Drinking to Denmark

After security, a lady was asking you to taste her whisky if you would give her your email address for a chance to win a huge collection of whisky. I not only wanted to win the prize, I wanted to do a little tasting. I asked for the Balvenie Doublewood (I own some, but I haven’t tasted it) to which she suggested I try the airport duty free store exclusive: Glenfiddich Rare Oak. To be sure, there was nothing “rare” about the oak, but the bottling is probably exclusively bottled for the duty free whisky store. It was ten years in an American Bourbon cask followed be four years in a Spanish Sherry cask. It was really rather good. It was sweet, but smelled strongly of bourbon. Although, remember, I am standing up drinking this out of a very small plastic sampler just past security in the airport.

I sweet talked the lady into a taste of the Balvenie Doublewood. After the sooth and sweet Glenfiddich I had just had, I must say I was mildly disappointed. It tasted a little harsh, but I won’t pass full judgment until I can I get a wee dram in an arm chair.

I walked over to look at the purchases they had available and, well, to trick the tasters. So I made it to the front and looked longingly at a few bottles until I was invited to taste something. I selected the Aberlour since we had just missed visiting there last week on the Highland trip. Anyway, the Aberlour was really nice. Again, I’ll need a better, more thorough investigation, but this was good.

I checked on my boarding time and headed for the gold star alliance lounge where I hoped free wifi awaited me. I was happy to see that free lots of stuff awaited me, like free Jameson and a Budweiser. So I had a bit of Budweiser and then a little taste of the Jameson. This is super smooth, but the nose is totally disappointing. It didn’t have a solid smell to it all, which has become my favorite part of the Single Malts from Scotland. Maybe I didn’t give the Irish standard a fair shake, but on this trial I wish it smelled of something, anything at all.

So, I got to the airport a little early and managed to sample three single malts, drink a little Irish whiskey, have a beer, and do a little work, including writing this little piece here. I never did manage to get online, even after asking for help (which wasn’t very helpful). I then slept like a champ on the plane.

So I am in Aalborg for a conference and a presentation. Maybe I’ll have enough time to write about Days 2-4 on the Highland trip.