Tasting #69: Westland American Single Malt

Tasting #69: Westland American Single Malt

Tasting #69: Westland American Single Malt

On Wednesday, January 27th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 69th tasting. The focus of this tasting was Westland American Single Malt Whiskey out of Seattle. We were joined by Jeff Greenstein who walked us through the core line expression followed by three limited edition Westland bottlings. We were fortunate to get our hands on two Garryanas from 2019 and 2020 and an exclusive single cask for the NY market. It was a fantastic tasting and thanks so much for Jeff for joining us and co-hosting such a fun evening.

Here is what we tasted.

  • Westland American Single Malt – American Oak
  • Westland American Single Malt – Sherry Wood
  • Westland American Single Malt – The Peated
  • Westland Garryana 2019 – Edition 4/1 – Limited Edition
  • Westland Garryana 2020 – Edition 5/1 – Limited Edition
  • Westland Single Cask #2781 – NY Exclusive Market Release

52 members were online for this really great tasting.

YouTube video: YouTube Video

For scores, please check here: Scores

Tasting #66: American Whiskey

Tasting #66: American Whiskey

Tasting #66: American Whiskey

On Wednesday, December 30th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 66th tasting! It was the last tasting of the year and a great way to end it. We all can’t wait for 2021!! The focus of this tasting was American Whiskey. We dove into some Bourbons and then finished with 3 single casks from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society that were Bourbon, Rye and American Single Malt. On top of this, one of our members made ginger snap cookies with our logo on them! See the photo below. It was a really fun evening and a nice way to end the year. Here is what we tasted.

  • Pre-Tasting Dram: Kyro Malted Rye Whisky – from Finland – yes, not American
  • Penelope Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Rose Finish
  • Elijah Craig Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Toasted Barrel Finish
  • Knob Creek 12 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 100 Proof
  • SMWS RW2.1 American Rye Whiskey ‘Out of the ordinary – in a very good way!’
  • SMWS B6.1 American Bourbon Whiskey ‘Ginger-spiced sponge’
  • SMWS 142.1 American Single Malt Whiskey ‘Made in New York, New York’

53 members were online for this really great tasting.

For scores, please check here: Scores

Tasting #65: Ex-Red Wine Barrique and First Fill Sherry

Tasting #65: Ex-Red Wine Barrique and First Fill Sherry

Tasting #65: Ex-Red Wine Barrique and First Fill Sherry

On Wednesday, December 9th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 65th tasting! This was a very unique tasting in that we focused on specific finishes and first fill Sherry. The tasting started with three different whiskies finished in ex-red wine barriques followed by three Sherry bombs that were fully matured in first fill Sherry. It was really delicious. Here is what we tasted:

  • SMWS 9.174 ‘Strawberry Jalapeno Ice Cream’ – Glen Grant 15 Year
  • SMWS 66.161 ‘Chateau du pork scratching’ Ardmore 13 Year
  • SMWS 95.37 ‘Adventurous African safari’ Auchriosk 7 Year
  • SMWS 7.237 ‘Nutty by nature’ – Longmorn 12 Year
  • SMWS 7.233 ‘A syrupy sweet tale of romance’ – Longmorn 13 Year
  • SMWS 30.111 ‘Inferno Toffee Pudding’ – Glenrothers 12 Year

32 members were online for this really great tasting.

For scores, please check here: Scores

Here is a YouTube video of the tasting: YouTube

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 #64: Dramfool

Tasting #64: Dramfool

Tasting #64: Dramfool

On Thursday, November 19th, the Saratoga Whiskey Club had its 64th tasting! We actually didn’t host this one, but had 34 of our members join this great online tasting put together by Mario Campa and Bruce Farquhar, the founder of Dramfool Independent Bottlings. They shipped from Scotland six incredible tastes in these great tubes. Wonderful packaging. And the whisky was not too shabby!

Here is what we tasted:

  • Carsebridge 44 Year Single Grain Whisky
  • Highland Park 14 Year Single Malt Scotch
  • Ben Nevis 23 Year Single Malt Scotch
  • Malt Can Heal 25 Year Mystery Speyside Single Malt Scotch
  • Bruichladdich Chateau D’Yquem 14 Year Single Malt Scotch
  • Invergordon 33 Year Single Grain Whisky

34 members were online along with another 30 or so from other clubs using Zoom for this really fun and rare tasting!!