Whisky Break!

The WC and the OP

2010-07-21T23:37:00.008+02:00

'Twas the Friday before the World Cup final and all were atwitter. Eventual doom had not yet cast it's mournful glower upon the Dutch, who, having just vaulted into the final, were ecstatic, which our background is supposed to illustrate, failing miserably. Okay, maybe not so miserably. Not with a new found friend cast our WB! way.

Nonetheless, folks, the stir then was palpable. If WB!'s scribbler had any excuse these last weeks, it was, "World Cup, man!" Every night. For weeks. It was glorious.

So there we were, all jittery, even if feigning disinterest, and out popped a sampling of the savoury soul of Ol' Pulteney 12, as a munificent a potable creature as ever to have been imbibed on a marvelous earth that can render such bounty upon us. And what a fantastic bottle! Ready made Captain's lamp, just plug 'n play.

So, what with our blasted attempt to convey the party scene midst-stadt, here is what it was supposed to show WB! readers:

A Glen and Song for Rio

2010-07-21T23:02:00.007+02:00

At one point, it seemed apropos. But WB!'s sniveling scrivener has displayed such abject Bartlebyism that WB! fans are surely wondering if the luscious sauce has become a distressing impediment to wretched tale-telling.

Far from it! dear readers. Eno' o' excuses, and on with a terribly belated show, which one should explain, is set in Rio on or about the eve of the World Cup Nederlands/Brasil game. History now, of course, but the important thing was the scotch, as it often is 'mongst this slavering crowd.

And a bountiful and hearty Glendronoch 15 was, lugged hither from the savage reaches of Heathrow by one of Whisky Break!'s MI5 moles. Uh, anyway ...

My, gentle readers, this Glen-baby was a yummy one. Even now, one can still savour the deep mouthful, and a robust, slow and lingering burn.

This is, of course, the crucial test, a test which rum and any other simpering wannabes simply cannot pass. Ha ha!

So, there it was: the then toast to Rio, and Brasil, Nederlanders eventual World Cup victim.

Is that mean?

Fences and Windows*

2010-06-29T22:44:00.010+02:00

Greetings, ribald readers of Whisky Break! blog. It's been sometime, but the occasion of the latest Whisky Break! was finally summoned by a core member, sired of Kentucky pastures, who hath borne a strained schedule of late. Our WB! setting was prescribed by the native, apparently because Kentucky is nothing but an astounding maze of fences. We thought to check other possible countrysides but were assured that, no, this was it.

And so it was that the WB! crowd, amidst all those bloody fences, had our collective Scotch blinkers removed, and were introduced the astonishingly lovely world of Woodford Reserve Bourbon, straight outta Kentucky. Woo hoo!

And what a yummy world it is, folks. With alcoholic fumigation starting things off with a sinus-clearing bang, a gorgeous colouring, the Woodford taste is sweet and delicious, if somewhat missing in mouthful. Though initially lacking any notable sternal heat, Whisky Break! relief set in with a late and low incineration, the bourbon proving itself subtly with a clever and deep lag burn. Touche´ Kentucky!

The palette was full this WB!, not only with the Woodford, but a Bushmills 10 continued to linger in the background to many's annoyance (my, my, we are getting spoiled and snotty), while the always welcome Yamazaki from bygone days was polished off amid a raucous and, dare this driveling scrivener suggest, rowdy festival of the end of that week.

And then onto the next, wherein the hypercloud of space-time, who knows what wonders await.

*With apologies to Naomi Klein.

Fond Farewell

2010-06-03T22:21:00.015+02:00

A bittersweet moment fell upon the Whisky Break! crowd of late, as a cheerful and cherished colleague, having just graduated, parted professional ways. We wished her the best of moving to new and exciting prospects. She will be missed, of course, but we have insisted upon at least occasional reappearances at Whisky Break! It's world reknown, you know. So, that was the bitter part. For us, at least.

And the sweet part? Well, it was really sweet. As in, shuuuweeeet!

There was no pall upon WB!'ers, as we wed the weakening week to a wiltingly yummy Highland Park 18, a gift to Whisky Break! from a fine and good ally; the kind of yummy that makes one pause, close ones eyes and imagine a realm of fecund possibility.

Yeah. Good stuff.

Egads, gentle readers, m'fears the Whisky Break! risks spoil in the heat of these luscious Highland Park beverages we've enjoyed of late.

Fear spoilage not! as the accompanying Aberlour proved good worth with a growl in throat and a fine, sporty flavour. Once the Highland was a burn of the past, the Aberlour shone her glow and all, once again, was good.

Cheers and good futures!

Perhaps some explanation of this week's WB! environment is in order, for surely it must perplex. Indeed, it may not be entirely clear just what is being celebrated -- by at least one obviously enthusiastic member of the the WB! clan.

That is a picture of the all the crap that currently encircles the planet earth, placed there by humans, purposefully and not. Scads of things, useful and not, occupying orbits described by multifarious parameter sets, most of which are LEO. Well, it seems that our esteemed, departing colleague was alerted this atrocious state of affairs by a recent news story.

So, there it is. That's the picture.

Turns out, it's the best background we've ever used: space junk. Go figure.

___________________________
[Editor's note: one recognizes that the certain enthusiasm represented in the above photo might be verbally expressed as, "Woo hoo! I am outta here!!!" or possibly, "Woe hoe! Ik ben outtahier!!!"]

Bloemen Seizoen

2010-06-03T21:54:00.009+02:00

We tried to set this in the Keukenhof, fresh photos of which were ripe for background in the wan days of tulip season. But, alas, the efforts were for naught. We wound up looking like purple vegetable people. So, we scrapped the project, simplexed the shot -- no marauding eee-lectronic flowers allowed! This humble scribbler was rather partial to the purpley-faced na'er-do-wells depicted thusly.

As this particular Whisky Break! was an impromptu follow-on to prior big-wiggy departmental celebrations, WB!ers were subject to a venue shift. Visitors from afar joined in, looking a tad perplexed by the entire affair. Nonetheless, the gallant Scot amongst us sallied forth with the lovely Lagavulin 16.

Bravo! fine Thane.
All was well again.

Happy Birthday, Scotch! (King James version)

2010-06-01T13:41:00.006+02:00

On this day, June 1, 1495:

The Scottish government records it has commissioned Friar Jon Cor to make Scotch whisky — the first mention in print

of the marvelous elixir that Whisky Break!ers covet, "aqua vitae," as it was known back in the day when King of Scots James IV ordered up eight "bolls of malt." Really, who would argue with such an appellation? Not we of Whisky Break!

John Abell of Wired further avers.

Exact references of this momentous occasion are somewhat thin, and the underlying peg for a tech news organization even thinner. But I would say, with some authority, that Scotch and its many delightful cousins are, if not constant companions in this line of work, at least central to the media ecosystem of reward and motivation.

No respectable bar can exist without Scotch — as well as at least a couple of single malts to which ‘twould be blasphemous to add so much as an ice cube. That is so my friend, even though some 90 percent of the world’s Scotch is of the blended variety, and of that, predominantly examples that should be relegated to the rail.

A little "whisky" etymology.

“Whisky,” you see, is derived from the Gaelic “uisge beatha” or “usquebaugh,” which means “water (aqua) of life (vitae).” As I sip my single malt this fine eve, I must admit it does indeed feel essential to life — surely as necessary as water at any rate. And as I approach (approach, mind you, and surely have not crossed) that tipping point of glee and indifference, I can understand how “usque” could easily be slurred into “whisky.”
...
’tis true all forms of Gaelic are rooted in Middle Irish, but the particular Gaelic relevant to this story is in fact from that branch of Celtic spoken in the Highlands of … Scotland!

This has been a Whisky Break! public service announcement.

Highlander

2010-05-07T16:48:00.008+02:00

Perhaps the finest single malt that Whisky Break! has yet sampled in all of our days: Highland Park 15, slipped o'er tongue with such subtle silk and fullness of mouth that several became faint with admiration and gratitude. The full and lemony flavour strikes one first, and then the always-sought sternal burn would make its presence known. Indeed, it did, but also with a subtlety likely lost on those not keenly attuned to the ways and kinds of thoracic warmth the WB! has come to know and crave.

Well, so as fine a scotch as the Highlander turned out to be (having heard the rumour aplenty), it seemed damn appropriate to send a tip 'o the dram to the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, an auspicious event if ever there was one.

And so it goes, folks! A salute to HST with a fine Highland Park. Now, we just have to find some salute excuses to test out all the other Highland Park beauties, of which there are several: the 18, 25, 30, and 40 year old varietals, which form the "core expressions" of the Highland Park.

Readers of this humble outlet will note that the WB! like to salute things a lot, because the symbolic act of salute inevitably spells toast!

Fire and Iceland

2010-05-07T16:25:00.004+02:00

What with being ground-wise bound, the Whisky Break! crowd was treated to a fine stash of Glen Garioch "Founder's Reserve," which, of course, indicates a grand and special brew that an otherwise 12 year old declarative statement simply could not pull off. With air travel slammed shut, WB! salutes our own fine Scottish agent who, under special auspices granted Whisky Break! agents by the international community -- otherwise by known as "customs" in less self-congratulatory settings -- managed to delivers the goods. And good they were.

Naturally, the crew had to pay offerings to the gods of thunder and fire, which meant a colourful sojourn to Iceland, where we could enjoy a fine thoracic warming brought on by "the Glen" amidst the land of aurora, fire, and ice. Of course, we salute Iceland for its plucky revenge against glowering economic forces of Europe, and, in part, for the clear and uncomplicated demonstration of just how easily modern society can be unwound by primordial natural forces. Always like that.

Turning Japanese

2010-03-31T22:18:00.009+02:00

Indeed, Whisky Break! was treated to a turn of the Suntori distillery, the acclaimed Yamazaki single malt! Ahh, feel the burn! Like a radiative hose of Godzilla's own breath!* Many would cringe and shrivel at the prospect, but not the Whisky Break! dear readers, surely not Whisky Break! We are entrusted to hold forth on all manner of sternum burning, and the burning of sterna.

And burn the 'zaki did, dear readers, a long and hotting smolder. Of course, you know we love that. But what you don't know is that, despite the breadth and length of the follow, the flavour of the Yamazaki was somewhat lacking, as Whisky Break! generally agreed that the Yama was missing the mouthful.

Nonetheless, we all enjoyed the dragon's breath from the land of the Sun and scary monsters borne of man's folly.

Cheers, folks! There's Yamazaki to down, and Godzilla to drown. Unless, of course, he's a good Godzilla. In which case, we'll cheer, Godzilla! or possibly, Yamazaki!

* Verily, gentle readers, this miserable scribbler had to work in the picture somehow. But I think we can agree, it all fits together like a seamless garment: Yamazaki, Japan, Whisky, Whisky Break!, Godzilla.

A WB! Whisky Metric: Sternum burn

2010-03-19T21:30:00.004+01:00

We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the Ardmore began to take hold.

Some minutes had passed in the sampling of the scrumptious Ardmore Highland malt, when Whisky Breakers, as one, sat back, scanned the scene, and verbally agreed, "yeah, that's got a good burn. Lingering."

This, gentle readers, appears to have become the Whisky Break! metric for whisky tasting satisfaction: sternum burn, and a lingering one at that. Now, we like a good, mouthful of flavour, but the burn is what we seek, what we crave. Verily, the Ardmore doth deliver on that scale. A fine and satisfying brew.

And that's not just Whisky Break! telling you this, gentle readers. See what Dr. Whisky and his crew have to say about it about it:

Wow, big burst of a smoky impact, slightly fishy, more baked sweetness with canned peaches, "mmm... apples." The big impact becomes gentler upon swallowing into shortbread and a bit of vanilla and bubblegum.

Bubblegum and peaches. Hmm, sounds like sophisticated palettes at work there -- and far beyond our ken -- but a tad fey to we here at Whisky Break! where concerns pertain to the sternum, and the burning thereof. That's what we like!

Cheers!

Unveiled: "oldest single malt whisky in the world"

2010-03-13T18:31:00.000+01:00

Oh, dear. How do we get a hold of some of this? That is, without forking over €11000? These questions run deep.

EDINBURGH - A Scottish whisky firm on Thursday unveiled bottles of what it claims is the oldest single malt whisky in the world, having spent the best part of a century inside an oak barrel.
Gordon and MacPhail's Mortlach 70-Year-Old Speyside was sampled at a launch party in Edinburgh Castle, where it was escorted through the doors by pipers and a military escort.
"It matured for 70 years in the cask and that is what makes it the oldest whisky in the world," a spokesperson for Gordon and MacPhail told AFP.
The whisky was filled into its cask on October 15, 1938, by the grandfather of the company's managing directors David and Michael Urquhart.
There will only be 54 full-size bottles priced at 10,000 pounds each ($15,000 U.S., 11,000 euros), with another 162 smaller bottles on sale for 2,000 pounds.
The limited edition malt was matured in a former sherry hogshead cask made from Spanish oak. It has been bottled in a "tear shaped, hand-blown" crystal decanter with a silver stopper.
Whisky taster Charles MacLean described the single malt as "a delicate, fresh, vital, fruity whisky, with unusual attributes of waxiness and smokiness".
"It's the oldest cask of whisky that, in my knowledge, has ever been bottled," he said. "The spirit and the wood have inter-reacted beautifully over this long period of time.

A wan one

2010-03-13T17:18:00.002+01:00

Told ya.

Anyway, WB! readers will be advised to learn that, with all the whirlwind, jet-setting to international celebrations over recent weeks, the WB! crowd sat back to relax at home, mostly owing to a dearth of whisky on hand, the apparent governing philosophy now being, have whisky, will travel. The corollary of which would then be, have whisky not, will sit home and sulk.

Fortunately, our Polish crew came to the rescue with an intriguing offer of Polish herbal vodka called Żubrówka, a sharply flavoured liquor also known as Bison grass vodka. Now, this particular alcoholic invention, which uses actual bison grass, was banned in the US by both the FDA and the ATF in 1978, when it was determined by a clueless band of meddling bureaucrats that the "toxic" compound, coumarin, ought not be consumed by Americans. It seems doubtful to Whisky Breakers that coumarin could hardly be more toxic than straight up alcohol, and happily, this blinkered and arbitrary decision all those decades ago has failed to migrate across the pond.

Which means, Bison grass vodka has now been introduced Whisky Break! And we're still not mental!

Though lacking the cherished sternal burn of a smashing single malt, the Żubrówka presented a interesting turn on the tongue. And for the etymologically-inclined, the Polish mix buffalo grass vodka with apple juice and call it tatanka. Now, this is interesting because that also happens to be the exact word for bison in the North American Oglala Lakota language. Note the accompanying image and, please, do not attempt to drink that version of tatanka, which is expected to trigger a gag reflex in some consumers.

Well, with a small sample on tap and running down rapidly, magically, a bottle of the fine Skye-born Talisker 10 went its way to the table, and Whisky Break! moved into to our more familiar domain. The T-10 is long-time WB! fave.

And that was a fine finish to the week that was.

Her Name is Rio ...

2010-03-11T23:25:00.000+01:00

After hitting the Chinese New Year with a gusty tiger balm, it was time for Carnival! Woo hoo! Indeed, winter 2010 has proved a marvelous party season. And then Canada won the Olympic gold in hockey! just as it should be. (There will be more on that in future Whisky Break! maunderings, rest assured readers, rest assured.)

So, off it was to Rio for the Whisky Break! crowd, and the continued enjoyment of those dirty, dirty boys, Oban and Laphroig, half-brothers whose tale is not entirely without homology to that of Castor and Pollux -- both borne of mother Scotland, separated by contrastive sires.

But eno' o' th' pedantry! It was dirty kin party time in Rio.

Tiger Balm

2010-03-11T22:12:00.000+01:00

Egads, Whisky Break's bumbling scribe has fallen off the reportage radar, and horribly so. But, fear not, gentle readers! Though reports of our international and cosmopolitan adventures have languished, that conspiracy of lassitude has been effectively quashed.

So, with that weakly exculpatory exposition, it now falls upon this WB entry to enrapture readers with our tastings of the Chinese New Year's smokey entries. The Year of the Tiger was rung in with a terrific roar, the roar of sterna ablaze with the liquid heat of raspy-fine single malts.

And pleasing heaters they were, as the heretofore undiscovered Laphroaig 15 finally went its glistering way to WB's many palettes, all of which were glazed with silky reward, and the Oban 14, which suffered a tad for the comparison with its sturdy Islay cousin. As the spoiled folks at Laphroaig tell us, Oban was competing for attentions with "the richer, more mature and succulent elder brother of the robust 10 Year Old." Indeed, we can hardly disagree. So rich and succulent, it left the otherwise fine Oban well in arears.

Nonetheless, with two bottles o' Scotland's finest, the WB! bade New Year Tiger a fond welcome with many a hearty toast, and with enough to spare to be enjoyed once more! We may be single malt gormands, but we do have a sense of relish, relish for more of these fine whiskies. And so it shall be!

We'll leave it to Laphroaig themselves to tell us that the Laph-15 is "esteemed and savoured around the world by a fortunate few." WB! considers itself fortunate, indeed. Get yours today!

A trip to Islay! The Motherlode

2010-02-08T10:39:00.000+01:00

A nice article in The Independent travel section this weekend about the Hebredean island of Islay, you know, where they make Laphroiag! And other good stuff, too, but the Laphroaig distillery makes the appearance as the quintessential Islay malt house. Floor malting! Stacks of peat!

Really, there is one quibble we here at Whiskey Break might have with the article, at least its title, anyway. "Simple" pleasures? Maybe the rest of the island, but, nay, there is nothing "simple" about Laphroaig!

The Scottish isle of simple pleasures

An afternoon sparking with salty sunlight and in Port Ellen, a trim, white Hebrid-ean village hugging a sandy bay, a Jack Russell is barking excitedly at something – or someone – beneath the shifting waters of the harbour. I follow the terrier's gaze and there, just below the surface, is a set of eyes, saucer-like and dark, peering straight at me.

To see a seal on Islay, one of the jigsaw-piece isles cast off from the raggedy coastline of western Scotland, is not unusual. In fact, at Loch an t-Sailein (Seal Bay) you are almost guaranteed to find grey seals doing their onshore stretches. But to be close enough to shake a flipper is a fresh experience. And I don't need to be Doctor Dolittle to see what it wants. "If only I had a fish," I remark to a local on the quayside. (On Islay, the habit of talking to strangers is soon acquired.)

2010 First Light: Bunnahabhain 12

2010-02-06T12:33:00.000+01:00

Well, folks, a first gathering of Whiskey Breakers in this new-ish year finally launched after holiday travels and the attendant resettling phase. In celebration of a WB! member's vault up the professional ladder, the Wise man divested interest in a bottle of a Whiskey Break! favourite; the nectarean Bunnahabhain 12.

As the distillery's own "tasting notes" inform us,

The nose offers a fresh and aromatic experience with a subtle whiff of smoke floating through the air. The taste starts with a light fruit and nut appeal that leads to a spectacular malty sweetness, finishing into a beautifully rich full-bodied, lingering experience.

Yes! That seems to have hit the sweet spot. Or, at the very least, it's a description we here at Whiskey Break! would be hard pressed to refute. Indeed, we fully concur.

Whiskey Breakers took note of the latest news on Pluto and decided to check out reports that the now former planet is getting redder, some 20% redder. "Seasonal changes," we are told. Or Pluto's reaction to it's 2006 demotion finally making it's way earthward, an expression of clear anger at humanity's fickle nature?

Not to fear Pluto! Note the colour of the enraged surface of Pluto and the glorious Bunny-12. This is not a coincidence. Whisky Break! stands in solidarity!

News Flash! Major Antarctic Find: Shackleton's Whisky Stash Unearthed

2010-02-06T09:35:00.000+01:00

Exciting news, people. Exciting news.

It's just like when they find a Van Gogh in an attic somewhere, only better. Because it's Whisky!

Five crates of Scotch whisky and two of brandy have been recovered by a team restoring an Antarctic hut used more than 100 years ago by famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton.

Ice cracked some of the bottles that had been left there in 1909, but the restorers said Friday they are confident the five crates contain intact bottles ''given liquid can be heard when the crates are moved.''

New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust team leader Al Fastier said the team thought there were two crates and were amazed to find five.

Current distillery owner, drinks group Whyte & Mackay, launched the bid to recover the Scotch whisky for samples to test and decide whether to relaunch the defunct spirit made by distiller McKinlay and Co.

The question now becomes: how does the WB tribe get our trembling hands upon some of this Mackinlay’s “Rare and Old”?

More ...

Modern Marvels: Laphroaig

2010-01-17T14:55:00.000+01:00

Here's a little educational blurb to tide over readers of our humble Whiskey Break! outlet, while holidays and trips hither and yon come to a wane. See the making of one of WB!'s back stop standards of nectarean gold, Laphroiag, as Modern Marvels takes a tour of the distillery.

Indeed, we here at Whiskey Break! do agree that Scotch is a modern marvel.

Cheers, folks! And into the New Year.

2009: Let it snow ...

2010-01-11T09:39:00.000+01:00

The Dam has donned the marvelous winter wear we like to call snow. And marvelous it has been, with canal skating looming on a not so imaginary horizon, while local Whiskey Break carousing the more appreciated for a frosty chill in the air, something the golden nectar is well suited to battling.

This quick update has been supported by the delivery of the WB's holiday merry-making documentation, the aforementioned suspect producing the goods. Which meant that it thence fell upon this outlet's whinging amanuensis to punch up the picture from the WB's last Whiskey Break! of the year and one which saw our humbling tribe performing all manner of pagan ritual, i.e. attaching sparkling inorganic matter onto a "platform" of organic matter.

Happy New Year! from Whiskey Break!

'Twas the nigh

2009-12-18T20:11:00.000+01:00

It was a somewhat quiet, sincere whiskey break this eve. What with most soon tossing off hither and yon for festivus, a somberish tone was the order of the end of the day. A pair of fine notes were on tap, the benevolent triple distilled Auchentoshan Classic (not sure what the coconut means) and the lovely 12 year Bunnahabhain. Down the silky sisters went, amid various tales of restive holiday travel, woe, or otherwise. Mostly woe, though.

Nonetheless, we've got a grand fine coat of snow here now, and hopefully it will hang around for awhile. This is, at least to this blog's wastrel scrivener, much preferred to the usual local conditions. Hope springs forth from this weather development! Stay cold! Skating on the canals! Gads, that would be grand. An entirely appropriate winter wonderland experience, despite the Copenhagen summit.

So, there it is, folks. The final whiskey break of the year has passed (we still await a photo of our Christman tree decorating whiskey break, and the culprit who reads this will know who he is). But anon, gentle readers. We sally forth, witlessly and not, into the new year of 2010. 2010! Imagine.

Weren't we supposed to living on Mars by now?

Barbarians at the Gate!

2009-11-06T20:57:00.000+01:00

At first, we at Whiskey Break!™ thought to head to the Jura Mountains -- lovely to be sure, and a goodly haunt for swaggering Breakers! But, nay, this would not be our bucolic setting in celebration of the Jura Scotch we were hoisting this week end's day.

Nor would it be the actual Isle of Jura, whose website would indicate that the Isle of Jura is entirely devoted to making Jura Scotch Whisky. [scrivener note: I am not making this up.]

Jura

Welcome to
-- Isle of Jura --
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

And my favourite part,

You must be of legal drinking age in the country where you access this site.

Awesome. Now that is what we breakers call a website! Imagine the actual Isle! Nothing else matters. Sounds like a place Whiskey Break!™ definitely ought to visit. Especially so, considering just how fine the Jura proved to the palette. Indeed, all were in agreement: the Jura, and by extension of course, the Isle, was excellent fare, the 10yr carrying a medium-deep depth and mouth full of flavour. Yum.

But it was not to be, as attentions would turn toward prosaic events, both current and not so, and off it was to the Brandinburg Gate, where approaches anon the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

A proposed toast imagined to have been once overheard at the time of the breach:

"Goodbye Commies! You're back to being Russians. So, still bad."

Cheers, folks!

[please forgive any attempt, inferred or otherwise, at geopolitical humour, failed or otherwise.]

Post-meridian

2009-10-30T16:53:00.001+01:00

With this blog's humbling scribe finally off-loading a backlog of WB!™ reports, last week saw Whiskey Break!™ on the verge of the daylight savings roll-back to standard time. Which naturally meant a trip to the prime meridian, where conflicted calendar date space reigns supreme. Which is one way of saying that one side of the table was a day behind the booze train, and fighting to catch up.

And while time and other things may have been lost, rest assured gentle readers, the Scotch was not!

And, my, was there a pleasing palette of performers on stage that day. Some of the glorious Highland Park was carried over from our days on the decks at Scapa Flow, while new entries hit the table, with a fine offering of The Balvenie "DoubleWood," and the "Sopishticated Islay Single Malt," Bruichladdich. Lest the uninitiated wonder as to this label's quality and kind, Bruichladdich proudly announces itself with a single overbearing word: PEAT.

Question Time produce some consensus: suprisingly, the Bruichladdich proved weakest of the lot, though surely up against some stiff competition. WB!™ revelers nodded between the Balvenie and the Highland Park, with the firm and robust Highland Park getting the final nod on the evening.

Nonetheless, an extremely successful Whiskey Break!™ with some highly commendable entries. Here, kind readers, was the line-up, looking a little worse for wear at the end of a long day.

Cheers anon!

Scotch Flow, Scapa Flow

2009-10-30T16:27:00.000+01:00

Betwixt the barrels of 14 inch guns with a view to the hulk of the HMS Hood might seem like an odd place for Whiskey Break!™ revelers to find themselves positioned, but fear and puzzle not, good readers!

We've never believed that function follows form. That's just something architects tell themselves because they have no idea how anything works. At Whiskey Break!™, our form clearly follows function, the function here being downing drams of the smashing Highland Park 12. And there really is no telling what form will follow from that. Rest assured, however, that there is some method to the oddness.

Scapa Flow, Britain's once "booming" naval shipyard, also happens to be near an institution whose function is considerably less damaging than turreted monster deck-guns: The Highland Park distillery is located in Kirkwal in the Orkney Islands and happens to sport a hillside view overlooking Scapa Flow. Don't those gun barrels make so much sense now?

Besides, Highland Park is located in neither the Highlands nor in an actual park -- though it has been argued that all of Scotland is, in fact, a park, one populated by peaty Scots who spend their grey, damp days brewing up the world's most varied and invigorating liquor. And for that, we thank them.

Into the Breach

2009-10-30T16:05:00.000+01:00

In continuance of the miserable performance of Whiskey Break!™ 's shirking scrivener, it falls upon said same to once again regale anxious WB! followers with tales of far away lands and clutches of (usually) single malt.

Though not in attendance for the weeks-ago Whiskey Break!™ locals hinted toward a reportedly marvelous 12 year old Caol Ila, this blog's doused notary was informed that the "Ila" was a very fine selection, one those failing in appearance might like to have sampled. Happily, such ex post facto wishes were to be met the very next week, as we shall see in the follow-on posts.

Without attendance, reporting on that week's revelry is necessarily diminished. Nonetheless, WB!™ participants conjured up an excellent photo, complete with some creative additions: regulars offering a presence of spirit, we might say.

From the bonny gates of Southhampton!

Double Time

2009-10-04T10:13:00.001+02:00

Apologies extend to the now massive following the humble Whiskey Break!™ blog has established. An embarrassing length of time has passed 'twixt postings of our international exploits, with no one to blame or castigate but the group's weakling scribbler.

Of course, the rueful absence of documented Whiskey Break!™ exploits over the last couple of weeks in no way implies that there have been no Whiskey Break!™ exploits. Quite to the contrary, as this corrective report will reveal.

First on the docket was our marvelous trip to Cognac country, and specifically La Rochelle, where enthusiastic Whiskey Breaker, Daniella had been stationed this past summer. This is an outpost clearly demanding bottled recompense, and a visit from the hearty band.

Which is where we decided to spring forth, spreading good cheer amongst the indigenous clans of the Cognac. A hearty sample was up for grabs (of course!), and a fine turn o' th' cask presented itself in the form of the luscious, caramel-gold Lagavulin 16. We came. We drank. Conquering nothing, we drank some more!

***

With a few spots of Lagavulin still in hand from our lark in La Rochelle, Whiskey Break!™ decided to make the trek, once again, to a seat of Scotch Whisky production (we respectfully use the Scottish spelling "in country," though we know this spelling is likely the result of extended and remote isolation, which also happens to be a very good reason for making whisky).

And so off it was to Islay, where our roving band of liquor gypsies managed to snuggle up amongst the fragrant casks of Ardbeg, even as we were sipping the luxurient nectar. Rest assured however that we were not tapping the barrels, as Whiskey Break!™ has far too great an appreciation for the art of the cask than to muck about with the crucial fermentation process and the tools thereof.

It may be that in the Ardbeg, our group has hit upon a universally appreciated Scotch. With a clean nose and a lightness of colour, the Ardbeg was met with rounds of appreciation. Indeed, the Talisker 10 had been this breaker's favourite note until the Ardbeg hit the tongue.

More than anything, the unexpecting will be lulled by a colour that implies a wan innocence -- like white wine -- but rest assured, folks, there is nothing innocent nor demure about the 'beg, which strikes the senses with a full-force gale of rich, peaty flavour, followed by a warm and lingering finish. Mmmm.

So far, it seems, Whiskey Break!™ concurred; the bottle was finished in record time, while those who missed awaited in turn to suck on the cork, just to get a sense of it. Not to worry. There will be more! And we won't have to beg for it.

(For those wondering about the barrel sprites flitting amongst the cooper-work and where these casks are in relation to Ardbeg, here is a wider shot of our home for the break.)

Deep Space Nine

2009-09-12T17:12:00.002+02:00

Ok. So there were considerably more than nine Whiskey Breakers!™ for this week's lounge and leisure event. But, the theme of space was forced upon us -- not that it takes much -- by nonresident proceedings, as NASA and Space Telescope Science Institute had only just released the latest images from the once-more newly restored Hubble Space Telescope. This amidst the US-Dutch celebrations of a 400 year trade relationship that saw the Empire State building lit orange for the Dutch Royals visit, as well the American Consul in Amsterdam opening the new Beer Temple, promising a vast selection of fine American craft beer -- 30 taps, 80 bottles. Overall, a fine week for both science and suds.

So, with all that on the plate, as well as the return of long-lost Whiskey Break!™ colleague, Mike, it came upon a trusty bottle of Laphroiag, "the world's most richly flavoured Scotch whisky," to carry us forth in clamour and cheer. Fortunately, our vigorous green friend had been well hidden and remained in waiting for what would prove to be a large and robust gathering of Friday revelers.

Our location this week sees Whiskey Break!™ deep in the monstrous folds of lensing cluster Abell 370, which sports some truly wondrous lensed arcs. Al makes his first appearance here at the Break! because, well, he's always up for the toss of a dram -- or so we hear -- especially after having predicted gravitational lensing and finally getting to see some pictures of it, after all those unsatisfying years of technological inadequacy. That's worth a shot, at the very least.

Sense and Svensk Ability

2009-08-30T23:49:00.000+02:00

This Friday's edition of Whiskey Break!™ was brought to this fair clan by an intrepid though mysterious fellow who shall remain unnamed yet much appreciated.

OPERATION: BIG MACK ATTACK
     DATE: 2009:09:23T00:00:00.000UTC-01:00:00H
 DURATION: 48:00:00H
    ASSET: XXXXXXXXX
DEPARTURE: STOCKHOLM
  ARRIVAL: AMSTERDAM
    CARGO: CLASSIFIED, "EYES ONLY"
   TARGET: XXXXXXXXX
   OP-OUT: T

Mackmyra is Sweden's first and fine entry into the single malt brewing regime. A golden nectar that oil-slips 'cross tongue; the liquid, languid and wan, verily wafts through thorax. A trail of chest warmth lingers as if to reassure.

So, yeah. Pretty good stuff. We here at Whiskey Break!™ were in firm agreement. Perhaps lacking the depth of flavour of a healthy Scotch, the finish of this single malt is superb.

And then one day, the depth will come. After all, the Swedes only started distilling whiskey in 1999. One wonders what wonders are too follow. Naturally, the Whiskey Break!™ had to make the trek back to Sweden, and take up arms to those Swedes! Damn you! How do you get this good, this fast?!

Sadly, Whiskey Break!™ bade a fond farewell to long time denizen, Joe. (Indeed, I was tossing around the idea of calling this post, Masters and Commanders, but, oh well, Austen won out, da bitch. Always heard she was a bit of a scratcher.) It was revealed to fellow breakers that Joe may have actually been the source and inspiration for the introduction of Whiskey Break!™ to API, if not the Netherlands more generally. So, cheers to Joe and family, to them naught but joy and happiness.

Chamonix sampler shindig

2009-08-21T16:56:00.000+02:00

This week's Whiskey Break!™ sees our motley assortment boozing it up on the bucolic slopes of Mont Blanc, in appreciation of a now erstwhile collegue, Rafael, who is reportedly from the region (nice!). Upon his departure from API, Rafael tossed our way a bottle of the fine 10 year Laphroaig -- a raspy little number that immediately prompted a musical breakout -- percussive Scotch bottle boxes.

Atop o' this bounty, Joe produced a selection of sampler, which included the Glenlivet, the excellent Aberfeldy 12, and a slippery-smooth Tomintoul 16.

So, thanks to Rafael for the 'phroaig and all here at API wish him well. Cheers from the slopes of Chamonix!

Dimple and Pinch

2009-08-16T13:59:00.000+02:00

No, the titular phrase is not a reference to some hitherto unknown, yet charming Saturday morning cartoon buddy show. And rest assured; though loaded with silky charm, there is nothing remotely cartoon-ish about this week's whiskey selection.

Whiskey Break!™ brought forth the fine blended 15 yr Dimple, an award-winning mix first produced in 1888 by John Aloysius Haig. Oddly, Dimple is otherwise known as Pinch in the US.

Our destination this week is the seat of that same said Haig company and, more importantly, the site of Dimple production, Edinburgh. Finally, after weeks of wandering the forests of Canada and Guatemala, Whiskey Break! has landed in the very seat of bonny Scotland.

Though somewhat hesitant in introducing a "blend" to the week's event -- concerned about violating some standing, single malt tradition -- it was quickly pointed out that the single most important "tradition" at Whiskey Break!™ is whiskey. Period. Furthermore, recent incursions by foreign liquor -- namely rum -- suggest that this putative tradition is anything but.

The selection of Dimple/Pinch was made for the fact that me ol' Dad imbibed the Pinch whiskey blend long before the single malt craze began sweeping the mass market. So, in celebration of Dad's past birthday, August 6, the Whiskey Break crowd raised a glass in toast, not only to Dad, but to long time Whiskey Break!™ brahman Michael and his twin brother, Bill.

Cheers, Dad. Hope all is well.

Banffshire Booze Hounds

2009-07-24T18:33:00.000+02:00

Well, folks, Whiskey Break this week hit off with a splendid 12 year Cragganmore single malt, from the windswept dunes of Banffshire.

Rather enjoying the Canadian Rockies than barren Scottish coastlines, Whiskey Break nestled around the Banff Springs Hotel. We look like a band of giant tree gnomes, about to pounce on the Springs and relieve the elegant place of any remaining Scotch.

Cheers and Happy Malts!

B'more and B'more

2009-07-17T19:20:00.000+02:00

Well folks, things hit off well this week with a replay of the Auchentoshan and a lovely Islay Bowmore. We had an international request to hold Whiskey Break in Baltimore, and here it is.

So, by popular demand, Whiskey Break in Baltimore's inner harbour.

Auchentoshan Bungle in the Jungle

2009-07-03T18:38:00.000+02:00

Here is Whiskey Break, enjoying the sunny environs of Guatemala, which is where we should have been last time, logistics then proving beyond our ken at the time. Which is not surprising. Whiskey Break often renders many things beyond our ken by the time the bottle is offed.

Woo hoo! A double whammy today, folks. John managed to pull a Glenmorangie,"by the sixteen men of Tain," out of Madrid, while the Whiskey Break group coaxed Martin's secret, though not well hidden, gift bottle of Auchentoshan.

This proved exciting for most, as no one had ever had a punch from the single cask, 60% (!), 11 year (1999) old malt. Shockingly aromatic, to say the least, as the fumes hit well afore fluid touched tongue.

Another Rum "Whiskey Break"

2009-06-19T18:26:00.000+02:00

Lacking a decent whiskey in recent weeks, Eduardo was kind enough to bring a fine Guatemalan rum, the Ron Zacapa Solera Reserve, a silky 15 year-old sweetheart of a rum near which no mixer should be allowed. Nectar.

As you can see, it was a hit with the whiskey break crowd. But then, anything with alcohol is a hit at whiskey break.

Under Water in the Nieuw Digs

2009-05-09T00:18:00.000+02:00

Yes, API and the Whiskey Break crew have crossed the Kruislaan into new and spacey digs. Minor bouts of mayhem have ensued, and by this Friday it was time for Whiskey Break! A fine Bowmore 12 was on the table, contributed by the wise, enabler that he is.

Unfortunately, some people look like they have fungus crawling across various parts of their persons. Sorry about that.

Avast, Hearty Fools!

2009-04-20T22:50:00.000+02:00

Whiskey break turned starkly banal, for which some goof poured amber rum into a scotch bottle and we all sat around looking at it, thinking, hmmm, this was rather unimpressive Scotch.

Indeed. No one would say anything because the phony "scotch" was in the bottle of a very fine Scotch and no one wanted to express their dismay at what was surely an inconsequential selection. Anyway, we drank it all without complaint until the joke was revealed.

Yes, we are Scotch gourmands.

Talisker in Istanbul

2009-04-09T19:58:00.000+02:00

Today's Whiskey Break celebrated the Talisker 10 year malt. Golden and delicious! The chap on the right edge of the screen is Scottish, and clearly thrilled with this week's robust selection. In fact, he's actually been to the Talisker distillery on the Isle of Skye.

As Robert Louis Stevenson once opined, ""The king o' drinks, as I conceive it, Talisker, Islay or Glenlivet".