Rainy day

I was in Helsinki, sitting in a bar that had very little to offer. Outside was cold, dark, windy and it rained like it was last day on earth. What I decided to do was to call my oldest friend and try to convince him on leaving warmth and comfort of his home and join me for a drink. It took me half an hour to come up with cunning plan. By this time streets were all ready cleared from all pedestrians. That bad was the weather.

"Haloo" he answered his phone.
"Hi, I'm in town." I said. And before I was able unleash my plan he said:
"I just opened Chill filtered 15yo BenRiach with Pedro Xininez Sherry wood finish"

After he said that. I stood up and walked in to the rain.

The whisky was amazing, complex yet easy for pallet. Raisins come to mind first. We didn't go in to too much analyzing it. Sometimses it is easy to forget what Whisky is about when you have your nose too deep in your glass. It is for fun.

Benromach Origins Batch 2 and 3

Benromach, never the obvious choice but allways a winner. It is the smallest distillery at speyside (only two distillers) and winner of many awards. Due to size of their operation they are very able to quickly adapt with changing world. The originns of their whisky is deeply rooted in tradition but they way its been presented is among the contemporary ones. Fusion of these two elements brings out some great whiskies for us to enjoy.

Benromach Origins – Batch 3 (optic barley)

Distilled in 2000 and matured in sherry casks. This is definitely one of those which benefit from drop of water (99% do but this especially). For the nose this is superb, one of the best this year. The ballet of berries and cardboard is truly unique. When I close my eyes sniffing this, I was immediately taken to damp forest in morning after sub zero temperature. Often is the case when nose is much better than average then taste is bit of an anti climax. Not with this one, taste maches all the promised goodness.

Nose: Liquorish, Black berries, chocolate, cardboard,

Taste: Woody, Grape fruit, Spice, tobacco.

Benromach Origins – Batch 2 (Port pipes)

This Batch was distilled in 1999. First of Benromach expression that is fully matured in wine cask. Typically for them this is very down to earth kind of bottle. Very sweet... only on taste, in spirit it kicks an punch. Fruitiness is from the port is obvious but not over powering. This is a modern mans drink. It goes best with brand new iPad next to your drink. It is Whisky for those who embrase the idea of developing whiskyes further in to the future. If you dont like your innovatively finished Whiskyes, stay away from this. Me, I love it.

Nose: Rose, soap, cream, salad dressing,

Taste: Sweet, fruity, hint of smoke and orange,

Best Whisky bar in London?

After post pay day fruit and veg shopping on Borough Market I needed a drink. For some reason I have never typed the words "best whisky bar in London" to google app. So this Saturday afternoon I did just that. What came at the top of the list was place called Albannach by Trafalgar Square. Close enough, I thought and took the train from London bridge to opposite direction than rest of my family.

For those who have never been there its really easy to find: stand next to Nelsons Column and keep looking left from National gallery and you see it.

It's a swanky looking place. The first thing everyone sees are their strikingly stylish lampshades made of (or to look like) deer horns. It doesn't sound like much but there is lot of them and they are painted white. I was impressed.

The very next thing where eye wonders is whats behind the bar. Certainly impressive looking selection. Around 150 bottles of malt. I enquire Whisky menu, and in deed they have one. First I needed to calibrate my palette after all the samples of olives, chutney and cheese at the market, so it had to be something familiar. Gragganmore 12yo, my old time favourite, did just the trick. It never fails to impress me of how great idea it was from the Scots to start make Whisky.

All tough it was starting to be very busy, the bartender called Vito, seemed to have plenty of time and enthusiasm to chat about whisky. For the second half a measure I went was Dalmore King Alexander III. This one is matured in Sherry, wine, Madeira, Kentucky bourbon , Marsala, and Port casks and is mix of several ages. Basics of this whisky are chocolate, tobacco, liquorish with hints of citrus and almonds. It is extremely pleasurable to to drink, complex yet smooth and creamy. I wouldn't go so far as saying its a triumph but certainly worth blowing the trumpet .

My third and last half measure of the afternoon was Glenrothes 1985. I've always been fan of the Glenrothes brand but this one is the best I've tasted. The leather sofa mixed with fresh forest fruits is match made in heaven, topped with hints of raisins and vanilla. Its definitely one of the best whiskies have had this year. It easily tops my list of next bottle to buy. This is one of them that all whisky drinking public must love. Its as far from Marmate as you can go in terms of Love hate. I detect only love with out conditions.

The time I spent in Albannach was well worth the money. I was sitting by the bar, but for those who like watching people pass by the view is to Trafalgar square. They do food as well, menu looked grand and the cocktails Vito whisked up looked amazing, didn't try then but, I definitely will go back there for few more measures. Maybe even to have something to eat.

Let me know what are thoughts of Albannach or what do you think is the best whisky bar in London?