The Highland Games are a cacophony of sound with the skirl of bagpipes echoing through flashes of tartan scarves and hats and tents overflowing with kilts and all that is Scottish. Clan banners undulate and snap in a dance with the wind as sheep dogs scamper to whistles. A rhythmic chug-chug-pop is the undertone as the ice cream maker’s motor seems to strain with effort. The Saturday of the Games is one of colors, culture and vendor wares from all over the country (this one) and beyond. This was the 25th Annual NE Florida Highland Games.
The actual Games competitions are held on the various fields surrounding the covered stadium under which are all the clan tents. The cabers are tossed. The hammer is thrown. The shot put is – well – thrown. And a weight for height competition, which also involves throwing something, is contested. Those athletes travel in circuits to Games and Celtic festivals competing against each other around the southeast and nationwide.
Whisky. Ah yes. The Water of Life. Uisge beatha. Like vessels throughout a body, glimpses of the flowing spirit are only seen close to the surface. On display but factory sealed, bottles of the stuff sit on tables. Ask and from under kilts, tables and displays the magical liquid appears. There are always those willing to share in a dram and talk of things Scottish. Or just talk and talk.
The night before the Games, Friday night, the bottles of whisky are out on the bar. They are opened and they are tasted for that is the night of the Whisky Tasting. Here is what we tasted that night:
The actual Games competitions are held on the various fields surrounding the covered stadium under which are all the clan tents. The cabers are tossed. The hammer is thrown. The shot put is – well – thrown. And a weight for height competition, which also involves throwing something, is contested. Those athletes travel in circuits to Games and Celtic festivals competing against each other around the southeast and nationwide.
Whisky. Ah yes. The Water of Life. Uisge beatha. Like vessels throughout a body, glimpses of the flowing spirit are only seen close to the surface. On display but factory sealed, bottles of the stuff sit on tables. Ask and from under kilts, tables and displays the magical liquid appears. There are always those willing to share in a dram and talk of things Scottish. Or just talk and talk.
The night before the Games, Friday night, the bottles of whisky are out on the bar. They are opened and they are tasted for that is the night of the Whisky Tasting. Here is what we tasted that night:
For this Highland Games Whisky Tasting our selection of aged distillate was provided by Katie who was our local Whyte and Mackay representative. The whiskies were varied and interesting for notoriety and the sheer amount of work that went into producing them. The list included Shackleton Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, Jura 10 yr and Seven Wood (10yr) and two Dalmores.
All lined up to go.
Club Pres. Hull in the background.
*Shackleton Blended Malt Whisky 40% ABV
[This is apparently a blend of 20 single malts to get as close to the original Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt found in the floorboards of the cabin of the famous Ernest Shackleton Antarctic base camp. The whisky was found to have contained Orkney peat and indications of aging in American oak sherry casks.]
-smelled citrusy, lemon with touch of oak
-tasted light oak and vanilla
-trailed peppery-very light
-w/water smelled slight dish soap, very floral and lemon
-tasted peppery oak (lightly)
-trailed quickly!
Not much to this whisky.
[This is apparently a blend of 20 single malts to get as close to the original Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt found in the floorboards of the cabin of the famous Ernest Shackleton Antarctic base camp. The whisky was found to have contained Orkney peat and indications of aging in American oak sherry casks.]
-smelled citrusy, lemon with touch of oak
-tasted light oak and vanilla
-trailed peppery-very light
-w/water smelled slight dish soap, very floral and lemon
-tasted peppery oak (lightly)
-trailed quickly!
Not much to this whisky.
*Jura 10yr 40% ABV
This uses peated and unpeated barley.
-smelled very light w/touch of wood
-tasted slight smoke like from a campfire
-goes quickly to oak without pepper
-w/water smelled a tinge of toast w/bacon
-tasted a little peat with oak
This uses peated and unpeated barley.
-smelled very light w/touch of wood
-tasted slight smoke like from a campfire
-goes quickly to oak without pepper
-w/water smelled a tinge of toast w/bacon
-tasted a little peat with oak
*Jura Seven Wood 10yr 42% ABv
[7 Casks-French and American]
-smelled caramel, sherry, vanilla
- tasted wood with pepper
-w/water smelled floral caramel
-tasted lighter wood w/pepper
-trailed bitter (wine)
I try to taste things ‘blind,’ meaning I do not do any research about a whisky before I taste it. That way I am not influenced by anything I read or expecting any flavors or dislikes. In this case I am not a fan of wine, especially in my whisky. The water opened up the wine. Interesting whisky, for sure, but not one I would reach for.
[7 Casks-French and American]
-smelled caramel, sherry, vanilla
- tasted wood with pepper
-w/water smelled floral caramel
-tasted lighter wood w/pepper
-trailed bitter (wine)
I try to taste things ‘blind,’ meaning I do not do any research about a whisky before I taste it. That way I am not influenced by anything I read or expecting any flavors or dislikes. In this case I am not a fan of wine, especially in my whisky. The water opened up the wine. Interesting whisky, for sure, but not one I would reach for.
But what are the seven woods? That was also my question. Answered perfectly:
 |  |
*Dalmore 12yr 40% ABV (9 years in bourbon casks, 3 yrs in olorosso)
-smelled almost grape w/slight citrus
-tasted unsweetened chocolate, slightly peppery w/citrus notes
-trailed oak
-w/water smelled sweeter – caramel, slight toffee
-tasted light citrus orange but less sweet
-quickly went to oak
Not as sweet as it smelled.
-smelled almost grape w/slight citrus
-tasted unsweetened chocolate, slightly peppery w/citrus notes
-trailed oak
-w/water smelled sweeter – caramel, slight toffee
-tasted light citrus orange but less sweet
-quickly went to oak
Not as sweet as it smelled.
*Dalmore 15yr 40% ABV (Bourbon/3 sherry casks aged)
-smelled slight bourbon w/oak and raisin bread
-tasted sweet oak w/sweet bread/dough
-w/water smelled cherry w/caramel
-tasted almost smoky w/light floral
-trailed oak quickly!
Water gave this a surprise.
-smelled slight bourbon w/oak and raisin bread
-tasted sweet oak w/sweet bread/dough
-w/water smelled cherry w/caramel
-tasted almost smoky w/light floral
-trailed oak quickly!
Water gave this a surprise.
A couple of pics from our booth during Saturday's Games.
RSS Feed
