2013 :: The Beginning of it All
TAX STAMP NIGHT​
March 2013​
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Bourbons that were bottled prior to 1985 had to have a tax stamp over the cap to prove that duty was paid. Several of the brands that we know and love today actually came from different distilleries during that time period. Several of those distilleries no longer exist and so we will open bottles from back in the day to see what bourbon used to be like.
Los Angeles Event:
1. Early Times Straight Bourbon (early 1980s) – no longer available in USA
2. Early Times Current Release- blend
3. Antique 6yr 80 proof (late 1970s)
4. Old Crow 80 proof 1978
5. Old Crow Current Release
6. Old Taylor 80 proof 1977
7. Old Taylor 6yr 86 proof 1984
8. Yellowstone 4 yr 86 proof 1976
9. Old 1889 Royal 12yr 86 proof 1948
Orange County Event:
1. Early Times Straight Bourbon (early 1980s) – no longer available in USA
2. Early Times Current Release- blend
3. Antique 6yr 80 proof (late 1970s)
4. Old Crow 80 proof 1976
5. Old Crow Current Release
6. Old Taylor 80 proof 1977
7. Old Taylor 6yr 86 proof 1982
8. Yellowstone 4 yr 86 proof 1976
9. Ezra Brooks 15yr 101 proof 1969
The Exclusive Malts with David Stirk
Date: Thursday April 25th @ 7pm
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Los Angeles finally got a taste of Mr. David Stirk of The Creative Whisky Company.
Seven excellent single malts were tasted plus dinner.
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'00, Aberlour 12 year, 55.7%
'00, Ardmore 12 year, 56.3%
​'97, Clynelish 15 year, 53.5%
​'95, Mortlach 17 year, 53.3%
​'92, Glen Grant 20 year, 55.7%
​'88, Littlemill 24 year, 49.8%
​'01, Bowmore 11 Year, 53.6%​
ARDBEG PARTY / ARDBOG DAY:​
Sunday June 2nd​, 2013
THE FINAL BENEFIT FOR THE GODFATHER OF LA WHISKY, MARTI KARI
We experienced the full maturation of Ardbeg along with some special releases including the new Ardbog. These bottles were generously donated by Mr. Tim Puett of the arbegproject.com who some might consider the US expert on Ardbeg single malt.
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Ardbeg Very Young (bottled in 2004)
Ardbeg Still Young (bottled in 2006)
Ardbeg Almost There (bottled in 2007)
Ardbeg Renaissance (bottled in 2008)
Ardbeg 10 (current release)
Ardbeg Day
Ardbeg Gallileo
Ardbog
The Raffle Winners
UHDE "Kill Bottle Night" BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Date: Sunday September 8th, 2013
SCWC hosted its inaugural "Kill Bottle Meeting"; this is where you show up and drink the zombie bottles that are still terrorizing the closet of the newlyweds. There was something there for whatever type of whisky that you would like. Uhde just got married and has a birthday so that calls for a drinking time. We got a chance to re-visit many of the bottles from previous SCWC events and finish them off.
THE PARTIAL LINE-UP:
Old Fitzgerald BIB DSP-KY-1 2012
Very Special Old Fitzgerald BHC Louisville 1994
Very Special Old Fitzgerald 12yr
Rebel Yell 90proof Bourbon 1982 Tax Stamp
Belle Meade Bourbon 90 proof
Early Times Straight Bourbon (early 1980s)
Early Times Current Release- blend
Antique 6yr 80 proof (late 1970s)
Old Crow 80 proof 1978
Old Crow Current Release
Old Taylor 80 proof 1977
Old Taylor 6yr 86 proof 1984
Yellowstone 4 yr 86 proof 1976
Ardbeg Gallileo
Ardbeg 10yr
Cabin Still 80 proof
Peat’s Beast Single Malt 46%
Old Bardstown Bourbon 90 proof
Amrut Peated 46% abv
Amrut Peated Cask Strength 62.8% abv
Hammer head 1989 20yr Czech Single Malt 40.7% abv
W. L. Weller 12yr 45% abv
Eades Highland Double Malt 46% abv
Isle of Jura 15yr 1996 Chieftains 46% abv
Mortlach 15yr 1995 Chieftains 55.2% abv
Caol Ila Port Wood 1998 Gordon MacPhail 45% abv
Benromach Marsala 45% abv
Macallan 13yr 1998 Hart Bros 46% abv
Rosebank 1991 15yr 40% abv Gordon Macphail
Blackadder peat Reek 11yr 1996 58.1% abv
Sazerac 18yr
Laphroaig 18yr 1990 46% abv Hart Bros
Caol Ila 20yr 1990 46% abv Hart Bros
Peace Maker Whiskey 40% abv
Glen Grant 13yr Hart Bros 46% abv
Eagle Rare 10yr bourbon
SCWC KAVALAN VERTICAL
Saturday, September 28, 2013
This was the exclusive chance to experience this new world whisky in an organized vertical. Kavalan is a Taiwanese Distillery that is making single malt whisky that is rumored to rival some of the best scotch whiskies. It has won multiple awards and high ratings including a 97 points and “New World Whisky of the Year” from the Whisky Bible. Kavalan is currently not yet available in the US Market, but we have slowly managed to acquire 2 bottles of the core series and one bottle of each of the complete Solist Single Cask Series. We have all read about Kavalan, but only a few of us have actually been able to try it. This was a night you didn't want to miss!
The line up:
1. Kavalan Single Malt Whisky
2. Kavalan Concertmaster Single Malt Port Cask
3. Kavalan Solist Single Cask Strength ex-Bourbon Cask
4. Kavalan Solist Single Cask Strength Fino Sherry Cask
5. Kavalan Solist Single Cask Strength Sherry Cask
6. Kavalan Solist Single Cask Strength Vinho Barrique
PRE-1964 WHISKEY TASTING
Date: Monday, October 28, 2013
THE LINEUP:
1. Old Sunny Brook 4yr Bourbon
93 proof - distilled 1937(?)
bottled in 1941
2. Old Hillsboro Brand Bourbon
100 proof distilled 1937
bottled in 1942
3. G.R. Sharpe Old Style Whiskey
100 proof distilled 1913
bottled in 1917
4. Old Forester Bourbon
100 proof distilled 1952
bottled in 1957
5. Ambassador 25yr Scotch
86 proof distilled in the 1920's
bottled late 1940's early 1950's
6. Ballentines 30yr Scotch
86 proof distilled in the late 1920's early 1930's
bottled between 1954 - 1964
BUFFALO TRACE ANTIQUE COLLECTION
[BTAC 2013 Vertical + Stagg Jr.]
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Eagle Rare 17 Year Old:
The 2013 edition of this bourbon was distilled in the spring of 1993 and has been aging since then 19-year-old white American oak barrels. This year’s Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon was distilled in the spring of 1993, and is actually 19 years old.
George T. Stagg:
The 2012 release of this perennial favorite was named the “World’s Best North American Whiskey” at the 2013 World Whiskies Awards. This year's release of uncut, unfiltered bourbon was distilled in the spring of 1997. It is 128.2 proof (64.1% abv), not as strong as some years. It has been stored on lower floors of the aging warehouse, which means cooler temperatures there kept the proof down slightly.
Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old:
Last year’s release was awarded a 95 rating and Liquid Gold Award in Jim Murray’s 2013 Whisky Bible. This 2013 rye whiskey release is considered dry and mellow.
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye:
This is an uncut and unfiltered straight rye whiskey. The 2012 edition was named “World Whisky of the Year” in Jim Murray’s 2013 Whisky Bible. This year’s Handy was distilled in the spring of 2007, and comes in at 128.4 proof (64.2% abv).
William Larue Weller:
This is the collection’s uncut, unfiltered, wheated recipe bourbon. The previous edition was named the “Second Finest Whisky in the World” in Jim Murray’s 2013 Whisky Bible. The 2013 offering was distilled in the spring of 2001 and registers at 136.2 proof (68.1% abv).
Stagg Jr.:
Few bourbons have entered the market with as much consumer anticipation as Stagg Jr., a younger version of Buffalo Trace's barrel proof super star. The bourbon has no age statement but the back label states it was aged for "nearly a decade." (67.2% abv).
STITZEL-WELLER TASTING I
Sunday, January 27, 2013 @ Far Bar DTLA
Monday, January 28, 2013 @ Daily Pint Santa Monica
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Stitzel-Weller was closed in late 1991 / early 1992 and was made famous by popularity of the Pappy Van Winkle bottlings. The word now is that Pappy 20 is no longer fully Stitzel-Weller and the pappy 15 is all buffalo trace juice. We will try a bottle of Pappy 20yr from 2009 when it was all Stitzel-Weller and compare that to the 2012 release side-by-side. We will also do a few more comparisons and try a few more Stitzel-Weller bourbons as well that are a little less famous. One notable on that we will definitely open is a W.L. Weller Centenial 10yr BHC Louisville bottling that has sold for several hundred dollars at auction.
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The full line up is as follows
1. Pappy Van Winkle 20yr 2010*
2. Pappy Van Winkle 20yr 2012
3. Cabin Still 1989*
4. Cabin Still 2012
5. Old Fitzgerald BIB DSP-KY-16*
6. Old Fitzgerald BIB DSP-KY-1 2012
7. Very Special Old Fitzgerald BHC Louisville 1994*
8. Very Special Old Fitzgerald 12yr VS current release
9. W.L Weller Special Reserve 7yr 1995*
10. W.L Weller Centennial 10yr BHC Louisville 1994*
11. Rebel Yell 90proof Bourbon 1982 Tax Stamp*
*indicates that I believe that it is Stitzel-Weller juice
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Since the inaugural tasting has had such a high level of interest. We have added a second day to help welcome members that we could not fit into the first tasting. It will be Monday Jan 28th at the Daily Pint in Santa Monica. The line up will be slightly different but I think that you will like it.
The full line up is as follows
1. Pappy Van Winkle 20yr bottled in 2010*
2. Pappy Van Winkle 20yr bottled in 2012
3. Cabin Still circa 1989*
4. Cabin Still current release
5. Old Fitzgerald BIB DSP KY-16*
6. Old Fitzgerald BIB DSP KY – 1 current release
7. Very Special Old Fitzgerald 12yr BHC*
8. Very Special Old Fitzgerald 12yr VS current release
9. W.L Weller BHC 10yr Centennial Louisville edition*
10. Jefferson’s Presidential 18yr* – just for fun to see how it compares.
*indicates that I believe that it is Stitzel-Weller juice
On May 12th and May 13th we teamed up with LA Scotch Club and held 2 benefits for the Godfather of the LA Whisky scene.​
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Retailers from around the city generously donated gift cards and a few other prizes as well. Here is the list of retailers that supported the cause:
Everson Royce – Pasadena
K&L Wines – Hollywood
Vendome Wine and Spirits – Toluca Lake
Wades Wines – Agoura Hills
Wine and Liquor Depot – Van Nuys
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​Godfather of Whisky Benefit I:​
Sunday May 12th @ 7pm
1. Miltonduff 1989 22yr Cheiftain’s 55.1%
2. Glenfarclas 1996 15yr Traverso’s Bottling 46%
3. Highland Park Bicentenary 1977 American Release 43%
4. Highland Park 25yr early 2000s 50.7%
5. Bowmore 28yr 1984 D&M Aficionados Club 50%
6. Bowmore 1989 16yr 51.8%
7. Laphroaig 1995 16yr Signatory 59.5%
8. 1971 Longmorn- Glenlivet from Scott's Selection, bottled in 2004
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​Godfather of LA Whisky Benefit II:​​
Monday May 13th 2013 ​
1. Dallas Dhu 12yr Gordon Macphail 40% (Distillery Closed in 1983)
2. Rosebank 10yr 1992 Murray McDavid 46% (Distillery Closed in 1993)
3. Glenlochy 1980 24yr Duncan Taylor 61.2% abv (Distillery closed in 1983)
4. Glen Mhor 1978 botled in 2004 56% abv Scotts Selection (closed in 1983)
5. Imperial 17yr 1995 Duncan Taylor 53.2% (closed in 1998, Demolished 2013)
6. Compass Box Spice Tree first edition
(the use of additional wood in the barrel was made illegal for scotch because of this release)
7. The Classic Cask 35yr 1964 bottled in 1999 blend (this blend is no longer available)
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SCWC presented the complete line from the 2012 Best Independent Bottler of the Year Single Cask Nation. Joshua Hatton, President & Co-founder of the Jewish Whisky Company poured all six single cask, single malts. Appetizers were served.​
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Arran 12, Pinot Noir Cask
Laphroaig 6, Bourbon Cask
​Kilchoman 4, Bourbon Cask
​Dalmore 12, Pedro Ximenez Finished
​BenRiach 17, Peated, Bourbon Cask
Glen Moray 12, Bourbon Cask
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​more info about the ​Jewish Whisky Company​: singlecasknation.com​​
SINGLE CASK NATION with JOSHUA HATTON
Date: Tuesday July 2nd, 2013
THE MIGHTY SAZERAC 18 VERTICAL
Sunday April 14, 2013
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Sazerac 6yr
Sazerac 18 Fall 1981/ Summer 2000
Sazerac 18 Spring 1984 / Fall 2002
Sazerac 18 Spring 1984 / Fall 2004
Sazerac 18 Fall 2006
Sazerac 18 Fall 2010
Sazerac 18 Fall 2011
Sazerac 18 Fall 2012
BUNNAHABHAIN, TOBERMORY, & LEDAIG
Date: Thursday August 29th, 2013
Master distiller Ian Macmillan and Travis Tidwell of Bunnahabhain poured their range and educated us on their fine whiskys. Burn Stewart operates three distilleries: Deanston, Tobermory/Ledaig and Bunnahabhain.
THE LINE-UP:
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old
Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old
Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old
Bunnahabhain Toiteach
Tobermory 10 Year Old
Tobermory 15 Year Old
Ledaig 10 Year Old
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This night of 7 single malts was exclusive to Southern California Whiskey Club due to the generosity of Bunnahabhain.
The night was a success and we showed Master distiller Ian Macmillan and Travis Tidwell how Los Angeles appreciates their brands. Thank you for selling out this event! |
