The Intoxicologist

With Christmas coming down to the wire last minute gift ideas for those who love the more spirited side of life come into play.  By spirited I don’t mean in the energetic sense of the word such as those scuba diving or mountain climbing sports lovers who require expensive high end gear for safety sake.  I’m talking casual brown liquor lovers who waft scotch in a glass either neat or over a couple of cubes of pristine ice.  Searching for holiday gifts that touch the recipient with heartwarming appeal should be simple and stress free.  With all the choices on the market, sometimes that search becomes daunting. 

 

Recently I was asked to compare Chivas Regal 18 against the largely holiday gifted scotch, Johnnie Walker Blue.  To be fair, this is an apples to oranges head to head taste comparison.  Side by side Chivas Regal 18 comes across a little darker in color than Johnnie Walker Blue.  Color does not always signify deeper or richer with regard to taste.  Chivas contains nice aroma with hints of fig and nut.  There is little smoke in the flavor if any at all.  It is slightly thin in mouth feel.  There are subtle notes of chocolate and the faintest hints of spice.  This Chivas expression blends 18 year aged whiskies together and offers the bottling at approximately one third the price of Johnnie Walker Blue.  Packaging is straight forward – Bottle, label, box.  Gift wrap at your own expense with nice wrapping, ribbon and gift tag. 

 

Johnnie Walker Blue contains little comprehensive aroma as compared to many scotches.  The flavor is honeyed with virtually no burn at all.  It is velvety, a little floral with some perfume.  In my opinion sipping Johnnie Walker Blue is almost like consuming highly refined water in that it is so smooth there is not enough definition of character within the scotch.  This is definitely an achievement in refining the process and blending scotches to supreme smoothness.  It is an impressive example of a master blender perfecting his craft, but it does little to impress me with the scotch.  In my opinion Johnnie Walker Blue is nowhere near worth the price unless the goal is undefined character.  That being said, millions truly love Johnnie Walker Blue and their opinion of its worth is sincerely valuable.  Johnnie Walker Blue also presents in a distinctive, individually numbered Baccarat crystal bottle that can also be engraved for the holidays.  This unique characteristic comes packaged in silk lined box with certificate of authenticity.   All of this no doubt contributes to the higher price. 

 

If one is going for the complete perfection of smooth that Johnnie Walker Blue achieves, Chivas Regal 18 does not quite reach this scale of flawlessness.  Nor does Chivas Regal 18 offer the luxurious pampering and sophistication that goes along with the purchase of Johnnie Walker Blue.  However, is an almost two third bump in price worth the subtleties these spirits provide the casual scotch consumer?  In my opinion no. 

 

As I struggle to post this evaluation of Chivas Regal 18 and Johnnie Walker Blue I realize there might be a few who read and take my opinion into consideration when making choices for personal purchases and those of ones they care about this season.  Being truly honest as a frequent scotch consumer, I think it only fair to include my choices for scotch gifting in the approximate price ranges covered above.  There are a fair amount of scotches on hand in my liquor cabinet at any given time either by way of liquor company representatives or by my own choice through purchases made at liquor stores.  My favorites are listed below in no particular order.  The reason for no particular order is I consume a variety of spirits and choose according to my mood or a specific flavor I am craving at the time.  The ones listed are those that I truly love at any price and it in no way reflects poorly on any which might not make their way to the listing since there are many more in my cabinet at the moment.

 

·         Dewar’s 18 – Rich chocolate flavor with smoke and honey.  This is a little less intense version of the Dewar’s Signature.  Much more affordable and easier to find.

·         Dewar’s Signature – An extreme pleasure. DEWAR’S Introduces High-End Discovery Gift Set

·         Laphroaig Quarter Cask – Never thought I would love Laphroaig, but this one is divine without the severe iodine Laphroaig is so well known for. Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch: Own It, Sip It, Network It

·        Macallan Sherry Oak 12 – The everyday scotch to learn and get one’s feet wet in the world of brown liquor. The standard. A little caramel, possibly fig in the taste. Rich color.

·         Macallan Fine Oak 17 – Smoke, chocolate, mocha. Richness in the glass. Smoky, rich, full of flavor. Robust. Lots of body. Slight vanilla tone. Twitter Tasting The Macallan

·         Ardmore Traditional Cask – Hearty bouquet, delicate sweetness fleeting beneath significant smoke flavor.  Investing in Dad: Ardmore 30 & the Traditional Cask

·         Glenmorangie Original – Straw color, light in flavor, no smokiness.  Delicate without being overstated.  An easy sipper.  Perfect for someone starting out.  Glenmorangie Original – “Like Dew on Heather”

·         The Balvenie Doublewood & Glenfiddich 12 – I’ll be honest again and say I don’t personally consume these two as frequently myself, but love them just the same and occasionally do have a glass.  They are purchased with frequency in my home for another scotch drinker and they also make great cocktails when I get the chance to sneak a few ounces.   ‘Made in Scotland’ Makes Mixing at Home a Cinch

 

Holiday Cheer: Christmas to New Year Martini & Cocktail Recipe Guide

Classic Cocktails  - Bourbon Cocktails - Cocktails - Drink Recipes & Photos

Top 10 Classic Cocktails - 21 Must Try Classic Cocktail Recipes

Drink Recipes & Photos - Holiday Cocktails - Reviews

 

The Intoxicologist on Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon

www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

 

Copyright 2009 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved

THE MACALLAN® LAUNCHES 57 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT WHISKY IN LALIQUE DECANTER

 

Only 72 decanters of this limited-edition bottling will be available in the U.S.

 

New York, NY, September 21, 2009 – Iconic luxury brands The Macallan®, the Masters of Spirit and Wood, and LALIQUE, the Masters of Crystal, announce the launch of The Macallan in LALIQUE Finest Cut decanter – the third in a series of six decanters that are inspired by The Macallan’s six pillars, the unique elements that combine to make the whisky so special.  Containing an exceptionally rare 57 years old single malt whisky, the Finest Cut decanter is valued at $15,000 and will be available by special order beginning in October 2009. The introduction of The Macallan in LALIQUE Finest Cut decanter comes on the heels of the August 2009, record-breaking, £11,750 ($19,080) sale of one of The Macallan’s 50th anniversary bottles at a Glasgow, Scotland auction. 

 

This third decanter in The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars Collection is inspired by The Macallan’s Finest Cut, that fraction of the new make spirit which is filled into casks for maturation.   At The Macallan, this fraction is a mere 16%; it is the heart of the run, the best of the best, delivered at a very slow rate of distillation to maximize flavor and deliver the distinctively rich, fruity, viscous character of The Macallan’s new make spirit.

 

·         The Macallan: Revitalizing the Summer Cocktail

·         The Macallan- “The Rolls-Royce of Single Malts”

·         The Macallan Launches Exclusive Single Malt Collection for Global Travel Retail

 

Designed exclusively for The Macallan by the legendary French crystal house LALIQUE, The Finest Cut decanters have been individually numbered and produced in a very limited quantity—only 72 of the 400 launched worldwide will be available in the US, ensuring that this introduction will follow in the footsteps of its two predecessors — a 50 Years Old Macallan celebrating the exceptional oak casks and a 55 Years Old Macallan inspired by the distillery’s insistence of natural colour — and become an extraordinary collector’s item.

 

David Cox, Director of Fine & Rare Whiskies for The Macallan, comments: “ In homage to the beauty of LALIQUE’S Finest Cut decanter, we chose a particularly rare 57 years old Macallan single malt whisky. It is the second oldest The Macallan whisky ever released, only surpassed in age by the legendary 1926, a 60 year old The Macallan, bottled in 1986.”

 

·         Twitter Tasting The Macallan

·         The Macallan: Enjoy the Moment with Dad

·         The Macallan

 

The 57 year old has been vatted together from six casks made from two different  species  of oak; the first, a 1950 American oak sherry butt, and the second, a vatting of Macallan from  first fill Spanish oak sherry butts originally filled in 1949, 1951 and 1952.  The result is a softly sumptuous single malt, showing off the classic dried fruits, spice and hints of peat redolent of The Macallan house style of the early 1950’s. The age statement of 57 years old is determined by the youngest cask which was filled in 1952.

 

The decanter has been designed by LALIQUE’S Design Studio which was inspired by the legacy of Rene Lalique.  The decanter features the ‘stilligoutte’ of a perfume bottle, the long piece of pure crystal flowing down to a point from the base of the bottle stopper.  A portion of the stopper has been left completely clear and not “satinee,” running from the top down to the point.  This clear portion represents the 16% ‘finest cut’. When inserted into the elegantly tapering decanter, the stilligoutte, bathed in the rich whisky, reflects the natural colors of The Macallan through the play of light; when withdrawn, you can appreciate the full, heady aromas exuded by each drop as it slowly runs down the crystal stem.

 

·         The Macallan: Express Yourself

·         The Macallan Launches Masters of Photography Collection

 

Silvio Denz, President and CEO of LALIQUE, comments: “We are delighted to be working with the world’s finest single malt, as it has given us the opportunity to design a series of decanters which reflect all the best attributes of our brand - creativity, heritage and craftsmanship.”

 

The Finest Cut decanter was created by the LALIQUE design team in Paris and hand crafted at LALIQUE’S crystal making facility in Wingen-sur-Moder, Alsace. Each piece was worked on by up to 15 craftsmen, many of whom have attained the ‘Meilleur ouvrier de France’ – the Finest Craftsman of France Award.   Each decanter bears the esteemed ‘Lalique France’ signature, which symbolizes authenticity and over 100 years of creativity, heritage and craftsmanship, and comes in a beautifully designed lacquer presentation box with a crystal stopper and a collectors guide, detailing the craftsmanship that has gone into producing this beautiful object d’art.

 

·         The Macallan Introduces Fine & Rare Vintage 1947 for the Holidays

·         The Macallan & Rankin Team Up: Incredible Behind the Scenes Look

 

The Macallan has been working with LALIQUE since 2005 to produce an exclusive series of limited edition decanters based on The Macallan’s Six Pillars. The first two decanters in the series, Exceptional Oak Casks and Natural Colour, have proved hugely popular with both whisky consumers and collectors of LALIQUE crystal.

 

Respected and admired by discerning whisky lovers and named ‘Distiller of the Year 2008,’* The Macallan remains the single malt against which all others must be judged.

 

*Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 2008 Wine Star Awards.

It was The Macallan’s first night ever of Twitter tasting and mine, too.  Virtually speaking it is way better to experience flavor than simply hear about it or read tweets for that matter, so huge “Thank You” to Elise at MBooth (elisehelene) for the invite and all the special arrangements for the night.  While many dined on the exquisitely prepared meal by Chef Ed Brown at eighty one a few of us were fortunate to taste along at home and glean valuable information about The Macallan from the East Coast Brand Ambassador, Graeme Russell (LivingTheDram).

 

There simply is no telling what Twitter (or Scotch for that matter) will cause one to say: 

·         This particular tweet caused quite a laugh at my home and retweeting ensued from other tasting participants.  And why not?  From DBTH: Deep thougths: Sometime when I drink scotch I think of running naked through the fields of scottland but I’m smart and don’t

·         JerseyTodd: I hope we get ‘goody bags’

No Twittering at the table?  I don’t think so.

·         ChefMark: I’m used to clandestinely tweeting during these events, not sure how I feel about them showing twitter on the wall !! #macallan

·         NyBarfly: #macallan- is there such thing as public twitter anxiety?

·         halw: #macallan Okay this is like a highschool twitter reunion with amazing drinks!!!

·         NyBarfly: #macallan What is the 1780’s version of a twitter tasting? carrier pigeon sipping?

However, there is a trade off for tasting and dining when not at home:

·         woodlandalyssa: my feet hurt but when you drink #macallan, you have to be fancy and wear high heels. those are the rules!

·         But that didn’t stop livethelushlife - @intoxicologist in my 5″ heels and 7 whiskeys deep.

– Way to go!

There were ‘tsk tsk’ remarks:

·         WhiskyParty: Lots of people are not finishing their glasses. WTF? #Macallan

·         buckybit: MaryRambin ICE on a SCOTCH! omg! omg! omg! Only pure best of all waters, but never, NEVER ice-cubes. Sin! even w cheap scotch

·         lizEATS: buckybit piss off. It’s to your taste and it’s delicious #macallan

·         skidder: buckybit you are currently being take down by the #Macallan scotch ambassador. Behold: the ice sphere!

 

Main Event: Tasting The Macallan

 

Fine Oak 10

·         The Intoxicologist: Floral, fruity (but not dried fruit), slightly juicy, thin in viscosity.

·         Mystery Taster: Light honeyed heather, soft smoke

Sherry Oak 12

·         The Intoxicologist: Warmer than the Fine Oak 10, caramel tones, possibly some fig, thicker in feel.  Delightful every day Scotch.  Love the rich color in this one.

·         Mystery Taster: Scent of fig, leather in the back with a round taste, sweetish, mildly fruity, very well balanced, good body.

·         corkangel76: 12 Sherry Oak, nuances of butterscotch , medium toasted oak, supple and soft,

·         adamhirsch: I concur with @woodlandalyssa: holy shnikeys, #Macallan 12 is strong!!!

·         corkangel76: as the #Macallan 12 yr sherry oak changes temperature, more and more subtle delcious nuances come out… Taste Bud Orgasm!!!

Fine Oak 15

·         ChefMark: Tasting 15 yr on it’s own with no food. More texture & “heat” than the 10 year. A little vanilla, floral

·         woodlandalyssa: i smell flowers. @tom_Schuyler smells tangerine and toffee

·         halw: The #Macallan Fine Oak 15 -Nice Nose/Aroma. Smooth, slight notes of caramel.

·         JerseyTodd: 15 Yr. old oak smells nice…very warming…almost thick…

·         intoxicologist: #Macallan Fine Oak 15 - sweeter than Sherry Oak 12, fresh fruity flavor, perhaps pineapple, light fresh feel, sharper, defined, some oak

·         sallymak26: tangerine, green apple, jasmine? why am i not drinking #Macallan with lunch??!!

·         mrinklin: Macallan 15 tastes like a warm carmelized toffee

·         LivingTheDram: heat, spice comes from Spanish sherry casks /EM

·         LivingTheDram: Fine Oak is a “lighter style of Macallan” as opposed to the Sherry Oak 12 and 18 /EM

·         ChefMark: http://twitpic.com/72ycr - Hamachi crudo with yuzu & Ginger paired with 15 yr scotch

·         LivingTheDram: Suggestion from Graeme: add a splash of water to the 15 for the perfect pairing with hamachi /EM

·         always_eating: First pairing is great, hamachi brings a citrus, peppery taste and pairs well with the somewhat sweet scotch

·         astorwines: Hamachi, lemongrass, yuzu with the #Macallan 15 year. The citrusy vanilla notes of the whiskey accentuate the flavor, acidity cuts the fat

Fine Oak 17

·         Mystery Taster: A bit of seashore scent, very nicely smoky flavor

·         intoxicologist: Fine Oak 17 - Smoky, rich, full of flavor. Robust. Lots of body. Slight vanilla tone. I would definitely not put water in it.

·         WhiskyParty: #Macallan fine oak 17. Creamier. Some Mellon. Far less heat.

·         seannacher: 17 - definite floral tones come through. Great with the ribeye and marmalada

·         alexanderbasek: So leathery!

·         ChefMark: 17 yr fine oak #Macallan Scotch paired with rib eye. maple notes. Smoother, more caramel, less tannic

·         adamhirsch: We have a winner #Macallan 17 is smooth, slightly spicy. Scotch Twitter Tasting more dangerous than I thought. No spit buckets.

·         sallymak26: tom say of #Macallan fo 17 - vanilla and cinnamonly goodness!

·         livethelushlife: Can’t decide what’s better the food or the #Macallan. Ok, not really. I’d take the #macallan any day. http://twitpic.com/72zlg

·         always_eating: On to the 17 year fine oak, tasting a bit of citrus and something floral. Very nice.

·         lizEATS: if only the dead cow could have tasted the scotch, he would have realized it was worth it via @nybarfly here here!

·         LivingTheDram: smokey element of 17 comes from whisky aged in heavily charred american bourbon casks. Graeme’s “second-fav” whisky/ EM

·         halw: #Macallan Fine Oak 17-Brilliant!! Smokey, notes of vanilla

Fine Oak 21

·         livethelushlife: The 21 year #Macallan was so tasty that I finished before getting a picture. I’m apparently the only one finished.http://twitpic.com/731p5

·         trebo22: Macallan 21 will take the paint off the walls!

·         ChefMark: The 21 yr old has a nice smoky finish. They paired it with an asparagus flan. Great dish, but doesn’t match the Scotch as well.

·         ekeyNYC: I just dropped an ice cube in my 21 year, hoping the brand guy does not slap me. I’d take it like a man.

Sherry Oak 18

·         Mystery Taster: Scent is cherry-ish, nutty with nectarine in the back.  Tastes of warm oakiness with a touch of wine.

·         corkangel76: The 18yr sherry oak is smoky toasty carmelized oaky soft vanillin with a touch of applewood. So good… I need a rag.

·         LivingTheDram: The Macallan 18 sums up everything the distillery does well; sipping 18 on golf course was Graeme’s best Scotch moment. /EM

·         alexanderbasek: Macallan 18: the Sugar Ray Robinson of whiskeys. (Pound for pound, the best)

·         LivingTheDram: The Macallan 18 paired with S’mores…Chef Ed is a genius. /EM

 

The Learning Curve

·         LivingTheDram: American bourbon makers can only use a cask a SINGLE time…Scots buy them to make whisky. /EM

·         LivingTheDram: first: select the best Oak trees. Then: give made casks to Spanish Sherry makers. Finally: Get them back and make Macallan /EM

·         LivingTheDram: The Macallan doesn’t use peat /EM

·         LivingTheDram: The Fundamental Rule: drink Scotch the way you like it…ice, water or neat! /EM

·         LivingTheDram: 15 is lighter style, easy drinking; 17 is more complex; 21 has rich smoothness /EM

·         LivingTheDram: Chef Ed: “One final note. Tweet this to the world: We encourage Scotch drinkers to come here–let us know and we’ll cook for you!”

·         LivingTheDram: Chef Ed: “this was as much as hobby as it was a test.”

·         LivingTheDram: demonstrating The Macallan ice ball machine to guests at eightyone…takes 15-20 seconds to make The Perfect Serve/ EM

 

Fun Stuff

·         livethelushlife: The ice spheres at #Macallan are pretty badass. http://twitpic.com/72wcf

·         woodlandalyssa: the #Macallan 55 costs $14,000!!!

·         LivingTheDram: pace yourselves, everyone! The best is yet to come! /EM

·         DBTH: Ok people now you’re getting out of control. Sip don’t swig. Oh yeah 21 fine oak. Sup

·         corkangel76: oh #Macallan I love you so, your deliciousness always brightens a crappy day and makes me happy and relaxed. Marry me?

·         NyBarfly:  @sallymak26 looks quite fetching in her dress. maybe its the scotch talking..

·         DBTH: Hey you in the hot dress, how bout them ice balls

·         sallymak26: @nybarfly thanks! you should see me in my zogsports get up! maybe i’ll switch to #Macallan after kickball games!

·         skidder: @sarahashley has no fewer then four different undrank #Macallan whiskies at her spot. @maryrambin didn’t you claim she was the expert?

·         NyBarfly: the big question of the night: who is the most tipsy at the table?

 

The Macallan is (and was) fantastic.  Many thanks for including me in the tasting.  My food at home didn’t pair as nicely as the chef’s food, but the company made up for it in spades!  Don’t forget to make a reservation with eighty one for your own Macallan food pairing dinner.  Chef Ed Brown would love to whip something special up for you and your guests!

 

www.themacallan.com

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Copyright 2009 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved

 I’ve written quite a bit about Father’s Day lately.   My brain sort of twitches at the thought of putting a title on a day to honor a particular individual when in reality we should do that every day.  At the same time truth hits me over the head since I seldom slow down long enough to know if the weather has finally warmed up outside or if the rip of wind is still the cool rush of spring trying to breeze in through the trees.  The people we love so deeply in our lives rush in and out too quickly just as often as that breeze that scuttles past or the sun that rises and falls before I’ve peeked out from behind my own computer.  So it makes sense that for a brief day out of 365 we should take a breather and thank that special someone who has been there for us when we have needed him. 

Dad may not be by our side every moment.  He may not be next door, down the street or even in a neighboring town.  But he is there.  He is there in spirit, steadfast in his support for the sound decisions we make and even those we shouldn’t have.  He is there to offer advice when we ask and listen when we just need an ear.  He is our foundation; the solid rock that braces us, our champion for life.

 

Though we could never express deeply enough our gratitude, we can present Dad with The Macallan Single Malt, “the single malt against which all others are judged.”   The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Year Old is the cornerstone of The Macallan distillery.  It is a classic and contemporary bar favorite. 

 

The Macallan® Sherry Oak 18 Years Old

Color - Light Mahogany

Nose - Dried fruits and ginger with hints of citrus, vanilla and cinnamon

Palate - Rich dried fruits, spice, clove, orange and wood smoke

Finish - Full dried fruits and sweet toffee, with a hint of ginger and wood smoke

Strength - 43% Vol

Priced at $150

 

Every Father is a one-of-a-kind Dad, but maybe your dad happens to be an art and Scotch connoisseur.  The Macallan teamed up with famed photographer Rankin in 2008 with the Masters of Photography Collection.  The Macallan Fine Oak 30 becomes a unique work of art in this rendition.  Rankin used the last of the Polaroid film available to capture The Macallan Estate, Easter Elchies and his beautiful muse.  These Polaroid images adorn individual bottles in limited edition quantities.  The Macallan chose an exceptional bottling of one of its finest expressions to capture the spirit of this masterful artistry pairing.  Only 75 bottles are available within the United States priced at $1,695.

 

Take time to enjoy Father’s Day with your dad.  Share a toast with The Macallan, sit back and tour The Masters of Photography while you do.  It is magnificent, tranquil, soul-stirring and above all else, something you can share with your dad.

 

www.themacallan.com

www.themastersofphotography.com