Tasting #42: SMWS November Releases

Tasting #42: SMWS November Releases

by | Nov 15, 2019 | Tastings

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 #40: Coastal Scotland Tour

Tasting #40: Coastal Scotland Tour

by | Oct 1, 2019 | Tastings

Tasting #40: Coastal Scotland Tour

On Wednesday, September 11th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 40th tasting as a club! We had a special tasting of bottles that were recently brought back from a recent Rascal + Thorn whisky tour of Scotland. 20 members were in attendance for this outing!

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • Talisker Distillery Exclusive
  • Wolfburn From The Stills
  • Ardnamurchan 2 Year Warehouse Release
  • Longmorn 13 Year Single Cask
  • Highland Park 18 Year Cask Strength
  • Ledaig 21 Year Port Pipe Finish

It was a fantastic tasting and night overall. Cheers!

Tasting #37 Recap: SMWS Tasting

Tasting #37 Recap: SMWS Tasting

by | Jul 30, 2019 | Tastings

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!

Tasting #34 Recap: Drams For Fams 2019

Tasting #34 Recap: Drams For Fams 2019

by | May 7, 2019 | Tastings

Tasting #34 Recap: Drams For Fams 2019

On Thursday, May 2nd, the Saratoga Whiskey Club took part for the second year in the North American Drams For Fams charity benefit. Drams for Fams was started a few years ago by the Edmonton Scotch Club in Edmonton, Canada, as a way to use their love for whisky tasting to raise money for the local Edmonton Food Bank. Last year we joined them along with a number of other whiskey clubs throughout Canada and the United States. Over $50,000 was raised since the idea was started.

Our club benefit whiskey tasting was held at Henry Street Taproom in Saratoga Springs, NY. HST was kind enough to donate the space to hold the event as well as provide tasty appetizers. Whiskey was donated by members of the Saratoga Whiskey Club and by some brands. Money raised from ticket sales ($50 per ticket) is being donated to the Franklin Community Center, our local support center for families in need of food and supplies. The Saratoga Whiskey Club raised $1250 this year.

The goal for 2020 is to double this club initiative.

17 whiskies were donated and 25 members attended this wonderful evening of sampling and comraderie. It’s exciting to see the 13 clubs that are now involved in this charity and how much money is being raised this year. We are proud to be a part of this group.

Here are some photos from the evening.

Tasting #32 Recap: For Peat’s Sake

Tasting #32 Recap: For Peat’s Sake

by | Apr 26, 2019 | Tastings

Tasting #32 Recap: For Peat’s Sake

On Wednesday, April 10th, and Thursday, April 25th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its first tasting that just focused on peat. We have had plenty of peated whiskies before, but they were usually from one area (Islay), so this tasting was different in that we had Speyside, Highlands, Japan and of course Islay. We also paired each whisky with different smoked snacks. There were 28 members in attendance.

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • Glenfiddich’s Fire & Cane – paired with Applewood smoked salame
  • Ancnoc Cutter – paired with smoked Gouda and aged Cheddar
  • Kaiyo The Peated – paired with Teriyaki beef jerky
  • Port Charlotte 10 Year – paired with smoked mussels
  • SMWS 10.118 ‘Enthralling pink and peat intensity’ – Bunnahabhain 10 Year – paired with smoked trout and smoked salmon

For scores from the tasting, please go to Scores.

Two fun evenings of education and great whisky. Cheers!