On Friday, September 13, 1996, seven internationally experienced whisky drinkers met for the Malt Whisky Workshop. The participants of this event were Rainer W. (local scientific organization), Hartmut S., Marion W., Uwe R., Ramon K., Stephan H. and Andre K.
We started with a sip of Cragganmore (12 yrs), which
gave rise to the following opinions:
Nose: like whisky / sweet / fruity / smoky
Palate: honey / peaty, malty / fruity / not too complex ...
Finish: long / sweet / smoky /spicy / not really interesting
After a short report on the latest whisky expediton to the Isle of Islay,
given by Rainer W., we then went on with a Macallan (18 yrs),
where there was substantial controversy with respect to the finish.
Nose: mild / complex, interesting, spicy / sherry /
soft, not intense
Body: full
Palate: hart but warmhearted / sherry / warm /
a perfectly mellow mixture of
intensity and complexity / a dry and heavy, rapidly blowing up explosion
Finish: short, mild / long, sweet / sweet / long, very pleasant /
long, pleasant
sweetness / very short
We then discussed some details of the
manufacture of whisky, and had a try on the
Highland Park (12 yrs), where we could agree on substantial
sharpness, although the finish again was a matter of debate ...
Nose: salty / smoky / sharp / vinegar / pungent
Palate: burning, smoky / strong, sharp / peaty, robust, earthy
Finish: very short, mild / long, well-balanced / unpleasant
after-burner
We went on with some wonderful onion cake, provided by Andrea M., who did not
take part in the workshop (she doesn't like whisky too much), but acted as
driver for Stephan. Inspired and revived by the cake, we tasted the
Talisker (10 yrs):
Nose: intense / spicy / very peaty
Body: full
Palate: mellow, pleasant / malty, sweet / intense, complex / peaty
Finish: long, interesting / long, sweet / long, complex / none (!!!)
The next one was the Lagavulin (16 yrs), which was not less
controversial than the preceding ones:
Nose: spicy, peaty / fruity / sharp / sherry-like,
sweet and complex / smoky
Palate: more peaty than all preceding ones, mellow /
mellow, peaty, pleasant, almond-like sweetness /
potatoe-like (!?), sharp / like liqueur, but nevertheless sharp, malty
Finish: long, slightly bitter / long, malty / pleasant / long and
mild / salivation-boosting (!?)
We then finished the evening with a Laphroaigh, but at that
time we all felt too drunk to make any detailed comments ...
However,
we all agreed that the taste was absolutely unique !
By the way, about two weeks later I had the pleasure to open a bottle of 30 yrs aged Bowmore, in collaboration with the internationally experienced whisky sipper Katja L., and we both agreed that it has such a complex taste (with hints of nut, peat, chocolate, sherry and many more), and such a wonderful finish, that about 2 microliters would be enough for the next three days ...