Uisge 2013

Perjantaina suunnistin kolmansiin Uisge -festareihin Suomessa. Ensimmäinenhän pidettiin 2011 Espoossa Gallows Bird -pubissa, mutta se osoittautui liian pieneksi ympäristöksi. Messujen suosio kun yllätti kaikki. Viime vuonna sitten ensimmäisen kerran tämä järjestettiin Vanhalla ylioppilastalolla Helsingissä. On hienoa huomata, että tämä upea viskimessu on tullut tosi suosituksi ja perjantainakin illansuussa oli jo aika ryysistä tiskien edessä. Mutta hyvin silti pystyi esim. juttelemaan Skotlannista asti tulleiden tislaamojen edustajien kanssa. Suuri kiitos järjestäjille tästä hienosta tilaisuudesta. Toivottavasti tämä ilo jatkuu vielä vuosia eteenpäin.

Ray McIntosh (Tullamore Dew)

Suomen Mallaswhiskyseuran presidentti Mika Jansson sai myös houkuteltua meikäläisen osallistumaan irkkuviski-tastingiin. Tullamore Dew'n Ray McIntosh pitikin erittäin eläväisen puolituntisen ja olin iloinen, että tuli osallistuttua tähän. Paljon uutta tietoa irlantilaisista viskeistä tuli tässä esille. Ja ehkä onkin hyvä aina välillä astua mukavuusboxista ulos ja tutustua kunnolla myös muiden maiden viskeihin.

Oli myös mukava turista Viskisiepon ja Mikan kanssa - mistäs muustakaan kuin viskeistä. 

Seuraavat 17 viskiä siis tuli maisteltua perjantaina (paremmuusjärjestyksessä):

Bunnahabhain 37 YO (Old & Rare) = 94/100 (illan ylivoimaisesti paras viski. Upea)
Glenmorangie Ealanta = 88/100
Dalmore 18 YO = 86/100
Glengoyne 18 YO = 85/100
Mortlach 1989 (Mackillop's Choice) = 85/100
Balvenie Single Barrel 15 YO = 84/100 
Glengoyne 14 YO Single Cask = 84/100
Caol Ila Young & Feisty (The Gibbon's Provenance) = 83/100Clynelish 23 YO (The First Editions) = 82/100
Longmorn 12 YO (Distillery Labels by Gordon & MacPhail) = 82/100
Tullamore Dew 12 YO = 81/100
Arran Cask Strength 12 YO = 80/100
Ledaig 10 YO (new bottle) = 80/100
Ledaig 1994 (Gordon & MacPhail) = 80/100
Tullamore Dew = 80/100
Littlemill 21 YO (The First Editions) = 79/100
Imperial 1990 (Mackillop's Choice) = 78/100

Että tällaisia tuli maisteltua. Paljon paljon jäi vielä maistelematta, mutta ehkä sitten myöhemmin...

Uisgesta muualla:
http://viskisieppo.blogspot.fi/2013/02/uisge-2013-siepon-kokemana.html

http://smokeonthewater-fin.blogspot.fi/2013/02/uisge-2013.html

https://plus.google.com/photos/110444193281158227741/albums/5840408060247940849?banner=pwa

http://whiskylandlord.weebly.com/1/post/2013/02/uisge-2013.html

http://maltwhiskyobserver.blogspot.fi/2013/02/uisge-2013-festival-in-helsinki.html

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

Uisge2011 (12 February 2011)

Thanks to organizers and Gallows Bird (pub in the city of Espoo) for the first Finnish Whisky Festival. Marvelous happening. Lots of different single malt whiskies, including Finnish Old Buck and Teerenpeli. Also lots of Scottish distillery representatives there. I hope there will be Uisge2012 next year somewhere in Finland. I read that there were huge queues in the evening so perhaps a bigger place would suit better next year. But of course this first festival is just about learning. Next time the organizers will be wiser.

I started my Friday afternoon with Old Buck 4th release (6 years old). After that sherry version I notice this as quite different. Very vanilla flavoured. At least to my mouth. Not so good as the previous releases but still not bad at all. I gave 89 points to this. I also tasted that other Finnish distillery product: Teerenpeli 8 years old which was quite fruity with praline notes. Also toffee in the taste. Teerenpeli's whiskies are getting better as they get older. 89 points also to this and I have to say that this is the best Teerenpeli so far I've tasted. Next one was Glen Garioch 1991 (1991/2010) after a nice chat with Morrison-Bowmore's representative. This was very fruity whisky with oranges in the taste. Excellent whisky. And... also 89 points. But don't worry, the next whisky didn't get 89 points. This was Auchroisk 1999 by Duncan Taylor. Grassy, heathery, sweet, fruity and marmalade flavoured whisky. "Only" 84 points. This was the worst of the lot. And let's move on: Bruichladdich 1998 Oloroso and this was a step towards a better whisky. Very winey whisky, especially Madeira wine came to my mind. Sweet and winey aftertaste. 90 points. And the next one was the winner: Highland Park 30 Years Old. Marvelous winey, nutty, toffee and tobacco scented liquid with fruity, winey, salty, honey and spicy taste. Aftertaste was long, winey and fruity. And definitely doesn't need any drop of water innit. 93 points. I ended the whisky tasting with Bruichladdich's Octomore 3_152. Very peaty whisky indeed. What else can you say about it. Nevertheless the peat was overwhelming it still was enjoyable dram. Very dry aftertaste. You feel your throat's just drying. 90 points. Of course I also enjoyed real ale as Gallows Bird have two of that yummy yummy available. Now I drank Dark Star's Hophead and Acorn's Sovereign. Especially the latter was very nice ale.
All in all, I enjoyed this first whisky festival that was held in Finland. Hope we see next year.

Here are couple of links to the pictures of the happening:
http://smokeonthewater-fin.blogspot.com/2011/02/uisge-2011-kuvina.html
http://www.karhut.org/kuvat/smws/Uisge_2011/index.html

Slainte mhath