Ayrshire Whisky Advent DramShare 2024, Blitzen Group
Welcome to 2024 of the worlds biggest and best Advent Dram Share (maybe). For those that took part from last year thanks for coming back and for all those that are here for the first time, welcome to the madness!
This year includes 3 groups of 24 people with some bottles from elsewhere to make up to 25 drams for December.
All we ask in return is to engage with the group while doing this and anything in the future, Take part in our tastings, events and everything going on, we can't promise much but we will promise you will have fun!
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We know there are those of you out there beginning your Whisky journey and there is no end to this but enjoy the journey because there is one thing for certain We all Do!
Dram 1 : 01/12/2024
Contributor : Mel Sparrow
Name : Glen Garioch 12 (Core Bottling)
ABV : 48%
Info : The perfect accompaniment to Parmigiano-Reggiano, our 12 Years Old binds the dryness of the cheese, which in return provides a platform for the malt’s sweet fruitiness and enhances its clean barley notes. Nose The colour of sharp honey, on the nose heathery floral notes are balanced with the richness of poached pears and the sweetness of malted barley. Palate Crème brûlée and sweet ripe banana at first, then comes a light oakiness with pear fruitiness, leading to a long smooth, creamy and fragrant finish.
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Dram 2 : 02/12/2024
Contributor : Kevin McKie
Name : Kilchoman 100% Islay 13th Edition
ABV : 50%
Info :
The 100% Islay 13th Edition was distilled from barley grown on the farm at Kilchoman in 2012, 2013 and 2014, it was then matured for a minimum of 8 years before 44 bourbon barrels were selected for this year’s release of bottles.
Nose
Malt loaf, toffee apple, banana bread, citrus, lavender, pear drops, sea salt and hints of peat smoke.
Palate
Fresh vanilla and fragrant peat smoke with caramel, barley blossom, sultanas and hints of spicy oak tannins.
Finish
Silky viscosity with fresh crumpets, butter and honey.
Dram 3 : 03/12/2024
Contributor : Stuart Gwynne
Name : St Bridgets Kirk Batch 3
ABV : 48.5%
Info :
This exceptional whisky is created in a unique and special way by blending malt whiskies from different distilleries and differing spirit styles. Each batch is Small, bespoke and distinctively different from the last; blended, married, bottled and hand labelled in LotG's own warehouse where you’ll be glad to know, no artificial colouring of chill-filtration takes place.
Originating in the sherry and port industries, a solera system involves multiple connected barrels. As whisky is drawn from the last barrel the first barrel is topped up. This Solera is made up of an ex-Fino sherry quarter cask and two ex-Oloroso quarter casks. Whisky flowing through the system will pick up new, deeper, flavours from these casks.
This is the 3rd batch and now we’re seeing the real benefit from time marrying together in the Solera. There is a rewarding balance of smoke and sherry with any youthful notes now well into the background.
Nose
Caramelized nuts, dark treacle, toasted oak, baking spices, subtle smoke.
Palate
Savory smokiness, oily citrus, salted caramel, crystallized ginger, and nougat.
Finish
Black pepper, marmalade, and root ginger.
Dram 4 : 04/12/2024
Contributor : Tommy Lucas
Name : Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 9
ABV : 59.2%
Info :
90% Bourbon, 10% Sherry
Nose
Lemon candy, butter, tangerine, peat, grain cookie and apple pie.
Palate
Butter, lemon, peat, orange, apple, biscuit and peach. Water releases white wine gum.
Finish
Peat, gingerbread, peach, lemon and apple.
Dram 5 : 05/12/2024
Contributor : Mike Woodward-Gregg
Name :Bimber Klub Release 5 (2024)
ABV : 51.8%
Info :
For 2024’s release for members, Bimber wanted to offer something special to celebrate five years of Bimber Klub and also wanted to showcase an aspect of the maturation programme which is talked about a little less than our preponderance for ex-bourbon casks.
Klub Release No.5 – Oloroso Sherry Cask is a clever marriage of both 1st fill and refill Spanish oloroso sherry casks. Its composition takes a best-of-both-worlds approach, showcasing the profound richness that it’s possible to derive from 1st fill sherry, but tempering this with the more subtle notes that result from utilising refill casks. The result is a marriage that is unmistakably Bimber, but which presents an entirely different flavour profile to any of our previous sherry-led single malt releases.
Nose
delicate, forest floor, freshly cut grass, sweet, pancakes with vanilla cheese, raisins, sherry, black cherries, dried cherries, jam, a bit of chocolate
Palate
expressive, woody, sweet, vanilla, heather honey, slightly spicy, raisins, plum jam, dried apricots, espresso coffee, suede leather, dark chocolate, young oak
Finish
long, sweet, pleasantly warming, honey-bitter, with dark dried fruits, plum jam, dark chocolate, a bit of oak, slightly spicy, scratching the palate
Dram 6 : 06/12/2024
Come back on the 6th for the reveal