York Whisky Club

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Tasting #22 – Scotch Whisky Auctions (11/10/24)

Back to St Crux for drams from a higher place!

(Obviously meaning Scotland)

Tam and Deborah from the Scotch Whisky Auctions were kind enough to put on a showcase tasting for us with 7 drams accompanied by Tam’s tales from his decades in the whisky industry.

The tasting started with a Macallan ‘Rich Cacao’ taken from the Harmony Collection (44%, £90 in Sept 24 Auction), which Tam said would not be the dram of the night, in a classic from the whisky tasting host playbook.

Some eyebrows for that, but more lip smacking for the Glenfarclas 21 that followed, a special bottling for the radio station (Whisky FM) behind the auction site. (51.4%, £120 in Sept 24 Auction)

Our overwhelming (by some margin) dram of the night came after that, a GlenAllachie 2006 13yr old single cask, bottled for the Spirit of Speyside Festival in 2020. (60.5%, £100 in Aug 2024 Auction). This was an exceptional dram and with prices for this having dropped over successive auctions before settling around the £100 mark, definitely one that got attendees reaching for the registration page.

Was it a Dalmore? Was it another Macallan? Tam’s infinity kitchen cask had an air of familiarity but we couldn’t guess the 4th dram which was presented in a Glencairn glass attendees got to keep – in contravention to what your partner/spouse may have said, yes, you do need MORE whisky glassware!

A 56.1% Springbank 12yr Cask Strength followed (2024 12yr CS was £110 in the Oct 2024 Auction), then a delightful Lagavulin (54.5%) bottled for the 2016 Islay Jazz Festival (£120 in the Oct 2024 Auction) before a Port Charlotte PC10 (59.8%) to cap the night (last seen for £130 in Sept 2015)

A big 🙏 to Tam and Deborah for an entertaining evening and an insight into a great source of new, forgotten and undiscovered drams – Scotch Whisky Auctions.

We were also able to raise £550 for their nominated charity, Blameless, so a case of great whisky, a great night and the chance to do something nice for those less fortunate.