garryana 2019 – Edition 4/1 – Limited Edition
  • Westland Garryana 2020 – Edition 5/1 – Limited Edition
  • Westland Single Cask #2781 – NY Exclusive Market Release

52 members were online for this really great tasting.

YouTube video: YouTube Video

For scores, please check here: Scores

Tasting #68: A Campbeltown Celebration

Tasting #68: A Campbeltown Celebration

Tasting #68: A Campbeltown Celebration

On Wednesday, January 20th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 68th tasting. The focus of this tasting was Campbeltown. It was a true Celebration of some really fantastic whiskies that were collected by the club over the last year. From Festival bottles to a very special Scotch Malt Whisky Society gift, this tasting was one of the best we have had as a club. We were joined by both Tom Smith and Ben Diedrich from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society to go through some of their casks, but also just to be with us to enjoy this really fun evening.

Here is what we tasted.

  • Glen Scotia 14 Year Campbeltown Festival 2020 Bottling
  • SMWS 93.128 ‘Smoke and smugglers’ Glen Scotia 17 Year
  • SMWS 93.140 ‘Bacon on a bonfire’ Glen Scotia 17 Year Tasting Panel Experience
  • Springbank 12 Year Cask Strength
  • Springbank 12 Year Burgundy Cask
  • Springbank 14 Year Bourbon Wood
  • SMWS 27.113 ‘What a song and dance’ Springbank 26 Year

32 members were online for this really great tasting.

YouTube video: YouTube Video

For scores, please check here: Scores

Tasting #67: Scotch-Paired Dinner

Tasting #67: Scotch-Paired Dinner

Tasting #67: Scotch-Paired Dinner

On Thursday, January 14th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 67th tasting and first tasting of 2021. We started the year off with a really great Scotch-paired dinner. The food was crafted by the very talented kitchen crew at Hamlet & Ghost in Saratoga Springs. We paired five courses with 4 different Single Malt Scotches and one cocktail. It was a dinner-to-go, as the Pandemic still prevents our club from getting together indoors as a group. 

Here is the menu and what was paired with it:

  • First Course: Red Snapper Crudo – paired with “A Step Too Far” cocktail made with Lagavulin 16 Year Single Malt Scotch, Apricot, Amontillado Sherry, Golden Moon Kummel
  • Second Course: Chicken Liver Mousse Tartine – paired with Gordon & MacPhail’s Connoisseurs Choice Highland Park 14 Year Single Cask
  • Third Course: Braised Beef Cheeks – paired with Infrequent Flyers’ Linkwood 14 Year Single Cask
  • Fourth Course: Stilton and Eccles Tart – paired with Glen Scotia 11 Year Double Cask Finish
  • Fifth Course: Sticky Toffee Pudding – paired with SMWS 48.110 ‘Sooooternes!’ Balmenach 15 Year Single Cask

21 members were online for this really great dinner and whisky tasting.

Tasting #65: Ex-Red Wine Barrique and First Fill Sherry

Tasting #65: Ex-Red Wine Barrique and First Fill Sherry

Tasting #65: Ex-Red Wine Barrique and First Fill Sherry

On Wednesday, December 9th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 65th tasting! This was a very unique tasting in that we focused on specific finishes and first fill Sherry. The tasting started with three different whiskies finished in ex-red wine barriques followed by three Sherry bombs that were fully matured in first fill Sherry. It was really delicious. Here is what we tasted:

  • SMWS 9.174 ‘Strawberry Jalapeno Ice Cream’ – Glen Grant 15 Year
  • SMWS 66.161 ‘Chateau du pork scratching’ Ardmore 13 Year
  • SMWS 95.37 ‘Adventurous African safari’ Auchriosk 7 Year
  • SMWS 7.237 ‘Nutty by nature’ – Longmorn 12 Year
  • SMWS 7.233 ‘A syrupy sweet tale of romance’ – Longmorn 13 Year
  • SMWS 30.111 ‘Inferno Toffee Pudding’ – Glenrothers 12 Year

32 members were online for this really great tasting.

For scores, please check here: Scores

Here is a YouTube video of the tasting: YouTube

First Annual Advent Calendar 2020

First Annual Advent Calendar 2020

First Annual Advent Calendar 2020

The Saratoga Whiskey Club did its first ever Advent Calendar for 2020!! We had 48 Calendars in total go out to members and friends. Here is the list of whiskey that we have tasted so far. This is a blind calendar, so each day’s whiskey will be released at 9pm.

  1. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon C920 (Fall Release), 66.4% ABV
  2. Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake, 46% ABV
  3. Amrut Single Malt Indian Whisky – Cask Strength – 61.8% ABV
  4. Method and Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – Finished in French Chestnut – 46% ABV
  5. Arran Sherry Cask ‘The Bodega’ – 55.8% ABV
  6. Pinhook Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Store Pick from Gordon’s – 57.25% ABV
  7. Nikka Days – 40% ABV
  8. Penderyn Portwood Single Malt Welsh Whisky – 46% ABV
  9. Tomatin Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch – 57.5% ABV
  10. New Riff Single Barrel Rye – 57% ABV
  11. Talisker Port Ruighe Single Malt Scotch – 45.8% ABV
  12. Drumshanbo Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (Inaugural Release) – 46% ABV
  13. Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon – Barrel Strength – Gordon’s Pick – 62.2% ABV
  14. Glenallachie 10 Year Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch – Batch 3 – 58.2% ABV
  15. Mars Maltage “Cosmo” Japanese Whisky – Blended Malt Whisky – 43% ABV
  16. Starward Australian Whisky – Single Cask Release – Astor – 55.8% ABV
  17. The Lakes Single Malt Whisky – The Whiskymaker’s Edition: Colheita – 52% ABV
  18. Glenfarclas 15 Year Single Malt Scotch – 46% ABV
  19. Waterford Rathclogh (a) & Dunmore (b) Single Malt Irish Whiskey – 50% ABV
  20. Maker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon – Bayway Store Pick – 54.3% ABV
  21. Edradour Caledonia 12 Year Single Malt Scotch – 46% ABV
  22. Smoke Wagon Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Private Barrel – Bayway Liquors – 58.76% ABV
  23. Barrel Craft Spirits Rye – Cask Strength – Batch 1 – 58.5% ABV

Stay tuned for each day’s announcement!