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| The Whisky Extravaganza Los Angeles, Millennium Biltmore Hotel |
22nd Annual The Whisky Extravaganza happened on Thursday at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The event was my first major whisky event in town after I moved here four months ago, it was the first The Whisky Extravaganza I attended without Malt Impostor crew being around (yes, I do miss them...) and again it was the first SMWSA event I remember being a part of without carrying fifteen layers of clothing (no, I don't miss the East Coast autumns).
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| Matthew Hofman from Westland Distillery |
Like every The Whisky Extravaganza it was well organized, relatively short in duration compared to other big whisky events (means way less drunk people at the end...) and again very well catered. Actually I have to say that the timing of desserts coming out was so perfect I was almost in tears... Alan Shayne was a great host of course like every time and it was great to see Aaron Krause of Booze Dancing fame, the one and only Michael Neff and old friend Simon Brooking from Beam Suntory to share our favorite drams of the event as well as a few jokes.
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| Middleton Distillery gems... |
I don't like and also don't believe taking tasting notes during these kind of events. It never works. There is no time to concentrate, sit down, take your time and write down decent notes. It always ends up rushed and to trying to decipher your notes the next morning is almost impossible. Instead I try to taste as many new drams I possibly can and enjoy the night. That's exactly what I did on Thursday and ended up with a list of my favorite whiskies I tasted for the first time. I am looking forward to spend more time with these gems later when I have a chance but for now here is a list below. You should definitely keep an eye on these bottles:
- SMWS Cask 93.64 13yo (I ordered a bottle right away...)
- Bowmore Devil's Cask Batch #3
- SMWS Cask 50.62 24yo
- Westland Distillery entire line-up: Westland Whiskey, Sherry Wood Whiskey and Peated Whiskey
- The Classic Cask Bunnahabhain 22yo
- Glenrothes 1995 Vintage
- The Classic Cask Glenlossie 21yo
Thanks again to Alan and Gabby Shayne for a great evening..!
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| Alan Shayne, President of SMWSA |
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| William Grant & Sons, Girvan Patent Still line-up |
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