You name it, they've got it.
I love finding a new treat to share with my sweets. When El Jefe and I get up to Omaha, one of our ritual stops will now be The Dundee Dell for a tipple of new scotch. I’ve never been a connoisseur of the drink, by any stretch, but when we stared dating he introduced me to some of his favorites, and a few of them have become things I enjoy as well.
My entree into the realm was a 12 year Laphroaig, a lovely Islay single malt, so he decided to order the 15 year. I opted to try something neither of us had sampled, but which was comparable. I chose a 16 year old Lagavulin – also an Islay. We just got a peg (1 ounce) each, as we were on a schedule to get to The Waiting Room, and wanted to enjoy rather than gulp them. The Laphroaig came in at $9, the Lagavulin at $8.
(Incidentally, I also had a Sapphire and tonic that tasted especially good, though I can’t imagine why? Do they have filtered water, so the ice was better? A better quality tonic? Was it just the juicy lime? No idea, but it was delicious – $7.50)
Laphroaig (L) and Lagavulin (R)
Both of these were prime examples of the peaty Islay style, and both were absolutely delicious. As far as comparisons go, the Laphroaig was a time-bomb in my mouth. It seemed to just keep unfolding and expanding at first, puffing smokily out into every space in my head. It was a wonderful experience. Given that, it was still a very smooth drink. The Lagavulin was an equally smoky experience, but with less bloom, it seemed. (FYI: We opened each with a tiny bit of water.)
One of the reasons I’m more a fan of Islays than other scotches is the balance of the sweet and smoke. The peat fire seems to cut what is otherwise sometimes a cloying sweetness that is unpleasant to me, and broadens the flavors in each glass. I find it a more satisfying sensory experience overall and am left with more than just an alcoholic fog in my mouth. Just one girl’s opinion, of course.
Before leaving, I asked the nice bartender Scott for some recommendations – what to try next time based on what I liked this time. (Our very friendly waitress, Malinda, was terrific, but indicated that his knowledge was probably more in-depth if we were looking for advice.) He suggested that I move on to the Isle of Jura “Superstition”, or perhaps, Bruichladdich or Ardbeg. He also mentioned Caol Ila and Scapa, so I’ve got quite a list to get me started already.
Restrooms, pool table, claw machine, photo booth...and scotch.
The Dundee Dell conducts tastings twice a month: one on the first Sunday at 4 p.m., and one on the following Thursday at 7 p.m. I think we’ll try and scoot on up there for one of them, conducted by the manager, who is a fan herself. Details are available on the website. (Which I hope they get someone to update for them so they’re not using pdf.s for every page 🙂
lemonpig 