This now very popular annual tasting was held last
week at 15 on Orange hotel between 6 and 9 and there were some gems to taste
We began with the Avondale
Armilla MCC, crisp and complex
Stopped at the Bon Courage for
some bubbly and really liked their unwooded chardonnay
As many people come from work,
these two buffet tables full of cheeses, nuts, fruit, chutneys, preserves, humus and a variety of breads, biscuits and
other starches are very popular. It’s
always good to have a base if you are going to taste spirits
Next, to Simonsig at the round
bar for a taste of their very popular MCCs
Friendly Wimpie Borman of Groote
Post welcomed us with a couple of their newer wines
And then it was time to wander
into the Whisky Room for some specials. Glenfarclas were pouring their 105
And Hector Macbeth of Macbeth on Whisky was pouring the Paul John
whiskies …
… and a couple of others like
Black Oyster and Scally Wag
Lynne thinks the labelling of
Timorous Beasties is great fun, the blended whisky is not bad either
Jura whisky is from the island of Jura in the Inner Hebrides off the West Coast of Scotland and Glenbrynth is distilled and matured in Speyside and the Highlands regions and then blended and bottled in Bellshill, Glasgow. Many people have distinct preferences
about the whiskies they prefer and the regions they come from, Lowlands,
Highlands, Islands. All are good, just take your pick. Some love heavy peat
others just a little, some want none. Don’t let someone tell you your choice is
not cool, or fashionable, wrong or right. It’s your choice, your palate and
your expense. If you come from a Scottish or Irish background, it very often is influenced
by what you grew up with. But always keep an open mind, some cannot be
dismissed and may surprise and delight you
Glenmorangie was with Ardbeg, the peat monster, which is perfect
for those that love them
It was a popular table
Glenlivet certainly had a good
selection to taste and some older specials were brought out by most companies
when the clock struck the half hour
Lynne does wonder why most
whisky lovers are so tall and large. She
had a bit of difficulty getting to counters to taste
Back to the wines and to taste
some of our favourites like De Wetshof's Limestone Hill and Bateleur Chardonnays and chat to Marketing
Manager Bennie Stipp
Delaire Graff came next – we
always like their Cabernet Franc Rosé and it was a good palate refresher after
the whiskies. The 2016 Shiraz is looking
good too
and the lovely pair on the
Creation Stand: Inge Lakey and Eben Bezuidenhoud. We so enjoy
Creation's very special Art of .. wines, especially their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
The man himself, Wade Bales with hairy beer man Martin Tucker
On Avondale’s stand, Tom Mills
was on top form, despite recovering from a bad dose of the flu
John enjoyed tasting their recently released Navitas 2009 Rhône blend
Avondale’s winemaker Corné
Marais
And then it was time to go
home. We need to reassure you that we do spit; we went there on MyCiti buses
and took an Uber home. No driving after such a great show
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2018
