These caches were set by Baby_Jester who sadly passed away on the 2nd January 2022, A dear friend who will be missed by me and the Caching community.
DO NOT GO TO THE POSTED COORDINATES – THERE IS NOTHING THERE OF USE OR INTEREST!
My first placed cache needed to relate to something for which I have a passion – WHISKY!
Specifically single malt and usually Scotch.
I have therefore based this puzzle on a few of my most favourite drams. All are very good and worth investigating; a couple are truly exceptional and worthy of closer examination!
I hope you enjoy solving as much as I enjoyed researching, and maybe you’ll find the time to pour yourself a wee glass of something to warm your cockles whilst you ponder the following.
A final note to say that I’m honoured to dedicate my first cache to my late father in law, an avid Geocacher known as Bloodsock, who introduced me to Geocaching a few years ago, but who sadly lost his battle with cancer in September 2018.
I have the fondest memories of sharing many glasses of the good stuff with Fred; desperately missed but never forgotten!
Sláinte!!
A) A*******y 21:
Launched in October of 2005, this 21 year old lies at the core of the distillery's range and is something of a flagship for the brand. A superb example of what the distillery can produce.
Nose: Honey, fruity. Thick malt, enlivened by a fresh, zesty quality.
Palate: Smooth, vanilla, undulating, refined smoke.
Finish: Peters out gently, perhaps some ripe white peach notes and a good wave of honey.
B) L*******n 16:
A much sought-after single malt with the massive peat-smoke that's typical of southern Islay - but also offering richness and a dryness that turns it into a truly interesting tipple.
Nose: More like Lapsang Souchong tea than Lapsang Souchong! One of the smokiest noses from Islay. It's big, very, very concentrated, and redolent of iodine, sweet spices, good, mature Sherry and creamy vanilla. Stunning.
Palate: Very thick and rich. A massive mouthful of malt and Sherry with good fruity sweetness, but also a wonderful sweetness. Big, powerful peat and oak.
Finish: Long, spicy finish, figs, dates, peat smoke, vanilla.
C) T*e D*****e C***r M**t:
Temporarily discontinued in mid-2009, causing uproar among all right-thinking, cigar-smoking whisky fans. This dram used to sit above the 12, and below the 15 year-olds in terms of both the price-point, and the age-profiles of the whisky that went into the blend, but the new version is a little different.
Nose: Caramel, shortbread, biscuits, coffee and chocolates. Simple, clean and moreish.
Palate: Yet more toffee, caramel edging towards the burnt cinder-toffee side of things. Flamed orange-zest, and perfectly integrated sherry.
Finish: Reasonably simple, Christingles (orange Zest and clove with a touch of cinnamon), more mid-palate than palate-coating.
D) I**e of J**a: P******y:
A very peated edition made from a selection of old and rare whiskies. Very interesting indeed.
Nose: Some peat, aniseed, oily, dry, pungent.
Palate: Smoky and dry, muscular and powerful, with notes of nutmeg, cardamom, sea spray and coal tar.
Finish: Good length, with punchy, dry peat smoke and dry herbal notes.
E) H******d P**k: V*****t
Another Viking Legend has arrived! The second release in the series created in partnership with Danish designer Jim Lyngvild. The spirit used for this single malt features a small portion of Orkney-grown Tartan barley, and was matured predominantly in American oak sherry seasoned casks.
Nose: Warming peat smoke rises, paired with fresh vanilla, thyme honey and sandalwood.
Palate: Toasted barley and fennel seed, with a kick of cinnamon underneath.
Finish: Flamed orange peel, a very light touch of BBQ char, gingerbread and nutmeg.
F) L*******g Q*****r C**k
Released in 2004, this bottling was aged for around five years before being finished in a quarter cask for several months, the size of the cask is quite small, thus does not require such a long maturation. This remains a truly great achievement from the distillery.
Nose: Oily and buttery nose, with toffee, nuttiness, hickory, bicarbonate of soda, rum and raisin ice cream and zest.
Palate: Big rush of sweetness, in fact it’s an explosion of sweetness, with fiery chilli heat, TCP, sweet cereals and a touch of cola syrup.
Finish: Medium-length, but becomes fruity, with custard and cigar smoke.
G) A*****e 20
Due to the reliance on the distillery creating quality whisky for use in blends, it is only recently that the Highland distillery has begun to establish a presence as single malt. Yet, here we are. A single malt, matured for 20 years in bourbon and ex-Islay casks. Typically peated and full of promise, this is a really intriguing dram worth trying.
Nose: Earthy peat is present from the start, with clean citrus notes of melon and lemon underneath. Chocolate digestives, honey, red apple and old oak round off an impressive nose.
Palate: Peppery peat develops, heating and softening the palate, revealing robust vanilla that maintains among flares of flamed orange peel. Crushed summer berries, Scots pine and meadow grass join with aplomb.
Finish: A light, honey'd finish, elegant peat carries throughout that lets a needed sweetness permeate, with the gentle presence of a sprig of rosemary.
H) BW7 – E******s of I***y (B*****e)
Seventh release of BW from the independent bottling range. If only we could crack the code and figure out which Islay whisky distillery this one came from... If only...
Nose: Chilli chocolate, honey'd barley and sea breeze.
Palate: Surprisingly refreshing with splashes of pineapple and mango. A good kick of classic coastal peat, with black pepper cutting through.
Finish: Softly peated, though enjoyably long.
J) A****g C**********n
This is one of the legendary Islay malts. Their Committee release was well loved and you won't be disappointed with this incredible dram. This was released to replace another legendary drink, choosing a more medicinal style over the creamier style of the beastie.
Nose: Sticking plasters, buttery, creamy, roast chicken crisps, herbal, almost a hint of pine…
Palate: Cream, spices, tingling, fresh fruit, medicinal, plasters, Clementines, orange peels.
Finish: Salty, more medicinal, smoked meats, peat is fleeting, tarmac, chilli, salt.
Overall: Astonishing.
K) A******r A’*****h (Batch 22)
This was specially made in the 19th century style – the old fashioned bottle reflects this. It is absolutely incredible stuff, matured in specially selected Oloroso sherry butts. This amazing dram tastes just like Christmas!
Nose: Thick and grapey. Vanilla, dried peels, marmalade, bruised fruits.
Palate: Big bodied, Oloroso, vanilla, spices, citrus, perfume.
Finish: Dried fruits, long.
The cache can be found at:
N51 (K-C)*2 . (E-B) (F-A) (J-G)
W000 (H-B)*4 . (J-F) (G-E) (D-C)
Where decimals are found (prior to calculation), round up or down as logic dictates.
Congrats to SARASDOR for FTF!
