Robert Burns Night 1/26/2013

    Ah yes, the reading of poetry, clinking of glasses and the tasty snacks - hell- it was dinner. Drew cooked some awesome beef something, which even I tried. I don't usually eat beef. The other dishes made our gathering into a complete meal. Thanks everyone for slaving in the kitchen and fillin' our bellies. Thanks also to Rebecca and Drew for having us in their home!
    The Burns poems were racy and funny. Donna definitely got her money's worth for the e-book she purchased. I honestly cannot remember who won the prize for best reading. (I can see the stern look from Todd now.) I'll just blame it on the whisky. Yeah.
    
    Here is what we tasted:

*Glen Dronach  15 yr    46% ABV    Oloroso cask
     -smells sweet caramel
    -tastes sweet oak
    -with water- a little rubbery w/pepper
    -very peppery trailing taste
    -tastes rubbery after a few minutes, very
    This whisky blends sweetness with a bitter, rubbery flavor. It's actually easy to drink. 

*Famous Black Grouse    Blended Scotch Whisky    40%ABV      Includes Islay 
    -smells slightly leathery with a tinge of smoke/peat
    -peppery trailing taste with peat smell
    -with water - gets much sweeter  with a little smoke
    -trails very quickly wood
    I was pleasantly surpirsed by this blend. It had some flavor that I did not expect. (I never research/learn about a whisky before I taste it. I don't want to be influenced) One can easily taste the peated whiskies from Islay as they overpower the lighter ones. 

*Chivas Regal   18yr  Gold Signature   40% ABV
    -smells slightly vanilla
    -tastes very light vanilla-afraid to add water
    -with water a tinge of rubber
    -trails oak sweet quickly
    This is a very easy drinking whisky but without water. It is too light to dilute without losing flavor.