It was appropriate that showers were around and the air was cool and damp when we gathered at Bob B’s home for our monthly Wee Drammers get together. After all, Autumn officially arrived on the 21st. If we were looking for an excuse to sample some delightful drams, a celebration of the change is season was as good a reason as any.
Bob presented two more excellent drams, AnCnoc 12 year old and Loch Lomond 12, numbers 108 and 109 in our tasting journey.
The AnCnoc is renowned world over. Known as a must-have in any whisky drinker’s collection, it is “light and yet complex, smooth yet challenging”. It is a dram that has something for everyone. It has a gentle amber colour, and a nose that is soft and very aromatic with a hint of honey and lemon in the foreground. The taste is sweet with an appetizing fruitiness and a long smooth finish. A delightful dram priced in the $100 range.
Bob chose a 12 yr. old Highland whisky, Loch Lamond for our second sampling. This dram is distilled and matured
“in the shadow of Scotland’s majestic Ben Lomond”. Loch Lomond is well known for being able to produce a wide variety of styles of whisky in their distillery in the Highland region. This 12 year old was drawn from a selection of three cask types – bourbon casks, refill casks and recharged casks. On the nose, one senses “crisp green apple, ripe pear and citrus lemon. The taste of orchard apples and lemon meringue is present as well as pear, vanilla and light biscuit sweetness. A medium length finish with gentle wood smoke leaves a lingering peaty tang” – another delightful dram coming in at around $80.00
To accompany the drams, Bob served up an array of cheese (including a wonderful Salt Spring Island goat cheese), smoked salmon, lox with cream cheese, smoked oysters and, of course deep dark chocolate.
What a great way to welcome the change of season!
