Today’s post is going to be a quick photo dump of last Saturday’s afternoon session at the Hielander Whisky Festival. Last year we skipped it due to a family weekend in the Ardennes, but this year we went back to a trusted Saturday event in February.
This year was the 12th edition, and I think I’ve been to 9 of them, if not 10. The only times I skipped were last year, and the time when my mother in law was having chemo-therapy. The last one made sense because I always visit the festival with my father-in-law and brothers-in-law (or is it brother-in-laws?).
A surprisingly fruity Bladnoch. Awesome!I didn’t see the ‘Sauternes Cask’ or I would have skipped it. I’m glad I didn’t. Stellar dram.A very subtle and old Pulteney. Might not be the best ‘festival dram’.Awesome label. Forgettable whisky.Very light and spirity.Ye typical grain whisky. Solid Benrinnes.Good Longmorn. Not exceptional.As wine casks go, this does it well.Surprisingly good Benriach.Mannochmore seems to be really good, the last couple of years. This is no excpetion.Nothing out of the ordinary, which means it’s a really good whisky because it’s Ardmore.Old Mortlach. Really good, but a bit too subtle for the time of day.Awesome label. Forgettable whisky.A good starting whisky. We instantly decided that our next Scotland trip will include this distillery.Blair Athol + Maltbarn. Definite success!Surprisingly good.See previous Mannochmore.See previous Ballindaloch. (Is there really a ball in da loch?)SULPHUR.An ashtray on the nose. Subtle on the palate.My brother in law’s vintage. Selected because of that. Macallan from back when it had loads of character. Peat Reek. It does what it says on the label.Awesome label. Forgettable whisky.Utter trash.Reviewed a while ago, tried again. Ordered.Skipped when it appeared in the newsletter. After trying it, all four of us ordered a bottle.Utterly spectacular whisky. This was the best in show for me.The final dram of the afternoon. Old Bunnahabhain doing old Bunnahabhain things. Recommended!Runner up to the Strathisla. 70s bottlings are something else.I love me some Bruichladdich. This one is no exception.Tried at Maltstock some years ago. Bought a bottle and emptied it really quickly. Tried again now. Stellar stuff. If you like grapefruit.Tried after a recommendation. Really good Linkwood!
