I started my day helping my friend out and conducted a liquor promotion at Crush Wine and Spirits located at 153 E 57th Street. As I walked into the Crush, I saw the great Davinia Small, who was in town educating and promoting the Ardbeg Brand. It was great to see her face, because every time you come in contact with Davinia, she welcomes you with a warm smile and cheery attitude. She was at Crush conducting a seminar in the back seminar room.
As we set up our tables, I told her that I will be attending her next seminar, and she was delighted to know that I will be there. After my liquor promotion was complete, I headed over to Rockefeller Plaza to attend the Ardbeg tasting held at Morrells (One Rockefeller Plaza), where there was two rows of tables set up for about 15 people, and at the place settings was a plate of assorted breads, the whiskey setup, and the four brands, which was the Ardbeg ten year, Airigh Nam Beist,Uigeadail, and the NEW Corryvreckan.
At the beginning of the seminar, Davinia introduces herself, and lets everyone else introduce themselves, then she proceeds to give you a little history of Ardbeg. Even though I have already visited the distillery in Scotland, read about the brand, drink the brand on a regular basis, and feel that I am well-versed in my knowledge of Ardbeg, I know that you never stop learning! Everyday is a new day to learn something new, especially when it's about your passion in life. So, here are the few new things that I learned in her presentation of the brand, which I have to say, that I learned even more after this point.
* Single malts has ONLY 55 calories.
* It reduces the risk of heart disease, in MODERATION.
* It has 25% more peat, in comparison to Laphroaig, and 50% more peat than Lagavulin.
* FYI: In 1815, Scotland had 23 distilleries in the region of Islay, which today they have the great 8, which is a lot for a population of 3,000 people.
* In the Phylox era, which was the famine in the French vineyards, the French had to drink Scotch in stead of their sherry and wines.
* In 1815-1880, Ardbeg had 50 thriving employees in that one distillery.
Then it was time to taste the spirits, and to our delightful surprise, Davinia brought in the new make, which is their clear whiskey that hasn't been barreled or aged.
* On the nose is straight peat smoke, bacon, pear, limes, and grappa.
* On the palette, it's spicy, and when you add water, it is so so smooth.
Next is the Ardbeg 10 year. Of course, this is very smokey, peaty, and salty, but it also has the sweetness of toffee, and it goes GREAT with oysters. When you add water, it becomes a little waxy and soapy.
Next is the Airigh Nam Biest. They started barreling this in 1990 and then blended in 2006, 7, and 8. It's about 17 years old, 95% is Bourbon cask, this is the complete reverse from the ten year... beautiful sweetness up front, and a nice peaty finish. It's minty, with a little bit of chocolate, and with water, it releases more of the peat, and just like all of the versions of Ardbeg, this is non chilled filtered. So, if you want to enjoy a great Ardbeg whiskey, that's not so peaty IN YOUR FACE, I suggest this version, not only because The Biest is being sold out, as well as the Supernova, but this is going to become one of the classics from the distillery.
Next is Uigeadail (ooh-geh-doll), it has a dirty water color. They execute a special hike to the loch Uigeadail, just to produce this magnificent whiskey, and it smells like, for some reason, "Christmas on the Nose," which Davina Small said, and I agree. It has an ABV of 54.2%, and it's made from 40% sherry cask, and with water, it tastes like toffee and rum cake.
Next is the Corryvreckan, (Corry-va-reckin) this was named after a Viking prince in Scotland. The color is golden honey, strong and spicy on the nose. Something like an "oysters dip in Tabasco sauce." On the palate, you can taste black and red currants, and a definite presence of chocolate. It has a whopping ABV of 57.1%.
I absolutely enjoyed this seminar. It was relaxing, fun, entertaining, educational, and I'm really really glad to be in the presence of the great Davinia Small, after all, this wonderful woman is responsible for bringing me to the Ardbeg Distillery in August at a last minute call!!
Thank you Morrells Wine and Spirits, thank you Ardbeg, and Davinia, and also, Lush Life Productions, for bringing me to this seminar.
Slaandjivaa!
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