gongxi grog

the lunar new year celebrations are continuing in full swing an we had had better selection of single malts this time, including some rare gems at the house of sin, as the man is called among friends. he brought out bottles of single malt for his party that began in the afternoon.
i got in late at night for the party and there were a couple of bottles at the table. one was a chivas regal 12 year old while the other was more enticing.
it was the cragganmore 12 year old scotch whisky, a single speyside malt quite renowned around the world for its aroma.
with 40 percent alcohol by volume, the gold-hued speyside malt has a complex aroma that is at once fresh and delicate with hints of fruit and smoke.
the palate is smoky and a wee bit sweet with a lingering peatiness in the finish. suffice to say the bottle finished pretty fast.
time for another bottle as the few of us looked at the host with pleading eyes. the mandarin oranges at the table was no help as we lounged to welcome the year of the earth rat in proper fashion.
out came the macallan inspiration 1851. unlike the other the macallans that we have had, the inspiration is bottled in a design from the 19th century and even stoppered with a driven cork and sealed in wax. the wax took some time but i finally ripped it apart with the help of a ribbon beneath the wax.
phew! the things one do for single malts.
the 41.3 percent alcohol by volume whisky has been sherry casked, like other macallan whiskies. It is copper gold in colour with a nose filled with fruits, spices, nuts and malted barley and just a hint of smoke.
the palate is smooth and spiced with ginger and cloves for a nice sweet not so smoky finish. not exactly the best on offer from the macallan but good enough to pass the night in anticipation of something better.
having said that, the bottle went out quite fast too.
the host was on song and decided to bring out a bottle that was sold to him with the caveat that it can only be opened on his wedding day. but since he didn't think that was going to happen in a hurry, and it had been seven years since the bottle was purchased plus it was my inaugural attendance to his party, the bottle was taken out of its case and opened with a flourish befitting the occasion.
the bottle was a rare knockdhu 23 year old cask strength speyside single malt whisky.
heck, he had a bottle that was numbered 3 out of 3,000 bottles bottled with the cask strength single malt. hows that for a limited edition whisky.
with 57.4 percent alcohol by volume, we were astounded with the fruity nose that just had that hint of smoke to make one imbibe the wee dram faster.
the palate was fruity and creamy like a summer strawberry sorbet. truly one for a wedding. the finish was a bit spicy but this is one single malt that belied its age and indeed a pleasure to drink.
a great start to the lunar new year it was.
yum seng!