European Championships V’s Scotch Malt Whisky
Week 2
With the football season all but over and the prospect of a European Championship without Scotland a bleak one, The W Club Team are keen to keep the dream alive. So in the spirit of all things fun we have come up with a contest of our own!
All you have to do is match one of your favourite whiskies with a country competing at the European Championships. As always with the W Club there will be prizes galore but not only that the most creative entries will be published right here on the site. Each week we will select a country and it is your job to pick a whisky, whether it is a blend or a single malt – the choice is yours. This weeks prize for the best entry is a 20cl bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.
Last week we asked you to come up with a whisky which matched the footballing nation of Germany. The answers were fantastic and we had whiskies ranging from Johnnie Walker Red Label, Benriach 12yo to Ardeg 10yo. Our favourite is published below, written by Christopher Cook and featuring the Glenfarclas 43 year old.
I would like to offer up Glenfarclas 43 year old Cognac Casks. The finish is described as ‘Quite dry’ mirroring their many clinical performances, ‘which is good as more whisky is required to moisten the mouth’ indicative of the many times England have been taken to penalties by them. ‘Dark bitter chocolate, German or Belgian chocolate with high cocoa content’ a flavour not everyone feels comfortable with just like watching England versus Germany.
Congratulations Christopher, can you email thewclub@whiskyshop.com with your delivery details so we can send your prize.
This time its the turn of the mighty Italians, always one for the big stage and a team that is always difficult to play against. We will get the ball rolling with a the Macallan 20 year old Platinum Whisky Shop Exclusive. A very srong all rounder, packed with flair, gentle fruit notes (they do like to dive a lot) and a silky smooth finish. Outstanding and the Italians arent bad either.
So for your chance to win a 20cl bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue label simply match the Italians with a Scotch whisky of your choice. The best answer will be published the same time next week.
Good Luck!
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My whisky to represent Italy comes with a little Italian finishing. Longrow Gaja Barolo. We are fortunate enough to still have an unopened bottle of this peaty expression from Springbank. If you haven’t come across it, it is well worth hunting out and I can’t wait until the day it is opened. I remember the finish presenting smoke and pepper in abundance reflecting the fiery temper of the Italians. It is a young bottling much like the new look Italian team and with the red wine coming through on the palate, well what else says to you Italy than a glass of red wine? Truly one to dive into; well I had to try and get diving in somehow.
I would have to nominate the Dalwhinnie 15 year old. Smooth and silky like their passing, with a tiny kick of spice and smoke to represent the hint of attacking flair still in the team has (would have been a more powerful whisky, but recent years has shown the change from full blown Italian flair to more workman-like approach). Also has a very slight bitter note in the taste, like the feeling you get watching grown men fall over and act like they have had both their legs broken every time there is a small gust of wind! But all in all a class act and one of the major tournament contenders.
For me it has to be another Barolo finish…Bunnahabhain 11 YO Barolo Wine Finish [2000]. With lemon and fruit cake on the nose , rich and powerful in the body and sweet and fruity in the finish how better could you sum up the qualities of any Italian football. Definitely a well balanced all rounder that has all the qualities of passion and romance that any Italian would be proud of. And if you add Mario Balotelli in to the mix then who couldn’t want for fruit and nuts in any whisky to represent this Euro 2012 Team?