ForWhiskeyLovers.com Explorer’s Game: We Were Right and We’re Getting Better! (Vintage Eve 8/2012)

Once again Eddie and I received our quarterly Whiskey Explorers Club shipment with equal parts thirst and anticipation. (Every time I use the word anticipation I think of Dr. Frank-N-Furter from Rocky Horror Picture Show. Teasing rain-soaked and lost Janet and Brad with his merry widow get-up…about what might come next!)

01_center_a-cropped-800wThe small samples, enough for a glass, we knew would come only with an identification number. We knew that we (meaning me) would have to etch [not sure what word you’re looking for, maybe “eke”?] out time to sit in front of the computer and go through the blind tasting game before finding out exactly what we had in our glasses. We also knew that the game was fun…and well worth it if we tasted something we would want to purchase.

 

We knew that we had failed many times at the game, and we didn’t care.

Below are the results of two of our recent tastings. It would seem that I’m really good at guessing the name of scotch from a line-up of names and the price range. But the buck seems to stop there and I don’t care. This is wine and scotch 101.

I’m sharing the results as these turned out to be very remarkable single malt scotches…and I look forward to having them again:

Game One:

Thank you for playing this round of My Whisk(e)y IQ! The whiskey you just tasted is…

Highland Park 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky

First released in 1997, Highland Park immediately found favour with whisky writers and enthusiasts all over the world. It is a perfectly balanced single malt with a toffee sweetness and a mouthwateringly smokey finish.

It was awarded the ultimate accolade in 2005 and again in 2009, when US spirits writer F. Paul Pacult named it “Best Spirit in the World”. He states; “After 25 years’ experience, it fits my profile of what makes a perfect whisky, which is to say it’s totally in harmony, there are no rough edges and everything is melded together brilliantly.”

My Whisk(e)y IQ Game Scoring

Tasting IQ (50 pts total)
– Q1: Color (10 pts)
– Q2: Nose (10 pts)
– Q3: Body (10 pts)
– Q4: Palate\Taste (10 pts)
– Q5: Finish (10 pts)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE IQ\Q6 (15 pts total)
BUSINESS IQ\Q7 (15 pts total)
BRAND IQ\Q8 (20 pts total)
BONUS BOOSTER IQ\Q9 (5 pts total)

 

Your Whisk(e)y IQ score for this round is

TASTING IQ: 3.33
PEOPLE’S CHOICE IQ: 3.70
BUSINESS IQ: 9.00
BRAND IQ: 20.00
BONUS BOOSTER IQ: 5.00
ZEN MASTER IQ: 41.03

 

Distillers Tasting Notes Correct Answer
Color: Clear, Burnished Gold, Bright
Nose/ Aroma: Sweet, Toffee, Oaky, Smokey
Body: Full Bodied, Rich
Taste: Smokey, Nutty, Marzipan, Honey, Toffee
Finish: Lingering, Round, Soft
Price: $95.50

 

Game Two:

Thank you for playing this round of My Whisk(e)y IQ! The whiskey you just tasted is…

Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Highland Single Malt

A great whisky holding all the flavours of all the Glenfarclas in one glass. Being so warming, this is the perfect Hogmanay dram. Don’t be afraid of the strength and order a 210, if you dare!

The smoothness makes the 105 drinkable at cask strength, but we suggest adding a little water to fully explore its great depth.

For its price to performance ratio, the Malt Maniacs named Glenfarclas 105 their ‘Bang for your Buck’ in 2004.

 

My Whisk(e)y IQ Game Scoring

Tasting IQ (50 pts total)
– Q1: Color (10 pts)
– Q2: Nose (10 pts)
– Q3: Body (10 pts)
– Q4: Palate\Taste (10 pts)
– Q5: Finish (10 pts)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE IQ\Q6 (15 pts total)
BUSINESS IQ\Q7 (15 pts total)
BRAND IQ\Q8 (20 pts total)
BONUS BOOSTER IQ\Q9 (5 pts total)

 

Your Whisk(e)y IQ score for this round is

TASTING IQ: 9.61
PEOPLE’S CHOICE IQ: 2.74
BUSINESS IQ: 12.00
BRAND IQ: 20.00
BONUS BOOSTER IQ: 5.00
ZEN MASTER IQ: 49.35

 

Distillers Tasting Notes Correct Answer
Color: Deep Peaty Gold
Nose/ Aroma: Sweet, Dark Toffee, Complex, Oaky, Apples & Pears
Body: Assertive, Dry
Taste: Sherried Fruit, Fruit pulp, Oak
Finish: Lingering, Warming, Smoky, Spicy, Rounded
Price: $84.95