I labelled myself as real lucky when drinking is concerned. Looking back at the blog, it wouldn't have existed if not for my dining experience, wine indulgence and never-ending whisky trail. And the reason why I'm doing this is for myself to provide some form of record so that I can look back and treasure the things that I have and the wonderful experience I've gained. Most importantly, these writings remind me of the people that I've been sharing these times with though their names might not be on the page.
Things happened when you least expect it to. I tend to meet friends in unexpected occasions. Sometimes, I do receive emails from readers from all over the world sharing their whisky and food experiences with me and then we met up and became friends. This time around, I finally get to meet a food gourmand and avid whisky drinker.
It's cool to be led into the insider loop where the chef prepare dishes off the menu, getting good seats, service and good companionship. I won't talk about dinner, but rather the whisky that we had that night.
Glenfiddich 30yo 2010 Release
I was poured a glass of whisky with ice. Politely, I asked the waitress if I could have a glass served neat and gladly she poured another glass for me. The reason for doing that is not to show off as a whisky connoisseur or some lady who can hold her drinks, it's more to appreciating the taste of that particular bottle in its original form without adding any liquid or ice. My dinner companion asked me to have a sip before showing me the bottle and asked me to guess the age of the whisky. I have not been drinking much Glenfiddich but I told him that this whisky should be older than 25 years. After having a glass neat, I asked for some ice and I taste the whisky again.
First of all, I really like the stylish bottle. It still bears that signature Glenfiddich triangular-shaped-bottle feature but this one here has a broader base and accompanying the bottle is a very nice grainy wooden box. This Glenfiddich 30 yo is matured in Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks and a abv of 43% which is 3% higher than its predecessor. For the first time in 2010, each bottle of this 30yo will bear an individual bottle number and batch number which will allow Glenfiddich to identify precisely which Glenfiddich casks their Malt Master has selected to marry together to create that bottle of Glenfiddich 30 Year Old.
On the nose, the Glenfiddich 30yo has a bouquet of oak which is balanced, hints of sherry, chocolate and some coffee. The aroma is already tempting enough which is definitely a Speyside character, I wonder how would it taste like? When I tasted it neat, I found that there's some peel, nuts, sweetness from the fruits and also some vanilla notes. It's perfect to be drank neat as I find this whisky to have a very smooth and elegant finish. The toffee and sweet notes appeal to female drinkers as well. I will call this a yummy whisky.
The both of us and then a few glasses shared with the staff and we finished the bottle! The night was still young and we headed to another place to have more whisky. This time, I get to choose what I want to drink and with a bar full of whisky, I'm really spoilt for choice. Since I like Islay malts, why not choose one from there?
Bunnahabhain 1986 Vintage
Bunnahabhain (pronounced as Boona-ha-ven) is a whisky that is less well known in my country because the more famous Islay whisky are like Bowmore, Laphroaig and Lagavulin. This is a 21 year old bottling completed for the 2008 Islay Whisky Festival. Did you know that each of these 512 Limited 1986 Vintage bottles is numbered? Yes there's only 512 bottles out there! The date of bottling is written on the bottle as is the signature of the distillery manager.
If you're not into Islay malts due to the peat, you can give Bunnahabhain a try because it's a smooth and easy drinking Islay malt and you'll be surprised that you might give it a second chance. On the nose, you can identify the sherry aromas, and a little saltiness in the whisky. On the palate, you'll find that the whisky is quite nutty, mixed with toffee and caramel. It's also sherried oak and if you try hard enough, you might get the cocoa flavours as well with a salty tail. This whisky is balanced and the peat is really fine and not overpowering. Do try this neat for the first sip to fully appreciate its quality. And after that, add some ice and try again. It's also wonderful with water.
We both didn't manage to finish this bottle but I would like to thank my companion for the wonderful whisky and dinner.
