16 Good Things in One Day -- AND Aberlour 16

Today was one of those GOOD days.  I am filled with joy and gratitude and a sense of accomplishment.  For example:

1.  I slept well and woke up with my skin alive to the feel of the sheets and the softness of the mattress.  Best of all, I woke up about 15 minutes before my alarm, which gave me enough time to enjoy being in bed before I had to get out of it.  Mmm... soft mattress.

2. Nobody showed up to my first period class.  I finished all my marking and handed it back.

3. I had left over quiche for lunch and it was even more delicious than it was yesterday.

4. A student said it was "sick" that I was their supply teacher today.  I believe that's a good thing.

5. After lunch, I was supervising an independent work period.  I got to read my book.  I even doodled a little bit.

6. I had an hour between work and parenting, so I had coffee and cookies and a banana for a snack while I read facebook posts and it was great.

7.  My daughter planted a seed at school today and brought it home in a yogurt tub with 2 inches of dirt at the bottom.  There is also a plastic gem and a feather in the dirt.

8. I bench pressed 100 pounds for the first time ever, and I did two reps, even!

9. I did three pull-ups.  Three times, for a total of nine!

10.  I won four out of seven squash games, and put up a darn good fight in the other three.  Against a tall, strong guy, even.

11. I made a shot off the back wall for the first time ever -- and then I did it again!

12.  It was sunny and warm outside.

13.  My girls and I went to a friend's house for delivered pizza (yum) and a movie (Gnomio and Juliet).

14.  I saw a friend encouraging another friend in the same way I had encouraged her, and it really felt like my help was being paid forward.

15.  We're going swimming with friends in the morning, and I'm going to a party with other friends in the evening.

16.  And best of all, I have the house all to myself, but for two beautiful sleeping children.


Sixteen good things, just off the cuff, without even trying.  I think that calls for ending the day with something special.  One more good thing.

How about the last couple of ounces of Aberlour 16?  Why yes, I think that will do just fine.

Carefully, now, there isn't much left...

My, my, my, it is pretty, isn't it, with its dark caramel glow?  It smells fantastic, too.

This scotch has something to say, and it speaks with authority, but not with force.

It tastes like the essence of forest picnic -- a classic wicker basket full of fresh bread, cheese, ripe fruit, and rich chocolate, all spread elegantly on a wool blanket in the cool shade of a pine grove with flowers and berries growing nearby.  It's spicy, gently nutty, fruity and lively, and ends with a little pinch of tanginess before spreading out in a warm wave of soft honey and apple pie. 

Seriously.  Go get a bottle of this and take your lover out for a picnic.  If you can find it, that is.  It's not currently carried at the LCBO.  However, for those of you who like to know the price of such things, I did find out that you can get it at several Liquor Mark locations in Winnipeg for $85.54.

Back to School: Lombard Teaninich 12

My groove generating apparatus seemed to be a bit gummed up today, resulting in a significant reduction in my rate of mojo juice production.  The loss of sleep that resulted from a certain 5-year-old wetting her bed at 5:45 a.m. probably had something to do with it, as did the rain-dropping weather system that slowly moved in through the day.  Throw in a bit of seasonal shock over the suddenly increased pace of life and number of commitments to juggle, and that's a pretty decent recipe for a good ol' case of meh-ningitis.

The cure?  Cast on a new knitting project (pumpkin hat for my little pumpkin), set up the next episode of Justified, and settle down with a blanket and a cup of tea.

Who are we kidding?!  First, a glass of something a bit more curative.  Maybe something like Lombard Teaninich 12 year old?  It's a highland single malt distilled at the Teaninich Distillery (pronounced te-an-in-ick), a little north of Inverness -- the first distillery to have electric light.  Most of their product goes on to be blended into things like Johnny Walker, but they do bottle some of it as single malt.  And whaddaya know, I happen to have a bottle!  And it's getting low, so it's about time I preserve the memory.

I picked this up in the Vintages section of my local LCBO for $66.95.  It was a very reasonable investment.

I always find it hard to truly and authentically taste a scotch that has tasting notes right on the bottle, but in this case, I have to admit that I don't feel especially lead on by their description.  It's quite apt:  "Stimulating nose of light, citrus fruits.  Develops to a sweet palate.  Long, soft finish with a hint of peat."  The nose is certainly "stimulating" -- in fact, a bit into the sinuses, but not in that cheap blend kind of way.  There's definitely citrus, but I'd add a sort of clover smell to it, too.  It is fresh and clean on the palate, reminiscent of a chilled slice of brandied pear.  I pick up a bit of nuttiness just before the finish rounds out to the peaty end, but it's a mild nuttiness, more like pine nuts than pecans.  It's really a very pleasant malt, and would be lovely and refreshing on a warm summer day.

Shall we have another?  Let's add a few drops of water this time...

aaahhh.... that certainly smooths out the "stimulating" effect on the nose, but it also brings out a bit of a gingery or peppery kick on the palate, which I was completely not expecting.  The citrus and clover sweetness remains, too. The finish is longer, and seems warmer, and somehow, at the very end, bananas come to mind.  I don't recall ever seeing "banana" in any tasting note, ever, but there it is.  Ask me again another day and I'll probably think I'm crazy, too.

I have one small glass of Lombard left, which I think I'll go ahead and finish up tonight, hoping it will help my mojo return at full strength upon waking in the morning.  I've enjoyed this bottle.  I generally prefer something with a little more smoke and peat and dark, low notes, but this was pleasant, and I would certainly consider buying it again for a nice light change.

The Washing Machine Didn't Come With Hoses: Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey

Really -- you buy a new washing machine, they deliver it, they take away the old one, but then you have to drive to the store to get new hoses to finish hooking the thing up right?  Harumph, I say.  On a blazing hot summer day, with one child who is desperate for a new dancing outfit and high on big-cardboard-box, and another who has a case of the whines because she's too hot because she didn't listen to her mother and chose a long-sleeved shirt anyhow.  Fine.  Gimme the hoses... and two tutus and two leotards, too.

Next stop:  shopping for Mummy.  On the list?  One bottle of Pelee Island Moscato, which has been renewing my taste for wine lately.  I've been "off" wine for a few years, but this is a lovely light summery delight -- not too dry, not too sweet, not too red, not too white.  A fantastic chilled beverage on a hot day.  I grabbed two bottles and headed over to browse the scotch section.

I hummed and hawed and finally selected the experiment of the month: 8 year old Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey.  It's made by the Cooley Distillery, which also makes Connemara Peated Irish, which I included at the in-laws' tasting event and promised to review.  And I will.  Later.  For now, read about this lovely thing:

Thar she be -- nothing very helpful or interesting on the label, which meant I had to buy it to learn about it.

I had a quick taste while I supervised the girls in their evening bath, and I didn't think much of it.  There was a strong rubbing-alcohol odour I couldn't get past.  However, later on, after I had tidied up and provided all the necessary hugs and kisses and made lunches and done some laundry (and discovered that the infamous hoses needed to be reversed), I sat down to give it a serious assessment.

 

Appearace-wise, it is ever so much more attractive than the mess of shoes that clutter the front hall.  It's a light-colored dram.  If you'll permit me to play expert, at least insofar as colour is concerned, I'll describe it as "honey colored" or something equally poetic.  Given a swirl, it runs back down the sides of the glass in a rather indifferent sort of way, leaving a thin film on the glass, but none of the thick, syrupy legs I like to watch.

The nose is not one to smack you over the head like a hearty peaty smoky scotch.  The smells are delicate, and hide under a cloud of alcohol fumes.  However, a few swirls and a bit of time and the nose tingle dissipates revealing the scents of tiny flower buds and ripe pears, with maybe a bit of damp lawn in there somewhere.

The palate is equally light and delicate in exactly the kind of way Ardbeg or Laphroaig Quarter Cask is not.  It follows through on the suggestions of the nose with fresh fruits, subtle flowers, and cupcakes.

The finish is cheery and refreshing, somewhere between mild ginger beer and spring rain dripping off a new leaf.

When I didn't like this whiskey at first, it was entirely my own fault for rushing it.  This is a concoction deserving of a quiet moment and one's full attention.  I'm tempted to try chilling it a bit, but I'd be afraid to lose the complexity of the subtle flavours.  It's probably worth the experiment, but Greenore is refreshing enough at cool-basement temperature.

This is a limited quantity item, so if your local booze-vendor has it in stock, I'd suggest picking up a bottle.  At less than $60, it's a good bet for a summer sipper.

The last half-inch, part 2: Dun Bheagan Rosebank 20 year old

I was able to obtain a little less than an ounce of this dram after a whiskey tasting I attended a while ago.  I'd been waiting for a day when I could sit quietly and really appreciate it (and take notes for a blog entry).  I didn't have much to work with, and I was sure not going to spend $230 on a new bottle -- not without a really super special occasion to help justify the expense.

However, if I did have a really special occasion to help justify such a purpose, I'd seriously consider this scotch.  It really is a treat.  I like a bouquet of flowers as much as the next girl, but I really melt when those flowers come as scent molecules escaping from a glass of light-straw coloured scotch in a crystal glass.

It's bottled at 46% and so it a bit more "warming" than I might like at bottle strength, but it's still plenty drinkable.  I found it quite peppery and gingery, not entirely unlike good pfefferneuse cookies.  There's a hit of saltiness, and some gentle smoke and peat hiding underneath.  This is a complex dram:  the heat and the dark tones are balanced by cheery bright tones like fresh wood and mild citrus (lemons?) with a hint of sweetness reminiscent of butterscotch or meringue.

A few drops of water took some of the heat out and let the peat and smoky low-notes and the bright clean high-notes come through with more pizazz.  The dilution didn't disturb the beautiful long finish.

Whiskey Girl's overall advice?  Skip the florist -- head to the liquor store.

Whiskey for the in-laws: Famous Grouse

I've already told you about my in-laws enjoyment of highly-diluted scotch.  Fortunately, they don't see any sense in doing that to good scotch.  So, we didn't buy good scotch for their visit.  I send my hubby to the liquor store with instructions to get some less-expensive scotch.  I have to give the man credit: he knows how to read price tags.  I was expecting the lowest-priced single malt.  He brought home Famous Grouse, which I promised to review in detail for you.  And so continues our investigation of the blended whiskey market.

Smelling this dram, I tried really hard to give credit beyond my initial impression.  It does smell pretty strongly medicinal, but I think now that the dominant smell is apples.  I have occasionally thought that apple juice smells a bit like urine, so maybe this is why I jotted down "toasted piss" when I had the taste test session.

On the palate, apples continue to dominate, and it's still medicinal.  It's a tad creamy.

The finish is the best part:  there really isn't any.

I tried a splash of water in it.  The dilution brought out a certain woodiness and a touch of butterscotch, but it didn't reduce the medicinal taste by much, if any.

I wouldn't buy this again.  There are better cheap blends.

Taste challenge with the in-laws

My in-laws like their whiskey with water.  That is, they like an ounce of whiskey in a glass of water with a couple of ice cubes.  I have no problem with people liking what they like, and I think folks should be free to drink their booze however they enjoy it -- so long as it doesn't contribute to injury or ill-health, and so long as they aren't diluting my best scotch.  Being an educator-type, I also believe in the ongoing pursuit of knowledge. I wondered if maybe some education would help diversify their tastes. The second night the in-laws were visiting, I set up a blind taste-test.  I might as well review all the whiskeys I included:

1. Aberlour 16 

My dearly beloved guessed was the Famous Grouse -- oh my!  His dad thought it was good, but spicy.  His mum found it "harsh and sharp".  I also noted that it had some heat, but I picked up apricots on the nose and fruits and honey (maybe sherry?) on the palate with a slightly darker finish.  I liked it better with a splash of water, but I sure wouldn't let it be diluted with 4 parts water and a couple of ice cubes!  It's not my favourite scotch, but I certainly wouldn't refuse it.

2. the Famous Grouse 

My man guessed was Isle of Jura.  I can't blame him though -- taste is genetic, right?  His dad found this one "more mellow, softer" which I'd expect for a blend.  His mum agreed, and said that this one didn't need dilution.  I agreed that it was smooth, but I phrased it differently: "watery and bland."  I thought it tasted like toasted piss with a drop of honey.  Like the other blends I've tasted, I wouldn't pour it down the drain, but I would save it for a time I knew I wouldn't be paying attention to taste. I will write another review of it, though, when I can pay attention to taste for you.

3. Connemara peated Irish 

He guessed it might have been rye.  My in-laws both said it was their least favorite of the bunch.  She said that one "might get used to it" but I think she was trying to be polite.  Meanwhile, I was no longer sitting on the couch -- I'd been transported to cloud nine.  My only tasting notes from the then-and-there were "tastes like heaven and candy".  I intend to review this one in greater detail another day.


4. the Dun Bheagan 2002 Islay 

My fella guessed correctly at first, then changed his guess to Aberlour.  Dad-in-law found it to be "too much flavour" and wanted water for it.  Mum-in-law found it smelled the best of the bunch -- smoky and heavier.  When I gave them the chance to refill their glasses, this is the one she went for.  I have previously reviewed this Dun Bheagan for you, so you can see my notes there.

There's no such thing as bad scotch: Whyte $ Mackay Glasgow Special

This post is not going to make me look like a scotch connaisseuse.  However, I have never claimed to be one.  To the contrary, what I have to offer you is the lay-chick's opinion on the spirits I consume.  Nevertheless, sometimes I might appear to have good taste and reasonable sense when it comes to scotch.  This is not one of those posts, and for good reason.  I'm suffering from PMS-related anxiety and insomnia.

If you're looking for high-brow fancy-schmancy scotch reviews, go fart poop I suggest you look elsewhere.

Before we get to the review, let us first consider the facts:

1.  a number of governmental budget cuts are coming down the line, and my partner and I are both government employees;
2.  our household members' unions will soon be entering contract negotiations with little optimism;
3.  I just got a surprise tuition bill equivalent to roughly two paycheques;
4.  I have set out to try a wide variety of scotches and report back to you, and;
5.  I did not pick this scotch.  He did.  He thinks maybe we (I) should start drinking more blends.

I have never hidden the fact that my scotch-drinking days began with a good few bottles of Chivas Regal as I worked my way through my undergrad degree.  And while I generally agree with this reviewer, I also think that blends are not all bad by definition.  They're just not nearly as good as single malts.  But I will sometimes drink them.

I still sometimes make grilled cheese with Kraft Singles, too.

This is what my mate brought me, and this is how I'm drinking it tonight, after a day of too many people (especially sales people), too many places, too many choices to make, and not nearly enough progesterone or chocolate:

I was drinking tea out of this mug earlier.  "Earlier" as in... yesterday.  With this scotch, it really doesn't matter much if a trace of dried stale milk mixes in.  I did want to keep it classy by not drinking straight out of the bottle, however.

This is Whyte & Mackay Special Blended Scotch Whisky. It is called the "Double Marriage Blend" because it is aged, then blended, then aged some more.  Apparently even the distillers couldn't stand the original blend and locked it back up.  There is no age on this scotch.

My initial impression of this scotch was that it smells and tastes rather a lot like apple cider vinegar with a touch of clover honey, diluted with rubbing alcohol.  My more considered opinion is much the same.

To be fair, I am about half-way through the bottle, so it is drinkable.  It improves a bit when let to sit and breathe a bit.  It is most definitely improved by a generous portion of water -- I poured a glass about 1 part water and 2 parts scotch and it made for a reasonably pleasant and refreshing tipple.  This is a great scotch for those who prefer their scotch "on the rocks" -- it likes to be cold and diluted.

In short, this is just the scotch I needed tonight, when the last thing I wanted was yet something else to make me feel less elegant and sophisticated in comparison.  I wanted a drink.  I wanted to feel a bit of warm softness for my eyeballs to settle into.  I wanted an easy nightcap that would cause me no emotional reaction one way or another.  This did the job just fine.

As a bonus, reflecting on the good-in-the-bad, it helped me to remember that, earlier in my relatively crappy today, my mate also found my car (parked where I was having lunch with a friend), and left me a bunch of pink tulips on the passenger seat.  See?  Even inelegant scotch has it's purpose.