CapeBreton-NorvellHimself-SingleMalt

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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Lake Uist, Cape Breton

13 August 2013

This view is looking back across approximately 2 1/2 miles (a bit more than 4 km) of Lake Uist to our launch point on MacVicar road as we ready to do the walking portage-lovely canoeing-somewhat marshy venture (See posting of 13 August - Day Lake Canoe Paddle) to and thru three small bodies of water - Morrison Lake, Cemetery Lake and an un-named lake-like body of water which seems to be part of Loch Lomond on the Google maps. At any rate my son's eagle eye spotted the somewhat obscure exit to the side through a long narrow but clear and deep channel after I had confidently started leading us straight ahead toward the far dead-end of Unnamed pond. We paddled through the gorgeous flowing channel into the north Loch Lomond proper and started on the last leg of our journey.

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