Tasting #26 Recap: Luxury Tasting

Tasting #26 Recap: Luxury Tasting

by | Jan 9, 2019 | Tastings

Tasting #26 Recap: Luxury Tasting

On Wednesday, December 5, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its first higher-priced tasting that we named the Luxury Tasting. These were all bottles that we either purchased through auctions or were collected over the last year by the club. There were 16 members in attendance. This was the max number since we only had one bottle of each of the five bottles we tasted.

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • Craigellachie 23 Year
  • Distiller’s Art Bunnahabhain 27 Year
  • Bruichladdich Private Single Cask 9 Year Sherry
  • Edradour Single Cask 14 Year
  • Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique

For scores from the tasting, please go to Scores.

It was a great first shot at a Luxury tasting and we can’t wait to do this again in 2019!

Cheers!

Bourbon selection for Great Bourbon Tasting
Luxury Tasting Table Setup
Luxury Tasting Table Setup
Luxury Tasting Group Table
Luxury Tasting Group Table
Craigellachie 23 Year
Distiller's Art Bunnahabhain 27 Year
Bruichladdich Single Cask 9 Year
Edradour Single Cask
Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique
Luxury Tasting Group

Tasting #25 Recap: A Scotland Tour

Tasting #25 Recap: A Scotland Tour

by | Jan 9, 2019 | Tastings

Tasting #25 Recap: A Scotland Tour

On Wednesdays, October 24 and November 28, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had great tastings of bottles that were brought back from Scotland on the 9 Maple Scotland Tour in September. The Tour focused primarily on the Speyside and Upper Highlands region of Scotland. A total of 22 members took part in this tasting.

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • Balblair ’91 – 27 year
  • The Singleton of Glen Ord – Distillery Exclusive – 14 Year
  • Gordon & MacPhail’s Glenturret 14 Year Shop Exclusive – Spirit of Speyside edition
  • The Arran Wee Double 10 Year
  • Aberlour Hand-Filled 13 Year Sherry
  • Tomatin Hand-Filled 16 Year Pedro Ximenez

For scores from the tasting, please go to Scores.

It was a fun tasting and a great recap of our Tour to Scotland.

Cheers!

Scotland Tour Whisky Lineup
Whisky Selection for Scotland Tour Tasting
Scotland Tour Tasting Table
Scotland Tour Tasting Table
Scotland Tour Tasting Table
Gordon & MacPhail Glenturret 14 Year
Tomatin Hand-Filled PX Finish
Balblair '91

Tasting #23 Recap: Blind SMWS Tasting

Tasting #23 Recap: Blind SMWS Tasting

by | Dec 7, 2018 | Tastings

Tasting #23 Recap: Blind SMWS Tasting

On Wednesdays September 5th and 12th, 2018, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its first Blind Scotch Malt Whisky Society tasting.  We had six different single malt whiskies to taste from and it was an interesting evening to see how close the members came to a consensus.

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted:

  • SMWS 73.98 – Layers of harmony – Aultmore 17 Year
  • SMWS 112.27 – Tarry lapsang souchong – Loch Lomond 13 Year
  • SMWS 100.14 – Boozy basil Blueberry – Strathmill 12 Year
  • SMWS 39.130 – Zing like the ping of a musical string – Linkwood 26 Year
  • SMWS 36.145 – Nice day for cricket – Benrinnes 20 Year
  • SMWS 26.121 – A real ‘pick-me-up’ – Clynelish 13 Year

For scores from the tasting, please go to Scores.

It was a great tasting and one we will definitely do again.

SMWS Blind Tasting Whisky
SMWS Blind Tasting Table Set Up
SMWS Blind Tasting Placemat
SMWS Blind Tasting Group
SMWS Blind Tasting Group
SMWS Blind Tasting Table Set Up
SMWS Blind Tasting Placemat
SMWS Blind Tasting Group
SMWS Blind Tasting Group

Tasting #21 Recap: Saratoga Race Track Tasting

Tasting #21 Recap: Saratoga Race Track Tasting

by | Aug 22, 2018 | Tastings

Tasting #21 Recap: Saratoga Race Track Tasting

On Saturday, July 28, the Saratoga Whiskey Club held its first whiskey tasting at the Saratoga Race Track on Jim Dandy Stakes Day. We had a great group attend and this will definitely become an annual tradition at the track. We couldn’t use our fancy Glencairn glasses, but there was still plenty of whiskey to be tasted. Now if we could only get the wagering to be better!!

Here are the whiskies that we tasted. Scores are posted on the Scores page.

  • Aberlour A’Bunadh – Batch #62 – 59.9% ABV
  • Glengoyne Cask Strength – Batch #5 – 59.1% ABV
  • Benromach – Gordon’s Single Cask – 60.6% ABV
  • The Macallan Edition No. 3 – 48.3% ABV
  • The Glenlivet Code – Limited Edition – 48% ABV

Here are photos from the event:

Looking forward to next year already!

Track Tasting Whisky Selection
Track Tasting Setup
Track Tasting Placemat
Track Tasting Placemat
Track Tasting Set Up
Track Tasting Dram
Track Tasting Group
Track Tasting Group

Tasting #19 Recap: Drams For Fams

Tasting #19 Recap: Drams For Fams

by | May 31, 2018 | Tastings

Tasting #19 Recap: Drams For Fams

On Wednesday, May 23, 2018, the Saratoga Whiskey Club took part in a North American initiative started by the Edmonton Scotch Club in Canada called Drams For Fams (#Drams4Fams).  The purpose of the initiative is to raise money for a local food bank or other charity in the form of a whiskey tasting.  Many different clubs in Canada and the United States took part in this and a lot of money was raised.  It was great to be a part of this and we look forward to making an even bigger contribution next year.

The format for our tasting was a lot of fun.  Bottles were donated by members and the club for this tasting.  All money raised went directly to charity.  Participants were able to taste up to 10 different whiskies of the 13 that we had available for the group.  Henry Street Taproom provided us a great spot in their restaurant and some awesome appetizers as well.  It was a perfect night for tasting a lot of whiskey (but then again, when is it not the perfect night!).  All in all, we had 22 people attend this great evening.

Here are the whiskies we tasted and the scores they received:

  • Blood Oath Pact #4 Bourbon – Score of 88 (avg. of 10 scores)
  • High West American Prairie – Score of 83 (avg. of 5 scores)
  • Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye – Score of 85 (avg. of 9 scores)
  • Elmer T. Lee Bourbon – Score of 87 (avg. of 6 scores)
  • Glenmorangie Lasanta – Score of 75 (avg. of 3 scores)
  • Ardbeg Auriverdes – Score of 83 (avg. of 6 scores)
  • Boone County 12 Year Single Barrel Bourbon – Score of 84 (avg. of 7 scores)
  • Glenmorangie Spios – Score of 82 (avg. of 5 scores)
  • Whip Saw Rye Whiskey – Score of 82 (avg. of 9 scores)
  • Pikesville Rye – Score of 84 (avg. of 2 scores)
  • Weller Antique 107 – Score of 79 (avg. of 4 scores)
  • Laphroaig Cairdeas – Score of 83 (avg. of 3 scores)
  • Johnnie Walker Blade Runner Director’s Cut – No Score

A fantastic evening was had by all.  We can’t wait for next year!

Drams for Fams Group Shot
Drams for Fams Group Shot
Drams for Fams Lineup
Drams for Fams Whiskey Night
Drams for Fams Whiskey Night
Drams for Fams Whiskey Night
Drams for Fams Whiskey Night
Drams for Fams Whiskey Night