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!

Tasting #62: Whisky and Rum!

Tasting #62: Whisky and Rum!

Tasting #62: Whisky and Rum!

On Wednesday, October 28th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 62nd tasting! We were joined by Tom Smith from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society to taste different whiskies finished in Rum casks. We then ended with three of the Society’s Single Cask Rums! It was a great evening and discussion on rum, its impact on whisky and how great it can be on its own as well. Such a fun evening of tastes and education.

Here is what we tasted:

  • Glenlivet Caribbean Rum Cask Finish (pre-tasting dram)
  • Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask
  • SMWS 9.172 ‘Quantum Endramglement’ Glen Grant 15 Year
  • SMWS 112.51 ‘Funky Irie Feeling’ Loch Lomond 15 Year
  • SMWS R2.11 ‘Goat farms, esters and vinyl funk’ Guyanese Rum 16 Year
  • SMWS R1.5 ‘A little extravagant’ Jamaican Rum 12 Year
  • SMWS R8.7 ‘The volcanic spirit’ Nicaraguan Rum 14 Year

32 members were online using Zoom for this really fun and rare tasting!!

For scores, please visit our Scores page.

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 #49: SMWS April Preview

Tasting #49: SMWS April Preview

Tasting #49: SMWS April Preview

On Wednesday, April 1st, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 49th tasting. This tasting’s focus was the new release of April whiskies from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. We had 6 different releases to taste from. Ben Diedrich, Co-Director of the Society here in the USA, joined us for this first virtual tasting during the Coronavirus epidemic. It was a great tasting of whisky from so many different distilleries with individual tasting profiles.

Here is what we tasted:

  • SMWS 26.132 ‘Krupnik and amaretti’ Clynelish 9 Year
  • SMWS 93.120 ‘Cocoa and coal’ Glen Scotia 14 Year
  • SMWS 59.59 ‘Spock’s earwax’ Teaninich 10 Year
  • SMWS 1.215 ‘Formidable chocolate’ Glenfarclas 15 Year
  • SMWS 28.43 ‘Muscle-toned heft and punch’ Tullibardine 11 Year
  • SMWS 53.310 ‘Kippers and slippers’ Caol Ila 10 Year

30 members were online using Zoom for this tasting.

Tasting #48: SMWS March Preview

Tasting #48: SMWS March Preview

Tasting #48: SMWS March Preview

On Wednesday, March 4th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 48th tasting. This tasting’s focus was the new release of March whiskies from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. We had 8 different releases to taste from. It was a great tasting of whisky from so many different distilleries with individual tasting profiles.

Here is what we tasted:

  • SMWS 71.66 ‘Farmyard feedback loop’ Glenburgie 7 Year
  • SMWS 55.57 ‘Digging up ginger’ Royal Brackla 10 Year
  • SMWS 6.32 ‘Knickerbockers at a wedding’ Glen Deveron (Macduff) 12 Year
  • SMWS 72.79 ‘Chocolate Bourbons’ Miltonduff 11 Year
  • SMWS 44.116 ‘Pirate ship in a storm’ Craigellachie 8 Year
  • SMWS 46.84 ‘Sipping from a velvet Tardis’ Glenlossie 17 Year
  • SMWS 93.119 ‘Charcoal in a honeypot’ Glen Scotia 11 Year
  • SMWS 16.42 ‘Top note of covfefe’ Glenturret 9 Year

30 members were in attendance for this tasting.