We were graciously invited to Cindy and Doug’s house for our end of year party. Their home is a combination of gallery, cozy living space, historical design and cool place to hang out. The food was excellent once again thanks to everyone who prepared and cooked, including the cook yourself Korean BBQ thing that Todd brought. The soup was amazing Cindy! I had two bowls myself.
              Our gathering is never complete without the “Water of Life. “ Todd gathered a few, as usual, and we did taste a few, as usual. Here is what I tasted:

​*Edradour Natural Cask Strength 15yr 56.1% ABV
              -smelled raisin bread/fruit cake (I don’t mean the kind that come into the Arlington store either)
              -tasted peppery fruit, cherry
              -with water smelled light cherry
              -tasted bitter pepper
              -trailed quickly!
              No water next time. Todd brought this one so we could open it!

​*Glen Moray 15 yr 40% ABV
              -smelled light and doughy, fruity sweetness
              -tasted peppery grapes
              -with water smelled very light floral, caramel
              -tasted oak with no bitter, not very sweet
              Water took away the sweetness in this whisky.

​*St Augustine Port Finished Bourbon 51% ABV
              -smelled bourbon, sweet leather
              -tasted peppery oak with candy
              -with water smelled sweet oak
              -tasted slightly sour oak
              -trails oak
              Water removed any sweetness. 

     This year's A Whiskey Affair seemed slightly smaller in both attendance and vendors. That made for more room to taste and eat. The temperature was perfect. My tweed jacket was not stifling and we did not have to huddle around heaters. 
      My wife accompanied me this year. With Todd, we were three. Got our picture in Jacksonville Magazine again, too. Crazy people in kilts!
     Dick and Marti from Palm Ridge Reserve were also there. It's always nice to see them. I am sure they were happy to not see me in my Richard Simmons costume from our pre-Holloween visit. 
     

​*Johnny Walker Platinum 18 yr Blend  40%ABV
              -smelled grassy sweet with a touch of citrus
              -tasted slight oak
              -quickly went to pepper and oak
              -faded to nothing

​*Michter’s US1 Barrel Strength Rye  55.1% ABV
              -smelled sweet oak and rye
              -tasted peppery rye
              -went quickly to oak
              -trailed pepper

​*Hochstadter’s Rock and Rye Slow And Low 42% ABV
              -smelled very orange!
              -tasted orange and rye with no pepper
              -smelled like Pendleton with orange
              -trailed sweet citrus
              Surprisingly sweet for a rye.

​*Jack Daniels Sinatra 45% ABV  
              -smelled light oak
              -tasted peppery oak!
              -trailed quickly to bitter oak
              Definitely one to pour over ice or mix with something. What’s in a name though, right?

     This monthly gathering saw a few more of us than August. Maybe I should take minutes instead of racking my brain to remember who was there. I will be Sargeant at Arms, Club Taster, Secretary and story teller. My motion was just seconded by me.
     Todd had gathered a local whiskey from St Augustine Distillery and some old favorites. I took notes on just a few. I also took some pictures of the bottles right after I stepped in front of Greg, who had just arranged them into a nice composition (sorry Greg!). 
     There was an Edradour Natural Cask Strength NAS 56.1% ABV on the table as well. We have apparently tasted this before (Notes from 8/9/14) but not this bottle. Under fear of death, from Todd, we refrained from opening and looked at it intently. 
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SURPRISE OF THE WEEK  (Is it?)
​*Johnny Walker Green Label  15yr  43% ABV
              -smelled peaty with sweet floral
              -tasted peaty and goes to toasted bread then pepper and oak
              -with water smelled lemony floral
              -tasted gritty/chalky with sweet floral pepper
              -trails quickly
              We’ve tasted this before and I now have a bottle since it is not being produced- No wait. They are producing this again. I learned that "Johnny Walker Green Label is back." The website stated such. That would explain why prices did not go up significantly and though a little rarer in stores, I continued to see it on the shelves in small numbers. Still a good drinking whisky, though not something to go out of your way for. 

​*Clynelish 14 yr  46% ABV
              -smells toffee, vanilla with sugary caramel
              -tastes slightly floral with peppery oak
              -with water smells sweet caramel with tinge of floral
              -tastes peppery (soapy)
              -goes to oak and trails quickly!
              Water is not a good thing in this.

​*St Augustine Distillery Company Double Cask Bourbon 46.9% ABV
              51% Corn with Malted Barley and Wheat
              16 months in small casks and then transferred to larger for remainder
              -smells of corn and wheat
              -tastes sweet corn with tinge of vanilla and oak
              -with water smells sweeter corn and wheat
              -tastes caramelized dessert sweet
              -trails smoothly with touch of pepper and caramel
              Very smooth whisky with little burn!

     After our summer travels and a break from club meetings, we gathered at Todd and Donna's house to swap stories and pay dues and taste some whisky.  Here is what we tasted:
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​*Bruichladdich Islay Barley Rockside Farm Unpeated   50% ABV
              -smells sweet vanilla, earthy
              -tastes charred wood, warm bread
              -with water smells vanilla, hard candy sweet
              -tastes grassy with slight smoke
              -trails peppery

*Middleton Very Rare Irish Blend 2013  40% ABV
              -smells butterscotch
              -tastes very light floral with cherry cough syrup
              -trails oak
              -with water smells even sweeter like fudge
              -tasted floral, grassy, dandelion
              -trails oak with almost no aftertaste
              I swear I taste sherry in this!

​*Springbank 21 yr   46% ABV
              -smells sherry and oak with smoke
              -tastes peat with sweet black licorice
              -with water smells caramel, cinnamon bun
              -tastes slightly sour oak with sweetness
              -trails oak

​*Caol Ila Stitchell Reserve  59.6% ABV
              -smells a little soapy with floral and oak
              -tates smoky oak
              -with water very peppery!
              -slight sweet taste with oak
              -trails peppery oak quickly!

​*Bowmore Bourbon Cask   40% ABV
              -smells peat, wood and grassy field
              -tastes slight peat with oak
              -with water smells smoky, slight wood
              -tastes light wood with pepper aftertaste