April was put to rest by commemorating the past year of COVID-19 Lock Down and having made it passed the post-vaccination waiting period. I am my boon companion, Mr. D., toasted each other’s continued good health with a very special 26 year old Blair Athol from a sherry butt of European Oak.
We are both greatly fond of malts that have a inner complexity but with everything combining in to one entity, like a polished marble of depth and marvelous inner workings. And this certainly qualified, as the abundant vegetative notes were nicely woven throughout the maltiness and fruitiness from the sherry.
For May Day, I opened a delightful bottle of Armagnac. Darroze’s Les Grands Assemblages 12 is an extraordinary bargain for the price paid.
I consider this delicious brandy superior to any single malt Scotch whisky available for sale in the USA for the same amount of money. And that is saying a great deal about the state of single malt today, as long-time champs like Highland Park 12 have become lesser descendants of mightier malts. Meanwhile, others I would have put in the same quality class are now priced far higher than they warrant, except for the economics of the times, which hasn’t raised salaries to match the soaring prices.
Sad times indeed.