Mayur Bhatia

Ever wondered how a @smwsamerica outturn preview tasting goes? Here’s a great video captured @vidzbyg of the tasting I hosted earlier this month at @oaklandwhiskeylibrary . I welcomed the guests with a choice of two casks as a welcome pour. We then previewed and tasted the six of the casks that were being released later that week. We explored the characteristics of the distilleries, the perceived tasting notes of a distillery and now the society offerings differ. Education on the impact of the casks used, and reading the fun tasting notes of the tasting panel. The casks we tried: CASK NO. 60.32 - SPRINGTIME EXTRAVAGANZA CASK NO. 113.71 - HOTHOUSE REVERBERATION CASK NO. 85.79 - BALANCED AND TEXTURED CASK NO. 68.85 - HOWLING WITH DELIGHT CASK NO. 44.145 - PILGRIMAGE TO EL ROCIO CASK NO. 53.458 - TRULY A GEM! Interested in attending the next one? DM me! . . . #smws #smwsamerica #whisky #whiskytasting #whiskyambassador #outturn #cask #caskstreng #scotch #oakland

How many whiskies can your bag fit? My bag is full of delicious Glen Moray aged in different casks. . . . #whisky #speyside #caskexplorersforever #125anniversary #glenmoray #chardonnay #singlemalt #whiskyappreciation #whiskey

Throwback to a night with @balvenieus from a couple years back. What’s the last @balvenieus dram you had? . . . #reels #igmadedoit #instareels #whisky #whiskyreel #whiskey #throwbackwhisky #throwback #whiskyevent #whiskyintroduction #events

SMWS 44.160 - Me gusta mucho! Distillery: Craigellachie A quintessential Speyside in a bottle! This particular dram brings back childhood memories for me. Sitting in a bungalow backyard during spring months in the hillsides outside of Mumbai with my dad. Him and his friend drinking a whisky, while my friends and I getting a whiff of it and imagining the nose of his pours. Munching on dried fruits, prunes, walnuts, toast and jam all come to mind immediately. After letting the glass air out for a bit and having another sip reminds me of ginger shortbread cookies with its luscious mouthfeel and the velvety chocolate cake we would have after dinner that mum had baked earlier in the day. My dad would have enjoyed this dram and I would have enjoyed drinking this with him. It’s been 13 years l, but remembering him this Father’s Day weekend. Cheers to all dads, whether you are sharing a dram with him in person or in memory this weekend. 🥃 Cask: First-fill Spanish oak Oloroso hogshead Age: 19 years Date distilled: 27 June 2003 Alcohol: 58.3% . . . #whisky #scotch #craigellachie #speyside #spey #whiskey #smws #smwsamerica #sfwbss #whiskygoodness #blendedwhisky #family #fathersday #dad #weekend #heavenlyfather #scotchwhisky

On this world whisk(e)y day, I want to highlight a category that was recently recognized as a something that will soon be an official category of whisk(e)y. American Single Malt! What defines an American single malt? * Distilled from 100% malted barley * Distilled entirely at one distillery * Mashed, distilled and matured in the USA * Matured in oak casks no larger than 700 liters * Distilled to no more than 160 proof * Bottled at least 80 proof This @stranahans hits the spot! Distilled and then matured for 10 years at the heights of the rocky mountains in Colorado at 5,280' in new American Oak, this whiskey is fire! Bottled finally at 45.1% alc/vol On the nose, malty goodness. Sweet, caramelized brown sugar, cherries, sweet stone fruits Palate: Starts with a deep sweet cherry note with light smoke. Think of maraschino cherries but with a hint of smoke. Lingering in the mouth, the feel of whisky is like a newly made leather fabric. Finish: Long finish that lingers notes of molasses, lingering cigar tobacco. Very velvety! Thanks to @ataleofwhiskey for sourcing this hard-to-find bottle for me! #americansinglemalt #stranahans #colorado #rockymountain #whiskey #whisky #worldwhiskyday #worldwhiskey #singlemalt #milehighclub #milehigh #denverandliely #rockies #glassware #scotch #notscotch #americanoak #newwhisky #brandambassador

When @thecharredcask sees you from a distance at @fogcitysocialsf and clicks a few 📸. Such a great time this past weekend. 📸: @thecharredcask . . . #fogcitysocial2023 #whisky #whiskyfestival #photography #potraits #sharpguy #whiskeyfestival #whiskey #sanfrancisco #scotch #reels #reelsinstagram #sfreel

We're on Christmas day! For me, whisky on Christmas is always a memory from 2019 when I first tried the Paul John 2018 Christmas edition. I always look forward to what this year may bring. The 2018 bottling, in my opinion, was one of the best Christmas Editions so far. I say so far because the 2022 release is something extraordinary and brings a lot of fond memories. This year’s edition is complex. A blend of three different barrels - Ex-Bourbon barrels, ex-Paul John XO barrels and Oloroso Peated barrels! On the nose, I get hints of baking spice, peaches and honey. Palate brings forward the creamy texture along with milk chocolate, oak and nuts with a slight hint of peat. The finish is long with wine-forward tannic. This is an amazing bottle, and thank you @whiskymonster for sharing this with me. 📸: @whiskymonster . . . #pauljohn #pauljohnwhisky #thegreatindiansinglemalt #indiansinglemalt #indiansinglemaltwhisky #goa #christmasdram #christmas #xmas #christmas2022

Advent Calendar - Day 24 Can’t believe we’ve been through 24 different whisky expressions (and spirits) by now. I had to end the official 24 days of the advent calendar with one of my favorites. Compass Box Tobias & the Angel. A blend of my two favorite distilleries, so simple, yet so complex. The waxy notes of a 24 year-old Clynelish perfectly married to a 30+ year Caol Ila is bound to create a whisky that cannot be recreated or repeated. Mainly due to never finding the same parcels of whisky again, but partly also due to what it means to the whisky world. The art work chosen was produced at the studio of Andrea del Verrocchio in the 15th century, with the little fish being supposedly painted by none other than Leonardo da Vinci. Everyone knows John loves Clynelish since his working days with Jonnie Walker & Diageo in the late 90’s / early 2000’s before forming Compass Box, so having these two parcels blended for almost 20 years of whisky making makes complete sense. This whisky means a lot to me. The first time that I met John Glaser, I showed up with 6+ bottles of Tobias and the Angel for him to sign in Berkeley. That was a little over three years ago. Who knew about two years later, I would be pouring one of the signed bottles at my bar in the basement. This was an epic night of sharing drams, that as always starts in the backyard and continues through the night in the basement. This photo inspired our local whisky group to dedicate a marrying cask select of The Artist Blend with a depiction of a photo of me. Here’s to you, friend, here’s to trusting me with pouring you a few drams. I hope you enjoyed the journey. . . . #compassbox #compassboxwhisky #tobiasandtheangel #johnglaser #sfwbss #friends #clynelish #caolila #diageo #friendship #missmyfriend #blendedwhisky #blendedscotch #scotch #whisky #peated #compassboxsunday

Advent Calendar - Day 23 “A moment of salinity” – What a name, what a dram to sit back and remember the journey of different whiskies you’ve had so far in the advent calendar. The Bowmore was bottled exclusively for the U.S chapter of Scotch Malt Whisky Society in 2020, selected by its members. Aged for 16 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, you’ll get notes of freshly cut grass, licorice, medicine cabinet followed by seaweed, brine, light smoke and maybe some wasabi too. Country: Scotland Region: Islay Alc/vol: 56.5% Number of Bottles released: 261 . . . #smws #smwsuk #smwsamerica #bowmore #salinity #adventcalendar #adventcalendar2022 #islay #scotch #singlemalt #singlemaltwhisky #whisky #whiskey #classicbowmore #moment #xmasday #xmas #briney #brine #wasabi #licorice #exbourbon #usexclusive

Advent Calendar - Day 22 Released to celebrate Fèis Ìle 2022, this Bunnahabhain has been matured in ex-bourbon and PX sherry octave casks to create an unpeated sherried, but bold and full dram. The velvety texture reminds me of the first bite into a dark and creamy chocolate with raisins and dry fruits. Through the tasting you’ll get macadamia nuts, umami and a slight savory pull. The finish is long with spices and cinnamon. Country: Scotland Region: Islay Alc/vol: 50.8% . . . #islay #scotland #feis #feisile #bunna #bunnahabhain #adventcalendar #adventcalendar2022 #peat #peatedwhisky #whisky #abhainnaraig #whiskey #scotch #scotchwhisky #delicious #sherry #pxsherry #px #sherriedwhisky

Advent Calendar - Day 21 The Port Charlotte distillery was located on the island of Islay from 1829 to 1929. The Port Charlotte whisky is the epitome of Islay peat. Born on the island, carried on by Bruichladdich with it being in its “Heavily Peated” category. Distilled in 2010, and then aged in a combination of ex-bourbon, Syrah, and vin doux Naturel casks. For the last 18 months, it was transferred to Oloroso hogshead casks. This multi-cask maturation brings out a complex balance of sweet dried fruits, oily nuts while adding a fragrant smoky smell to it. I could nose this all day long. Country: Scotland Region: Islay Alc/vol: 55.1% . . #portcharlotte #bruichladdich #octomore #heavilypeated #peated #OLC #oloroso #olorosocask #islay #islaysinglemalt #singlemalt #whisky #whiskey #barley #adventcalendar #adventcalendar2022 #adamhannett #experimental #syrahcask #syrah #vindouxnaturel

Advent Calendar - Day 20 Situated at the base of the highest mountain in the British Isles, Ben Nevis distillery is the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland. Distilled in 1999 and aged for 20 years in a Hogshead cask, hand selected by Kwek Yi Xian for The Single Cask, the nose imparts notes of fresh lime zest, dry roasted nuts. Palate will give you you the oaky notes with vanilla, spices and a buttery or creamy finish with some more citrus. If you are ever in Singapore, go visit @thesinglecask.sg and tell @wetdrams hi! Country: Scotland Region: Highlands Alc/vol: 53% Number of Bottles released: 274 . . . #thesinglecask #singlecask #bennevis #ben #nevis #kwek #limitededition #singlemalt #scotch #whisky #whiskey #singapore #sg #personalseries #singlemaltwhisky #adventcalendar #adventcalendar2022 #scotland #scotlandmountains #scotlandbasecamp