What's It All About, eh?

Cape Breton evokes deep memories and strong emotions for me as well as a deep appreciation for the beauty of my adopted island. My hopes are that you too might find the photos evocative - maybe a view you've not enjoyed before, or an 'Oh I've been there', or if from away that you may be encouraged to visit this fair isle so that you might come to love and breathe Cape Breton as I do. One word about place names that I use - some are completely local usage while others are from maps of Cape Breton that I've purchased over the years. I frequently post travel and other photos that are of interest to me - and hopefully you.

On the right hand side bar find my take on Single Malt whiskey - from how to best enjoy this noble drink to reviews (in a most non-professional manner) of ones that I have tried and liked - or not. Also musings, mine and others, on life in general.

Photographs are roughly 98%+ my own and copy-righted. For the occasional photo that is borrowed, credit is given where possible - recently I have started posting unusual net photographs that seem unique. Feel free to borrow any of my photos for non-commercial use, otherwise contact me. Starting late in 2013 I have tried to be consistent in identifying my photographs using ©smck on all out of camera photos I personally captured - (I often do minor computer changes such as 'crop' or 'shadow' etc but usually nothing major), and using
©norvellhimself on all photos that I have played around with in case it might not be obvious. Lately I have dropped the ©smck and have watermarked them with the blog name.

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Talisker Single Malt - The Distillers Edition - 12 Year Old


This particular bottle that I recently purchased was distilled in 2001 and after being "Double Matured In Amoroso Cask Wood For A Richer Rounder Flavor" for 12 years was bottled in 2012. 

Below I have as usual displayed the tasting notes from Michael Jackson's 'Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch' to enable a continuity of comparison - although it is quite possible that if Mr. Jackson were alive today that his take on the above 2012 bottling (versus his 1996 bottling review) would be different in tasting details.

Even though I have now sampled this fine whisky several times I have not quite settled in on a good description of my own.   It is however distinctly different from my favorite Talisker 10 year old especially on the opening although it finishes nicely with that Talisker house style of 'volcanic, winter warmer' awakening of your senses.  It is growing on me with each successive sampling but it will have to go a long ways to convince to spend the premium above that of the fabulous 10 year old on another bottle. 






TALISKER Distiller’s Edition 12 year old 1996,    45.8% Alc/Vhol
    finished in an amorosa sherry cask

 On Skye, the island home of Talisker, there are dramatic rocky hills called The Cullins which has led to some tasters calling Talisker "The lava of the Cuillins" 

Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch comments:

HOUSE STYLE -  Volcanic.  A winter warmer.
COLOUR   -   Rich orange.
NOSE -  Distinctly unlike Talisker (in general).  Savory fruit sauce. Soft peach.  Smokey
and perfumed like a hussy’s handbag.  Tingling pepper
BODY -  Oily, sharp. Intense.
PALATE - Far better than the nose.  A mix of peaty earth, tangy seaside notes and a rich and oily fruitiness
FINISH -   Big.  Rich. Spicy. Fruit liqueur.
                                                                                        

score 85

CountriesVisiting In The Past Seven Days





United States
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Softly

©smck          2013

Life

©calum       August 2013

that strange tenacity of life to exist and replicate

taken along the shore as shown in Mary Annes Cove below