Tasting #47: The Whisky Hoop

by Saratoga Whiskey Club | Mar 12, 2020 | Tastings

Tasting #47: The Whisky Hoop

On Wednesday, February 19th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club held its 47th tasting as a club. The theme for this tasting was The Whisky Hoop Independent Bottlings. These bottles were brought back from Japan. The Whisky Hoop is a members-only independent bottler that sells mostly to Japanese bars. It was an incredible tasting.

The whiskies that we tasted included:

Talisker 6 Year
Arran 16 Year
Clynelish 23 Year
Glendronach 22 Year
Tobermory 11 Year
Bunnahabhain 4 Year

23 members were in attendance for this tasting.

Tasting #42: SMWS November Releases

by Saratoga Whiskey Club | 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

by Saratoga Whiskey Club | 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 #39: Annual Club Dinner

by Saratoga Whiskey Club | Aug 19, 2019 | Tastings

Tasting #39: Annual Club Dinner

On Wednesday, August 14, 2019, the Saratoga Whiskey Club held its annual dinner feast. The theme for this year was whiskey finished in a variety of different casks. We had 48 people in attendance for this great evening of outdoor dining and tasting. The weather cooperated for us which was nice!

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted and the food that they were paired with:

We started with a Rye Lemonade Cocktail
Writers Tears Florio Marsala Cask Finish – Paired with Jerk Shrimp & Pineapple Skewers and Chicken Satay with Siracha Aioli
Sagamore Spirit Port Finished Rye – Paired with an Arugula Salad with Port Poached Pears & Roquefort
Highland Park Twisted Tattoo 16 Year – Paired with Lobster Sliders and Greek Israeli Cous Cous Salad
Bardstown Bourbon’s Phifer Pavitt Reserve – Paired with Braised Brisket with Bourbon Peach Glaze, Summer Succotash and Honey Jalapeno Cornbread
Limestone Branch Yellowstone Limited Edition 2018 – Paired with Whiskey Bacon Brownies

A big shout out to Airstream Catering for providing us with the food for this dinner!

Scores can be found on our Score page.

And here’s to another great annual dinner!! Cheers.

Tasting #38 Recap: Race Track Tasting

by Saratoga Whiskey Club | Jul 30, 2019 | Tastings

Tasting #38 Recap: Race Track Tasting

On Sunday, July 28th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its second annual Track Tasting. It was a great afternoon of tasting various whiskies, betting on the ponies, and getting treated to some Pies on Wheels! It really was the perfect afternoon for our club. 24 members were in attendance for this outing!

Here is a list of the whiskies we tasted: