[One of] tOMoH’s After Party’s

 

One night last May, I found myself at the temporary abode of tOMoH & JS, following on from an action-packed day and evening:

• Springbank Open Day 2018/
• Springbank Masterclass – That’s how it’s made
• The Directors Cut – The good, the bad and the ugly
• Springbank: [last year’s] New & Forthcoming

I tasted the whiskies below half blind [amazingly not yet drunk], gathering the finer details at the end. Notes for this session were relaxed.

 

Campbeltown Commemoration 1844-1923 Burnside 12yo [1985] Eaglesome 40% [5cl] WB89[1] tOMoH7/10

I’ve always wondered why these miniatures get overlooked at auction, and then stumbled across this: ‘,… this series was produced in 1985 It does not purport to contain whisky from the named distillery. The contents are incidental & not intended for consumption’ worthpoint.com. All the more for us then!

• N: This isn’t tea-spooned Balvenie, the name relates to the old Burnside distillery in Campbeltown, established in 1825. In actual fact it smells more like a Clynelish.
• T: Clynelish confirmed on the palate too.
• F: Lime cubes and coal smoke is all I noted.
• C: I love this. Further reading: lostdistillery.com.

Scores 88 points

The old Burnside Distillery, a creamery since 1919

 

Campbeltown Commemoration 1844-1923 Argyll 12yo Eaglesome 40% [5cl] WB94[1] tOMoH7/10

Bottled as a tribute to the old Campbeltown distilleries, I noted Henley Wright as someone connected with these replicate vatted malts – tOMoH?

• N: O&R vibes, fruit candy, fruit bar juice?, some grist, a lovely fustiness, glue, ppm hints,…
• T: Big-to-light Lochside-esque style spirit with smokey hints – unless it’s those Longrow’s from 8-9 hours ago?
• F: The nose & arrival suggests an older spirit, yet the finish demonstrates otherwise.
• C: Old then young. Further reading: lostdistillery.com.

Scores 85 points

 

The old Argyll Distillery, inside out [2018]

Loch Lomond 1984/2017 33yo cask #13287 [120 bts] 47.9% WB88.50[30] tOMoH8/10

A photocopied label decorates the sample bottle. A nice touch.

• N: Dense nutty putty fusty shortbread. 
• T: Sweetish putty & hay.
• F: A short finish on honeyed putty.
• C: I wrote “Three men in a boat”, but can’t tell you or remember why. It was a filthy fun night.

From memory, I scored it around 87.

 

Glentauchers 1976/2017 41yo Cadenhead Authentic Collection bourbon HHD CS [126 bts] 42% WB91.27[17] WF91 tOMoH9/10

Another sample bottle decorated with a photocopied label, just what I used to do with my audio tapes.

• N: An oozing fruit pie served with more ripe, very ripe soft fruits. 
• T: Same beautiful qualities.
• F: Bitter oily/waxy with liquorice hints.
• C: Top dollar though water drowns it. My scoring ranged from 88 to 90+.

Scores 90 points

 

Glencadam 1964/1979 14yo Cadenhead 45.7 GL/80 proof [75cl] WB87.75[4] WF86 tOMoH9/10

• N: Dunnage fruits personified.
• T: Unsurprising spirity given we followed a 41yo with 14. Evolves on a bone-dry sweet grapefruit fruitiness.
• F: Sweet dry grapefruit,…
• C: Context is everything. Despite my scant notes, this is a hugely pleasing malt in its entirety. We peak as hysterics set in.

Scores 89 points

 

Lochside 1964/2015 48yo Cooper’s Choice Sherry cask #6799 [540 bts] 41.2% WB89.44[68] tOMoH[n/a]

• N: Now in the wee small hours, I realise I’ve been taking notes since 10am and know I’m not in the best state to receive such a grand oldie. Hey ho! This one speaks of a scented wax candle, bananas, cedar wood, pine needles,… 
• T: A lovely, light yet oaky peppery rum-like distillate arrival and movement toward a light body with a little char.
• F: Waxy banana is all I noted.
• C: I found this a little lacking in comparison to the Glencadam, but we are all struggling with energy after a long long day. [Check out Bishlouk’s notes on WB]. It’s time for bed.

Scores 87 points

 

With thanks as ever to tOMoH & co.

 

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END

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Campbeltown harbour 2018

 

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