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Next year both the 77 vintage and myself will be 40 years old. To help start the year in a good way I thought what better than a tasting of 77s from magnum and Tappit Hen?

We are now 16 thirsty souls which gives us the opportunity to open 7 Magnums and 2 Tappit Hens

Graham - Tappit Hen - AHB
Graham - Mag - TC
Warre - Tappit Hen - CPR
Warre - Mag - CPR
Fonseca - Mag - AHB
Taylor - Mag - CPR
Dow - Mag - IDG
Smith Woodhouse Mag - AHB (JDAW)
Gould Campbell - Mag - JDAW

I will work out cost of adoption etc for those not contributing bottles in January

Wed Feb 1st Feb 17 at the Boot and Flogger

So who is in?

1. CPR;
2. MPM;
3. AHB;
4. PW;
5. IDJ;
6. JDAW;
7. AHB’s + 1?
8. DRL;
9. TC;
10. AP;
11. DFG (guest of JDAW);
12. MG (guest of JDAW);
13. MAW (guest and wife of JDAW)?
14. CMAG
15. TB (guest of CMAG)
16. SCP

Current draft of the food order.

Current draft of the placemats.

As chance would have it, the only 1977 I own is in Magnum. Should I consider that a sign?

Very interested, subject to final date. Happy to put the SW77 (Mag) on offer.

Ben

Subject to other commitments, I am interested. I have only a W77 Mag (apart from the Ck77 that I don't think I want to open yet) and getting it from Belfast might not be the easiest so happy to adopt / contribute.

I would certainly be interested, if I can be accommodated through adoption as I have a grand total of zero mags or tappit hens from '77!

The date works well for me so I'm in.

Without going to Seckfords, I can get my hands on the following and would be happy to contribute one and put another one or two up for adoption:
Fonseca (mag)
Graham (mag or TH)
Smith Woodhouse (mag)

With the help of Seckfords I've also got:
Dow
GC
Warre

What a splendid theme! Please count me in on the proviso that I can adopt or contribute to costs etc.

First post updated,

Plenty of options re adoption I will work out best options when numbers are confirmed.

I have:-
Graham (mag)
Warre (mag or TH)
Dow (mag)
Taylor (mag)

Thus between us we have full set

Clarification of date needed please. Title says Feb 17, post text says Wed Feb 1st. If the 1st, I'm in; I would need to adopt

Title updated

Confimed for the Wed 1st Feb - Boot and Flogger booked

Yes please-I can offer the SW, D or T in mags.

Splendid theme: yes please.

Any objections if I bring a contributing guest who is in the trade?

Excellent idea. I would like to come please, but would need to adopt/contribute. Thanks

AHB wrote:Any objections if I bring a contributing guest who is in the trade?

None from me - first post updated and Dave added

Could you count me in please.

We're almost at capacity for this tasting (and I suspect that we will be in short order) and so what about TH's of the G and W and mags of the others listed (including the GC)? That would be the equivalent of just over 14 regular bottles.

idj123 wrote:We're almost at capacity for this tasting

jdaw1, in the current draft of the ‘Port Tastings’ chapter of [i]The Book[/i], wrote:We restrict tastings to fourteen people. One bottle of 750ml, minus the angels’ share, minus a small loss during decanting, divided by 14, leaves about 50ml per person. That is enough for a good taste, but not more. This restriction holds even with multiple bottles of the same Port: each bottle has a different cork and different storage history, so everybody wants 50ml of each. Of course, if every bottle is a magnum then the restriction becomes 28 people, assuming enough space and glasses.

Two Tappit Hens plus eight magnums is 21.6 bottles volume. That’s enough for sixteen people, perhaps seventeen. It requires space for only ten glasses, which can easily fit on an A3 sheet from which 2″ has been trimmed — so making space for an extra seat on each side of the table. The limit on people could be greater than usual.

CPR: your tasting. Your decision.

jdaw1 wrote:Two Tappit Hens plus eight magnums is 21.6 bottles volume. That’s enough for sixteen people, perhaps seventeen

True enough, but I believe we on have two TH and six (not eight?) magnums listed currently, which would be 17.6 bottles, sufficient for our usual 14.

PhilW wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:Two Tappit Hens plus eight magnums is 21.6 bottles volume. That’s enough for sixteen people, perhaps seventeen

True enough, but I believe we on have two TH and six (not eight?) magnums listed currently, which would be 17.6 bottles, sufficient for our usual 14.

Phil's interpretation of my post is correct-no need for mags of the G and W if we have the THs

idj123 wrote:

PhilW wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:Two Tappit Hens plus eight magnums is 21.6 bottles volume. That’s enough for sixteen people, perhaps seventeen

True enough, but I believe we on have two TH and six (not eight?) magnums listed currently, which would be 17.6 bottles, sufficient for our usual 14.

Phil's interpretation of my post is correct-no need for mags of the G and W if we have the THs

Cough splutter! No need for more port? A rare opportunity for a scientific experiment to compare TH and Mag from same shipper years is afoot. I was even thinking maybe add a regular 75cl of each just to complete the experiment. Perhaps that would be too much port...

idj123 wrote:Phil's interpretation of my post is correct-no need for mags of the G and W if we have the THs

Cough splutter indeed! I was attempting to correct JDAW's count, not to suggest that!

To clarify:
- First post in thread mentions seven potential shippers: F,T,G,D,W,SW,GC
- Placemats show: TH=G,W, Mag=G,W,D,SW,F,T
- The latter suggests six Magnums and two Tappits (per my correction to 8 Mags and 2 TH from JDAW above)
- I definitely think comparing the TH and Mags is an excellent plan
- I would be happy to add a further '77 Mag (GC, Ni?) if anyone had one available, especially for a full group

flash_uk wrote:Cough splutter! No need for more port? A rare opportunity for a scientific experiment to compare TH and Mag from same shipper years is afoot. I was even thinking maybe add a regular 75cl of each just to complete the experiment. Perhaps that would be too much port...

A rare opportunity indeed...one that may not present itself again, so I would suggest that Mike's idea of including the regular 750ml bottles too very worthy of consideration, and one that sounds very good to me. Having said that, I am adopting or contributing, so I believe it is correct to leave the decisions to Charles and the 'Juice Bearers' (which incidentally sounds like a wonderful band name!).

Ps. Btw has there been a Tappit Hen, Mag, 750ml comparison before?

flash_uk wrote:I was even thinking maybe add a regular 75cl of each just to complete the experiment. Perhaps that would be too much port...

Not at all. It's been ages since I've seen you fall asleep in the Boot and Flogger.

I had not planned this as a detailed study of Tappit Hen v Magnum v bottles, more simply a good excuse to open a range of Magnums from the leading shippers in 77, plus potentially the odd Tappit Hen for good measure.

My concern is keeping the volume of port vaguely sensible for the number of attendees while keeping a range of shippers. If we had Tappit Hen, Magnum and bottle for Graham and Warre that would be equivalent to 12 bottles, add in F and T mags and we are up to 16 bottles (almost enough if we were 14, but we are currently 11 thus plenty), this would mean missing out on Mags of Dow, SW and GC which seems a shame to me.

I suggest that we stick to the full 7 shippers, and either have Mags or Tappit Hens for each. This gives us potentially 16 bottles equivalents (if we open 2 TH), if we become 14 or more we can add back into the mix Mags and bottles of G and W as needed.

An alternative would be to save the Tappit Hens for anther event latter in the year focused on Tappit Hen v Magnums V bottles v half bottles (we can make up the volume by adding more Magnums to this tasting like QH) what do people think?

PhilW wrote:I would be happy to add a further '77 Mag (GC, Ni?) if anyone had one available, especially for a full group

Indeed, And if done, without addition of single, we could accommodate sixteen people.

Doggett wrote:Mike's idea of including the regular 750ml bottles too very worthy of consideration

If that is done, then we would be back to the fourteen-person limit.

Doggett wrote:Ps. Btw has there been a Tappit Hen, Mag, 750ml comparison before?

Double magnum versus half, yes. Tappit Hen versus Magnum versus Single, no.

CPR 1 wrote:I had not planned this as a detailed study of Tappit Hen v Magnum v bottles, more simply a good excuse to open a range of Magnums from the leading shippers in 77, plus potentially the odd Tappit Hen for good measure.

Splendid.

CPR 1 wrote:My concern is keeping the volume of port vaguely sensible for the number of attendees

For a suitably insensible definition of sensible, Splendid.

CPR 1 wrote:If we had Tappit Hen, Magnum and bottle for Graham and Warre that would be equivalent to 12 bottles, add in F and T mags and we are up to 16 bottles (almost enough if we were 14, but we are currently 11 thus plenty), this would mean missing out on Mags of Dow, SW and GC which seems a shame to me.

A shame, agreed.

CPR 1 wrote:I suggest that we stick to the full 7 shippers, and either have Mags or Tappit Hens for each.

Please, for at least one, both.

You have convinced me Charles... A large format celebration of the 77 vintage would be splendid. The first proposal of Hens and Mags would make for a fantastic evening. If there is a Mag of Niepoort 77 available too, it would be a delicious inclusion given the fine showing at the most recent offline.

CPR 1 wrote:I had not planned this as a detailed study of Tappit Hen v Magnum v bottles, more simply a good excuse to open a range of Magnums from the leading shippers in 77, plus potentially the odd Tappit Hen for good measure.

My concern is keeping the volume of port vaguely sensible for the number of attendees while keeping a range of shippers. If we had Tappit Hen, Magnum and bottle for Graham and Warre that would be equivalent to 12 bottles, add in F and T mags and we are up to 16 bottles (almost enough if we were 14, but we are currently 11 thus plenty), this would mean missing out on Mags of Dow, SW and GC which seems a shame to me.

I suggest that we stick to the full 7 shippers, and either have Mags or Tappit Hens for each. This gives us potentially 16 bottles equivalents (if we open 2 TH), if we become 14 or more we can add back into the mix Mags and bottles of G and W as needed.

An alternative would be to save the Tappit Hens for anther event latter in the year focused on Tappit Hen v Magnums V bottles v half bottles (we can make up the volume by adding more Magnums to this tasting like QH) what do people think?

This makes sense - start with the seven shippers in Mag or TH, and add some things if the number of attendees increases.

Please count me in - cheers T.

At the moment I have T, W, G, D, QH in Mags
I can get the D in Tappit - but it is very expensive.

forest26 wrote:Please count me in - cheers T.

At the moment I have T, W, G, D, QH in Mags
I can get the D in Tappit - but it is very expensive.

With Tony I make that 14 in total and so I believe that we are full. Tony's mention of the QH is interesting as this means that we now have potentially 8 mags between 14. I don't whether QH could be considered a 'leading shipper(s)' but I for one am in favour of sampling as many different shippers' mags for the number of attendees we have. Now whether 8 mags between 14 is sufficient...

Unless I’m missing somebody (who?), that makes thirteen people.

Seckfords could be asked to deliver my magnums of Gould Campbell 1977, which would take us to 21.6 bottles volume, all in formats of at least magnum. In which case we could accommodate sixteen. Charles to decide.

jdaw1 wrote:Unless I’m missing somebody (who?), that makes thirteen people.

Seckfords could be asked to deliver my magnums of Gould Campbell 1977, which would take us to 21.6 bottles volume, all in formats of at least magnum. In which case we could accommodate sixteen. Charles to decide.

I stand corrected; I had misread AHB's +1 for AHB +1-doh! However, I'd be surprised if we don't reach or go beyond 14 for this one.

idj123 wrote:I'd be surprised if we don't reach or go beyond 14 for this one.

Placemats in the first post are on A3 from which 2¾″ is trimmed, making space for one more person on each side.

Edit: or have I mis-remembered. Do we usually have 3×A4 per person, or 2×A4? Current version has width of 1.668×A4.

jdaw1 wrote:

idj123 wrote:I'd be surprised if we don't reach or go beyond 14 for this one.

Placemats in the first post are on A3 from which 2¾″ is trimmed, making space for one more person on each side.

Edit: or have I mis-remembered. Do we usually have 3×A4 per person, or 2×A4? Current version has width of 1.668×A4.

These pictures from the F63 tasting show 14 people and full A3 placemats. There is plenty of room between placemats and also a place set out at the end of the table, so I would reckon regular A3 would allow 8 along each side of the table. More than 8 a side, probably not.

flash_uk wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:

idj123 wrote:I'd be surprised if we don't reach or go beyond 14 for this one.

Placemats in the first post are on A3 from which 2¾″ is trimmed, making space for one more person on each side.

Edit: or have I mis-remembered. Do we usually have 3×A4 per person, or 2×A4? Current version has width of 1.668×A4.

These pictures from the F63 tasting show 14 people and full A3 placemats. There is plenty of room between placemats and also a place set out at the end of the table, so I would reckon regular A3 would allow 8 along each side of the table. More than 8 a side, probably not.

I have been convined 16 max it is

jdaw1 wrote: Seckfords could be asked to deliver my magnums of Gould Campbell 1977, which would take us to 21.6 bottles volume, all in formats of at least magnum. In which case we could accommodate sixteen. Charles to decide.

JDAW your offer of the GC would be great - Happy to pick up from Seckfords if that helps

I might have two guests.

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Please put me in, too.

Done.

Now we are full.

Axel P wrote:Please put me in, too.

Are you having your four weeks off alcohol for liver recovery again this January Axel? If so, will you need a spittoon arranged for the tasting?

We are now 16 thirsty souls which gives us the opportunity to open 7 Magnums and 2 Tappit Hens

Thank you for all the offer of bottles I suggest we go for:-

Graham - Tappit Hen - AHB
Graham - Mag - TC
Warre - Tappit Hen - CPR
Warre - Mag DJ
Fonseca - Mag - AHB
Taylor - Mag - CPR
Dow - Mag - IDG
Smith Woodhouse Mag - BMHR
Gould Campbell - Mag - JDAW

First post updated

jdaw1 wrote:I might have two guests.

They’d like to start with a less formal tasting, so I no longer have two guests.

jdaw1 wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:I might have two guests.

They’d like to start with a less formal tasting, so I no longer have two guests.

Or, bring them to a small informal tasting in early-mid January?

A magnum of Gould Campbell 1977 has been entrusted to the care of Luke at the B&F.

We are now down to 14 people, and following discussion at the Noval tasting we will limit to 14 as while we could fit more place mats round the table, any more actual people and it will too cosy!

While these 14 people will almost certainly all be thirsty we have almost 20 bottle equivalents of port on the menu which some may think excessive. Views please, do we either:

A) drop a Tappit Hen
B) drop a Mag which is duplicated with TH
C) put a brave face on and do our duty (but bring sample pots of other vessels for any left over)

CPR 1 wrote:C) put a brave face on and do our duty (but bring sample pots of other vessels for any left over)

And invite Mrs W.?

Regrettably, it looks like I will be unable to attend due to the travel plans of Mrs Read. I have advised CPR1 that the magnum of SW77 remains available if required.

Sorry everyone, can't make Weds 1st. Coming over on the 3rd, can't change that.

Given the about two drop-outs (and unless there are any reserves in waiting), we should now lose the two THs but I would still like to retain the SW.

I've asked two possible guests about their availability.

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I have two guests, David (DFG) and Marianne (MG).

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I plead to be allowed a fifteenth: Mrs W. Please?

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