La Casa del Wendy

[Frodo]

Nipped by Casa del Wendy on monday early evening and amongst much yakking and laughing, we managed to try a couple of drams as per usual...

- Laphroaig 1999 (Cooper's Choice) NCF, 46%, Refil Sherry: Really liked this one off the bat. All the traditional Laphroaig flavours right there with a bit of sherry to influance things. Really hit the sweet spot for me. BALANCED would be a good decriptor for me with iodine, sweetness (fron the sherry), smokiness (taking the front stage) and other interesting things. COMPLEXITY would be another good word, with none of the flavours being shy. ASSERTIVNESS would be another although this would be more suprising if it were absent in a Laphroaig bottling.

Amrut Fusion 50% NCF: It starts out a bit hot - perhaps a tad beligerent, but heats up with a potporri of flavours. More a soup of flavours than painting a recognizable picture. Only my first impression folks. It was the only dram I had more than one of that night and would have asked for one more if I was not working the next day. As I got used to the flavour profile, I liked it more and more. Spicy is the dominant theme with some spices and smoke to make things interesting. Wish I could have revisited this one. Intriguing...

Mascarillo Anejo (Tequila): I brought this along because I wanted an occasion to open it - someone I know is going to Puerta Vallarta and wanted to know if I wanted a second bottle of this. Well, at $55 (in PV) I like it very much. A "hardier" tequila than others I've tried. The bourbon casks give their tell-tale vanilla scent and taste so the oak has more say than with other Anejo brands. Don't remember it being complex or anything - reminds me a bit of my two memorable samples of Cutty Cark 25 in that both are "chewey" and flavour forward with a bit of complexity (but not much).

Wendy got to try some Los Abuelos Anejo that I brought. I really like this bottle and am thinking of asking my friend to find me a replacement.

[Frodo]

La Casa del Wendy was open tonight so I stopped by for some scintillating conversation and some good drams. The Cdn whiskies tried were accompanied by recognition of the new canadianwhisky.org. site by Davin and the incredible contribution he is making to the whisky community...

Glen Elgin 16yr CS (OB): A full-bodied dram in the tradition of Macallan, Glenfarclas or Mortlach. Not complex but not simple by my palate. Balanced. A very nice drop.

Ardmore Traditional Cask: Not bad. Some decent personality here although I was expecting more peat. Worth Laphroaig Quarter Cask money if you ask me.

Forty-Creek Mountain Rock (Cdn): I really liked this. Simple and sufacey but enjoyable. Big toffee and burnt sugar flavours. Not alot moving under the surface. Very quaffable to my mind. Wendy sent me home with the rest of the bottle (thank-you Wendy). Corn-heavy.

Gibson's Bourbon Cask: Flat, boring, lifeless. One taste was all I needed. A second and a third confirmed the first. Not objectionable flavours. Not much to object to. (Corn-heavy)

Wiser's Special Reserve: The bottling that is being replaced by the Small-Batch. Lots of rye zap in this one although I liked the Small-Batch better. Not a bad bottling though, and something to consider if you like tasting rye...

Cigars followed and I had the Illusione MK (petit corona) and Wendy had the Oliva "V" Lancero I believe. Both were good choices for the evening.

[malt_boy]

Is this just an informal tasting group you take part in Frodo?

Your posts are enjoyable to read, and makes me want to start a tasting session with my friends! Shame the only whisky they drink is Jack Daniels with coke!

cheers

malt boy

[davindek]

Gee Frodo, I'm blushing!
Having a lot of fun with the site though. A lot of people have been very supportive.

[Frodo]

Is this just an informal tasting group you take part in Frodo? Your posts are enjoyable to read, and makes me want to start a tasting session with my friends!

Thanks! Interestingly one of the thoughts that occured to Wendy and I last night was that according to the number of views on this thread, someone is reading them (?).

The "informal" group is basicly whomever ends up at Wendy's house for a few drams. Wendy is like the neighbourhood cool guy that you can come over and get fed or get away from familly fights when you were a teen-ager. "Yup, here's some food, telly's all yours, and If you want to talk about it, I'm all ears". Several forum members have ended up at Wendy's as opposed to meeting up at bars. TH, Badmonkey and Muddy Mouth have been there, and perhaps Lawrence and others from other forums (hpully) as well. To my mind, it's far more comfortable than a bar and cheaper as Wendy tends to be generous with her collection. And Wendy is somewhere her (almost grown-up) children can get ahold of her if needed. Works for everyone as long as folks comming over realize they are guests and act accordingly (don't puke on the carpet, take it outside. Don't set a bad example for her doggy - it's been trained. Don't step on the cat - it's her home too). Sorry if this seems...elementary. I've had some colorful friends in the past.

The notes here are small snippits I think of how whisky affects life. Yes I enjoy the odd dram sitting in my livingroom and assessing what's in my glass, but this is different. This is social. This is how whisky helps make a great evening better, and consider that all who meet up at Wendys tend to be enthusiests. Part of it is the shared experiance thing where folks can try the same whisky and discuss differances in assessment and enjoyment. Wendy and I have tried many whiskies and come to very different conclusions or reactions about them. The subsequent conversations turn out to be really interesting.

I imagine something similar happens at Ralfys when Mark goes over for a dram or two. And I'm sure it happens all over the world - different cultures and different discussions, but fellowship, common interests and the human condition makes this set-up able to be understood and appretiated by all I think.

[Frodo]

Gee Frodo, I'm blushing!
Having a lot of fun with the site though. A lot of people have been very supportive.

Well it's a great site Davin, and it's not just me saying it.

The thing for me is, I've always considered Cdn whisky to be the poor cousins in the whisky world - collum stills, predominantly corn whisky, older barrels passed over by the scotch folks (my impression) and the 9.09% non-whisky that can go in the bottle. All this adds up to something I've traditionally turned my nose up at. In the last 3 years there has been better quality bottlings and with the price increases in scotch and supply problems with bourbon, I've come to the conclusion that Cdn whisky deserves another look. Your website comes at the right time for me Davin, and I hope it does it for others as well. There's just not much like it out there!!!

[malt_boy]

Sounds like a great place to relax and try drams without any time restraint or pressure of any kind.

I agree that whisky is sometimes enjoyed best with company, but it should be noted that the company should be good as well as the whisky

malt boy

[Wendy]

Now it is my turn to blush! Thank you, Frodo. It was another wonderful evening hanging out together. We sat out on my balcony with the table cluttered with our evening drams, catching up and comparing tasting notes. It is really fun comparing tasting notes with Frodo because we always have a different impression to share with each other. It is never a dull night.

Frodo brought with him a rum which I paired with my cigar. Both were awesome. Maybe frodo can remind me what the rum was. All I know is that it is not available at the LCBO. He also shared a bottle of Murray McDavid GLenlivet 30 yr. When I sipped the Glenlivet all I could say was, "yep, this is why I love whisky so much." It was delicious and a great treat.

I really love inviting my whisky enthusiast friends over. There is nothing fancy about my abode, but it is so relaxing sitting back and sharing whisky in great company.

Like Frodo. I wish Davin all the best with his new Canadian whisky website. I am a big supported of promoting Canadian whisky worldwide. And, I think Davin has a lot to offer on this front.

I look forward to our next get together, Frodo.

[Frodo]

Hi Wendy:

Rum in question was Flor de Cana (Nicaragua) 21. The 21 is not an age statement but an expression meant to celabrate the 21st anni of the distillery. The expression is actually a 15yr old according to folks on a rum forum that I know. You can currently get the Flor de Cana 5 & 7yrs at the LCBO but not this one.

[davindek]

. . . Interestingly one of the thoughts that occured to Wendy and I last night was that according to the number of views on this thread, someone is reading them (?)

I have it bookmarked, but only sign in when I want to post something.

[Frodo]

I look forward to our next get together, Frodo.

Cheers to that!!!

[Frodo]

Well, the proprieter of Casa del Wendy called me and complained that my presence was missed. So I was raised not to be a rude boy, and a mutual time was agreed to and off I went. Laughter and tear ensued upon arrival - laughter as we haven't seen each other for about 9 months. Too long Wendy! Tears as Wendys doggie Xeena passed away a couple of days ago and the feelings about this were kinda still raw. It was the kind of thing where things were going downhill health-wise for Xeena but you can't do anything about it.

We talked about many things - whisky, tequila, pets, whisky magazines the state of Canadian whisky and kids (hers). One of the interesting notes was that scotch people tend to look at barrels in terms of how many times they are used (1st, 2nd & 3rd fill). I was told that in tequila distilleries the emphasis is on how long they have been used for in years (shelf life for a barrel is about 25yrs). Interesting differences.

The whiskies...

Bushmills 400th anni
- Glad I got to try this one as I was considering a purchase for some time. Beautifuly soft taste without a ton of complexity. Decided I was underwelmed at its price point and would much rather buy the Jameson 18 at $100 than this. Very soft though with a sorta chocolaty note.

Laddie Classic
- This is the 8yr old that comes in a blue bottle. Outstanding - love at first sip!! Lots of flavour and very balanced. A bit of smoke that adds to the complexity. Definatly worth the $80 (LCBO) price tag. Am looking forward to 'laddie's new bottlings that will come out - the 10 and 12yr versions of what they're making now.

El Tesoro Anejo
- Didn't get talked about much - probably owing to the fact that the others on the table were more interesting. Didn't try this myself as I've had it before. Wendy may post some thoughts about it...

Casa Noble Reposado
- Fave tequila of the day by both Wendy and I. Very bright flavours of citrus and pepper even though it was tripple-distilled. I'm a big fan of Casa Noble and will continue to be in the future. Am curious about their 7yr single barrel bottling but I can't get it here.

Centinella 3 Anos
- The disapointment of the day in terms of price point/value ratio. I paid $110 for this in Mexico. 3 years in a cask for tequila is a long time. I've had other tequilas aged this long with far more wood influance than this - I couldn't tell the difference between this and a regular anejo. Very restrained/muted flavours. Both Wendy and I agreed that they probably used some tired casks in this production run. Decent enought tequila and definatly drinkable, but nothing that says "this is special".

We then spend an hour with a couple of Pinar Del Rio sungrown cigars paired with a Jura 10yr bottling that had a LOT of sherry influance (travel retail bottling). Worked very well and we agreed that this bottling would be our designated pairing whisky for cigars in the future.

Many thanks Wendy - always a pleasure!!!

[Mr Tattie Heid]

Didn't know Xena was so old...she was a nice dog. (And that from a non-dog person.)

[Wendy]

Thank you, Frodo. It is always a fun time when we get together. Frodo is great company and last week when we met, I was feeling pretty sad about the recent loss of our family dog, Zena. (We spell it different than the warrior princess Xena.) But, it wasn't long before we were laughing, swapping stories and enjoying our drams of whisky and other goodies (tequila and cigars) that Frodo brought with him.

For awhile now, Frodo has wanted to sample the Bushmills 400th Anni bottling. With opening it recently, I was very happy to offer him a sample to answer some of the questions he had about this particular bottling. I was also not surprised that it didn't "wow" his taste buds. I was, however, surprised at how much he enjoyed the Laddie Classic. I also had that reaction to it. It was a special birthday for me last year, and I was given the attractive blue bottling as a gift. I wouldn't have bought it for myself, which would have been a loss. It is really a pleasant dram. Like Frodo, it has peaked my interest to purchase the next LCBO release.

As Frodo has already noted, the Casa Noble Reposado was our tequila fave of the night. It really was incredible. The creamy, peppery citrus notes lingered forever in the empty glass. It was leaps and bounds above the other two in character and taste value. A real treat.

Frodo is my resident whisky, tequila and cigar expert...and top notch friend. I look forward to our next reunion.

To many on this forum, I have not had the pleasure to swap whisky notes. So, largely, I am a newbie on this site. But, for others, their is a core who have been my whisky mentors for a number of years now since the days when we used to post together on the whisky magazine forum. On my visits, it is always good to read your postings and to see your names on the board.

Hello Mr. TH....Zena was a sweetie. Sadly, her body started to break down well before her mind. It was a hard decision to make because she was so alert and mentally able. We were really lucky to have her and saddened to say farewell.

[les taylor]

Hi Wendy sorry to hear about your news. Pets become family members don't they.

On another note it's good to see you on this forum and I enjoy reading your posts.

Cheers Les.

[Wendy]

Thank you, Les. Indeed, our Zena was certainly part of our family. I hope you are doing well. I have also enjoyed reading your comments over the years. I feel a bit out of the posting-loop, but hope to contribute a little more in the future. It is enjoyable to pop in to see what others are dramming or purchasing these days. All the best, Wendy

[Frodo]

Wendy and I have not talked for a while, so both of us thought it was time to connect again at La Casa del Wendy. Lots of talk about family, friends and life. Things we felt strongly about and things that seemed funny when looked at sideways. Among whisky-related topics that had to do with threads on this forum were...

- The Spirit of Unity thread. This thread evolved into a topic of contention - namely the legitimacy of speculating on bottles of whisky. On one hand, I understood (and empathized) with looking askance at folks speculating on a bottling that was meant to generate proceeds for charity. And I think there is a smidgen of...not greed but sellers looking to maximize what they get for private sales in the whisky world. This tends not to happen (much) in the cigar forums I belong to - or happens much less. On the other hand, I remember Lawrence saying something along the lines of "when you pay for my whisky, you can tell me how to dispose of it". And when looked at in this light, it is really hard for me to argue with that.

- It has me scratching my head a bit that Jim Murray isn't regarded more warmly on this board - especially because he seems to enjoy ALL kinds of whisky. Jim Murray was one of the few writer who has been banging the drum for PPS and Straight Rye whiskies for quite a while. He has also twigged into the value of older Canadian whiskies and the general increase in the quality of offerings in the sector. I'm having difficulty thinking of another writer that considers whiskies from different countries to be variations on a theme as opposed to entirely different entities. The late MJ wrote mostly about single malts in the whisky world. Chuck Cowdery (whom I have tons of respect for) understands different whiskies but it is clear to me from his writings that he focuses on US straight whiskies. Most writers seem to pidgen-hole themselves in a niche, but JM seems to transcend this.

"Jet" (a neighboring cat) wandered in to say hello and pay us a visit and play with Pumkin (Wendy's orange tabby). Musta known this was a welcoming home...

[Frodo]

The tasting was a bunch of agave-based drinks that I thought offered good examples of what tequila/mezcal could do. Most were of no or limited aging as I wanted the differences in production/ingredients to be highlighted. I also wanted to make an argument that when made with TLC, tequila/mezcal could compete with whisky as being equal but different choices. Not having tried most of the offerings myself, I ended up being a bit dissapointed that I did not get as much enjoyment from these in the main as I do from Scotch whisky. Here is an overview of what we had...

- Los Abuelos Tequila (Blanco): One of the stars of the evening. Quite complex and bright tasting. Wendy commented that it was rather vegetal in flavour and I agree. I remember green pepper and regular pepper being there and I got a bit of sweet potatoes. Very nice!

- 1921 Tequila (Blanco, Reposado & Reserva Especial): A chemical taste that was evident in the blanco was progressively more covered up in expressions with more age on them. Both Wendy and I liked the Reserva but the other two were less acceptable to us. I disliked the reposado so much I left the bottle behind - not sure how that will be seen by Wendy! Wendy commented that having the 1921 blanco right after the Los Abuelos might have been a mistake as it was a bold competitor to compete with. With a different order the chemical taste may not have been so pronounced on the 1921 blanco.

- Taberna Los 3 Hombres Raicilla (Blanco & Reposado): Raicilla according to Ian Chadwick's website is a regional mezcal made with one type of agave. Tequila can only be made from the blue agave, and most mezcals can be made with multiple kinds of agaves. Raicilla is made from a different agave from the blue agave that goes into tequila although I'm not sure it is used in most mezcal. Sort of a single-varietal mezcal I guess. The blanco had an astringent taste and a smoky sootiness (good descriptor Wendy) throughout its character. Wendy found a chemical-like note - I just found astringency. Maybe we were describing the same thing from different points of view. We both got flavors of rubber - Wendy said it tasted like the car parts section of a Canadian Tire store smelled. The reposado was more balanced/less sharp, and I wasn't surprised Wendy liked this one more. I couldn't choose between them, the blanco being more rustic and uncompromising but more characterful than the reposado.

- Del Maguay Minero Mezcal: A blanco mezcal that is produced in a village in small batches for Del Maguay owner Ron Cooper. Minero refers to miners in Mexico who traditionally had more money to spend on drinks so could afford the premium versions. Like saying "reserve" on a bottle of whisky. The only offering above 40%, this was 49.2% abv but was very drinkable at that strength. Flavors of burnt lemon and honey. Easy to like and obviously of high quality, I remembered this as a WOW bottling about 8 yrs ago. Now I found it pretty good but I thought offered the choice between this and a 1970s Ardbeg I'd take the Ardbeg. And I'm not sure I would have said that unless I revisited this again after 8yrs. Evidence that my tastes have changed...

[Frodo]

As monday was a work day for Wendy, we kept the intake to a minimum and the time reasonable. Another chapter has been written for both Wendy and I as far as trying different tequilas/mezcals and addressing a question "can tequila/mescal speak to us the way whisky can"? Before this tasting I was sure for me that answer was "yes" and that Wendy would come to see this as well. Comparing whisky to agave spirits is like comparing apples to oranges, but the prices for both and the enjoyment one gets from either can be compared. My conclusion is that at $75 (Mexico price) the Los Abuelos is a good buy but doesn't blow away the value of something like Craggenmore 12 or Glenmorangie Sauternes finish. Different but not better. The Minero was going for $130 8yrs ago when I got it at the LCBO and although it drinks wonderfully at its abv, I'm not sure I wouldn't skip over it to the Highland Park 18 if I had a chance to try both HTH in a tasting tower.

I always liked the 1921 Reserva and was disappointed to find the chemical taste in the expressions that had less aging as this was my first time trying these. At $40-45/bottle in Mexico, I still think the Reserva is a decent option but Canadian whiskies at that price point at the LCBO are a competitive option IMHO. The Raicillas were just that much different from anything I've tried before and I think I have to spend more time with them to get a feel for their character. Sometimes you just "get" a drink from the first sip - it speaks to you loud and clear, you get what the blender is trying to say. Sometimes it paints a tasting "picture" where flavors ebb and flow to create a tapestry that starts here, ends there, and paints a story. Other times a picture is more disjointed and confusing. In this case the picture of the blanco was clear as a bell but looked/tasted unfamiliar whereas the reposado was more like a soup - lots of stuff going on but hard to pick out separate threads.

Thank-you Wendy! Always a blast!!!!!

[Pudge72]

Thank you for the write-ups Frodo! A very interesting and enjoyable read.

[Frodo]

It has been too long between visits to Casa del Wendy, and we've been trying to get together for some time, but life keeps getting in the way. So instead of trying to find some time in the midst of busyness, we both agreed to wait until our lives settled enough for a leisurely chat and a tasting. Well, that time was Wednesday evening, where we met up and chatted and chatted yackitty-yack yack yack whisky yackity-yack! It was one of those nights where 5hrs felt like 1.5hrs and poor Wendy was yawning at the end - being past her (weekday) bed-time.

I've come to the realization that Scotch malt whisky prices have reached a point at the LCBO where I can't afford to buy from them anymore. I do have 50+ unopened bottles of spirits at home, and can get the odd one or two from family going abroad, but for now, unless the LCBO has a sale or mistake-prices something, I don't think I can afford any more Scotch malt whisky. I figured it would be nice to start opening some of the hoarded bottles with Wendy, who is fairly curious to try new stuff. So after saying hey and catching up, I pulled out the 5 bottles I brought. And after Wendy salivated over them, we started opening and trying them. My theme tonight was a Kentucky-Mex tasting - the last of my unopened bottles of both tequila and bourbon.

[Frodo]

- 3yr Don German Tequila (this is a small brand for the Mexican domestic market and is not exported. Was bought in Puerta Vallarta). I've heard there is significant batch variation in tequilas from the posters at the Blue Agave.com, and I think we got a bad batch here. I've had this bottling before and I never got this bitter note towards the end that downgraded an otherwise decent tequila. Apart from the afore-mentioned bitter note, good balance between the agave and the oak and without obvious coloring added.

- El Tesoro Paradiso (high-end El Tesoro product made for export. Was bought in Puerta Vallarta but sourced from a US retailer or wholesaler I believe). Paradiso is a mix of 3 and 5yr tequilas where the 5yr component was re-racked in ex-cognac casks at 3yrs of age. Tasted blind I'd have probably missed that this was tequila. Tasted a lot lighter in character than whisky though. Shades of agave peeking out through the background. Nice but not complex. I'm mournfully recalling paying $160 for the bottle 4yrs ago. Wendy with her refined etiquette is trying not to laugh too hard.

[Frodo]

At some point Wendy's son K joins us in the livingroom and has the good fortune (or common sense) to skip the tequilas and keep to the bourbons.

- Jefferson's Presidential Reserve 18yr: This is one nose that is tied for the best nose of any whisky I've ever tried - the other being a Duncan Taylor bottling of Strathisla. Just bloody stunning!!! Very focused and full-on. I vividly remembered blood oranges. Took me about 20 minutes of stunned amazement before finally take a sip. Both Wendy and K had similar WOW reactions. The taste followed through with the nose and for me, it was the star of the evening. I've heard over at straightbourbon.com that this whisky has significant variation from batch to batch (it is a single-cask bottling) and there was a very divided reaction to the question of value (~$90) so I must have gotten a lucky bottle! One of those noses you could spend hours with and not notice it was 3am.

- Eagle Rare 17: Part of the BTAC, both Wendy and I were very stoked to try this. I found it very spicy, whereas Wendy noticed a creaminess in the character. After going back to it, I thought I got what she was describing underneath the spiciness. As I spent more and more time with the dram, it became easier and more enjoyable to drink and savor. Both K and I remarked that we could polish off the bottle with a friend before realizing it was gone - it was that kind of experience. I would use words like seductive and beguiling to describe it because it's only after a while that you notice how good the dram is. Wendy seemed less...taken with the dram although I'll leave the telling of that story to her.

[Frodo]

- George T. Stagg: This was the bottle that heightened the anticipation of the evening. This is the GTS that has enthusiasts, hipsters and wannabees all chasing the same few bottles and here we are getting to try it. So we did!!

Hmmmm. So I get it has a fairly decent if tight nose, and when water is added, a focused clear flavor with some balanced sweetness that reminds me a bit of a more focused Elmer T. Lee. Without adding water it is a huge bruiser of a whisky (70%+ abv). I watched with stunned amazement as both Wendy and K tried it without water and could only shake my head in disbelief muttering "you guys are nuts". Being adverse to masochism I politely declined an offer to try things their way, preferring to keep my throat from disintegrating. K thought it was interesting, Wendy stated it was unbelievable to be able to drink something this strong at this strength that tastes this good. I decided discretion being the better part of valor, I would take a sample of the GTS home with me and leave the bottle with someone who could appreciate it. Wendy thought this was a bit generous. I thought the same of her opinion of the bottle and was happy to give it a new home.

So after the sharing of stories, life experiences, whiskies, tequilas and well-wishes, we ended the evening on a happy note and a promise by me regarding the loan of some DVDs (found out we both like some of the same TV shows). I hope Wendy (and perhaps K?) chooses to post her take on these spirits as she had a very different view on many of them.

[bebdo]

-
- El Tesoro Paradiso I'm mournfully recalling paying $160 for the bottle 4yrs ago. Wendy with her refined etiquette is trying not to laugh too hard.

Ouch! And I thought Tequila's at our LCBO were overpriced!! Anyway, thanks for those tasting notes. I've been bitten by the Mezcal bug after trying Zacbe that's available at the LCBO. Picked up a few on Mgrs sale (~@$50) - would not buy it at the reg $70 though. Have you had any experience with Del Maguey products? I have a mule going to Memphis next week and have asked him to pick up "Del Maguey Pechuga Mezcal". Around $75 there but seems to be over $150 everywhere else I've checked online (not sure why). Didn't see any interesting bourbons/single malts there and their prices seem to be pretty close to ours. Also been sipping on Avion Silver which I picked up on mgrs discount recently - pretty decent blanco but not worth it even at mgr's discount (~$55 i think). I've seen a new one at LCBO recently - Dulce Vida at 50% abv (blanco, repo and anejo) - the anejo is $100! If I see them at some point at 30% off I might give it a shot.