Whisky Ladies Corner

To say our Whisky Ladies is a remarkable group, is a bit of an understatement. From 20s to 60s, these ladies have two things in common – a passion for discovering the world of whisky and a predilection to pursue unconventional paths.

Our first session was in August 2015, and since then we have met mostly monthly, with this “Whisky Ladies Corner” a place to share our various tasting adventures. From October 2019, as I’ve shifted from Mumbai to Nurnberg, the ladies created a new tasting notes home at Whisky Ladies of Mumbai for their continued explorations!

As for me? Well… I’m fortunate to have company in Europe as a fellow Whisky Lady of Mumbai relocated to Paris… By late 2020, we’d had enough of COVID, no tastings, and created our wee ‘off-shoot‘ with notes found here or images on Instagram.

• 1st session with a Chorlton Trio
• 2nd session with Chorlton’s Duo plus Whisky Warehouse No. 8‘s Glencadam
• 3rd session with North Star trio, and 4th with another North Star set of Speyside, Auchroisk and Glenturret
• 5th session exploring France’s Maison Benjamin Keuntz
• 6th & 9th session featured Flora and Fauna range
• 7th session embraced a box set of minis from The Whisky Warehouse No 8
• 8th session explored a Campbeltown trio with some Bombay Malt & Cigar gents
• Our 10th session was courtesy of The Belgian Owl 

• Whilst in Paris we whet our appetite with Arran Quarter Cask “The Bothy” 56.2% then were stunned by Chorlton’s La Nouvelle Vague – Croftengea 13 years 53.9% (Loch Lomond) and Orkney 15 year 57.1% (Highland Park)
• We also could not miss meeting Benjamin Kuentz and exploring his Aux Particules Vines Edition 1, 4 and 5 plus snuck in an advance taste of Inouïe Mélodie
• Our most recent tasting was the Penderyn Dragon Range – Myth (ex-Bourbon) 41%, Legend (Madeira) 41%, Celt (Peat) 43%
• We picked up our Maison Benjamin Kuentz explorations with Le Guip 55%
• Bellevoye Trio – Blue (French Oak) 40%, White (Sauternes) 40%, Red (Grand Cru) 43%
• Whisky Warehouse No. 8 Regions
  • Highland – Deanston 10 year (Sep 2009 – Oct 2019) Bourbon Barrel 57.3%
  • Lowland – Port Dundas 10 year (Oct 2009 – Oct 2019) Refill Sherry 47.9%
  • Speyside – Miltonduff 11 years (Feb 1995 – Oct 2015) Bourbon Hogshead 59.5% and Miltonduff 14 year (Jun 2007 – July 2021) WW8 76 1st Fill Px Sherry Octave 50.4%
  • Islay – Braon Peat Batch 7 (15 April 2019) 57.5%

As for future sessions?  Once life normalized in Europe, our online connections petered out. However, nothing compares with our original gang with so many terrific nights with whiskies we’ve sourced from around the world… I’ve kept up with tasting notes when I’m lucky enough to join a session or receive samples of what was explored!

Whisky Ladies of Mumbai’s 9th year (2023/2024)

Keeping a good thing going is never easy. And our Whisky Ladies of Mumbai continue to adapt and evolve, starting to welcome guests to expand and augment this special group of diverse women exploring an interesting dram or two together!

• We kicked off with a trio of Glenmorangie, Benriach and Aberlour (Sep 2023)
• Following a single distillery flight from Bunnahabhain with revisiting Cruach Mhona, An Ciadach, Eirich Na Grein (Oct 2023)
• There was a delayed anniversary celebration in December 2023 (rather than our usual August)
• An informal session featuring 2nd chance distilleries from Chorlton (Jan 2024)
• Gurkhas & Guns and Old Durbar from Nepal, Omar from Taiwan (Jan 2024)
• Crazy Cock Rare & Dhua, Teachers (Feb 2024)
• Godawan 1 & 2 plus Indri… bonus Cardhu & Port Charlotte (Mar 2024)
• Shelter Point 10 year, “Collective” and “Forbidden” (Apr 2024)

Whisky Ladies of Mumbai’s 8th year (2022/2023)

Whilst we missed our usual August anniversary celebration, things really started to pick up speed whisky-tasting-wise with the ladies!

• September was a blind tasting of 3 standard Glenlivets (Sep 2022)
• Followed by a very special Chorlton birthday quartet featuring Glen Elgin, Tormore, Bunnahabhain, Orkney, with the best bonus a return of a lovely American whisky lady! (Nov 1, 2022)
• Later that same month, there was another gathering featuring not three but five whiskies! (late Nov 2022)
• We closed the year with Sweden’s new distillery Agitator: Single Malt 43%, Rök 43%, Argument: Småfat 46% (Dec 2022)
• And welcome 2023 with a much anticipated Bourbon evening (Jan 2023)
• Followed by an Islay trio with Laphroaig Select 40%, Kilchoman Sanaig 46%, and Bowmore Aston Martin 18 year 43% (Feb 2023)
• My turn hosting again – this time with a trio from That Boutique-y Whisky Company (Apr 2023)
• Post a fellow Canadian’s trip, the ladies were treated to a trio of Douglas Laing’s Oyster Island, Compass Box’s Orchard House, and Shelter Point’s Evans Family (May 2023)
• Summer mash-up with Knockando, Deanston & Cheftain’s (July 2023)

Whisky Ladies of Mumbai’s 7th year (2021/2022)

After our 6th Anniversary, things were a bit quiet until December 2021 when the ladies of Mumbai got back into their regular rhythm… naturally, I missed most “in-person” sessions (kinda hard when you live in Germany & sessions are in India!), however thanks to kind samples being set aside, I managed to keep up with some explorations!

• A trip to Austria inspired this quintet of Lava Brau Organic Single Malt, Peter Affenzeller 6-year Single Malt 42%, Guglhof’s Salin 2015 Single Malt Whisky Bordeaux Finish 41%, TauernRogg Single Malt Rye Whisky + Single Cask 10 year Rye (June 2022)
• My turn to host (during a rare trip home!) featured a quartet of Germany’s St Kilian Signature Editions (Apr 2022)
• Next was a Canadian theme with Endeavour Gin (whiff of whisky) contrasting a botanical whisky The Forager, followed by two from Yukon’s Two Brewers, courtesy of a fellow Canadian’s trip (Mar 2022)
• There was also an SMWS offering (Feb 2022)… which alas I missed!
• Followed by a Scandi Trio – Isle of Lime Sangelstain 46.3%, High Coast Älv 46% + Berg 50% (Jan 2022)
• More travels brought a French trio from Paris to Mumbai – Michel Courveur “Candid” and Osokye & Bellevoye (Dec 2021)

Whisky Ladies of Mumbai’s 6th year (2020/2021)

• 6th Anniversary / birthday special – Glentauchers 8 year, Balblair 18 year, Macallan Estate Reserve (Aug 2021)
• Arran’s Lochranza Vertical – 14 year 46%, 18 year 46%, 23 year (1996/2020) Sherry Hogshead Cask No 436, 52.6% (Feb 2021)
• Campbeltown Trio – Springbank 10 year 46%, Glen Scotia 16 year 46%, Glen Scotia 1832 Campbeltown 46% (Jan 2021)
• Peaty Persuasion – Laphroaig Four Oak 40%, High Coast Hav “Spiced Oak” 48%, Spirit of Hven “The Nose” 44.9% (Dec 2020)
• There have been other sessions that I’ve missed – including an American farewell for a lovely American whisky lady (Sep 2020), a Scottish trio of Compass Box Spaniard, Highland Park 16 year Twisted Tattoo and Macallan Concept No 2 2019 (Nov 2020), and an aptly named “Curated by COVID” with Alisa Bay, Royal Brackla, Ledaig (July 2021)

Whisky Ladies of Mumbai’s 5th year (2019/2020)

• 5th Anniversary – Commonwealth theme of Crown Royal, Hellyer’s Road, Oamavarian (Aug 2020)
• Whisky Ladies & Bombay Malt and Cigar – Comparing Suntory and Nikka old and new Japanese avatars (Jan 2020)
• Passing the baton… to the Whisky Ladies of Mumbai’s new blog
• A Scottish evening of Aultmore 18 year, Craigellachie 13 year, Alberfeddy 12 year (Nov 2019)
• Irish Trio – Glendalough 13 year Mizunara Finish 46%, Teeling Brabazon Port 49.5% (Series 2) & Sherry 49.5% (Series 1) (Sep 2019)

Whisky Ladies of Mumbai’s 4th year (2018/2019)

• 4th Anniversary Celebration
• Highland Treat – AnCnoc Black Hill Reserve 46%, AnCnoc Rùdhan 46%, Glen Garioch 15 year Sherry Cask 53.7%
• Whisky Tales – Sild “Crannog” 3 year Single Malt 48%, Shackleton “The Journey” 47.3%, Gerston Vintage (2013) Batch 1 46%
• Unusual Finishes – Glenfiddich IPA, Penderyn Madeira, Tomatin 14 year Port Wood, Amrut Port Pipe Peated
• Peaty Highland – Aird Mhor 8 year, Inchmoan 12 year, Ballechin Heavily Peated 12 year 
• Asian Delights – Akashi White Oak Single Malt, Nikka Coffey Malt, Kavalan Classic, Nikka From the Barrel 
• North Star 5 Regions, Series 5
• Smokey Nights – Glenglassaugh Port Wood Peated, Kilchoman Machir Bay, Bunnahabhain Chuach-Mhona, Kilchoman Loch Gorm
• Highland “Bar Bottles” & Blend – Glenmorangie Dornoch, Old Pulteney Dunnet Head, Great King Street Glasgow Blend, Ardmore Triple Wood Peated
• Contributor’s Choice – Ballentine’s 17 year Glentauchers, Glentauchers 20 year (That Boutique-y Whisky Company), Balvenie Caribbean Cask Talisker 18 year
• Going Grainy – Haig Club, Suntory Chita Nikka Coffey Grain,  Cambus 24 year

Whisky Ladies of Mumbai’s 3rd year (2017/2018)

• 3rd Anniversary Irish Celebration
• Sukhinder Singh’s Cask Strength Selection – Glen Moray 8 year, Arran 14 year, Ledaig 12 year 
• Highland Hijinks –  Old Pulteney, Glenmorangie,  Aberfeldy
• Northern Lights – Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye, Flóki Young Malt, Mackmyra Mack
• Islay iterations – Lagavulin, Finlaggan, Ileach, Laphroaig
• “Trans Tasman Tour” – Willowbank 10 year Doublewood, Willowbank 22 year (1989), Hellyer’s Road Pinot Noire, Sullivan’s Cove Double Cask (2008/2015), Crazy Uncle Moonshine
• Contributor’s Choice – Mars Iwai, Glenrothes, Glenmorangie 19, Bunnahabhain Ceobanach
• Après-ski – France, Sweden, Switzerland + Austria 
• Gordon & MacPhail Trio – Aultmore, Glendullan, Longmorn
• Diwali Drams – Hakushu, K5, Misty Peak, Nikka From the Barrel vs Super Nikka
• Worthy whiskies – Mortlach, Arran Amarone, Lochside, Aultmore

Whisky Ladies of Mumbai’s 2nd year (2016/2017)

• 2nd Anniversary Drams
• Compass Box Quintet
• A Night with Glen
• Bruichladdich Peat Progression
• Bowmore Travel Trilogy
• Risky Whisky?
• Not your ordinary North American whiskey
• “Ladies Choice” for the BMC
• Glencairn vs Norlan
• American adventure!
• Variety show

Whisky Ladies of Mumbai’s 1st year (2015/2016)

• Whisky Ladies of Mumbai turn “One”
• Scottish regions
• European tour
• “I like the label!”
• Explore the Far East
• Go sweetly smoky
• Pair whisky + chocolate
• World tour
• Cask strength Diwali
• Inaugural evening...

 

Over the years, some ladies have come out from their anonymous shadows to share guest posts:

• Lina Sonne on Connemara NAS 40% & Caol Ila 12 year (2018) 54.6%
• Nikoulina Berg on Akashi Blended Whisky 40% & Glentauchers 11 year (2018) 58.9%
• Paula McGlynn on her visit to Paul John’s distillery in Goa, Bushmills 16 year 40%, Paul John Single Cask #1844 60.5% & Campbeltown 4 year (2018) 57%
• Pooja Vir on Kornog Taouarc’h Pempved 14 BC 46%
• Rekha Sharma on MacDuff 11 year (2018) 55.2%
• Shruti Sutawala on Bushmills 21 year 40%, Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask S090102020 57.1% & Orkney 12 year (2018) 57.8%
• Susan Dias on Bushmills Steamship 40% & Mackmyra Vinterdröm 46.1%

We have also enjoyed tastings courtesy of various benefactors:

• Whisky Ladies visit Paul John Distillery, Goa (Aug 2019)
• Canadian Shelter Point 2018 Editions – Artisanal Single Malt 46%, Montfort District Lot 141 46%, Double Barrelled 50%, Artisanal Cask Strength 58.7%
• Irish Celebration – Jameson Caskmate Stout Edition 40%, Green Spot 40%, Yellow Spot 12 year 46%, Redbreast 12 year 40%
• Bombay Malt & Cigar’s Independent Blends
• Of all the gin joints..? Native Brews early gin experiments with Susan Dias
• When International Scotch Day is not about the whisky…
• Bombay Malt & Cigar’s Irish Evening
• Whisky Ladies visit Scotland’s Inver House whiskies with Karen Walker
• Whisky Ladies go Goan! Paul John Brilliance, Edited, Bold, Classic & Peated
• Whisky Ladies go American! with Shatbhi Basu of DISCUS

I’ve also shared a few whisky women centric posts with:

• Feminist twist to whisky?
• Whisky Ladies of Mumbai
• Whisky Clubs Revealed – Secret Recipe for the Whisky Ladies Success
• Plus the Mumbai Mirror’s article “Whisky Business“

For complete listing of all my tastings, check out:

• Tasting Sessions – Includes all “Whisky Ladies” sessions from Aug 2015 – Sep 2019
• Whiskies by Country / Region – Those with “WL” are bottles sampled with the Whisky Ladies of Mumbai

We are always happy to connect with a wider world of fellow women whisky appreciators! Just reach out to:

• Whisky Ladies of Mumbai whiskyladiesofmumbai [at] gmail [dot] com
• Or just leave a comment here and I’ll be in touch