D.T.W.C at The Grey Bush Manor

The Unclean at his cleanest

Saturday, 28th April marked the much awaited D.T.W.C meeting at The Grey Bush Manor. For the six members + one guest (Michael, guest of the Baron) who undertook the long and arduous journey to Castle Hill they were well rewarded for their effort.

The meeting got underway just before six, with refreshments (the odd stubby or two) and some light food. As is customary, contact via Skype was established with fellow member The Diplomat (who now resides in Brisbane) including pre-posted sample dram in hand, and the official meeting of the DTWC was underway.

The host whisky was placed on the table and all were asked to pour a dram and lively discussion followed as to the identity of the chosen liquor. All members are sufficiently attuned to the finer whiskys so they quickly narrowed the liquor down to the Islay Region. After much mulling, (and half the bottle drunk) the identity of the whisky was revealed.

The whisky was a Lagavulin single malt, special release limited edition Distillers Edition (1995). Once the formalities were over the members sat down to a sumptuous dinner of Vienna Schnitzel, Cooked in the traditional Polish way by Malwina, the Grey Bush's mother-in-law. The meal was an obvious success (as attested by the applause Malwina got when she walked through the dining room). When the formal part of the evening was complete all members retired to see how many different types of whisky they could sample. The beauty of these meetings is that each person brings along a bottle of whatever whisky they are drinking at that time, and places it on the table for all members to try. As all members drink quality whisky, this tasting session is an absolute hit.

Some time that night, (I have trouble remembering what time the meeting broke up) the members called upon their designated drivers (ie. their wives) and so the DTWC meeting came to a close.

The next meeting of the DTWC has been tentatively set with The Alchemist as the host.

The Grey Bush

Need a toke – Maker's Mark Cigar

Maker's Mark Cigarillos

So your thinking you need a toke on a cigar once in a while while attending your whisky club. They say cigars go well with Single Malts (and whisky in general) but does it really? In the past when I have had the hankering for a cigar the end result is generally destruction of the sense, a dry mouth, clothes stink and feeling a bit crook a few days after.  Maybe it is time to try the 'aromatically enhanced' Maker's Mark Cigar then and see what comes of it. I love the smell of a cigar and I do find the smell goes awesome with whisky but to put the cigar taint on the pallet just ruins it for me. An automatic cigar puffer on the table sounds like a good idea to me.

Maker's Mark 650 Toro

Funnily enough you will not find this listed on the Maker's Mark site or Gift Shop site. Good enough to brand and but not good enough to endorse on the official sites. Maybe this is due to the stigma associated with the health risks? Well you cannot argue with that but I think if your going to make it you might as well sell it. I am curious id the wax is dipped at Marker's Mark as I have seen in the past they are harshly dedicated to protection of the brand and how it is applied.

Maker's Mark 562 Torpedo

Even though we cannot get the 'official' word from a Maker's Mark site the next best thing is one of the online distributor's that is branding the product in their online stores. Below is the extract I have lifted from the Ted's Cigars website (It looks official enough).

The Maker's Mark cigar is the perfect combination of fine ingredients and a unique smoking experience. The long-leaf tobacco is grown in the Dominican Republic, and the bourbon is distilled from red wheat in the Kentucky countryside. Together they create a cigar like no other.

The unique process whereby the cigar is aromatically enhanced by Maker's Mark Bourbon makes the Maker's Mark Cigar unique in the industry. You won't find any artificial ingredients in this cigar. In fact, the bourbon never even touches the tobacco! The result is a premium cigar with all of the benefits of a premium bourbon. The perfect combination for a relaxing smoke. 

To top it off, each cigar is sealed in a glass tube, and then each tube is hand-dipped in Maker's Mark's signature red wax, just like the actual bourbon. An added benefit to this process is that the cigar is housed in an air-tight container. Once it's dipped, it doesn't require humidification, making it ideal for travel, the golf course, or any excursion where a humidor isn't available.

Maker's Mark 538 Petit Corona

So what is 'aromatically enhanced' anyway? As stated above the tobacco leaf does not come in contact with the bourbon. Interesting none-the-less I would love to find out more. Anyone with a bit of knowledge please let me know.

As listed the cigars come in 5 varieties: Maker's Mark 650 Toro,  Maker's Mark 562 Torpedo, Maker's Mark 538, Petit Corona, Maker's Mark 10th Anniversary, Maker's Mark Cigarillos.

Maker's Mark 10th Anniversary

For a single cigar as quoted from the Ted's Cigar site is around $8 to $12 US but then there is a wide variety of packs also available so better of checking this out for yourself at the Ted's Cigar store.

It would seem though this is not a new idea and even looking at the Maker's Mark 10th Anniversary celebrating 10 years of the cigar is proof enough (can't say I have seen it here in Aus but then I am infrequent to a cigar store to begin with and we are a long way away). Also just even perusing the other things at Ted's Cigars it is easy to see other distillers have the same idea: Grand Marnier, Hopz, Rhum, Dumante, Forty Creek.

So for those in the club and visitors in the mood for a cigar why not try an 'aromatically enhanced' Maker's Mark cigar.

The Baron

Thanks to Ted's Cigars for the information and images.

A Special Swede – Mackmyra Special 01 Eminent Sherry

Mackmyra Special 01 Eminent Sherry

The Search for Something New – A Review by the Unclean

Upon learning that it was it was my turn to host a meeting of the DTWC (25th June 2011) I found myself in a tail spin as I searched for a whisky that the heavy hitters of the DTWC had not tried before.  As a complete newcomer to the world of whisky I quickly found that while I could quite easily find whiskies that I hadn’t tried before the same couldn’t be said of the founding members and my visits to the local bottle shops quickly ended in frustration.

It wasn’t until I found myself sitting on a plane flicking through the in-flight magazine for the twelfth time, bored out of my gourd and waiting for the engines to start when lady luck smiled upon the Unclean.  In between an article on the nocturnal habits of the bush babies of the Kalahari and an introduction to the enchanting world of Indonesian batik I happened across an article on the emergence of new world whisky.

It was here I leant about Macmyra. A Swedish venture set up by eight friends who met up at a mountain lodge in the spring of 1998.

According to the Macmyra website, each had taken along a bottle of malt whisky for the host; the topic of conversation was obvious. How do you make whisky? And why isn’t there a Swedish one? The question led them to start exploring the possibilities of making their own Swedish whisky.

The mind only boggles at what the DTWC may be capable of after three years of regular meetings?

Having made the decision to pick up a bottle of Mackmyra (albeit two days before the meeting), the challenge quickly became how do I get my hands on one and quickly.

It was here that I learnt that the internet offers more than porn alone and happened upon the Odd Whisky Coy in Adelaide.

Graham 'The Big G' of The Odd Whisky Coy 

Despite a more than dubious photo on the website, the proprietor, Graham proved to be knowledgeable and extremely helpful and promised to get me a bottle of Macmyra Special 01 in time and under budget.  Having handed over my credit card details I was pleased to say that Graham came through with the goods in flying colours.

Mackmyra Special 01 Eminent Sherry
Location / Region: Sweden
Alcohol: 51.6%

The bottle is well presented in its box and would make quite an attractive gift.  The bottle itself is squat with a heavy base holding an unusual 700mls.

Pouring the first dram, the first thing I notice is the honey yellow colour.  The nose gives off light fruity / floral tones (almost honey like) and surprisingly little hint of the alcohol content (51.6%).

The first sip removes any doubt regarding the alcohol content and it kicks like a mule (I will take my second sip a little slower… obviously a rooky mistake).

The second sip and I’m focusing on mouth feel and flavor and really can’t get past the warmth of the alcohol.  The third sip and I’m getting I’m picking up spice and oak (which is no doubt a result of having been matured in Spanish ex-sherry casks).

Adding some water certainly took some of the edge off and enhanced some of the fruity tones on the nose. Adding water also allowed some of the same tones to come through on the palate and lessened the dry finish.

I think that I’ve found the way to drink my Swede…

While I readily acknowledge my status as rank beginner in all things whisky, my thoughts are that while there is a lot to like in the floral nose and spicy pallet, I can’t help but think that this would have been more interesting if it wasn’t for the dry finish and at times overbearing alcohol, maybe I’ll add some more water…

The Unclean

Around the corner and back

Well it has been a while since any of us last posted on our little blog and especially about whisky. Sorry for not being here if you came knocking.

For myself I have suffered probably one of the worst head colds known to man (supplied by my children) that has knocked my nose and taste sensors for six. Over the last 2 weeks I have been sipping and tasting my way back onboard as we had just recently a great DTWC club meeting (still waiting on post wrap up from the host The Grey Bush) and since then a few drams here and there has renewed my confidence in myself.

For those other whisky buddies and bums of the club I cannot speak for, but a few posts have started to flow through so I will begin to get them up momentarily.

Once again sorry for appearing disinterested we are back from around the corner even though we never really left.

The Baron