1955 70th Anniversary Tasting Tuesday 1st July 2025

[forest26]

Tony: please update your bottle situation. Rumour is it that the RP is actually Fr, but Cliff is bringing Ferreira. You’re already bringing Warre, so if you like you can merely withdraw the Fr.

Yes - I’ll need to withdraw the RP55 as on inspection it is Fr55

[PhilW]

Current version of the placemats; pictures in the first post.

Updated:

• +Neil, −Christopher;
• +Tuke Holdsworth, −Avery, −Ramos Pinto (@Tony to confirm);
• /FillTextMinFontSizeProportionLargestTitleAboveBelowOver 0 def, as sort-of requested by Phil; and /FillTextMinFontSizeAbsolute {SheetNum 0 eq {8} {6.5} ifelse} def, not having been requested by Phil.

Placemats checked and looking good. First post edited for -CMAG, +NAC, +TH, -RP to match quoted changes assuming correct.

[jdaw1]

/FillTextMinFontSizeProportionLargestTitleAboveBelowOver 0 def, as sort-of requested by Phil

looking good.

Happiness.

[nac]

Mackenzie 1955 (on right) is one of a batch of bottles from an online auction in 2023. Previous bottles have been excellent.
The Tuke Holdsworth 1955 is BBR bottled and was a purchase in December 1996 from BBR's (then hardcopy) broking list.
Levels indicated.

TH55 & Mk55.jpg (263.21 KiB) Viewed 46270 times

[PhilW]

Standing is a Taylor which is 3mm into neck.

The first-drawn bottle, Hennecky bottler, is high shoulder. Can we be bothered with both? Or does it die at home in my company?

What's the colour like? If it looks as good as the first or better, then why not compare them. If not as good, then suggest no need for second lesser bottle and it would perhaps serve better as warm-up at the weekend solo rather than in significant quantities of better company.

[jdaw1]

What's the colour like? If it looks as good as the first or better, then why not compare them. If not as good, then suggest no need for second lesser bottle and it would perhaps serve better as warm-up at the weekend solo rather than in significant quantities of better company.

Both bottles dark. With light shows red, but not deep red.

@Martin: should you and I, during setup, quickly scoff 97% of a bottle of tired T55? What could go wrong?

[mcoulson]

@Martin: should you and I, during setup, quickly scoff 97% of a bottle of tired T55? What could go wrong?

I fear that would be an indugence ....

[mcoulson]

On the N55 front ......

rather a nice colour

1955 N 01.jpg (92.76 KiB) Viewed 46202 times

1955 N 02.jpg (183.05 KiB) Viewed 46202 times

[BRPetrie]

Cockburn also showing good redness with a very promising fill!

[Mike J. W.]

On the N55 front ......

rather a nice colour

1955 N 01.jpg

1955 N 02.jpg

A "195" Port? That might be the oldest Port known to man! I wonder if that's 195 BC or AD?

[PhilW]

Cockburn also showing good redness with a very promising fill!

Is that Cockburn definitely a '55?
Asking because I recognise that as the Cockburn '60 capsule - which is the only vintage I've seen it on to date.
(VPID set of Cockburn capsules 1955-60 for reference).

[Glenn E.]

Cockburn also showing good redness with a very promising fill!

Is that Cockburn definitely a '55?
Asking because I recognise that as the Cockburn '60 capsule - which is the only vintage I've seen it on to date.
(VPID set of Cockburn capsules 1955-60 for reference).

It looks to me like the far left (off white or pale yellow) 1955 bottle might have that bird image on it. It doesn't appear to be exactly like the 1960 version, but I can see a rough outline of the wing and the ring of stars around the capsule.

It might also just be my brain trying to force it into place. Even if it is a rooster, it's different than the 1960 version.

[BRPetrie]

Cockburn also showing good redness with a very promising fill!

Is that Cockburn definitely a '55?
Asking because I recognise that as the Cockburn '60 capsule - which is the only vintage I've seen it on to date.
(VPID set of Cockburn capsules 1955-60 for reference).

Interesting observation! Was definitely sold from a reputable source as a 55!

[jdaw1]

At a Cockburn and Taylor sesquivertical in March 2007, there was a Cockburn sold at Christie’s as ‟believed 1950’s”, which tonged to reveal 1960.

[BRPetrie]

Example from an erstwhile Whisky Exchange website listing showing similar capsule/label.

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/163 ... ntage-port

[jdaw1]

We need to agree decanting times.

Lunch is Taylor twice, Sandeman twice, Hooper and Gonzalez Byass. Dinner are the others.

Proposal:
• Taylor and Sandeman be decanted late the night before (Mon 30^th June).
• All others be decanted early morning on the day (Tue 1^st July).

Objections?

---

Reminder of who is bringing what:

• CEM: Sandeman magnum, Smith Woodhouse, Ferreira, Niepoort, Hooper;
• NAC: Mackenzie, Tuke Holdsworth;
• THRA: Graham, Taylor magnum
• CPR: Dow, Martinez;
• PW: Morgan, Sandeman single;
• AHB: Fonseca, Gonzalez Byass;
• TC: Warre;
• HTWH: Gould Campbell;
• BRP: Cockburn;
• MSC: Noval;
• IDJ: Croft;
• MPM: Offley;
• JDAW: Taylor single.

[PhilW]

Proposal:
• Taylor and Sandeman be decanted late the night before (Mon 30^th June).
• All others be decanted early morning on the day (Tue 1^st July).

Objections?

No objection, but observation that Monday is due to be >30C in the late afternoon.
Would prefer to retrieve and decant on Tues am (when hopefully only ~20C) but if going with current proposal I can cope with proposal without opening cellar door on Monday aft/eve (which I definitely want to avoid). Perhaps more or less of an issue for others.

[jdaw1]

• Taylor and Sandeman be decanted late the night before (Mon 30^th June).
• All others be decanted early morning on the day (Tue 1^st July).

… observation that Monday is due to be >30C in the late afternoon.

I will decant in the cellar, and leave in the cellar until departure on Tuesday morning. Perhaps others who can do likewise, should.

[jdaw1]

Links:

• Review of the event as a whole;
• Tasting notes, lunch:
  • 1955 Taylor single;
  • 1955 Taylor magnum;
  • 1955 Sandeman single;
  • 1955 Sandeman magnum;
  • 1955 Hooper;
  • 1955 Gonzalez Byass;
• Tasting notes, dinner:
  • 1955 Graham;
  • 1955 Warre;
  • 1955 Dow;
  • 1955 Gould Campbell;
  • 1955 Cockburn;
  • 1955 Martinez;
  • 1955 Smith Woodhouse;
  • 1955 Quinta do Noval;
  • 1955 Niepoort;
  • 1955 Fonseca;
  • 1955 Croft;
  • 1955 Morgan;
  • 1955 Offley;
  • 1955 Ferriera;
  • 1955 Tuke Holdsworth;
  • 1955 Mackenzie;
• Planning and arrangement;
• Placemats.

[Alex Bridgeman]

@jdaw Can I bring a couple of bottles for the 1970 tasting on Tuesday to pass on to you?

[/2alph]

Will arrive at the RAF Club tomorrow evening around 8 PM. Anyone up for dinner and a preparatory Port? PM me. Thanks.

[jdaw1]

@jdaw Can I bring a couple of bottles for the 1970 tasting on Tuesday to pass on to you?

Yes.

Please could others doing likewise forewarn me, so that I bring sufficient carrying equipment.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Will arrive at the RAF Club tomorrow evening around 8 PM. Anyone up for dinner and a preparatory Port? PM me. Thanks.

Sorry Ralph, I’m busy all day tomorrow otherwise I would have been very happy to have met up with you.

[mcoulson]

looks like it's going to be hot tomorrow (again) so need to consider this when moving port around ....

[Alex Bridgeman]

looks like it's going to be hot tomorrow (again) so need to consider this when moving port around ....

That exact thought has occurred to me. I plan to bring my bottles in a cool bag with plenty of ice blocks to keep them well chilled.

[flash_uk]

Example from an erstwhile Whisky Exchange website listing showing similar capsule/label.

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/163 ... ntage-port

Push the cork in for decant and drag it out afterwards with a kitchen composting bag and you'll have a better chance of getting the year from the cork.

[flash_uk]

looks like it's going to be hot tomorrow (again) so need to consider this when moving port around ....

Bottle standing up in the fridge. Will transport in a cooler bag.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Because of the forecast heat tomorrow, I plan to decant when I arrive at the B&F — which should be about 12.00.

[nac]

Tuke Holdswsorth and Mackenzie were opened and immediately double decanted at 2000 last night. Checked for faults - both OK - and then into the fridge.
Drove to London last night (bottles in cool bag with ice block) and then back into the fridge.

Planning to give them both a couple of hours in a decanter this morning, immediately before leaving for B&F. Will transport in cool bag with ice block.

[BRPetrie]

Scratch my previous message - my Ck confirmed as 1955! Have read the cork at the bottom of the bottle with the aid of a phone torch.

[jdaw1]

At 23:30 the night before, cellar-temperature Taylor 1955 single decanted into cellar-temperature decanter, and left in cellar. Colour slightly pale; smell glorious. Transport will be with ice packs.

[idj123]

Cr55 double decanted at 8.45am today and immediately put in an ice sleeve for transportation. My eta at B&F is 11.30am.

[forest26]

Train slightly delayed eta 12:45 (ish)

[Alex Bridgeman]

Tom and I have just left. Lunch is now officially over.

We were the last men standing (or, tbh, sitting). Since when did a 17 bottle, 2 magnum Port Forum event finish before 10pm?

[Alex Bridgeman]

The handful of spare pens which were left on the table at the end of the evening were put into the Niepoort 1977 bottle for safe-keeping until needed at the next tasting.

[jdaw1]

I left a sharpie, a chalk pen, and multiple biros.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I left a sharpie, a chalk pen, and multiple biros.

The multiple biros went into the Niepoort 1977 bottle. The chalk pen and a scrunchie are in my decanting bag. The Sharpie I didn't see.