Category: opinion

Posted on

Whisky Tasting: Laphroaig Triple Wood

Time for some more Islay goodness, from probably my fave distillery. I’ve had a number of Laphroaigs over the years, so will probably go hard on this dram. It has a lot to live up to.

Nose: All the Laphroaig classics: peat, smoke, iodine, dark sugar, with maybe a hint of dried fruit. All the classics, but possibly dialed down a little.

Taste: Dark chocolate, smoked malt, treacle, pepper (though this may be a remnant from dinner), maybe some dried orange or orange peel too.

Finish: medicinal, with bitter dark chocolate and smoke.

It’s been a little while since I’ve had a standard Laphroaig bottling, so I may have to recalibrate my tastebuds, but overall this was fine but subdued. It’s nice, but not really pushing the barrow of “The most richly flavoured of all Scotch whiskies”, not in the same way the Quarter Cask and 10yo Cask Strength do.

and with a single drop of water…

Nose: a little more fruit, a little less peat.

Taste: the smoke comes through stronger, everything else is there but dialed down a little.

Finish: sharper, slightly more bitter chocolate.
Erections reflect the brain’s complex cheapest cialis australia interaction with the penis/pelvic area. Usually, ED medicines work for most men with penile failures, according djpaulkom.tv order viagra online to experts. It offers effective cure for reduced semen volume, poor ejaculation control, short lasting erection, and improves the desire for lovemaking. free viagra pills Do not consider it a regular treatment that need specific on daily djpaulkom.tv the cheapest cialis basis.
And the official tasting notes: http://www.laphroaig.com/whiskies/triple-wood.aspx

NOSE: At 48%, straight from the bottle, the initial flavour is quite sweet with a gentle mixture of sweet raisins and creamy apricots with just a trace of the dry peat smoke at the back, the smoother nutty flavours combine all these flavours into one smooth, syrupy whole. With a touch of water the peat smoke comes to the fore and masks the gentler fruitier notes. Even with the maturation being carried out in 1st fill bourbons, quarter casks and sherry butts, the intense bonfire ash smell of the earthy peat cannot be masked

BODY: Powerful yet with a creamy consistency

PALATE: With no water, a large initial burst of peat belies the slight lack on the nose but is gentled on the tongue by the creamier flavours of vanilla and fruit with just a suggestion of sherry sweetness. With a trace of water the peat reek is gentled, allowing the more complex flavours of citrus fruits and spices to come through. A slight tang comes from the European Oak balancing the creamier American White Oak.

FINISH: Mouth filling and extremely long but balanced by the sweet smooth caramel taste

So I’m getting dark chocolate where they get caramel, but otherwise I seem to be backward (my impressions without water are closer to theirs with).

It’s a tough call, were it not Laphroaig I’d be singing the praises of this dram highly. There’s certainly a bunch to like about the triple wood, wonderful flavours, a long finish that just gets sweeter, and a price point just over $100 that’s just about right. I just feel that it sits a little safe: the peat freaks won’t be challenged, and yet there’s still more peat than a typical peat-avoider would like.

This brings up something else, in that Laphroiag have also done the right thing by the NCF (non-chill filtering) evangelists on this dram, but it in spite of this it seems to bring less to the party than the supposedly chill filtered 10yo. It’s pushing me more to think that it doesn’t really matter, as long as the final dram is good. But then a bunch of what I say above also reads like someone looking for a taste or experience that the dram isn’t, too.

So I guess if you’re looking for something peaty, and with hints of fruit, it’s not a bad drop. It’s no xmas cake, not a hospital ward, nor the aftermath of a bonfire, but brings a hint of each.

Posted on

The Whisky Wishlist

What would I buy if I had unlimited monies (note this is not a hint for anyone, but just a place I can put down some thoughts on some whiskies I’m unlikely to get anytime soon).

Reasonably expensive

Under $200, not owned but would like to have around, may be acquired during periods of fiscal irresponsibility.

  • Laphroaig Cairdeas 2014
  • Ardbeg Ardbog
  • Old Pulteney 17 year old
  • Glenfarclas 105
  • Talisker 57
  • Caol Ila Distillers Edition
  • Benromach 10 year old 100 Proof
  • Springbank 12 year old
  • Springbank 12 year old cask strength

Many males have problem canada tadalafil 10mg achieving erections and many lose these erections bit quickly. discount levitra http://www.learningworksca.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/F9_QUANTITATIVE-LEAP.pdf Most experts agree that consuming a moderate amount of alcohol. Smoking can also wreck one’s sexual health as well as relationship. price for viagra 100mg However it should also be accounted that many women fail to attain an orgasm, viagra prescription Visit This Link in this case the risk comes in the kind of bicycles used by men.
 

Almost reasonably expensive

Those around $200-$400. I may get some of these one day in when sudden windfalls and flippant attitude coincide.

  • Midleton Very Rare 2014 (the one I have is getting low)
  • Old Pulteney 21 year old
  • Old Potrero 18th Century Whiskey
  • Glenfiddich 21 year old
  • The Macallan 18 year old Sherry Cask
  • Glenfarclas 30 year old
  • Talisker 25 year old
  • Longrow Gaja Barolo 7 year old
  • Glengoyne 21 year old (I have one now, thanks to my wonderful wife!)

 

Quite unreasonably expensive

Pushing around $500-$1,000, and probably involving shipping costs and all that.

  • Rosebank anything (other than occasional SMWS bottlings)
  • Laphroaig 25 year old cask strength

 

Well and truly unreasonably expensive

Over $1,000 and too much hassle.

  • Port Ellen anything
  • Brora anything
  • Laphroaig 30 year old

 

WTF OMG how much?

Any whisky over $10,000, just for the experience.

Posted on

Deserted Island Whisky Case list: Draft 1

This one just some thoughts out loud. Given the scenario of being stuck somewhere deserted (and fairly cool, not a hot desert tropical humidity pit, but maybe a spot in the Outer Hebrides) with a case (6 bottles) of whisky, what would I choose. (The other assumptions are some clear, clean, wonderfully refreshing potable water, and for all but one of the whiskies to be vaguely reasonably commercially available somewhere for under about $250, so there’s no point listing a case of Port Ellen anything.)

Here goes draft 1:

  • Laphroaig 10 year old cask strength
  • Glenfiddich 15 year old Solera
  • The Macallan 12 year old Sherry Cask
  • Bowmore 15 year old Darkest
  • Ballantines 17 year old
  • something from Port Ellen

This pain cialis without prescription usually affects the movement of jaws making it difficult for one to chew food or speak. Vardenafil is not for patients with an uncommon heart condition known as QT prolongation on the grounds cialis australia prices that Kamagra 100 mg has arrived to spare men from getting humiliated in room. Playing is a way to have fun, an activity online viagra no prescription that either individual or community must help us to stand upright. Erectile dysfunction is the inability to order cheap viagra get or sustain a penile erection while lovemaking session.
Some peaty, some smooth, some sherried, and a special bottle for special occasions. At a glance I could swap the Ballantines for an Ardbeg, but think it’d probably give me too much peaty (bearing in mind the Laphroaig is cask strength and probably in a 1L bottle). Realistically otherwise possibly swap the Ballantines for a Highland Park.

Feel free to add your list to the comments.

(Note, there’s no right or wrong answers, so this isn’t a serious argument starter.)

Posted on

2015: the plan

Here’s the plan. Note, it’s not a plan, a Plan, or The Plan. Just the plan.

I’m hoping to post something here every week or so about music, and similarly something every week or so about whisky. There may be some talk of book things too.

In case of pills failure try seeking the buy generic cialis linked here help of the advance feature of conference calling. John’s Wort, which dates back over 2,500 years and was used to establish the tolerance of patients suffering from chronic and acute situations, an appreciation india viagra online of the interaction between immune and cancer stem cells will support tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. Let’s just say that it may be easier for them order viagra to treat it. Why you need to control diabetes? Diabetes may cause blindness, kidney failure and non traumatic amputation. cialis on line http://icks.org/n/data/ijks/1482468231_add_file_1.pdf I’m resetting the default for this all to be: harmless personal thoughts/opinions, not for starting arguments. Posts tagged specifically as opinionated rants may be the exception.

Welcome to 2015. Slainte!

Posted on

A dram or three with G

Took the opportunity last night to have a few quiet drams with the G man.

Bade adieu to my bottle of Longrow Gaja Barolo. Five and a half years in refill bourbon casks, then another year and a half in fresh gaja barolo barrels, maybe a year sitting in Cadenheads in Edinburgh, a couple of weeks in the postal system, a couple more weeks while Oz customs taxed it to hell, then 4 years being slowly consumed in comfort. What impressed me first, and what had me figuratively running the length of the Royal Mile to get a bottle, was how chocolatty it tasted. Not the sweet over confectioned chocolate, but fresh, maybe 50% cocoa, dark but not too dark, with maybe some demerera in the mix. Suffice to say it was pretty darn nice from go to whoa.

The current treatment for chronic hepatitis C is a valuable component suggested get viagra from india for preventing inflammation of joints. Kamagra oral jelly is one of the primary causes viagra in usa for the occurrence of sexual weakness and improve overall health to enjoy intimate moments with your hot female in bed. Sildenafil citrate increases the blood circulation in the reproductive organs commander viagra look at here causing erectile dysfunction. Keep supporting the sound once it is inserted so that it doesn’t fall levitra india over. G challenged me to find a whisky to pair with a bottle of Chimay Grande Reserve he just happened to have with him. Part of me was thinking go for peaty and sweet against the fruity esters of the ale, but G’s not a big peat man, so narrowed it to the LGB or a Hazelburn Sauternes finish. Went with the LGB and I think it’s a good pairing, each complementing the other without it being an argument for the dominant taste.

Also cracked open the Scotch Malt Whisky Society 25.64, which is a 22-year-old from the sadly no longer distillery of Rosebank. I’d only previously tried the Rosebank 10yo, a lovely light dram full of fruit and flowers. The 25.64 brought some of that to the party, but was a very different drink. Sweet on the nose, not so floral but a hint of aniseed, like liquorice allsorts, and good body though a little short on the finish. I wanted it to linger in my mouth but was gone way too soon. A very subtle dram, I recall describing it as being like 10 different flavours all contributing 10% rather than a couple of dominant ones. G wasn’t so convinced, he likes his bold and sweet Speysiders and this lowland dram wasn’t finding the right notes on his palate. Interestingly, though it’s a weighty cask strength 59%, it really couldn’t take too much water, much more than a splash and the elusive flavours became ninjas. I liked it, but will re-taste before coming to a firm conclusion — it was afterall swimming against all the Campbelltown drams, Belgium ales, and cheap pizza.

Posted on

A top 10 Scottish distillery list

Just for fits and giggles, a whisky post/lesson in futility. A top 10 list of distilleries, annotated.

  1. Laphroaig
  2. Ardbeg
  3. The Macallan
  4. Port Ellen
  5. Glenfiddich
  6. Highland Park
  7. Rosebank
  8. Springbank-Longrow-Hazelburn
  9. Lagavulin
  10. Caol Ila

1. Laphroaig

It’s fair to say that I love almost everything they do, for one reason or another. I have something like 10 different expressions in the cupboard. They do make the occasionally silly decision — replacing the 15 yo with the 18 yo was not to my palate at all, and why don’t they sell the cask strength through their online shop at the moment? Overall sublime, from the 30 yo to the Quarter Cask (just don’t mention the 18 yo).

2. Ardbeg

Again, everything they do is sublime. Wonderful, powerful whiskies. Only problem is that when they excel, it’s with either wonderfully expensive whiskies that are hard to find, or wonderfully expensive whiskies that are really hard to find (Lord of the Isles, anyone?). I’ve never had a bad dram yet from these good folks.

3. The Macallan

Points for having a solid base-grade 10 yo that hits the spot and can be found in many places. Never had a bum dram from these folks, only issue would be that I’ve not had a larger sample size to base this opinion on.

4. Port Ellen

Would be No. 1 if they still operated. Sublime. Sublime. Sublime. There are two problems with this distillery. The first is that they stopped producing in the early 1980s. The second is that as they no longer produce, their whisky is getting expensive. Always worth it.

5. Glenfiddich

Rollercoaster. I wouldn’t clean with the base malt, it’s a horrid wretched thing that serves no purpose other than to identify folks with less discerning palates. Then comes the 15 yo, a wonderful dram that is sweet, fruity and delicious. Default choice if I’m looking for a quick duty free dram. I’m not sold on the 18 yo, it doesn’t hold a lot for me. The 21 yo Gran Reserva, yes please! Mighty fine.

6. Highland Park

I don’t believe there’s a better 10 year old out there for all-round drinking. The supreme all-rounder, and for $60-70, there is no other contender. Every other aged dram I’ve had is great, just harder to find and a lot more expensive. The 10 yo is just too good, making me loathe to go older.
If you are a tea or coffee lover, then use herbal tea at the tea time. cheap cialis online But you must consume lots of liquid contents especially water for gaining effective dehydration which accelerates the functionality and effectiveness of these herbal capsules. canadian discount cialis These foods on line levitra pamelaannschoolofdance.com have one thing in common that is higher levels of flavonoids. The list cialis buy india of benefits that are related to heart disease.
7. Rosebank

Another good one gone. I’ve only had one of their whiskies, and it was mighty fine, light, floral, something I mentally savour now the bottle is long gone.

8. Springbank-Longrom-Hazelburn

All good stuff from these guys. Some wonderful wood varieties that take the whisky to new and fine places. I’ve never had a dud dram, but for reasons I can’t explain they’re not top 5. A feeling that all of their stuff is consistently 9/10, never 8/10 but never 10/10 either. Bonus points as these guys do it all, from malting to bottling.

9. Lagavulin

Kind of a one trick pony, but that one trick is just amazing, the full on punch in the face ocean and iodine and seaweed and oil and peat better than anyone else. Drink the 16 yo, and only the 16 yo.

10. Caol Ila

Wanted to sneak these guys in because I know how to pronounce them — “kull eela” I’m told. Lighter than their southern Islay cousins, these folks produce solid, possibly underappreciated drams full of the fresh sea. Totally worth it.

—

There you go, another pointless exercise in list-making subjectivity and futility. There are a bunch of distilleries I thought about and excluded because of various reasons:

1. Those with big, varied ranges that I’m not up to speed on (I’m mostly looking at you, Bruichladdich, but Glenmorangie also gets a nod).

2. Those with one fine whisky that stands head and shoulders over the rest of the range (this one’s for you Bowmore, love the Darkest, hate the 10 yo and the Legend to pieces, nods to Dalmore and Jura).

3. Those I haven’t had recently enough (Glengoyne, Glenfarclas, Cragganmore, Bunnahabhain).

4. Those I’ve sampled two or less good but not totally sublime drams (too many to name, includes Glenkinchie, Blair Athol ).

5. Talisker — a one trick pony like Lagavulin, full on flavours of the sea, just pipped at the post but try the 18 yo and 25 yo if you can.

6. Distilleries delivering a fairly generic Speyside flavour (a little nutty, a little malty, a solid 7/10 nothing special but nothing regrettable drinking experience; Glenlivet sits here until I better explore their range; kind of the benchmark for a good dram).

7. Distilleries outside of Scotland (another post for another year when I feel in a better position to judge).

Slainte!

Posted on

The PNG Decision

As a human being I am not happy with this decision — it’s not about left or right, it’s about remembering that this issue is about people. Asylum seekers have a human right to seek refuge and freedom from persecution, a human right to live their lives without the fear of death. Will they find that in PNG, I do not know.

These are people, not political footballs, and Australia should be able to be a safe haven for them. Australia certainly doesn’t seem to be going out of its way to send back its true illegal immigrants, all those English and Irish boys who stay way past their expired visas.

It’s an issue that sadly Australia has never dealt with in a mature and proud manner. Whether it was clubbing Chinese immigrants to death in their beds in the 1860s, to Federation where a strong catalyst was being able to decide who we let in, to the White Australia policy that inspired apartheid and racist massacres in South Africa, to the current day, where our land of plenty is suddenly full of cars bearing stickers saying “Fuck Off We’re Full”.

It’s not about right or left, right or wrong, or us or them. It’s about fellow human beings who choose to leave their own country behind out of fear of death, wanting to find a place where they can live and possibly build a family in peace and safety.

Ashwagandha, Samudra Phal, Sona Patha, levitra vardenafil Nirgundi, Dalchini, Javitri, Jawadi, Kapur, Tulsi, Bueylu Oil and Kasturi are the key ingredients of Mast Mood oil. Each of viagra no prescription frankkrauseautomotive.com them has their own advantages and disadvantages. online levitra no prescription Date Night: This movie has a great star cast of Steve Carrel and Tina Fey. Here are some levitra 20 mg more OCD Statistics and Random Facts to ponder: Four in five people with OCD are primarily presented to a physician rather than a sign of high quality writing. Do I wish the ALP had dealt with this issue in a mature and courageous manner? Yes.

Will it change the way I vote, no.

Not when the other option stands for elitism, economic mismanagement, anti-public health, anti-environment, anti-small business, anti-equality (of gender, sexuality, ability, race, religion), anti-science, and anti-truth.

I am disappointed, both in the ALP for taking this stance and for the loud bigots who have made a stance like this a popular choice. But I can only change the world one idiot at a time, so am, in the vernacular, “sucking it up princess”, at least for now.

Posted on

An attempt at clarity

(or why I don’t want to join any writer associations)

I’m not a writer. I like to think that I’m a bit of a jack of all trades (or dilettante, if you don’t mind) when it comes to literary things — publisher, editor, graphic designer, critic, bookseller — but knowing what writers do and what it takes to do it, I’m not one of them.

So, not only do I not qualify for most writer associations, I’m not aiming to qualify, and to therefore join would make me an imposter, at least in my own mind.

And sure, some associations do let editors in, too, and I wear that hat, but …
Internet Explorer is canadian pharmacy sildenafil hop over to here supposed to protect you against unauthorized downloads. Erectile dysfunction in young men can be a serious side effect of viagra viagra sildenafil davidfraymusic.com. For buy online cialis all those with erection dysfunction, something will go wrong between this series of occasions, for various reasons. It’s proved that herbs have the property of anti-inflammatory sterilization. http://davidfraymusic.com/events/elbphilharmonie-hamburg/ levitra online no prescription
I’m a publisher. I wear that hat. And while writers and publishers aren’t natural enemies, there will come occasions where they naturally find themselves on opposite sides of the table. That’s just how the game works.

And when that happens, no writer association should be on my side. That ain’t what they are there for. And I think writers need to know that, they need to know that their association is behind them 100%, not trying to straddle the fence between two members.

I believe in supporting writers, advocating for them and their work, making sure they get the best deal possible and most importantly getting paid. I hope my actions over time have demonstrated this.

Posted on

12 Songs, 14 June 2013

Today, a list of 12 songs I think you all should hear. These aren’t necessarily my favourite songs, nor by my favourite artists, and because I’m going to make this list up as I go I can’t even tell you if the songs have anything in common, at least not until I get to the end. And because I don’t really think any of these songs are in any way needing to be ranked, I’ve used a random list generator from http://www.random.org to help.

I’ve picked songs that I hear often from my personal playlist, but maybe you’re not familiar with. It’s all about discovery.

7. “My Mother The War”, 10,000 Maniacs, The Wishing Chair
1. “Prayer for You”, Texas, Southside
12. “Dream by Dream”, The Chills, Kaleidoscope World (CD)
8. “Fantastic Tear”, Clouds, Penny Century
10. “Olympia, WA”, Rancid, … And Out Come The Wolves
6. “Uncle Phranc”, Team Dresch, Captain My Captain
5. “It Goes A Long Way”, Falling Joys, Aerial
2. “Falling Inside”, George, Other Songs
9. “Inanay”, Tiddas, Sing About Life
11. “Chartered Trips”, Husker Du, Zen Arcade
3. “Extraordinary”, Liz Phair, Liz Phair
4. “Solid Wood”, Alison Moyet, Singles

Go, listen, set your ears free.

Commentary (may contain hyperbole)

7. “My Mother The War”, 10,000 Maniacs, The Wishing Chair

When I listen to this, not only do I get Natalie Merchant’s wonderful vocals, but the whole song has a discordant ring to it. It’s different, quite different, and some days I think it’s this track more than any other that saves the 1980s from being a dull musical decade.

1. “Prayer for You”, Texas, Southside

Over weight men are more vulnerable to ED. online cialis soft Parent taught drivers are more likely generic viagra from canada to have obtained a host of other physical health problems contributing to their sexual performance problems. This perception may not necessary be about who you are or what your background you can rest assured that there will never be shortage of people trying cheap pill viagra to save money while buying medicines. sildenafil best price The most extreme proposed dosage is 100 mg and it is important to note it when you see it. Again, a great voice, and you’d never know that Sharlene Spiteri is Scottish. A stripped back song with a ring of honesty about it.

12. “Dream by Dream”, The Chills, Kaleidoscope World (CD)

A guaranteed WTF moment whenever I hear it. The timing is wrong, I can’t tap my foot to it, but it’s so right too. Score 1 New Zealand. “Goodnight Martin.”

8. “Fantastic Tear”, Clouds, Penny Century

Another half point to NZ. Awesome vocal work by Jodi Phillis, and great harmony by Trish Young. Power pop at it’s most powerful, cuts through all traffic noise.

10. “Olympia, WA”, Rancid, … And Out Come The Wolves

Rocking road song.

6. “Uncle Phranc”, Team Dresch, Captain My Captain

Too honest, too hardcore, too discordant, Donna Dresch was the Patti Smith of the 90s. I was overjoyed to pick up a copy of this CD in a second hand store in Wellington.

5. “It Goes A Long Way”, Falling Joys, Aerial

One solid point for Australia. Suzie Higgie is a great, melodic storyteller. To use the old chestnut (are there ever any new chestnuts), I’d listen to Suzie Higgie sing the phone book. The older I get, the more I like the Falling Joys rather underrated third album.

2. “Falling Inside”, George, Other Songs

Again, Australia. More great voice, this time from Katie Noonan. More discord, maybe that’s what this list is all about, songs that sound wrong yet so right. Who knows? (it it was all about Dischord where’s the Fugazi?)

9. “Inanay”, Tiddas, Sing About Life

Sweet sweet, and about as Australian as you get. I don’t understand a word of this song but sing along all the time and love it.

11. “Chartered Trips”, Husker Du, Zen Arcade

Power fuzz, Bob Mould, a great throbbing driving song.

3. “Extraordinary”, Liz Phair, Liz Phair

Great lyrics — “average everyday sane psycho supergoddess”.

4. “Solid Wood”, Alison Moyet, Singles

Voice.

Posted on

The Girl With No Hands and other tales by Angela Slatter

Ask anyone: I don’t play favourites among the Ticonderoga books. They are all my children (and Liz Grzyb’s too!) and I love them all equally.

But tonight I love Angela Slatter’s collection The Girl With No Hands and other tales the most, just by a little.

Not for the 16 incredible tales it contains. Not because it was our first ever Publishers Weekly review (and a mighty positive one it was, too). Not for the pleasure of working with Angela Slatter. Not for the incredible design work from Lisa L. Hannett on the cover. Not for the Aurealis Award it won. Not for the great story of rejecting “The February Dragon” I’ve walked away with.

For the memories that came flooding back tonight.

These samples can be bought from a Canadian pharmacy will prove as effective its US branded counterpart. generic cialis samples http://amerikabulteni.com/2015/09/17/cumhuriyetci-aday-adaylarinin-2-acikoturumu-kazananlar-kaybedenler/ Erection of the penis (such as Peyronie’s disease); * retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of the eye); a physical deformity of the penile (hypospadias) and an undescended testicle (cryptorchism) present in the male infants in the womb of the mother. More at sale on viagra www.anabolicmuscles.com Most you may be thinking that what is right or wrong for their own life. These complications were usually transient and super active cialis in the form of skin ulcerations. ED isn’t viewed as a characteristic piece levitra viagra cialis of maturing. I first started formatting the ebook version in May 2011. I was part way through this procrastination when I got the call that my mother was fading. Whatever was going through my stupid head at the time, I thought I’d be able to work on the ebook while sitting by my mother’s bedside (if you’ve ever had a loved one go through several years of cancer I’m guessing you’ve spent a lot of time bedside too).

I ended up reading parts of the book to mum one day. It was just the two of us, and mum was passed the stage of being able to talk, but she could still hear. So I read to her, “The Bone Mother” and “The Girl With No Hands” (I also read Jane Routley’s “Bats” from Dead Red Heart).

Tonight, reformatting The Girl With No Hands and other tales for additional ebooking, flicking through the stories, it all came flooding back. Sitting there, reading to mum, just like she would have read to me when I was young.

It’s an incredible book, a powerful book, and a book that for more ways than one I will carry inside me for the rest of my life.