DIY Nosing Kit for Scotch Whisky

How to Train Your Brain to Name the Aromas from Scotch Whisky  

Nosing (smelling a glass of whisky) is a major part of experiencing a whisky. But making the connection between the smell and the name of that smell can be tricky, if not downright frustrating.

Identifying aromas takes practice. A nosing kit is a great way to get your smeller to detect a specific aroma. A nosing kit can help train your brain to pick up the aromas from your next dram. And I’m going to show you how to make your own nosing kit – DIY style.


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Glen Scotia Victoriana

A Bright, Figgy Treat from Campbeltown

“Whisky from the Whiskiest Place in the World” – Glen Scotia’s Victoriana is a dangerously lovely and easy sipper. Coming in at cask strength, it drinks as if the ABV was MUCH lower.


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Islay Scotch and Oysters

Cooking with Scotch Whisky – Smokey Oven-broiled Oysters  

Louisiana is the epicenter of some of the best food in the world. Our rich waters and fertile lands yield bountiful resources for delectable creations.

One of my favorite Louisiana dishes is the Char-grilled Oysters at Drago’s in Metairie (a suburb of New Orleans). Loaded with butter, garlic and Parmesan cheese, these oysters are the epitome of Louisiana cuisine. Veteran cooks hand shuck and char-grill these salty gems in front of your eyes at the restaurant’s oyster bar.  Lightly toasted French bread sits alongside to soak up all that buttery goodness left behind in the shell. Hungry yet?

I’ve often wondered what it would be like to add a bit of Islay single malt – to infuse some peaty, smokey flavors to compliment the brine of the oyster. Next time I go to Drago’s I’ll be sure to take a pipette and order a dram. But I’m impatient so this calls for an experiment.


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Read more about the article Glenfarclas 17 Year
Glenfarclas 17 Year Whisky in a field of Yellowtop Butterweed

Glenfarclas 17 Year

A Balance of Sweet and Spice Scotch Whisky

It may be a “Highland malt in the Speyside way”- but the Glenfarclas 17 year old is far more than a sherry bomb. Made exclusively for US, Japan and Sweden markets, the expression delivers a beautiful balance of sweet and spice – and here’s a hint… it’s very nice.


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Isle of Arran Distillers – Arran 14

UPDATE – Check out my review on YouTube!

Watch My Review on YouTube!

Dancing Lightly with Apricots

Why do we hang onto bottles, leaving them sitting on the shelf, unopened? I must confess that I’ve had this bottle for more than a year but never made time to open it.  I didn’t mean to neglect it. Maybe I had a case of “SQUIRREL! syndrome” and other shiny bottlings caught my attention.

As I look at the full bottles gracing the shelves of my bar, it seems I may have a slight hoarding issue. I’m certainly no collector. But more are unopened than ready to pour. Perhaps some self discovery is in order with a dram or two of Arran 14 to ponder why.


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Luck and Lagniappe

A Quick Look at my Week at The Islay Whisky Academy 2019   

I’ll be the first to admit I live a charmed life. Fortunate. Blessed. Lucky. I’m thankful for my supportive and loving husband, dear family, sweet dogs, crazy friends, a fulfilling job, and safe and comfortable home.

But I also believe we make our own luck. To do that, one must take a chance or calculated risk, often against heavy odds.  When I submitted my essay for a competition to win a week at The Islay Whisky Academy, I didn’t get my hopes up, especially after finding out there were 80 other applicants. But by at least trying – taking the risk, I had a shot.


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Knockdhu – AnCnoc 12

A Complex Hive of Sweet and Spicy

What comes to mind when you hear the term “complex whisky?” I’ve heard some whisky folks describe a scotch as “complex” only if it has a litany of strong “in your face” layers from different flavor profiles. One person even told me only heavily peated whiskies or sherry bombs could be considered complex and that a “plain Highland whisky could never rank as a complex expression.” I just smiled and told him that I absolutely disagreed.

Fact: there are complex whiskies from each region, including this Highland malt – AnCnoc 12.


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Deanston – Virgin Oak

Flavor AND Value – What a Concept! 

Value means different things to different people. For me, perceived value in whisky is a correlation of taste, price and experience. Unless you have sampled something beforehand or gotten a recommendation from a reviewer or friend, price is the only attribute that is known BEFORE buying a bottle. Just going by price alone won’t guarantee the best value.

I want to get my money’s worth from anything I buy, including whisky. The taste must be enjoyable and pleasing. It gets a little tricky when it comes to the value of my experience – the esoteric moment of sampling the whisky. These are the moments where I ponder the complexity, depth and overall impression. Again, this is different for everyone but my experience with the whisky is a big part of how I value it. The final verdict is when all three come together. Then, I’m happy.


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Glenfiddich – 18 Year Small Batch Reserve
Glenfiddich 18 Year Small Batch Reserve

Glenfiddich – 18 Year Small Batch Reserve

Do You Believe in Second Chances?

Is there redemption for a whisky that just didn’t do it for you at the first taste? That initial sip may be unexpected or disappointing. Do you write it off as bad or allow yourself and the whisky another chance for another day? Maybe you apply the baseball rule: give it three separate tastings before deciding its fate. And if it still comes up short than it’s “three sips and you’re out!” How many shots do you give an initially disappointing whisky before declaring, “That XYZ whisky is not good at all.” and never bother with it again?

Below is my review of such a bottle: Glenfiddich 18 Year Small Batch Reserve. It is a bottle that I had to give a second chance and in doing so, I learned a lot about the whisky and myself. Don’t automatically think I panned it. You can skip to the tasting notes or better yet, come along with me on my journey of understanding why we need to be fair to the whisky.


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Read more about the article Culloden Battlefield
The Memorial Cairn at Culloden

Culloden Battlefield

The Battle of Culloden was on this day, April 16th, 1746.

My trip to Scotland in 2016 gave me precious memories and adventures for which I’m so thankful. My experience at Culloden, by far and beyond any distillery, castle, loch, island or mountainside – has stayed with me. I’ll never forget being on the battlefield with all those lost souls.

“On 16 April 1746, the final Jacobite Rising came to a brutal head in one of the most harrowing battles in British history.

Jacobite supporters, seeking to restore the Stuart monarchy to the British thrones, gathered to fight the Duke of Cumberland’s government troops. It was the last pitched battle on British soil and, in less than an hour, around 1,600 men were slain – 1,500 of them Jacobites.”

… from the Culloden Visitors Centre, part of the National Trust of Scotland.


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