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The traditional gathering to taste bottles from the Unknown Shipper and His Peculiar Friends, in the Bell.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• Sticky labels and other sheets;
• Planning and arrangements.

From a lot secured by THRA at Cuttlestone's in August and generously shared with me. One bottle was drunk at this event; I have one remaining.

The cork in the Belfast bottle only bore the word 'Taylor' and was too scorched to read anything else (though I may now treat it with bleach). This cork clearly read 'YLOR'S VINTAGE 1935'.

Dark chestnut, slightly reddish. Soft entry, cherry nose. Building to an elegant bony structure, dry and tannic. I have the word 'wow' written in my notes.

24 hours later, there is some coffee in the nose, then dried fruits, and a little meatiness. Tremendous now - spice, dried fruit, toffee, bitterness and a long dry finish. Excellent.

Did I really taste the same bottle as Daniel - or did he hide the good bottle under his chair and pass round something entirely different?

Light copper-red colour, 20% opaque. Hollow nose, slightly medicinal; a touch oxidised. Sweet entry, rosemary and lacking in fruit; quite hollow and dry. Mid-weight. Savoury, meaty finish; a touch cheesy. Drinkable, but lacking real enjoyment. 86/100.

No, you clearly drank something in place of this. It was lovely.

Should we have a poll to decide who we believe?

Perhaps the other bottle needs to be broached to either confirm or correct this bewildering disparity

griff wrote:Perhaps the other bottle needs to be broached to either confirm or correct this bewildering disparity

Good idea. I'll open it in November at the Belfast tasting (though no word of Alex attending this yet).