Doublewood

This is a 12 year old single malt from the Balvenie distillery in Dufftown, Banffshire.  This is a whisky from the Speyside region and weighs in at 40%

Photo - Paul Evans

The whisky is firstly matured for many years in traditional oak whisky casks.  The secondary cask used for maturation is a European oak sherry cask, and it stays in here for a few months to add deep complexities to the whisky.


Photo - Paul Evans

The whisky is deep gold in colour and has a reasonably high viscosity. The aroma is of spicy oak, raisins and hints of vanilla.  It has a mellow, sweet finish.

Photo - Paul Evans

On initial tasting the whisky was rather fruity, followed by a spiciness that tingled the taste buds. It's a complex whisky with a good oaky body that mellows in the mouth, to a lovely sweet honey and vanilla finish.

I haven't touched whisky since last winter, but i'm glad I reacquainted myself with this one. Beautiful.

Arty pints no.23

Photo - Paul Evans

A pint of Navalgazer by Orchard Pig, at the City Arms Cardiff.

Welsh Mountain Cider

This is a 7.5% cider by Welsh Mountain Cider, based near Llanidloes in mid Wales.

Photo - Paul Evans

Welsh Mountain Cider is made from 100% fresh apple juice from unsprayed apples, which are milled and pressed in traditional oak presses.

Photo - Paul Evans

The cider's appearance is dark gold and cloudy, with some sediment in the bottle, very traditional looking.  The aroma is of fresh apples, oak, with a slight smoky, medicinal quality to it.

On tasting there is a huge blast of smokiness, owing to it being stored and matured in oak butts.  It has a whisky-like warming aftertaste, which is unlike anything i've ever tried before.

This is a complex and challenging cider, not for the uninitiated.  Persevere with it though and you will be drinking something rather unique.

Arty pints no.22



Photo - Paul Evans

 A session at the City Arms, Cardiff.

Barry Island IPA

This is a 6% IPA made by the Brains Craft Brewery, in collaboration with Simon Martin - otherwise known as @realaletoday on Twitter.

Photo - Paul Evans

The appearance is pale, obviously, with a lot of carbonation that leaves a lively frothy head, which calmed to a light bubbly coating.

The aroma is of citrus fruits and hops, some ripe banana and all bound together with an assured maltiness.

Photo - Paul Evans

Barry Island IPA is bitingly bitter on first taste, with a big blast of grapefruit that lingers in the mouth.  It has a good hoppy robustness, with a slight malt undertone that leaves a long, enduring bitterness.

Good stuff.

Great pub views no.12

Photo - Paul Evans

A stained glass window in the White Hart, Llanddarog.

Manchester Star Ale

This is a 7.3% porter by the J.W. Lees Brewery of Manchester. The recipe dates back to 1884 and the beer was re-launched in 2001 by then head brewer Giles Dennis, following his visit to the Brooklyn Brewery in New York.

It is brewed with Grist Goldings, Styrian and Hallertau hops, as well as chocolate malt.

Apologies for the lack of an original photo - I forgot to take one!

The beer is dark brown in appearance with a light tan head. The aroma has hints of roasted malts, liquorice and treacle. The taste is slightly spicy, balanced with a caramel sweetness, all bound together with a robust roasted malt flavour.

I wasn't that impressed by this beer.

2*