Paul John Whisky – Cask #1444

Last Saturday I was down in the rather beautiful Manchester Town Hall for The Whisky Lounge festival.

As it was getting very close to my time to rush off to the airport (boo!!) and so my final dram, I thought it would be nice to finish with the Classic. So I headed to the Paul John table to ask for sample (my bottle at home is still closed.) As it happened I was given a rather lovely dram from Craig instead.

This was the Paul John Cask #1444 this is a single cask – 59.7%

So I headed to one of the link bridges. Quiet and away from the crowds (it was a busy session) I could enjoy what was in my glass.

The nose offered lots of malty scents and barley. Hints of vanilla and ripe fruit. It was a fragrant sweet nose mingling with malted biscuits. Delicious honey sweetness  (in a place surrounded by images of worker bees seemed fitting.) Those lovely spices were really drawing me in, with a subtle herb influence too. After a while I got the most delicate hint of parma violets (wasn’t going to say that – but I did.)

A lot of spice initially greets your tastebuds. Oak and malt again. The woody hints are pleasant on the palate. Fruity sweetness and that soft herbaliness.. Malted biscuits. Full and smooth delicious mouthfeel coats the mouth.

The spice remains on the palate. It’s just toying with your tastebuds. A long finish with that delicious oakiness resting nicely with the remaining delicate spices.

Then it was time for an all too brief “see you later”…

As I was leaving I left some of my fudge with Sorren & Craig at the Paul John table, grabbed my bags and I was gone…

Thanks for the opportunity of trying this Craig.

Slàinte

Newcastle Whisky Festival

Last Friday morning with bags packed, a couple of whisky samples and whisky fudge I boarded the train to Newcastle.

With a book in front of me I sat and planned a little sample session and note taking of my Boutique-y Whisky Carsebridge sample, maybe an hour or so into my trip. Earphones in.. then came the message over the tannoy “blah, blah, DRY TRAIN, blah blah, NO ALCOHOL till after Newcastle!!”

Well my little bag of goodies wasn’t helping as the aroma of Paul John “Edited” and GlenDronach “batch 5” fudge teased me with their delicious aroma…the man opposite did say that had I shared my samples he wouldn’t have told anyone. Yet, the thought of being met at the station by BTP most definitely put paid to that plan. So I sat with The Angels’ Share by James Markert (good read) and let the miles slip by.

So I arrived in Newcastle. I’d been trying to recall how often I must have visited as a child, as I’m from Middlesbrough (smoggy – in case no one got that yet..) but having left the area at 10 years of age, a lot has changed.

Checked into the hotel. Changed rooms. Chilled, showered and off I went to the evening session.

So here I was, festival number three. Wristband on, glass, pipette, and tokens in hand I went in.

First of all I said hello to and dropped off some fudge with the ladies from Angel’s Share Glass – they had the GlenDronach and then later I handed the Paul John “Edited” to Sorren and Craig, seemed fitting 🙂

I went and said hello to the wonderful Boutique-y Dave and had a very warm welcome from him. It was also nice meeting Joe from Twitter and Paul from Speyside Distillers. Then I went to see Colin Dunn (lovely funny man) and David from Spirit Scotland and the man who poured me my first festival dram in York, the delicious BenRinnes 23 year old. It was nice having a chat and a laugh, and making them laugh at my ever so well thought out blog “ILOVEWHISKY” well it says it all 🙂

Said hello to the Paul John men and their wonderful array of whiskies and delivered the ugly duckling fudge that was in fact a swan with its slightly smoky finish.

It was also nice speaking to the lovely Gina as I escaped the older gentlemen admirers. Ed was lovely and thankfully a) not 30 years younger and b) not single.

So, I tried a few drams on my travels round, from Angels’ nectar (thanks Karen) very smooth and an easy drinker (the whisky) to the Quiet Man, also very smooth and although perhaps not for me, still a nice whisky. I had Talisker, Lagavulin, Paul John Bold, Peated, probably a #1906, some Mackmyra, TBWC, Aberlour A’bunadh and possibly (definitely) a couple more on my way in and out of the gathering. I also had some rather scrummy chicken curry and chips.

It was a lovely evening and then I headed back to my digs.

Day 2 was to come…

This was the Saturday session, big brekky time and off I went, with my luggage in tow. It was nice to pop back in and revisit some more whiskies, I had the lovely Caledonian from That Boutique-y Whisky Company, stopped by to say hello to Colin and David who thought I looked bright eyed and energised I then went off for one final dram as the place was absolutely packed.

So final delicious dram poured, fudge and business card handed over with a few remaining tokens and and all too brief farewell, I was gone.

But I shall return…

Paul John – #P1-163

Well I guess every sample starts with a story, doesn’t it?

Some of you may or may not know that I am a) new to blogging and expressing my thoughts on whisky and b) that although I have been enjoying the delights of whisky for many years, that I am new to exploring what is out there. And it is good!

I first tried the Paul John whiskies in York and I was instantly hooked. This particular bottle the #P1-163 was something I purchased my mistake. The mistake being I was supposed to have bought the #P1-164. So now I have both. That makes it a happy mistake.

From the box…”Paul John single cask is a fine debut impression of young yet matured brilliance. Indian malted barley, double-distilled in traditional copper pot stills , aged in bourbon casks freshly emptied in Kentucky.

A surprise that will illuminate your fine senses. It’s the tropical magic of Goa that will wafts as a celebration of paradise”. This is 57% abv.

The colour is a lovely rich amber.

The nose: fragrant… spice, orange and lemon, honey and a hint of mint. Maybe some vanilla and a mere touch of tobacco, it is sweet and draws you in. I’ve let this open for a while.

The palate.. well now it almost comes as a surprise as the nose was offering you such delicate hints of what was ahead. This is warm and the spices just coat your mouth with the sweetness of honey and the spiciness of cinnamon and pepper and again the gentle vanilla with a slight woodiness. But it just fills your mouth.

The finish is deliciously warm and long and satisfying.

Hope you’re happy I got my notes out soon-ish 🙂

Paul John – Edited

Paul John – Edited – 46% abv single malt whisky.

I first sampled this in York at the whisky festival. And I must admit I’m a bit of a fan.

This dram has a lovely deep golden amber colour.

Nose: this whisky has a lovely light smoke with chocolate and honey. There are succulent fruits and a touch of citrus. And a light tickle of cinnamon.

Palate: warming smoke and fresh rich coffee. Spicy delicious fruit and wood. Sweet caramel and cinnamon give it a lovely fullness.

The finish is again smoky with a lovely warm spice and pure dark chocolate. Some oak on the finish but long and satisfying.

Thanks again to Paul John for giving me this delicious bottle of whisky – sláinte!

SS 

Whisky Fudge

On Sunday evening I decided to try a different whisky in my fudge. I am trying the Paul John ‘Edited’.

This was kindly gifted to me.

What a lovely subtle flavour…just put it on your tongue and savour the delicious sweetness and the delicate taste of whisky….hmmm.