December 11, 2009

Highland Park Hjarta


At the moment I'm finally enjoing my Highland Park Hjarta. I first got news of this late this summer, and since I've liked HP for some time, this was a must buy for me. As a scandinavian, norwegian to be spesific, I get to buy this special release in my local shop, Vinmonopolet. Talking about that. Why do we in Oslo have to settle for 5-6 bottles of this, while Tromsø got 20+ and Bergen around 30. At the moment it's not possible to buy it in Oslo, while Bergen and Tronsø still have 40 bottles to share. I actually feel discriminated at the moment, and partly regretting opening my own, as I was planning to have one unopened bottle in the cupboard as well.
It comes nicely presented in a black wooden box, with the hjarta logo on the outside in silver. The bottle itself is the usual HP style, but the labeling is a little bit more special.
I really like this whisky even if it differs from my normal preferred Islay whiskies, but I do need some whiskies in my cabinet that can be had without my wife throwing me out because of the strong odours. It's sweet and mildly peated, and has a nice taste from the sherry casks. I really need to get some more of this. As far as I can see the critics are praising it, and I feel privileged to have one in my whisky cabinet.

November 22, 2009

Malt Whisky Yearbook 2010

Malt Whisky Year Book 2010 CoverThis Friday I received my copy of the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2010. This Is a yearly publication and I have also bought and read the 2009 edition. What would be the purpose of releasing a book with more or less the same content year after year? Let's see.
The base of the book is the comprehensive list of all Scottish distilleries, along with the articles of the distilleries are also tasting notes for all the scotch whiskies by Dominic Roskrow and David Stirk. There is also a list of all other malt distillers in the rest of the world. New this year is that the Japanese distillers got their own chapter.
Aside from this there are articles on whisky history, on the state of the industry and other up to date writings on what's going on. The back of the book are filled with statistics on the state of Scotch Whisky in the world, maps of the distillers and other trivia of which changes from year to year.
A welcome new addition this year was the In Focus articles that this year gave the various stages of the distillation process a thorough write up. Where they will go in the coming editions of the publication will be exciting to see.
There was also a great many portrait articles of different distillery manager, so here is the chance of looking into the heads behind your favorite whisky and getting to know their own favorite. There is still a lot of distillery managers to go around, so this addition will stand up to time and I really look forward to coming portraits.
All in all, Ingvar Ronde (Editor of the book) and the contributors are making a great job out of giving us this yearly update on the whisky world. I really enjoy all the well written articles and the comprehensive list of malt distilleries. The tasting notes gives a good clue on what to taste next, when I am looking for new whisky.

November 18, 2009

Why whisky

When it comes to spirits, whisky is my first choise, and when I choose to blog, it’s about whisky. Why is that so? there are several reasons:

  1. I am a beer drinker. Allways has been, allways will be, I hope. Beer and whisky is related in taste and in origin. Beer is made from malted barley, hops and yeast, at least the light pilsner that is the beer of choise here in Norway. Whisky from malted barley and yeast.
  2. I want my spirits to taste, and taste a lot. While the trend amon cognac and brandy drinkers is to praise the smoothness of it, I want my hard liquor to taste hard liquor, not something else. Even though I do appreciate smooth liquor, the complexety of whisky is what I appreciate the most.
  3. Scotland. After a couple of visits to Edinburgh, I do love Scotland. The many pubs, at least of Edinburgh, the hospitality of the people and the fun of goiing out there. It’s also in Scotland that I’ve had the pleasure of visiting destilleries and getting insight in the process of making this excellent water of life.
  4. But most of all, it’s the diverity of the drink. The nature of the process influences the taste on so many levels, giving Scotch Whisky so many incarnations. The difference between different whisky is what makes it so interesting. Two of my favourites are Ardbeg and Highland Park. Both are great whiskies, but the difference could possibly not be greater. What they has in common is a rich palate with a diversity in taste. But they are so different.
    Another reason for choosing Highland Park is that I can’t enjoy the peaty Islay malts in company with my wife, she hates the smell of them, and me, when drinking them, so much so that I am not allowed to enjoy them in the company of her.

I do enjoy other liquors as well of course; when in greece I drink Metaxa and Ouzo, after a good dinner I often get to enjoy a good cognac, or brany and at X-mas, as a true Norwegian, I enjoy my Aquavit. But my usual first choise of drink will allways be whisky.

November 8, 2009

Oslo Whiskyfestival

Fredag 6. november var det tid for Oslo Whiskyfestival. Et årlig arrangement til glede for oss whiskyelskere. Arrangør er Chris Maile, en kapasitet på skotsk whisky som arrangerer kurs smakinger og andre whisky events.
Vi var 5 venner som debuterte på festivalen, og vi koste oss med whiskysmaking fra ankomst ca: 18.15 til vi måtte gå rundt 21.00. Dette var en kjempeanledning til å få bekreftet sine preferanser når det gjelder whisky, og en glimrende måte å oppdage nye whiskyer på.
Her var det meste av skotske destillerier representert, og vitebegjærlige festivalgjester kunne øse av kunnskapen til de entusiastiske menneskene som betjente barene. Jeg fikk svar på en del ting jeg lurte på, som for eksempel at Highland Park kommer med sin Hjärta i midten av november, og at Ardbeg Uigeadail er min favoritt for tiden. Etter å ha smakt meg gjennom så å si samtlige av Ardbegs tappinger.
Jeg fikk smakt meg gjennom en 8-10 whiskyer i løpet av kvelden og kommer tilbake med noen av mine inntrykk senere.
Nå gjenstår det bare å takke arrangørene for et glimrende arrangement, og glede seg til neste år, hvor vi går både for to dager, og master classes.

Welcome to this new blog of mine

As I have whisky as one of my main hobbies, I was figuring I might as well share my experiences on this topic here on blogger.
I'm not planning on tasting notes, but are gonna share whart whiskies I like, and why, and my experiences conserning whisky and travelling and so on