This year's Gathering of the Scots Whisky Pairing Dinner will be held on Saturday 8 May at the Perth Elks Lodge at 5:30pm There are 64 seats available at a cost of $60 each.
The third annual Whisky Pairing Dinner will again feature a five course meal with each course especially chosen to be a companion to one of the whiskies mentioned below.
At this time, the menu is a closely guarded secret.
More to come.
P.S. I've tasted the Strathisla 12 year old. It's every thing John says it is.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Some of John's Notes
John Lang has put together some notes on the Whiskies we are tasting.
Descriptions of the 5 Single Malts by Jim Murray in his
Whisky Bible, 2008
1.) The Macallan Cask Strength $70.29
Earned a mark of 94% as follows-
Nose- 22 / 25- cranked-up, sweet, clean sherry.
Taste- 24 / 25- absolutely spot-on delivery, with grape concentrate, thickened by intense barley, wonderful spices arrive on cue.
Finish- 24 / 25- long, with the taste buds storm-lashed by juicy sherry and spices.
Balance- 24 / 25- it’s like surfing a massive wave of barley-sweetened sherry. Go for the ride. 58.6 % alcohol by volume.
2.) Strathisla 12 $46.29
Earned a mark of 87% as follows-
Nose- 21 / 25- a dab of distant peat adds more weight to what is already malt-heavy.
Taste- 22 / 25- pleasant, sultana-fruity with a very rich malt follow through.
Finish- 22 / 25- some oak breaks into the rich maltiness, hints of cocoa and smoke elongate the finish.
Balance- 22 / 25- the heavily weighted, full-bodied malt engages the taste buds from first to last, with a complexity and richness of genuine class.
43% alcohol by volume.
3.) Aberlour A’bunadh Cask Strength $85.29
Earned a mark of 88% as follows-
Nose- 22 / 25- thick oloroso sherry offset by the distant rumble of spice, raisins, cloves, oranges, ginger , like thunder in the air.
Taste- 23 / 25- almost immediately, the storm clouds break and spices rain down in torrents on the taste buds while the sherry continues the clean hot intensity of a summer storm.
Finish- 21 / 25- grape lingering with some late toffee apple, amazingly smooth, long, elegant, spicy and warming.
Balance- 22 / 25- a “monster” sherry whisky, a powerful malt to make mortals tremble, perfect for wine and sherry lovers, becomes more complex with water- hints of herbs, thyme, rosemary, sage, bay leaves.
59.8% alcohol by volume.
4.) Glenfiddich 15 Solera Reserve $54.49
Earned a mark of 93% as follows-
Nose- 24 / 25- a marriage of citrus notes (especially oranges), subtle spices and oak.
Taste- 23 / 25- Honey leads the way with balancing spices and oak, the malt is refreshing.
Finish – 23 / 25- medium to long, with soft sherry and gently building cocoa.
Balance- 23 / 25- one of Jim Murray’s regular drams, a brilliant Speyside malt of awesome complexity.
40 % alcohol by volume.
5.) Highland Park 18 $85.29
Earned a mark of 95% as follows-
Nose- 24 / 25- an empty honey jar which once held peaty embers, enormous nose of excellent consistency, with salty butter and burnt honeycomb always present.
Taste- 23 / 25- beautifully sweet, even sweeter than the 12 year old, thanks to manuka honey, balanced by drier oaky tones and rumbling peat at the back of the palate, chewy, a touch oily and wholly substantial.
Finish- 24 /25- some citrus, heathery notes, controlled oak, outstanding cocoa and peat, long and rewarding.
Balance- 24 / 25- consistently enormous weight and complexity, breathtakingly brilliant, the “ace” in the Highland Park pack.
43% alcohol by volume.
Descriptions of the 5 Single Malts by Jim Murray in his
Whisky Bible, 2008
1.) The Macallan Cask Strength $70.29
Earned a mark of 94% as follows-
Nose- 22 / 25- cranked-up, sweet, clean sherry.
Taste- 24 / 25- absolutely spot-on delivery, with grape concentrate, thickened by intense barley, wonderful spices arrive on cue.
Finish- 24 / 25- long, with the taste buds storm-lashed by juicy sherry and spices.
Balance- 24 / 25- it’s like surfing a massive wave of barley-sweetened sherry. Go for the ride. 58.6 % alcohol by volume.
2.) Strathisla 12 $46.29
Earned a mark of 87% as follows-
Nose- 21 / 25- a dab of distant peat adds more weight to what is already malt-heavy.
Taste- 22 / 25- pleasant, sultana-fruity with a very rich malt follow through.
Finish- 22 / 25- some oak breaks into the rich maltiness, hints of cocoa and smoke elongate the finish.
Balance- 22 / 25- the heavily weighted, full-bodied malt engages the taste buds from first to last, with a complexity and richness of genuine class.
43% alcohol by volume.
3.) Aberlour A’bunadh Cask Strength $85.29
Earned a mark of 88% as follows-
Nose- 22 / 25- thick oloroso sherry offset by the distant rumble of spice, raisins, cloves, oranges, ginger , like thunder in the air.
Taste- 23 / 25- almost immediately, the storm clouds break and spices rain down in torrents on the taste buds while the sherry continues the clean hot intensity of a summer storm.
Finish- 21 / 25- grape lingering with some late toffee apple, amazingly smooth, long, elegant, spicy and warming.
Balance- 22 / 25- a “monster” sherry whisky, a powerful malt to make mortals tremble, perfect for wine and sherry lovers, becomes more complex with water- hints of herbs, thyme, rosemary, sage, bay leaves.
59.8% alcohol by volume.
4.) Glenfiddich 15 Solera Reserve $54.49
Earned a mark of 93% as follows-
Nose- 24 / 25- a marriage of citrus notes (especially oranges), subtle spices and oak.
Taste- 23 / 25- Honey leads the way with balancing spices and oak, the malt is refreshing.
Finish – 23 / 25- medium to long, with soft sherry and gently building cocoa.
Balance- 23 / 25- one of Jim Murray’s regular drams, a brilliant Speyside malt of awesome complexity.
40 % alcohol by volume.
5.) Highland Park 18 $85.29
Earned a mark of 95% as follows-
Nose- 24 / 25- an empty honey jar which once held peaty embers, enormous nose of excellent consistency, with salty butter and burnt honeycomb always present.
Taste- 23 / 25- beautifully sweet, even sweeter than the 12 year old, thanks to manuka honey, balanced by drier oaky tones and rumbling peat at the back of the palate, chewy, a touch oily and wholly substantial.
Finish- 24 /25- some citrus, heathery notes, controlled oak, outstanding cocoa and peat, long and rewarding.
Balance- 24 / 25- consistently enormous weight and complexity, breathtakingly brilliant, the “ace” in the Highland Park pack.
43% alcohol by volume.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Third Annual Whisky Pairings Dinner
G'day folks,
The Organizing committee met and the date is close to being set for the now Annual Whisky Pairings Dinner. It looks like either May 1st or 15th.
John Lang is consulting with his experts and has an interesting selection of whiskys almost finalized and ready to order.
Gathering of the Scots Resident Chef Dirk Bishop is ready to prepare the food.
John and Dirk have already planned a meeting to taste the various whiskys and decide on the pairings.
The Organizing committee met and the date is close to being set for the now Annual Whisky Pairings Dinner. It looks like either May 1st or 15th.
John Lang is consulting with his experts and has an interesting selection of whiskys almost finalized and ready to order.
Gathering of the Scots Resident Chef Dirk Bishop is ready to prepare the food.
John and Dirk have already planned a meeting to taste the various whiskys and decide on the pairings.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
It's a go!!
The grounds are set, the good weather has been ordered from Environment Canada and all we need is people!
Here is a picture just to whet your enthusiasm!
The festival has taken a big growth spirt this year. The field of Athletes is huge and we have more displays than last year!
There will be something for everyone! ... and don't forget to drop by the Tea Tent for a morsel of haggis! I suspect it's the only place in N.B. with a reasonable supply!!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Some Changes on the Grounds
The Gathering of the Scots is changing the location of the information booth and creating a separate souvenir booth.
The Information booth will be located just as you walk onto the grounds and highly visible and the souvenir booth will be in or near the vendor alley.
Amanda has been scouring the catalogues to find the perfect souvenirs, and Carrie and Christie who will be running the booth, are hoping that you will stop by and pick up a few of the great things they will have on sale so you too can celebrate your Scottish heritage or celebrate being Scottish for a day.
The Information booth will be located just as you walk onto the grounds and highly visible and the souvenir booth will be in or near the vendor alley.
Amanda has been scouring the catalogues to find the perfect souvenirs, and Carrie and Christie who will be running the booth, are hoping that you will stop by and pick up a few of the great things they will have on sale so you too can celebrate your Scottish heritage or celebrate being Scottish for a day.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Pipes and Drums Scotland the Brave
A Hugh part of the festival is the sound of the Great Highland Pipes. This year we have four bands: Fredericton Junior Pipe Band Oromocto Legion Pipe Band Fredericton District Pipe Band and our very own Southern Victoria Pipe Band.
The individual bands perform at various time through out the day but the highlight happens at noon and 5:30 pm, when they join together and perform as a MASSED BAND. Seventy-five pipes and drums marching and playing in unison stirs the blood and gets your foot tapping.
Fly Casting Competition
Clifford Young has been working hard the last couple of years to introduce a new-to-our-games but a standard part of traditional Scottish Festivals -- Fly Casting Competition. Salmon fishing is a noble highland sport enjoyed by kings and poachers!
Prince Phillip and Prince Charles of the British Royal family are passionate fly fishermen when they are at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
So... come and try your luck er.. I mean skill.
This year, it's free to compete and no equipment is needed. We provide it all, except the skill part!
There are competitions for casting for accuracy and casting for distance.
Winners to recieve new rods and/or reels or other fishing related equipment.(well maybe slightly used in the competition) These prizes are first rate equipment.
Prince Phillip and Prince Charles of the British Royal family are passionate fly fishermen when they are at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
So... come and try your luck er.. I mean skill.
This year, it's free to compete and no equipment is needed. We provide it all, except the skill part!
There are competitions for casting for accuracy and casting for distance.
Winners to recieve new rods and/or reels or other fishing related equipment.(well maybe slightly used in the competition) These prizes are first rate equipment.
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