macallan 10 year Old Cask Strength, 58%, Europe Airports

Cold out so it is yet another highly sherried malt to tickle my taste buds. Along with Aberlour abunadh and Glenfarclas 105 this 10 year old CS 100 percent sherry cask Macallan is a relatively affordable monster and waiting to fight the cold from the drawing in evenings.

Nose: at first musty but then immense sherry dried fruits poke heads above the glass and say “hey, come on in”. dates, marzipan, rotten wine and all kinds of smells. Rubber and chemicals come in to spoil the game after a bit. Association is big for me with a good Macallan so I like this. Honestly, the nose is really fine And if it were a best of the best between the 3 malts above this would have a good chance of winning on the nose alone.

Pallet: Harsh, fire, sweet but with drying notes of good quality spirit. The rubber comes back and spoils things a little. This could do with another few years.

Finnish: long and a little chemical but the intense dry fruit keeps it alive.

Comment: well, I’ve talked about all 3 cask strength affordable sherry monsters on the blog now. They are all at cask strength, un colored and un filtered. Aberlour brings a lovely toffee mint luxuriance, the farclas bucket loads of sweetness and balance and the Macallan disappoints me. I’d get a bottle for 30 quid a liter in the airport but it would be in third place compared to the other two. The nose is fantastic but an immature body lets this down a bit. I will probably get another when next I go flying. Reminds me of the 10 but stronger.

Aberlour Abunad batch 16 notes from last year
http://www.mproberts.co.uk/2006/08/whisky-aberlour-abunadh-batch16-59.html
Glenfarclas 105 notes from a bit ago
http://www.mproberts.co.uk/2005/09/whisky-tasting-glenfarclas-105.html

Bushmills Black Bush 40%

I’ll cut to the point and state that Black Bush is one of my favorite Irish whiskeys. It’s a blend with a high malt content and the malt is matured in Oloroso sherry casks. Distilled and aged in Co. Antrim this is a blend consisting of 75% malt and 25% grain whiskey. The malt is triple distilled in the oldest licensed distillery in the world.

Nose: spiced Christmas minced meet, coal dust vanilla fudge and very soft sherry. A little mint.

Pallet: rather thinner than I would have liked. Crisp with minty freshness. The sherry adds complexity.

Finnish: warming, spicy and faids quick. Nevermind, I’ll just have to have another sip.

Comments: an inexpensive little number and smooth in the Irish style. Not as complex or satisfying as Red Breast. I won’t make any daft jokes about having a redbreast and a Black Bush side by side. A before dinner dram.

Dublin to Ipswich

Satterday started with a thick head for me but brushing this aside I enjoyed the last day of our show at the NCBI training centre. The people visiting were happy and the banter between suppliers good.

I left around 2 PM in glorious sunshine and took a taxi to the airport. True to form the jet was delayed again but after a few hours waiting and poodling around airports I was back in Ipswich and heading off to the Rose and Crown with Clare for a pizza and a few good pints of damson stout and hobgoblin.

The atmosphere in the pub was lovely until just before 11 when two BNP national front old types from east London came in stirring up trouble. First it was banging on about gay people, as some of you know the pub used to be a gay bar, then the leering bullies were playing the race card. This didn’t go down well with Nigel and I so I had them talking as he called the police who escorted them from the premises. Evil bastards!

I’m now about to get sorted out and pick up my dog from James. Then it’s a roast pork dinner this afternoon cooked by Steve.

Dublin Day 2

Bugger me if it wasn’t warm yesterday. Apart from a few showers that coasted Alan and I in the city centre we had a smashing autumnal day

After setting up the stand we drank tea then drove in to Dublin for a spot of shopping. Alan purchased things for his kids and I snaffled a bottle of Bruichladdich 1973 at a stupidly low price from my usual emporium for malty delights in Ireland’s capital.

Our stand was teaming all afternoon and I love this. It’s so good to get involved with people and talk and banter and debate, it’s what makes my job really thrilling at times. Streams flew out the door and so they should because they rock.

Later in the evening as we were shutting up shop we were joined by a blind crip and a young balding Irish basstard. I understand that Alan had partaken of beverages with them both in Galway earlier on. What a nice bunch of chaps, total piss heads but a good laugh and in to the beer food and jokes. We went to a Thai restaurant with them which was splendidly curry like and then they took us to some Dublin boozers.

The first bar which was called the Grand Central was nice and I understand the waitresses are all stunners. The music rocked and my Guinness was above average but not the best in the city. After 4 or 5 within we then went down a back street it was time for a proper drink in the town. The small clean localized and friendly hostelry reminded me of walking in to a local in England or the Slipper on the outskirts of Dublin. Everyone was friendly and we had a near silence on entry. Alan broke this by saying the darts team had entered.

Sorry about not naming, but I was asked not to by the regulars and our friends so this will be respected. What a pub, what beamish and what a night!

Happy Days

Alan and I just went for a most satisfactory beverage with Derry and Martha in Messrs. Maguire. It was bustling but not packed.

The imperial was strong and whisky like but probably not the ale to start off the late evening. Porter as usual and the rusty not bad. The company and then walk back to our hotel really were excellent though. We hope to catch up with Derry and Martha in Jan or Feb, Clare doesn’t know this yet but I’m sure will be lovin a trip to Dublin.

The ale in Maguire isn’t up to the standards of the PorterHouse but it’s still a second in my books when in this amazing city. If anyone has any other good tips then please let me know. I love a pint of beamish.

Dublin day1

the car stumbled through the Dublin traffic to arrived at Jurys Inn Custom House at around 8:15 last night. we were both bushed so went to our rooms, dropped off stuff then ate a passable meal in the bar. The Guinness was good though and it was quiet which created a nice dining experience.

Today Alan and I went to two of Ireland's premier educational institutions then took in a really nice tour of the NCBI Media Centre in Finglas.

We went to the Porter House North this evening and enjoyed a few drinks and some fab food. The place was dressed up to the arse for Halloween which is strange because pubs in England don’t really go in for that sort of thing but it’s big in Ireland apparently. It's a quick change now then a walk in to Dublin to find Derry Martha and Lotty.

Way To Go

Releasing Way To Go by Sendero Group, Accessible Talking Maps for the Blind Enjoy the power of becoming “unlost!”
DAVIS, CA, (October 24, 2007)

Sendero Group, developers of the “Cadillac” of accessible GPS systems for the blind, announces the release of Way To Go, a maps only version of their award-winning accessible GPS. This new Way To Go version allows the user to have fun exploring his or her environment and to develop location literacy in the process. And, consider it a stepping stone to the independence of a full Sendero GPS.

Features include:

• Explore rural roads and city streets,
intersection-by-intersection with a tap of your arrow keys.
• Record personal Points of Interest and
add rich audio content like restaurant menus or museum descriptions.
• Hear your direction of travel. Check the
odometer for distance traveled.
• Search a 15 million Points Of Interest
database in North America for everything from airports to zoos. and choose one as your destination.
• Create and follow a route manually or
automatically to that destination.
• Easily save and print or emboss routes to take with you or to share.
• Join a community of independent blind
explorers and know the “Way To Go” before you step out the door.

For more information, come see Way To Go at an upcoming conference, visit http://www.SenderoGroup.com/shopwtg.htm,
call 1-888-757-6810 or Email Maps@SenderoGroup.com

Thank you to everyone who submitted product name suggestions. We received nearly 1,100 names from which we chose Way To Go. We loved unique names like MapsWell Smart and Yellow Brick Road and the explorer names like Vespucci and Holman. Users have always driven our product features and this time, you helped pick the name. Way To Go!

Tullamore

Well Alan and I arrived in Tullamore, Co Offaly at half 10 last night and as a result ate rather little. A cheese sandwich then a tesco rap were all we ate for the day after breakfast. The show was busy though and pleasing

Now I’m in Tullamore the spiritual home of Tullamore dew whiskey and we’re about to start another show with 12 other companies.

The plan is to trot off to Dublin tonight for a full day of work then hit the town in the evening for a drink or two.

Nothing else to report really apart from I attempted to use one of those self service check-out systems in Tesco yesterday. A good idea for some purchases but totally unusable for the visually impaired.

Waking up in Wexford

I arrived in Dublin half an hour late and this delay was exacerbated by a bolshy bint in a wheal chair, or should I say the bossy bints daughter, they were both pests on the journey then as we disembarked. Jaid was missed by commuters on the train who must have seen her in the past and about 4 people asked about her on the journey to Liverpool Street.

Alan and I did some work in Dublin yesterday afternoon before driving to the Talbot Hotel a lovely place which was to be the show venue. It’s in the town of Wexford in county Wexford.

We met the guys from the other companies in the Ballast Bank Bar and Grill which the hotel’s WebPages inform me is based on an old bonded warehouse. Now I am unsure as to the meaning of this but it was relaxed high roofed and the black stuff was good along with my excellent tea,
A camembert starter and really champion piece of steak.

We chatted with Marry and a lady who works in a governmental office in Wexford town but soon decided that enough was enough. It had been a long day.

I’m typing this now just before breakfast. We have a full schedule today and move off to tullamore tonight.

Ready to fly?

The train has just pulled out of Ipswich Station and I'm thundering towards
Manningtree. It's fortunate I even got up today as the alarm didn't go off.
Clare persuaded me to do packing yesterday so I've got everything I require
for the week touch wood but it was a clowse thing.

I also now appreciate the wondrous job Jaid does, walking through a packed
station with a cane and heavy case is no joke and though I was once used to
it the thought of a cane for the week fills me with horror.

So no nocks or scrapes yet, I have wallet passport and clothes plus some
humanware equipment so things should be fine when I get to Dublin hopefully
via the World of Whiskeys shop at Stanstead.

Nethergate on a Satterday

Nethergate are a large older micro brewery THAT WAS started in 1986. they brew a wide range of beers including Suffolk County, Essex Boarder, Stour Valley Strong, Old Growler, and Umbel Magna. Growler and Magna are porters the latter flavored with coriander, they also chuck the ground and toasted seeds in a les potent beer called Umbel Ale.

The practice of naming beers after places in which the product was not created is to me a little dubious. I think that if it’s called Suffolk County then it should be made in the county of that name. It’s like Young’s with Special London Ale. It’s misleading and a half hoodwink at the consumer. The brewery did start in the small Suffolk town of Clare before moving to the current location so I guess I’ll not be churlish and won’t argue the toss beyond this paragraph.

Jaid, Chris and I went along for a brewery tour with the Ipswich and East Suffolk branch of Camera. We met at tower ramparts in Ipswich just before 12 and boarded a bus which would take us to ‘Pentlow in the boarders of esicks for a memorable tour and tasting. The Ipswich buses double decker bus was larger than we had expected but made good time and we excitedly disembarked.

On entering the grounds we were told to grab glasses and select from a choice of initially 3 beers, priory mild, Suffolk County and Augustinian. Tom the head brewer apologized for the lack of choice but they were going at full tilt at the moment and the demand was such that beer was heading out the door really quick.

They provided samples of hops and grain for us to nose and taste plus a fantastic bbq which was nice as it was a hot sunny day outside.

Later we were given a tour and a cask of Umbel Magna was cracked open for us to enjoy.

I left with a beer fueled glow, 24 bottles of beer and a pollipin of Old Growler on order for my birthday celebrations.

We then headed back to Suffolk and had a pint of Nethergate mild in a pub called the White Horse. I can’t remember what village it was in but the ale was lovely.

It was then Rose and Crown time and rugby watching. A good day was had by all.

Fab Friday Update

{That’s it, the end of another working week. I’m on my way home from Broxbourne now and apart from a few phone calls that’s me until my flight out on Monday.

This weekend will find me venturing once more in to the wilds of Essex to hunt out the fine liquid from the Nethergate brewery. Apart from that I have nothing else planned.

Public transport has been kind to me this week, I’ve acquired a cane as I won’t be taking Jaidy with me to Ireland. She’s going to have a weeks holiday with James, June and the husky named Shadow. These will be her new owners once she retires. Well, Shadow won’t own jaid but the people will.

The days are getting colder and soon the clocks will go back. That means winter, cold dark evenings and nearing the December festivities. It also means the cask strength peaty beasts and sherry monsters of malt will stomp out of bottles and titely lidded cartons to do battle with strong mysterious nourishing ales. Dark unctuous Olaroso sherry and complex port will watch from the sidelines waiting for the mince pies to come out and frolic. It means stews, roasts, jacket spuds and all kinds of British food. Basically this is a time of year I rather like.c 30 in a few weeks and am rather looking forward to it. I don’t think anything will change but I will reflect more on this later.

Dad's Army the Lost Episodes

Theatre comedy revivals appear to be all the rage at the moment. In 2005 we
had round the horn, 2006 Steptoe and son and now dad's army gets the stage
treatment.

Clare and I went over to South end last night to check out the stage
version. The interest really lies in the format of the show. Rather than
an updated piece as was Steptoe they have dug out two lost episodes of this
classic comedy. The bbc crassly wiped episodes of TV shows from the archive
in the 1970s so to watch these two plus a second pair of classic episodes on
stage was a proper delight

The caste were a mixed bag with the good being the x east ender Leslie
Grantham doing an impressive stab at Walker and the really excellent Kern
Falconer, Private Frazer, and the disappointment for me was Peter Martin
(The Royle Family
and Emmerdale) playing Mainwaring,. He may have looked like him but had
obviously not watched too many episodes because his vocal delivery was
rather appalling.

Still I guess its hard to top the original caste of the show and apart from
the excellent scripts they made it the classic it is today.

I managed to get two or 3 beers whilst in South end. Two pints of speckled
hen at a pub called the trading rooms plus a really smashing pint of
Robinson's old Stockport a surprise find on the bar at the palace theatre.
It ran out shortly after my first pint, rather sad as the hoppy brew with a
hint of fruit went down superbly and I could have motored a few down during
the show.

The dad's army appreciation society can be found online at
http://www.dadsarmy.co.uk/

Classmate reader

ClassMate Reader
Portable reading system supports K-12 students with reading difficulties
Longueuil (Quebec, Canada), October 17th, 2007 - HumanWare is proud to
introduce a revolutionary device for students with reading difficulties for
grades K-12. The ClassMate Reader is a tool to help students in and out of
the classroom improve reading comprehension, increase reading speed and
develop strong vocabulary. This tool is indispensable for students who need
to refer back to previously recorded notes, tests or chapter summaries, as
well as for anytime, anywhere learning.

The ClassMate Reader is a unique, portable and lightweight system about the
size of a portable gaming system with a large LCD screen. Students can
listen to the audio version of their textbooks and study materials, while
following the highlighted text on screen. This portable system is ideal for
students in any learning setting, including the classroom, resource room,
library, extended learning programs and at home. The system promotes
phonetic recognition and fluency and will significantly boost the support of
teachers who work with students who are dyslexic.

The ClassMate Reader has several features only found on more expansive
PC-based software solutions such as text-to-speech, highlighting,
dictionary, text and vocal notes and audio book navigation. It can be part
of the teacher's strategy to build students' independence in the learning
process and enhance their confidence and self esteem. The system's design
was carefully crafted to engage students and dispel the notion that
assistive devices are unappealing.

Scientific studies have demonstrated the advantages of a multi-modal based
reading approach (audio and visual) for dyslexic students. With the
simultaneous use of text and audio, students will improve their reading
comprehension which is conducive to improve academic achievement and higher
test scores. The ClassMate Reader can be used as an accommodation when
administering tests, eliminating the necessity for the teacher to read the
exam to students.

The ClassMate's study features are built to assist in retrieving information
through the use of text notes, highlighting, bookmarks and voice notes. The
ClassMate Reader can play various electronic book formats starting with the
new NIMAS (National Instructional Material Accessible Standard) format,
including DAISY, Bookshare.org, Audible.com, text, wav, MP3 and audio files.
The player also provides integrated text-to-speech for reading books in text
format, such as those from Bookshare.org. It uses a removable SD flash
memory card or USB memory stick to store books and electronic texts. It can
easily transfer files from a PC with its standard USB connection.

Brenda McBride, Product Manager for HumanWare said, "We developed the
ClassMate Reader from input of students with learning disabilities and their
supportive networks around the country. Taking their needs into account, we
better understood the features and tools they require to be successful
readers and lifelong learners. I am especially excited about our built-in
dictionary to help students instantly look up words with vocal output."

The ClassMate offers all of the most advanced DAISY functions, as well as
navigation capabilities for any book or textbook. Students will appreciate
the ClassMate Reader for quickly and effectively consulting their school
books, making voice notes, study and practice and recording their teacher
during class.

The ClassMate will be available for purchase online in the U.S. at
http://www.humanware.com/ or from Don Johnston Incorporated at
http://www.donjohnston.com/ (800-999-4660) in late autumn 2007 at an
affordable price of $439. In early 2008, The ClassMate Reader will become
available in other countries around the world.

Mobile Speak Smartphone version 2.0

Hello All,

Just a year after the release of the world's first screen reader for Windows
Mobile Smartphones, Code Factory is again setting a new standard of
innovative access to mainstream mobile technology with the concurrent
release of the first screen magnification product for the Windows Mobile
Smartphone/Standard platform, and of Mobile Speak Smartphone version 2.0
featuring user-centered licensing, increased responsiveness and more than 50
enhancements.

Code Factory is committed to incorporating customer feedback and is,
therefore, offering this public beta free of charge to both existing
customers and those considering a Smartphone and using a trial of the
product. Note that if you have previously obtained a trial license to use
with older versions of Mobile Speak for Windows Mobile Smartphones and the
thirty-day trial period is over, you can obtain a new trial activation when
you install Version 2.0 on your device.

The public beta is available at:

http://www.codefactory.es/mobile_speak_smartphone/mss_downloads.htm

As always, we are deeply grateful for your support for Code Factory
products. Mobile Speak Smartphone would not have become today's leading
screen reader for Windows Mobile Smartphones without your valuable input.

*** What's New in Mobile Speak Smartphone Version 2.0?

http://www.codefactory.es/mobile_speak_smartphone/mss_whats_new.htm

Glenfarclas 15 Year Second Tasting 46%

This is a retasting because the whisky in the bottle has changed noticeably. Glenfarclas 15 year old has become a much richer dram over the last two years because of casks from (Jose and Miguel Martine sherry Bodega] coming on stream in 1990. I thought I’d type some more about it for this reason. The older notes can be found at.
http://www.mproberts.co.uk/2005/03/single-malts-h2h-glenfarclas.html

All Glenfarclas vattings for the standard bottlings are made up of 60% sherry and the rest plane wood. IE 4th fill casks.

Nose: prickle at first but then big sherry and an oak takes over. Polished tables? A drop of water brings out bitter chocolate. Don’t use too much water or the nose falls apart!

Pallet: Dry sherry, oak and coco. This is near O T T but I love it. Big tannins.

Finnish: long sherried and a little bitter.

Comment: this has changed no end. The fruit cake is gone and a dryer sherry and oak has taken over. Its none the worse for that but the older version I noted had more sophistication as the sherry and oak did not dominate so.I like this newer version even more and it’s one of Clare’s favorites. Not as good as the 105 to me but better than the latest underwhelming 30 year old version I shared with Clare and friends.

Hi-DeHi

It's more than 20 years since Hi-De-Hi! that mishmash of slapstick and camp flickered on to our screens and Clare and I went to a celebration of the programme in Dovercourt Essex. The event took place in the Cliff Hotel and this was fitting as it had been the hotel used by the caste and crew of the show when filming in the quiet coastal town. I'm not a particularly big fan of this comedy but it’s authors Jimmy Perry and David Croft have written Some classics of britcom. examples are dad's army, you rang m lord, Are you being served?, Oh, Doctor Beeching!, It Aint Half Hot Mum and 'Allo 'Allo!.

This has to put them up with people like Ray Galton, Alan Simpson, Steve Coogan, Peter Kay, Craig Cash, Caroline aherne ETC ETC as some of our best comedy script writers ever. For this reason and the fact some of the actors were also in da house it was an honor to be at the event.

On arriving In Dovercourt with Trekker guiding and the dogs lending a hand we found the hotel and made a slightly unorthodox entrance through the fire doors. Immediately we were met by the actress Sue Pollard who exclaimed that we must have traveled a long way, that we should have tea and cakes and ushered our bewildered selves in to a room full of VIPs and a loud parrot called Charley who it transpired Sue Pollard had spent time teaching to say F off!

All the actors such as Sue Pollard, Nikki Kelly Jeffrey Holland and his wife Judy Buxton were ever so friendly and all gave much time to us.

It felt strange being in a bar with Sue Pollard and some of the other cast members when everyone's slightly squify at 1:30 AM, but after a lovely dinner and much laughter and fun it was natural.

We had a cracking time with some lovely people and all preconceptions aside I really enjoyed the 24 hours we spent.

Bruichladdich 18 Year Old 46%

The last of my open Bruichladdich bottles for a bit at least. This one was matured for 18 years in bourbon then ACEd in Red Pinot Noir casks. They say it should last two or so years on shelves as stocks are good.

Nose: chocolate, oak soft currents and custard. The sweetness is nice and appetizing. This opens up over time. Water brings out a second fill sherry note. Give it at least 25 minutes.

Pallet: sweet and I’d say luxuriant with grapy notes like in a good sweet wine. Oak grips the back of the mouth.. With water the wood takes proper charge of the show but is kept in check by a citrus buzz.

Finnish: long sweet and appetizing. Really tasty.

Comments: give this time and don’t judge at first when you receive it. This has improved much since I first pulled it’s cork.

Score: I’ve stopped scoring whiskys since I think the notes say it all. Anyway, it’s well subjective.

Two Beers and Memorable Cheeses

Memorable cheeses is a local Ipswich cheese retailer who do a good line in local BCA ales. I went a week or so ago on a Saturday afternoon and picked up a few choice items. Old chimneys leading porter 4.2. This tastes to me like a cross between a porter and a stout. It’s a little fruity but the intense mocha notes and a dry finish put it into the stout category firmly. Poring was easy and carbonation was maybe a little too low. Cool it down and drink it on a sesh.

The second beer is from Bartrams a favorite micro brewery in Suffolk. Catherine Bartram's IPA should have been good. Sadly a funky fruity yeast was in evidence when I opened the bottle. Sweet malty and burned jam with little hop to balance. A chip shop vinegar finish. I couldn’t drink this and it went down the sink.

I was shocked by this as they make some cracking beer at Bartrams. I’ll put it down to a bad bottle or storage.

I couldn’t leave without also purchasing some Orkney oat cakes, handmade Yorkshire chutney and two cheeses, an oak smoked wenslydale and a beautiful strong well matured cheddar.

On another beery note I’m pleased to report that Young’s Special London Ale is as good as ever and a credit to the new brewers. The hops are powerful and earthy, the orange pith is still in place and it’s still one of my favorite beers.

Oh, memorable cheeses are at 1 the Walk Ipswich.

manningtree station

Clare and I are at Manningtree station just 10 minutes from
Ipswich waiting to change trains on our way to dovercourt. I was
really happy and surprised to find a small friendly local pub on
the platform Only gk beers but the old bob was on good form with
the locals watching the rugby game. The bar opens at 5 am on a
weekday for the railway workers to have a pint or two. This is
useful to know before a beer festival too.
I know the station is rather full of people getting on and off
trains in the week so could this be the reason?
another attraction is the bar sells home made food till 1 in the
afternoon and sandwiches.

I hope this gets to the blog as I am sending from my pk using
gprs.

Islay Humour

Duncan at Bruichladdich told us this joke and it's just been posted on the Islay blog.


A Farmer on Islay is working on a remote field somewhere in the north looking after his sheep when a shiny new Mercedes pulls over on the side of the single track road. The driver, a posh young man elegantly dressed in a Versace suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and a Rolex wrist watch leans out of his window and says to the farmer: 'If I can tell you exactly how many sheep you have walking here can I get one from you?'

The farmer looks at the yup and says 'All right, why not'.

The yup immediately grabs his Dell laptop and connects it using Bluetooth with his Mobile phone. He makes a GPRS internet connection, surfs to a NASA website and selects a navigation system to determine his exact location. He then sends the data to another NASA satellite, which scans the area and sends the yup a razor sharp picture. He opens Adobe Photoshop and sends the picture back to a laboratory in Hamburg that confirms the processing and storage of the picture. Using several complicated formulas the yup downloads and scans the picture and prints it on his mini HP LaserJet. He looks at the farmer and says 'You have exactly 1586 sheep'.

'You are right' says the farmer. 'You can select one sheep for yourself'

The yup steps out of his car, finds himself an animal and loads it in the boot of his car.

Then the farmer says: 'If I guess your profession, will you give me the animal back?'

The yup thinks and says 'yes, why not.'

The farmer says: 'You're a manager.'

'Unbelievable' says the yup. 'How did you find that out?'

'That was not so hard', says the farmer, 'you turn up here while nobody asked for it, you ask questions nobody is waiting for, you want to get paid for an answer I already know and you understand bloody nothing about my work. Now give me back my dog!'

Bruichladdich Links K Club 14 Year Old

14 years in bourbon then finished in Guigal Cotes Rotie and Guigal Hermitage Rouge Syrah casks.

Nose: black currents, musty and all kinds of soft berry type fruits. jammy. flint? It fades fast though so get a shuffle on.

Pallet: like so much malt from the laddi it's sweet to start but sadly a little thin still rather pleasant in many ways and very drinkable, crisp.

Finnish: oaky and sharp but with winy/fruity notes to keep it interesting.

Comments: not bad if a little tannic but the nose keeps it interesting wile it lasts. Reminds me in some ways of the old 10 year old which is no bad thing if not as fresh.

Mixed Bag

We’re nearing the end of another week. Interesting work for the last few days and lots to do next week before my trip to natter with the good people in Ireland, get the malt out Derry!

Life is pretty quiet at the moment. Seann should be coming down for a birthday bash in Ipswich the weekend before me 30th in November and I’ve asked a few people over for that. Its probably going to be a few beers and malts and lots of food and details are being worked out at the moment so if anyone fancies it let me know because I’m sure to have forgotten to ask people.

Clare and I are off to a comedy night and expo thing on Saturday which I’ll blog about next week.

Dave and I made it on to the news section of www.whisky-pages.com which is rather cool.

Terry Clasper found out that attaching a USB extension to the PK will let one use a memory stick in the device and that is a rather nifty thing to be able to do with the little beastie.
I was in Epsom on Thursday evening having a drink with Don and Andrew and fun was had. This does however lead me on to commenting on the Rising Sun a year since the re-opening.

They have totally ruined the pub. Walked in to a room full of suits and was told by a uninterested robotic eassten European bar made the only beers they had on were bitter special and bombardier. Totally sad, and naff. Chris and Mark weren’t even in the place which says something. Young’s you are naughty naughty naughty!

I expect the food is still top but I won’t be returning. Bland in the extreme.

Moving back to last week Clare and I went to a free Sonday dinner at the Rose and Crown in Ipswich which was lovely cooked by Mary and everyone had a fun time. The beers were varied and the jokes and good humor were much in evident. Nice one Nigel!

Handy Keysoft 7.5 Feature

I've found a nice new feature berried in Keysoft 7.5 and it's useful to me
as yet we can't synchronize email with our Braille Note and a PC.

Its under the delete email from server option in email setup and basically
lets you leave only the mail you wish to keep on the server. The nice thing
about this is that it checks the trash folder for stuff you've junked and
then deletes it off your mail server. Then when downloading mail it
compares its database with the server and only downloads new email. The
upshot is that when next you go to a PC and download email all the important
stuff is left on your server and the trash you deleted is gone.

For me it's the best feature of this new upgrade even though it's
implementation is hidden in a readme file.

Islay and Bruichladdich Report

My holiday on Islay with two dear friends was a magical experience and I've
got a few memories to share.

We touched down on Sunday evening and were met by our taxi driver Stuart
Doyle who was to be our savior that evening once refreshments had been taken
in some of Islay's hostelries. He drove us to the academy house and we were
met with offers of tea, coffee, beer and whisky so after dropping our things
went outside for a dram of Brichladdich 12 year. The air in Islay is
something else and when you're at bruichladdich it's salty and crisp as you
are virtually on an Atlantic beech in the warehouses you can feel this damp
wind and it must influence the whisky especially after 15 years in cask in
these conditions and I for one believe it does. Whisky is lost through the
porous wood and air enters.

That evening we ate Islay steaks and scallops at the Port Charlotte Hotel
and then went to the ebullient Lochindaal Hotel
http://www.lochindaal.freeserve.co.uk/ and chatted to it's fun barman Iain
Maclellan with a few more drams and beers.

Back at home Dave and I went drunkenly out in the lashing wetness to have an
explore and nearly got lost as the battery in the GPS gave out. It was fun
though and something different. The idea was for a midnight dram beside
Lochindaal and had we known that just by standing outside the distillery
we'd have been in the correct spot things would have been simpler for us.

Monday saw us taking in a well done tour at Laphroaig, a lovely dram of
Lagavulin finished in rich sherry casks offered to us by Kirsten as we
passed by the distillery and then dinner at Ardbeg along with a drop or two
of the local Islay Ale.

We found out that from now on Ardbeg is going to be matured on the mainland,
well a large portion of it anyway because basically LVMH are too tight to
build more warehousing for the stocks. Will this change the taste? Maybe,
but we were told that Islay and mainland stocks would be blended together so
nobody should know the difference. This to me is a disappointing attitude
for a company as rich as LVMH who offer luxury and exclusivity

We then went for a superb tea at the academy house and up above a cliff with
Duncan McGillivray the manager and our academy friends for another very
windswept dram Life couldn't get better. Thanks also on the Monday for
Emma's lift.

The academy was wonderful I won't go in to huge detail as people can find
all this on the web but everyone was amazing. Dave and I were in the thick
of it moving casks, filling, mashing, lobbing in the fruity smelling yeast,
distilling and sniffing spirit with the Budgie and working in the bottling
hall.

I enjoyed the filling with Grant and the crew. We were filling 1998 Laddi
in to Madera drums after it had been vatted in one of the huge tanks. This
will probably go to make up a batch of Bruichladdich Waves a whisky I noted
a month or two ago. It will be interesting to watch this expression over
the next year because it's getting a little older.

We also were able to taste some amazing casks in the warehouses including a
brilliant Macallan aced in a Red Ridge zinfandel cask, a Glenlivvet 1977 and
a sinewy 17 year old Glenfarclas from second fill sherry which for me made
time stand still in the damp and lovely smelling building.

Thursday was the day of truth and it was decided between Dave and I that we
would purchase a cask of Bruichladdich spirit aged in first fill bourbon
from the buffalo Trace distillery in the USA. Its cask 1066 from 2007 and
was looking and smelling lovely as we fondly patted its wooden rump. Jim
McEwan had personally selected this cask for us but may have bashed in the
bung a little too hard as Duncan managed to brake the little wooden critter
in two as he extracted it for Dave and I to pay homage to the spirit so we
now have half each. Phil Dave and I then went to a top secret
installation and tried some extremely peaty Bruichladdich called Octomore,
with Duncan the distillery manager. These warehouses were up on a hill in
Port Charlotte and very old. Jaid had a wale of a time scampering around
the sellers snuffling and sniffling.

Everyone passed the exam at the end even Jaid who received a doggy
certificate. It must be said that on the last night we really did have a
drammy or two.

We were looked after like royalty by everyone at the distillery from Mary
and Rae in the accommodation to the manager who made sure that everyone had
a time to remember. We must have put on at least half a stone with the
beautifully cooked grub and the standard was exceptional. I can still taste
the whisky cream.

Friday saw our friends going home but one remained and kindly took us over
to Jura in his car. The Ireland was really windswept and cold. The
distillery tour was a little impersonal but the tour guides had fetched out
some models of the stills for Dave and I to look at which was thoughtful.
Our venison burgers and Murphy's after the tour set us up for a brilliant
tour of Bunnahabhain distillery in the afternoon and for me this was the
best tour of the week. John the manager was such a nice chap and our drams
of this under-rated malt tasted perfect after the experience.

Friday night was another cracker with Mark Reynier and Simon Coughlin two
of the owners from Bruichladdich having a pint or two and some animated
discussion with us in the Port Charlotte Hotel. We then ate a beautiful
Rogan and went to meet up with Grant from the Bruichladdich warehouses for
some pints and Drams. This was another highlight for me as he had asked us
out for a drink at the Lochindaal Hotel and is a genuine gentle giant of a
man.

With wringing heads we boarded the twin prop on Saturday and headed home.
Clare and I will be on Islay next year. Philip also has a cask of Aaron
going over to the distillery soon so would love to make it's acquaintance.

Pictures may be found on Dave's FaceBook pages at
http://www.facebook.com/p/Dave_Williams/780216527

Dear Jude

Chris Steve Andrew and I went for a piss-up in a brewery. 15 people and
rising as more found out about it, 3 casks of locally brewed ale, a
sumptuous Indian buffet from the Spice Deli at 12 Norwich road and the scene
was set.

Frank the brewer has some good ideas and is enthusiastic about his beer.
The Chocolate Malt is to be recommended. All the St Jude's beers are better
when aged for some reason and now that he has more space worked out this
should start to happen.

When we arrived back at the Rose and Crown after the um, tour yet more
Indian food was consumed in the shape of one of Steve's hot mutton currys.

My general health suffered a little bit the day after the event but what a
day.

NB Chris and steve are now renting rooms above the pub, oh, my liver
You can also find the brewery on the web at
www.stjudesbrewery.co.uk/

FaceBook

I've now got me self an account on this all singing ETC thingy face book.

Yes I am still alive and working hard, traveling and have just recovered from a monster hang-over. will be back to normal starting with some whisky tasting notes and other stuff in a day or so. More on St Jude’s brewery soon as well since I’ve just done the tour.