Viisi Penniä & Kitty's

Real ale'a Kittysissä  (Real ale at Kitty's Pub)

Tulipa eilen käytyä Pennissä maistamassa muutamia oluita ja viskejä. Ilta alkoi Beer Hunter'sin Mufloni Säppi APA:lla, joka oli oikein mukavan humalainen ja kukkainen. Sitrusta ja hedelmääkin mukana sopivasti. Pisteet: 36/50. Tämän jälkeen maistui myös Brew Dogin Chaos Theory. Karamellia, hedelmää ja humalaa tuoksussa ja pähkinää, suolaisuutta, mallasta ja humalaa maussa. Tällekin pisteet 36/50. Sitten Roguen Old Crustacean Barleywine style'n kimppuun. Tuoksussa hedelmää, makeutta, vihanneksia ja hiivaa. Maussa mallasta, happamuutta ja samalla myös makeutta. Pisteet: 34/50. Viskeissä tuli maistettua paikallista erikoisuutta eli Penni Peated Malt. Tämän viskin pohjana on Smoky Joe ja sitä on lillutettu tynnyrissä, jossa on taas lillutettu Pedro Ximenes -sherryä. Kyllä Smoky Joe parani tämän ansiosta. Tuoksussa nahkaisuutta, parfyymiä ja savua. Maussa taasen lääkemäisyyttä, sherryä, savua ja toffeeta. Pisteet: 86/100. Sitten Bruichladdichin Octomore 4_167, joka oli hunajainen, suolainen, savuinen ja mausteinen viski. Bruichladdichiltä kans tulee näitä erilaisia viskejä kuin sieniä sateella. Hyviä kylläkin. Illan päätti Glenlivetin 18-vuotias viski. Tämän tislaamon 12-vuotias ei kuulu suosikkeihini, mutta tämä on kylläkin parempi. Hedelmäinen, makea ja hunajainen viski. Ei paskempi, kuten Porissa sanotaan. Pisteet: 86/100. Tänään sitten taas Kittysiin ja maistelemaan real ale'a. Hanassa olikin uusi tuttavuus eli Tring -panimo ja Bring Me Sunshine -olut. Kukkainen, hedelmäinen, humalainen olut. Real ale't ovat aina melkein järjestään hyviä oli hanassa sitten mitä tahansa. Tällekin pisteet 38/50. Otin kyytipojaksi vielä Auchentoshanin Valinchin, joka oli ihan mukava viski oluen kera. Omenainen tuoksu, jossa myöskin parfyymiä, konvehtia, konjakkkia ja kaakaota. Maussakin hedelmää, makeutta ja vaniljaa. Pisteet: 85/100.



I went to Viisi Penniä pub yesterday to taste few beers and whiskies. I started with Beer Hunter's Mufloni Säppi APA which was very nice beer with hops and floral aromas. It was also citric and fruity. Points: 36/50. After that I tasted Brew Dog's Chaos Theory. That too was great. Caramel, fruits and hops on the nose and nuts, vinegar and hops on the palate. Points: 36/50. Then Rogue's Old Crustacean Barleywine Style. Fruity, sweet, veggies and yeast on the nose and malts, sour and sweet on the palate. Points: 34/50. I also tasted some whiskies. I had local speciality called Penni Peated Malt. This is infact Smoky Joe that was finished inside Pedro Ximenes filled small barrel. Great finish. Leather, perfume and smoke on the nose and medicine, sherry, smoke and toffee on the palate. Points: 86/100. Then Bruichladdich's Octomore 4_167 which had honey, salt, smoke and spices. Points: 87/100. I ended the night with Glenlivet's 18 year old. The 12 year old isn't my favourite but this is better. Very fruity, sweet and honey-flavoured whisky. Points: 86/100. Today I went to Kitty's pub at the centre of Helsinki. I've always loved real ale and that's why I wanted to visit that pub. They had Tring brewery's Bring me sunshine -ale. Very nice like real ale's usually are. Floral, fruity and hoppy ale. Good for hot summer days. Points: 38/50. I had Auchentoshan Valinch on the side. Nice whisky for it. Apples, perfume, praline, cognac and cocoa on the nose and fruits, sweetness and vanilla on the palate. Points: 85/100.

Old Buck 2005/2012, 6YO (41.1%)

Poikkeuksellisesti 41.1% Old Buck versio, joka tislattu 25.10.2005 ja pullotettu 26.3.2012 ja kypsytetty Bourbon-tynnyrissä nro 6. Jostain oudosta syystä volttimäärä on alle "normaalin" Old Buckin ja siihen ei selitystä vielä ole tiedossa. Myöskin toinen outo, makuun liittyvä juttu, on se että vaikka kypsytys on tapahtunut Bourbon-tynnyrissä, niin maussa ja tuoksussa voimakkaasti tulevat esille rommirusina, madeira-viini, hedelmät ja hunaja. Tosi viininen. Etikettikin on käynyt läpi uudistautumisen. Hieno viski siltikin ja tässä kai on sitä viskimagiikkaa parhaimmillaan, kun lopputulos on muuta kuin odotetaan.

Oddly only 41.1% Old Buck released. Hard to say why it's not the "normal" Old Buck ABV this time. Distilled 25.10.2005 and bottled 26.3.2012. Matured in Bourbon barrel no 6. The other odd thing relates to aromas and flavours: despite Bourbon-barrel influence there are lots of rumraisins and Madeira wine in nose and taste. Also fruits and honey. Very winey-like Old Buck. Also the label's been redesigned. Very nice whisky and maybe this is a perfect example of whisky magic as the resulted whisky is different what you've been expecting.


Pisteet/points: n23+t22+f21+b21=87/100 (kouluarvosana 8.5)

Mortlach 15 YO (Gordon & MacPhail)

Mortlach and Mike Oldfield

Today I purchased this bottle from our booze shop Alko. Before this I've tasted five Mortlach's and given ratings between 84-89 points. This is no exception. Very good single malt. Amber coloured whisky has fruity, sweet, soapy and tobacco aromas. It's medium-bodied and on the palate I taste fruits, oak, sherry and toffee. Sweet and very nice whisky indeed. Points: nose22+taste23+finish21+balance22 = 88/100 (9-).

Tulipa ostettua tänään Alkosta pullo Mortlachia. Ennen tätä olen maistanut viittä eri Morttia ja arviot ovat olleet välillä 84-89 pistettä. Eipä tämäkään tee poikkeusta. Hyvä single malt. Meripihkan värinen viski, jossa tuoksussa hedelmää, makeutta, saippuaakin sekä tupakkaa. Maussa taasen hedelmää, tammea, sherryä ja toffeeta. Makea ja hyvä viski. Pisteet: tuoksu22+maku23+jälkimaku21+balanssi22 = 88/100 (kouluarvosana 9-).

Mike Oldfield and friends playing Tubular Bells. I remember seeing this in 1978 or something like that on Finnish TV. Brilliant.

Mike Oldfield ja kamut soittamassa Tubular Bellsiä. Muistaakseni tuli telsusta 1978 paikkeilla.  Upea teos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9A60e16SvM

Friday Night Grateful Dead, part 04: Bertha

Fuck. This is some a great tune. Great riff that starts with G and C.

Friday Night Grateful Dead, part 03: 

To me the best GD period is definitely Keith & Donna Godchaux -period.

It's great to get drunk when listening to this, fukgnkk hjka oauoajkj,

Shepherd Neame Generation Ale

Thank you T & J (and Tia) for a fun evening at the local pub. I had some terrific beers and whiskies tonight. The most interesting item was Shepherd Neame's Generation Ale 2011. The bartender explained that this beer is brewed only when the owner of the brewery kicks the bucket. Sorry for my expression. The bottle was 750 ml and it was inside a beautiful wooden casket. Beer itself was full-bodied, with fruity, liquor and salty aromas and flavours. 45 Euro's for a bottle. Was it worth it? Well, I'll tell you later...

Kiitos T & J (ja Tia) hienosta illasta. Monta hyvää olutta ja viskiä tuli maistettua. Ehdottomasti kiinnostavin oli Shepherd Neame'n Generation Ale 2011. Baarimikko kertoili tarinaa, että tätä olutta pannaan vain silloin, kun panimon omistaja heittää hokkarit ja valta vaihtuu. Olut oli täyteläistä ja hedelmäistä, liköörimäistä ja suolaista. Mutta oliko 45 euroa järkevä sijoitus? Kerronpa siitä myöhemmin...

Bunnahabhain aged 9 years old

Bunnahabhain and Madness.

Just grabbed this from my local booze shop Alko. A small 200 ml advance sample bottle. This is bottled by Douglas Laing and it's from Bunnahabhain distillery. Matured 9 years in a sherry butt from October 2001 to July  2011. First scents I feel are cooged vegs and grass. Then sherry comes in. Also on the palate I can feel caramel and lots of sherry all over the mouth. The finish is very long and also filled with sherry notes. Points: 86/100. Good whisky. Goes well with Madness...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunnahabhain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwIe_sjKeAY

Poacher's Choice and Achel 8 Blond at Janoinen Lohi

A walk in foggy Helsinki on a Saturday afternoon. Then finding ourselves at a pub called Janoinen Lohi (thirsty salmon) after having a breakfast at Cafe Tin-Tin Tango. Very cute barmaid recommended Badger's beer called Poacher's Choice. And it really was one helluva beer. Even the colour was very alluring: a dark and ruby red. Very nice. Lots of liquorice but still in a smooth way. Not disturbing amounts I mean. Fruits, caramel and nuts also. Points: 42/50.

I also spotted Achel 8 blonde on the shelf. I love trappist beers and I haven't tasted this yet. Very nice beer but slightly - and I emphasize on the word slightly - less interesting than the bruin version. Floral, fruity beer with white bread on the palate. Very nice full-bodied trappist beer. Points: 42/50.

Two over 40 point beers at the same day. Fucking nice. Pardon my French...

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout and Fuller's Vintage Ale 2011

Good grief. Couple of really nice beers at the start of the weekend. Brooklyn's stout was really nice. Beer itself was black but the head was coffee coloured. It looked like coffee when I looked at it from top. I noticed bready, burnt and coffee aromas and burnt, chocolate and coffee flavours. Fortunately not too much chocolate. Full-bodied and creamy beer. Swell. Points: 40/50.

Fuller's Vintage 2011 was very full-bodied bitter. Lots of caramel, nuts, bitter, fruits and malts. Yummy. Points: also 40/50.

All in all, a perfect way to start a weekend.

Some whiskies at Viisi Penniä

Saturday afternoon at Viisi Penniä. Just had few whiskies and couple of beers. The whiskies I had were Tullibardine, Caol Ila and Glen Moray. First was Tullibardine's Aged Oak Edition. Pale white wine coloured whisky was fruity, perume and woody scented with fruity, grassy and vanilla flavours. Nice whisky for the everyday use. Points: 83/100. Caol Ila was bottled by Duncan Taylor and it was 30 years old. It had smoky and band-aid aromas and fruity, honey and smoky flavours. Taste is definitely better than nose. This whisky would be a good ingredient to a sauce for a steak. Points: 83/100. The last dram was by Glen Moray 24 year old and this was also bottled by Duncan Taylor. First sniff and the nose was filled with toffee.Lots of toffee. I just can't get anything else out of it. Taste had fruity and sweet notes. On the other hand this was nice but still quite boring and one-sided. Points: 78/100.

Nice whiskies but none of those three were really thrilling. Great afternoon at the local pub, though.

Friday Night Grateful Dead, part 03: China Cat Sunflower / I Know You Rider

This Friday's choice is China Cat Sunflower / I Know You Rider played at European tour 1972 with only one drummer + a new keyboardist Keith Godchaux was in the line-up. Jerry was playing his Fender Stratocaster before buying his Wolf guitar. Magic times. Enjoy. A dram of Laphroaig suits this fine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOXPVRLpoQA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebWm_76riIc&feature=related

Experimental blended malts part 05

Glen Scotia 12 YO + Bowmore Legend.

Just another experiment. I noticed that Glen Scotia is just not good enough to blend into anything. This blend's got a nose of cooked vegs, leather, sea and oranges. Taste wasn't better with citrus, peaty and salty flavours. Medium long finish that doesn't really tickle your throat. Points: nose20+taste19+finish19+balance19 = 77 points.

Few drams at Pikkulintu

Last Friday night at Pikkulintu pub which locates somewhere east from where we stand (Puotila district in Helsinki). Lots of whiskies on the shelves but I was also surprised to see a bottle of single malt from Pori available: Old Buck. That porinian single malt is excellent so when you have the chance to taste that you should have a dram. But now to the other whiskies I had that night.

I had Glenfarclas 175th, Glenlossie 10 YO and Auchentoshan 18 YO American bourbon oak which were okay but the best of the night (excluding Old Buck of course, haha) was GlenDronach 21 YO Parliament. That was just awsome whisky and even a splash of water didn't ruin it at all. The colour of the whisky was deep ruby red and it had a beautiful diamond like feeling when I looked at it. A sniff and there were lots of nutty and sherry scents. Also rumraisins and fudge. Lots of sherry on the palate. Full-bodied whisky with a sherry and nutty long finish. Recommended. Points: nose24+taste24+finish23+balance24 = 95/100.

Friday Night Grateful Dead, part 02: Shakedown Street

Definitely I would include this song to any Dead live albums. Nice funky rhythm with great Jerry's solos. Bob's rhythm guitar is fantastic and the rest of the band plays well. All in all, Dead's live performances outplayed the most of the studio songs. This is no exception. You just could listen and listen nevertheless how long this would go on. Jerry is playing his Wolf custom built guitar and Bob's playing his Ibanez custom guitar. Beautiful combination of these two guitars. This song was included on the LP Shakedown Street which was released in 1978 and first played live on 31 August 1978 at Morrison, Colorado.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds3Niwhxhas

Uisge2012

How come 12 months go so fast? It was just like yesterday when the Uisge2011 was held at Gallows Bird. This time the whisky festivals were held at Vanha Ylioppilastalo at the centre of Helsinki. Pub environment was perhaps better when it comes to enjoy whisky but VY had more space inside and I assume there weren't any queues outside like last year. I did miss some really interesting items this time but all in all it's great that the powers behind this event had the enthuasism to organize this. Thank You and hope we see you next year.

Me and my wife tasted 14 different single malts (+ Tia tasted also Balvenie 21YO) and had a really great time. I even tore down the stand of Grant's - of course, this was an accident. Believe it or not. Excellent feeling and great that so many foreign whisky experts travelled to Finland just for this happening. Hopefully there will be Uisge2013...

My ratings this evening:
Talisker 25 YO (2005 edition) = 93
Tobermory 15 YO = 92
Highland Park Thor = 90
BenRiach Rioja Wood Finish = 90
Glenmorangie 25 YO = 89
Old Pulteney 21 YO = 88
Glenlivet Guardians = 87
Bruichladdich PC9 = 85
Macmyra Special 07 = 84
Bunnahabhain 32 YO = 81
Isle Of Jura Boutique Barrels = 81
Auchentoshan Bordeaux Cas Matured = 80
Glenlivet Archive 21 YO = 80
Hakushu 12 YO = 73

Congrats to Talisker!

BTW. The gentleman behind Balvenie desk suggested us to taste Port Wood 21 YO and Parmesan cheese together. That sounded a wee bit odd but after tasting I was gobsmacked. Great combination. Thanks for the idea.

Here are some other links about this marvelous event:
http://viskisieppo.blogspot.com/2012/02/siepon-uisge-2012.html
http://smokeonthewater-fin.blogspot.com/2012/02/uisge-2012.html

Friday Night Grateful Dead, part 01: Jack Straw

This is one of my favourite Grateful Dead tunes. Just awsome. Grateful Dead is one of the best live bands ever lived. They never played the same setlist. One of the things I regret is that I never saw this beautiful band live.They mostly played at USA and very seldom played live in Europe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqUUqnjxwqk&feature=related

Long live The Dead.

Saimaan Panimo: Marsalkka Portteri

I bumbed into this at the local Alko. ABV 8.6% and pitch black colour. Sounds great. Lots of bready and coffee scents all over and bready and malty flavours. I was really gobsmacked. Great porter. Very full-bodied with syrupy mouth feel. Very nice indeed.

Progressive rock from Pori, part 01

Porinian prog'n'roll is famous all around the world. First Finnish bands that have ever performed at John Peel's radio show were from Pori: Deep Turtle and Circle. This musical piece is by a band called Pharaoh Overlord. Very hypnotic and brilliant piece.

http://soundcloud.com/ektrorecords/pharaoh-overlord-rodent

Stone Brewing

Today I had the chance of tasting couple of great ales by Stone Brewing company that locates at San Diego. First I tasted Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale which was really hoppy. Lots of floral, grassy and hoppy aromas with citric, fruity, hoppy and salty flavours. Points: 42/50. The second was Stone Pale Ale which was a milder one. It had malty, bitter and nutty aromas and flavours and was clearly milder but still very enjoyable ale. Points: 36/50. Great beers. If you have a chance to taste these, then don't miss that chance...

Brakspear Bitter

As my favourite bitter Adnams Bitter is no longer available (Southwold Bitter replaced that) I've found this very tasty bitter: Brakspear bitter. Nevertheless it's only 3.4% ABV it is very tasty. It is malty and nutty and of course bitter.

My rating:

Legless Scotsman's rating: 38/50
(aroma 7/10, appearance 4/5, flavour and finish 8/10, palate 4/5, overall score 15/20)(Colour and head: pale brown / Nose: fruity, floral / Taste: hoppy, fruity, coffee, toffee.)

Experimental blended malts part 04

Glen Garioch 1797 + Connemara Peated Single Malt.

Merging more o' these Scottish and Irish whiskies and A wasn't a bit disappointed. A lot of spicy aromas and salmiac. Winey and bushes on the field. I know, sounds odd but like walking on the nature. On palate I tasted more spicy flavours and woody notes. Finish was long and spicy. Points: nose22+taste23+finish22+balance22 = 89/100.

Something to go for with this blend: Grateful Dead and Shakedown Street.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R3WBhod0sE

You tell me this town ain't got no heart
Well, well, well, you can never tell
Sunny side of the street is dark
Well, well, well, you can never tell...