tree_and_leaf: Photo of spire of Freiburg Minster (14th C broached gothic) silhouetted against sunset. (Schönste Turm)
tree_and_leaf ([personal profile] tree_and_leaf) wrote2008-03-12 02:01 pm

(no subject)

Yesterday - celebrating getting the paper down to time - I went out with a friend to drink whisky, from the excellent selection in Schlappen, Freiburg.

I started off with the Mannochmore South African sherry finish, which wasn't bad - a bit thinner than I was really in the mood for, but nice notes of vanilla and a bit of fruit (pear, probably). Would make a good aperitif. L, who has only just started drinking whisky, was very enthusiastic about the 10 y.o. Balvennie, which is a nice drink, with an awful lot of honey and flowers on the nose, and a bit of body towards the finish. We then moved away from the highlands - I had Jura, which I haven't had for ages, and surprised me by the burnt toast in the finish - and persuaded L to try Highland Park (oddly enough, it seemed to be my description of the scene in Dalziel and Pascoe where poor Novello is persuaded to substitute Glennfiddich for Highland Park that did it. That got an absolutely priceless reaction - very dubious face when she sniffed it, and a slightly bemused/ repelled reaction to the peat in the first mouthful. Followed by sudden enthusiasm at the second. "It just gets better and better the more you drink it!" Followed by the judgement that the Balvennie smelled more interesting, but the Highland Park was more interesting to drink.

I had considered trying the Loch Dhu black whisky, but after reading the review I'm rather glad I didn't - though a certain amount of (morbid) curiosity remains...

[identity profile] wellinghall.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 01:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Half-way through reading your post, the Glenfiddich / Highland Park came to my mind as well.

What was it?

"That's not Highland Park."

"No, the barman said he'd run out, and this was Glen-something - Glenfiddich? He said you wouldn't notice."

"Of course I know it's Glenfiddich - that's how I know it's not Highland Park!"

[identity profile] beard5.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)
The Glenmorangie Sherry finish wasn't bad when I tried it. Regarding Loch Dhu, I wish I were able to find it again over here, it's an interesting flavor. In some ways it reminds me of tequila, like some of the Islay single malts. It has (if my memory is true) a strong peat-y flavor. I enjoyed it, but not for the same reason that I like a more traditional Scotch. If it helps with deciding, I generally like a bit of bitter/medicinal type flavors.

[identity profile] anna-in-the-sky.livejournal.com 2008-03-12 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Ach, der Schlappen. Das waren noch Zeiten ;-)

I'd love to go and drink whisky with you sometime - I'm sure it would be very educational! The only whisky I know (and occasionally enjoy, too) is Chivas Regal.

Now, if you wanna talk wine, I'm your girl.