hogshead: ex-wine casks?

[Gordon_H]

Last SMWS tasting I went to in Leeds back in the Spring I had the worst most sulphur tainted whisky I've ever had the misfortune to taste - you've guessed it - a Glen Scotia from a Sherry Gorda. Utterly foul and undrinkable - but incredibly then bought by 3 others at the same tasting!

There were 3 Germans at a SMWS tasting in Leeds ? Incredible !

[solera]

Last SMWS tasting I went to in Leeds back in the Spring I had the worst most sulphur tainted whisky I've ever had the misfortune to taste - you've guessed it - a Glen Scotia from a Sherry Gorda. Utterly foul and undrinkable - but incredibly then bought by 3 others at the same tasting!

There were 3 Germans at a SMWS tasting in Leeds ? Incredible !

Not that I noticed - must have been 3 with very, very heavy colds or with an egg fetish!

[C57]

Was it 93.46 solera? That's the one they are trying to sell off in parcels and itr's my guess that it's badly sulphured. I bet it's the one you had?
Anyway, there's no mention in the tasting notes, despite Kai Ivalo, Director, telling me they would make sulphur clear in the notes.

[karlejnar]

Well at least one of the Gorda experiments went very well IMO - 33.57

A very fine balance of sherry and peat - amazing so much sherry influence from such a big cask. Must have been a lucky draw I guess

[C57]

Well, at least the sulphur was reasonably faint in that one and disappeared after a while. Not great Ardbeg though...

[Gordon_H]

Well at least one of the Gorda experiments went very well IMO - 33.57

A very fine balance of sherry and peat - amazing so much sherry influence from such a big cask. Must have been a lucky draw I guess

Karl imo that was one of the worst SMWS Ardbegs i've had (and i've had quite a few....) . I seem to remember there was also a very bad Bunnahabhain from a Gorda cask , probably a few others as well that were quickly forgotten about .

Anyway, there's no mention in the tasting notes, despite Kai Ivalo, Director, telling me they would make sulphur clear in the notes.

The Ardmore me and Willie had was the same , not a mention of it but they can be really good at hiding sulphur within their tasting notes .
i think what got me with my exchanges of correspondence with him was the fact that even though we were paying for the privilege of buying their bottles was the lack of apologies for putting out sulphured whisky . Just saying it's popular in Germany.....

[C57]

one of the worst SMWS Ardbegs i've had

Surely you tried 33.73 Gordon? I tipped that down the sink.
I didn't find the .57 anywhere near as bad - I drank the whole bottle.

[Gordon_H]

Surely you tried 33.73 Gordon? I tipped that down the sink.
I didn't find the .57 anywhere near as bad - I drank the whole bottle.

Just looked at my records and saw that i tried that in 2008 at the Vaults but didn't buy a bottle.....
Then i found my notes looking through my old site records
Colour- Light Marmalade
Nose- Woah ! Really antiseptic ! There is very faint background notes of the usual Ardbeg characteristics and strong Black Coffee .
Taste- Strong Cinder Toffee , Antiseptic , stale smoke , sulphur but really Antiseptic .
Finish- Long , Burnt matches......Sulphur !
Comments- From a Gorda Cask, 1 of 782 Bottles . Well the Gorda casks strike again ! Probably one of the worst Ardbegs i've ever tasted ! Glad i went for the 33.72 and not this one when purchasing a bottle !

[solera]

one of the worst SMWS Ardbegs i've had

Surely you tried 33.73 Gordon? I tipped that down the sink.
I didn't find the .57 anywhere near as bad - I drank the whole bottle.

The Glen Scotia was indeed the one you mentioned up thread. Sadly I also own a bottle of 33.73 - might be heading for Scottish Whisky Auctions!!!

[C57]

might be heading for Scottish Whisky Auctions!!!

I didn't have you down as a misanthrope solera!

[solera]

might be heading for Scottish Whisky Auctions!!!

I didn't have you down as a misanthrope solera!

No just an environmentalist - big believer in recycling!!
Surely, there must be a few Germans on the site who would love it according to the SMWS theory that they are partial to a bit of sulphur!

[C57]

And there are those on here who have confirmed it.
Or, there's always The Tross

[Gordon_H]

Ijust received this very morning a copy of the Award winning (their words not mine....) Unfiltered Magazine and tho and behold on page 17 (the outturn section ) is a review of 93.46 "Tar , tea chests and engine oil" , how's it on the new list if you had it in the Spring ?
The write up is a hoot....
This hearty 12yo matured in a refill ex-sherry Gorda - the latest pleasing results from the Society's investment in a batch of the giant Spanish casks back in 1996 . The Society filled the gordas with new make spirit from various distilleries and the results have been fascinating .... then a bit of drivel about maturation.....

Reading the tasting note for the 93.46 i think the give away bit is ' It had a smoky , oily meatiness , like grilled lamb chops' had that before on a sulphured one , the last Bunna that was sulphured .

[C57]

Gordon, they are round and they bounce!

What a load of misleading, in fact I'd say downright dishonest, notes.

[solera]

Received my copy as well and thought exactly the same. I wouldn't touch anything "gorda" matured with a barge pole but for those less informed the notes just are not clear enough on the sulphur potential!!

[mongo]

(maybe the smws sherry gorda/sulphur posts could be split into a thread of their own?)

[The Third Dram]

Could this possibly be one of the reasons The Macallan insists on importing specifically designated Sherry casks whole, and with some remnants of Sherry in the casks, before utilizing those vessels for the distillery's 'traditional' line of whiskies?

[ColSanders]

I think they would do that primarily to just makes sure the wood stays moist so the coopers aren't doing as much... And why wouldn't Edrington do that with the rest of their sherry casks for other distilleries too?

[The Third Dram]

And why wouldn't Edrington do that with the rest of their sherry casks for other distilleries too?

Cost.

(Just look at the current prices of Macallans relative to other malts.)