Tasting #57: Track Tasting

Tasting #57: Track Tasting

by | Oct 7, 2020 | Tastings

Tasting #57: Track Tasting

On Sunday, August 2nd, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 57th tasting. It was our annual track tasting, but because of COVID, we were unable to host the tasting at the Saratoga Racetrack. We used a member’s backyard to host the tasting on Zoom. It was a really great tasting of whiskies from the Highlands of Scotland. A lot of fun.

Here is what we tasted:

  • Deanston 18 Year Bourbon Finish
  • SMWS Beachcomber 7 Year Blended Whisky
  • Old Pulteney 21 Year from Gordon & MacPhail
  • Highland Park 24 Year from Gordon & MacPhail
  • Glengoyne 20 Year from Old Particular
  • SMWS 66.162 ‘A true harmony of flavors’ Ardmore 13 Year
  • SMWS 68.34 ‘Roasty-toasty-tasty’ Blair Athol 10 Year Highland Festival Release 

32 members were online using Zoom for this really fun track tasting.

For scores, please visit our Scores page.

Tasting #49: SMWS April Preview

Tasting #49: SMWS April Preview

by | Apr 3, 2020 | Tastings

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

by | Mar 12, 2020 | Tastings

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.

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 #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!