Observations on being FMIR

We've survived the last trip out of London with the students and last night we attended the last play of the semester. Things are winding down. I hope to have posts with photos for recent events soon. In the mean time, I thought I'd share a few observations about being the FMIR and what's been going on.

Auchentoshan 18 year

This is a very fine whisky. excellent after taste. A darker, perhaps woodier taste than the 3 wood. Their web site claims a tobacco flavor but I don't get it. Perhaps that the "woodier" flavor.

I think, however, I prefer the 3 wood a bit more. Both are nice, but for my money, I'll take the 3 wood.

Auchentoshan Three Wood

Now this is a very fine sipping whisky. Velvety and smoothen the tongue. Clear butterscotch mixed in there. A bit of toffee as well.

The distillery web site says "Moving from American Bourbon to Spanish Oloroso Sherry - and finally Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks" gives the drink its complexity. I can believe it. This is a very good scotch whisky and I'd buy it in a skinny minute.

Paris

Viewing the Louvre from across the Seine at the Musee d'Orsay.

Paris is a city best seen in black and white. There is a feeling here that is very different from London. First, it is much smaller. London is just shy of 8 million, Paris is a bit over 2 million. Paris wan't bombed in the 20th century like London was. There are very few new buildings and essentially no buildings taller than about 4 storeys. It is a museum of a city. As if preserved in amber, there is little here that was't here by the mid-ninteenth century.

Auchentoshan 12 years old

No I don't how to say it.

This one's a keeper. From the Auchentoshan Distillery comes a 12 year whisky that is smooth, with strong notes of vanilla and as the web site says a hint of creme brûlée. Nice drink. It does not have the silly fell on the tongue that some others have had, but is quite good.

Hard to find a bad drink in the lot I purchased.

The Glenrothes 1998

This selection is an older sample from the Glenrothes distillery. This one is very tasty. It is not as smooth as the Glengoyne of lest night. the Glebgoyne seemed to have, upon reflection, a creaminess to it. Kind of like having a spoonful of yummy yogurt.

This Glenrothes is sharper. The distillery web site calls it peppery. It certainly has a long finish and sits well in the mouth. This one is good but less good than the others. Not my preference. Quite drinkable, but not as good as the others.

Glengoyne 18 years old

A new sample to taste from Glengoyne. This 18 years old scotch is very nice.  There is hint of vanilla and a very full and pleasing aroma in the glass. There might be a little fruit in there as well. It leaves a smooth after taste.

Their website declares that the never peat their barley so that contributes to the flavor a greater variety of flavors mixing. It is aged in sherry casks. It sits on on the tongue like a syrup without being sweet. It seems to me that it would go very well with chocolate. A delightful drink.

You'l notice that so far I have not have anything bad to say about any of the samples. Some are better than others, but they are all good. This is certainly one I'd buy again. It appears that I can buy it online from their website, although this may be limited to only UK buyers.