January 3rd, 2012

Another whisky, and another story.

John Hansell

Some of you might remember my post here back in 2011. Well, I took my own advice and opened another bottle of whisky last week. It wasn’t for Christmas or New Years Eve, but rather somewhere in the middle of the week. I’m really glad I did, because it tastes great! And, as it is with many of my whiskies, there’s a story to this one too.

It was back in the early 1990s. I don’t remember which year, because I was traveling to Scotland quite a bit. I was in Edinburgh and paid my usual visit to the Cadenhead’s shop on the Royal Mile to see what Springbank whiskies they had for sale.

When I asked about Springbank 15 year old, Neil Clapperton, the gentleman who ran the shop, said that they were out of stock. But, by this time, he knew me because I had been in the shop several times before. That’s when he told me that he did have one bottle of Springbank 15 year old, but the proof is wrong on it. Instead of the usual 46% for Springbank, he said that this one was 50%. He then took out a marker and blacked out the 46% on the label and hand-wrote 50% next to it. (If you look closely at the over-exposed label, you might be able to see it on the lower right.) He said that if I was okay with it and wanted to buy it, he would sell it to me for the usual price.

100 proof Springbank 15 year old? Was I okay with it? Does a bear shit in the woods??

I happily purchased the bottle, along with some other cool Springbanks and Cadenhead’s whiskies, and held onto it for quite some time. It was worth the wait. It’s outstanding–a stunningly complex Springbank in a ex-bourbon casks. Nothing fancy. If you ever get a chance to taste Springbank that was distilled prior to their 1980s silent period, do it! If you think the current bottlings of Springbank are splendid (and many of the are), you just might be blown away with one of these earlier bottlings.

The only thing that frustrates me right now: Neil told me why this one was bottled at 50% ABV when I bought it from him and, after all these years, I forgot what he said!

Oh well. The whisky is great. That’s what matters most. And I’m drinking and sharing it with like-minded friends.

I’m not sure if you are a “New Year’s resolution” kind of person or not. But if you are, make a resolution to open up a bottle or two (or more) of your special whiskies that you’ve been saving for a special occasion. The whisky itself is reason enough to celebrate.

Category: Holidays,Opinions,Ramblings,Scotch whisky,Whisky collections Tags: , 21 Comments

January 1st, 2011

A downside to drinking, and what I’m going to do about it.

John Hansell

I enjoy life. I love drinking (that includes good beer and wine), and I love food. I also exercise regularly to keep from gaining weight. But, in 2010, I found myself losing this battle. It was a combination of factors: knee surgery in the spring, lots of travel for business in the fall, the stress of selling our business,  a slowing metabolism, rotating beers on tap at home, an endless supply of other great things to drink, and then the holidays and all the parties.

I’m not grossly overweight, but what I always jokingly refer to as the “five pounds of fun” around my waist has now turned into ten pounds of fun. It’s beginning to not be funny anymore. I either have to lose weight or buy a completely new set of clothes. (And I hate shopping.)

So, the lesser (and better) of the two evils is to cut the weight. This isn’t one of those New Year’s resolutions. The timing is mostly coincidental. I just finished reviewing all my whiskies for the Buyer’s Guide in the next issue of Malt Advocate, all those holiday parties are over, and I’m not traveling anywhere until February 8th, when my wife Amy and I are going on vacation. It’s time to right my wrongs of the past year, and then continue my usually balanced lifestyle after that.

So, here’s what I am going to do. I always here doctors say that it’s not healthy losing more than two pounds in one week, so I have set a goal of losing 10 pounds over the next five weeks. That’s 10 pounds by February 5th.

To jump start this, I’m going to do something I haven’t done in a long while: no booze for the first 20 days! Because of my whisky and beer review schedule, there’s only a few times throughout the year where this would even be a possibility for me. There is a break in my tasting schedule right now, and I’m going to take advantage of it.

Why 20 days? On January 20th, I’m going into New York for an editorial meeting with the editors of Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado magazines, and I have this feeling there just might be a nice bottle of wine (and perhaps a good cigar) enjoyed by all before the day is over. That’s something I don’t want to miss out on.

Normally this is something I would just do and not even tell anyone. My personal life is just that: personal. Why spill my guts here on WDJK? Well, if I am dealing with this issue, I’m willing to bet some of you are too.

If so, I invite you to join me.

Which brings me to another topic: my relationship with drinking. Fortunately, I never felt like I needed a drink. (If I did, I would stop drinking.) It’s just something I enjoy and look forward to. I believe it was Steve Beaumont, one of our excellent writers and a guy with great perspective, who likened his relationship with drinking to a appreciating a fine painting on his wall. He certainly doesn’t need the painting, but if it weren’t there he would miss it–and his day might be the lesser for it.

That’s how I’m going to feel for the next 20 days.

Category: Health-related issues,Holidays,Opinions,Ramblings,Writers 68 Comments

November 18th, 2010

Drinking anything fun on Thanksgiving?

John Hansell

If so, do tell. What is it?

And if you haven’t thought about it yet, now’s the time. It’s less than a week away. When you figure it out, let us know.

Category: Holidays,Opinions Tags: 65 Comments

June 30th, 2010

What are you drinking this 4th of July weekend?

John Hansell

It’s a holiday weekend coming up here in the U.S. I’m starting to think about what I’m doing, where I’m going, and (especially) what I’m drinking!

I think it would be appropriate to celebrate Independence Day with a good bottle of (made in the U.S.A.) bourbon, but I haven’t decided which one (or ones) yet.

How about you? Drinking anything fun? (And don’t say a keg of But Lite, like my neighbors just did.)

Those of you outside of the U.S. are also welcome to join in here.

Category: Bourbon,Holidays 68 Comments

December 18th, 2009

Help me pick which whisky to open Christmas Eve

John Hansell

Every Christmas Eve, I open up a special bottle of whisky. It’s never an easy decision, but one that is always cherished–until the bottle is gone.

I’m having a difficult time deciding this year, so I thought I would enlist your help. I have narrowed it down to three, and I though we could have a little fun with it. I’m asking each one of you to vote for which one I should open. I’ll open the one that gets the most votes.

I gave careful consideration to the three whiskies that would make my “short list.” Like I said above, they need to be special. Plus, I wanted there to be a common thread to the whiskies.

With this in mind, I dug deep into the Hansell stash and picked three Gordon & Macphail “Connoisseurs Choice” whiskies. And all three were bottled more than 20 years ago, and all were bottled at 16 years of age. Now that’s special.

003Here are the details on each bottle, from left to right in the picture (all bottled at 40% abv):

Dallas Dhu, distilled 1971, 16 yr. old

Caol Ila, distilled 1972, 16 yr. old

Ledaig, distilled 1973, 16 yr. old

 

 

Some additional comments on these whiskies. First, Dallas Dhu has been closed since the mid ’80s, so that one is pretty rare. That Caol Ila might be from a sherry cask (not sure), and that doesn’t happen that often. And some of those old Ledaigs can be really peaty, smoky bruisers, which is also pretty cool.

002We go to my mother-in-law’s on Christmas Eve for dinner. When I return, I’ll tally up the votes and open up the whisky with the most votes. Then, I’ll toast to all of you, while admiring the lights on the Christmas tree and the presents underneath it.

So, which bottle should I open? And why?

Category: Holidays,Scotch whisky 93 Comments

December 17th, 2009

What are you drinking over the holidays?

John Hansell

Are you drinking anything special? Opening any special bottles? Or are you just having  one or two of your favorites?

I always open a bottle of something special over the holidays, but I haven’t decided yet what that’s going to be. While I’m figuring this out, please share with us what you’re going to drink.

Category: Holidays,Opinions 94 Comments



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