Once again the organizers at LA Scotch Club put together a mighty tasting. This time it would be whisky from Argentina, Australia, Tasmania, South Africa and New Zealand. And if trying whisky from these areas wasn’t unique enough, they took it one step further and decided to pair the EIGHTEEN samples with regional food.
I was not at the event as press, so it wasn’t until I got home that I smacked my forehead and thought, “gee, that was something to write about.
” So my notes are brief, just a little of what I thought was remarkable.
However, at the event, all of us had a grand time describing the aromas and flavors we found. I can recollect that my descriptors included banana peel, toasted marshmallow, praline almond, cream, vanilla, chocolate, smoke, cigar and many others.
Invitation
This is the event that we have been waiting for two years for. The LA Scotch Club will be turning the whisky upside down in more ways than one as we head to the other side of the world to experience the whiskies of Argentina, Australia (and Tasmania), New Zealand, and South Africa. There has never been another whisky tasting like this anywhere in the world. Many of these bottles had to travel the continents in suitcases to arrive here as they are not sold outside of their home country…
During the whisky tasting of 18 different pours (20 for LASC members) we’ll enjoy the cuisine and music from the countries we are visiting. Argentine steak, empanadas, South African Boerewors and more will be shared as we bbq over wood coals.
LAscotchclub.com
DINNER
Vacio (flank steak) cooked over wood coals – Argentina
Assortment of Empanadas – Argentina
Boerewors (sausage) – South Africa
Billatong jerky – South Africa
Australian Potato Salad – Australia
Kiwi fruit – New Zealand
Pavlova – Australia
(I found the sausage and jerky too gamey – dry and darkly spiced – for my tastes but I could see how it could complement the whiskeys. The potato salad, empanadas and fruit were very yummy.
My favorite dish was the Vacio flank steak, especially when I covered it in sauce.)
WHISKY (My favorites – before bottle fatigue set in – are noted as #FINDMORE)
Argentina
La Alazana Patagonian Single Malt
Mainland Australia
Lark Distiller’s Selection
Smith’s of Angaston 14yr #FINDMORE
Limeburners Single Whisky (cask M97)
Starward Wine Cask
Tasmania
Tasmanian Heartwood – Four Corners of Ross
Sullivan’s Cove Small Batch French Oak Casks #FINDMORE
Sullivan’s Cove Cask Strength Bourbon Cask #FINDMORE
Overeem Port Cask #FINDMORE
Cradle Mountain 18yr Cadenhead’s
New Zealand
Waitui Manuka Mead Barrel
Old Hokonui
Lammerlaw 10yr
Thomson Two Tone Release #FINDMORE
Milford 10yr
South Island 21yr
South Africa
Draymans Solera Reserve
Three Ships 10yr
Bain’s Cape Single Grain Whisky
LASC Member-Only Bottles
Bakery Hill Doublewood
Tasmanian Heartwood – Four Corners of Ross
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
