Lagavulin DE vertical tasting: standard 16 yo, DE 1998/2014 lgv 4/503, DE 1997/2013 lgv 4/502, DE 1995/2013 lgv 4/501, DE 1996/2012 lgv 4/500, DE 1995/2011 lgv 4/499, DE 1991/2007 lgv 4/495 and finally quite ancient DE 1981/2000 lgv 4/465

Long-awaited tasting to be shared with Andrii Rubtsov and Valerii Minialkoff. 

Exploring Campbelltown: Longrow Peated 46%, Kilkerran 8 yo 55.7%, Longrow 11 yo Red Cabernet Franc 55.9%, Springbank 12 yo CS batch #16 56.3%, Springbank 18 yo 46% and Springbank 10 yo 2007/2017 Local Barley 57.3%

We'll taste tonight 2 of 3 Campbelltown working distilleries: Springbank and Glengyle. 

Clynelish trio: 1995 Maltbarn #54 49.9%, 1995 Whisky-Fassle 52.7% and 1995 Speciality Drinks cask #10193 57.5%

After falling in love with Clynelish 21 yo Maltbarn distilled in 1995 I decided to have one day a few more Clynelish samples distilled the same year, maybe that is its golden year to be compared with 1972 for Tobermory or 1975 for Benriach?.. 

UWCC #126 and range of Bunnahabhains: Bunna 12 yo Small batch 46.3%, Bunna 13 yo Rattray 57.7%, Bunna 1989/2014 HB 51.4%, Bunna 1989/2016 Dram Senior 40.3%, Bunna 1990/2017 Wemyss 46%, Bunna 30 yo 1987/2017 Maltbarn 48.7% and Bunna 40 yo 1975/2015 DL XOP 51%

So the theme of Ukrainian Whisky Connoisseurs Club April gathering was exploring Bunnahabhain distillery (mainly through independent bottlings).

Random session: Glenfiddich 8 yo Pure malt 43%, Justerini & Brooks 20 yo 75 proof and Glenfarclas 40 yo 46%

Quite bizarre trio, but why not after all?.. 

Mega Maltbarn set: Ireland 14 yo, Linkwood 16 yo, Dailuaine 18 yo, Braes of Glenlivet 19 yo, Ben Nevis 19 yo, Invergordon 27 yo, Tobermory 22 yo, Glenburgie 23 yo, Fettercairn 29 yo, Blair Athol 28 yo, Invergordon 44 yo, Inchgower 38 yo, Bunnahabhain 40 yo, Glen Grant 40 yo and Macduff 32 yo UD

A friend of mine Sergii visited Maltbarn tasting in Belgium and brought quite a selection of Maltbarn samples that are difficult to get nowadays...

UWCC #124 and bunch of closed distilleries: Littlemill 1988/2008 HB 46%, Glen Keith 1993/2009 GM 46%, Lochside 1991/2001 GM 43%, Imperial 1994/2012 GM 43%, Pittyvaich 1993/2011 GM 43%, Convalmore 1984/2010 GM 43%, Port Ellen 1982/2010 GM 43%

I wasn't able to attend the meeting of UWCC (Ukrainian Whisky Connoisseurs Club), but set of samples was waiting for me in Whisky Corner. 

Jim McEwan and Stewart Laing evening: Glen Scotia 20 yo 1991/2011 MM 57.6%, Bruichladdich 30 yo 1973/2003 40.2%, Bruichladdich 32 yo DNA 1977/2010 47.4%, Glenlivet 33 yo 1977/2010 Celtic Heartlands 47.7%, Springbank 24 yo 1993/2017 Edition Spirits 53.3%, Bowmore 22 yo Moonlight 43%, Ardbeg 26 yo HL the Kinship 49.7%

The whiskies themselves were stunning, but the possibility to chat with some of the most respected men in the industry was even more stunning!

Trio of young Islays from Maltbarn: Bunnahabhain 05 yo SV selected by Maltbarn #84 61.9%, Port Charlotte 08 yo Mba #81 57.6% and Bruichladdich 09 yo Mba #80 53.4%

We had 3 aged Taliskers recently, let's try 3 young Islay malts from a trusted bottler. 

Trio of Taliskers: 25 yo 45.8% (bottled 2015), 25 yo 57.8% (bottled 2004) and 20 yo 1981/2002 62.0%

We stumbled across sample of a legendary sherried Talisker 20 yo 1981/2002, so small vertical tasting became quite inevitable.