An Evening to Remember: Ironman, Highland Park 30, and Macallan Fine Oak 17

The best part of receiving a gift, particularly a lovely libation, is having the opportunity to share the gift with the giver. Last Monday, the very generous gentleman who gave CA Scotch Gent the bottle of Highland Park 30 visited the CA Scotch Couple's humble abode to indulge in a little sampling. 

Now, the last time CA Scotch Chick wrote about this individual she didn't know him well enough to assign him a nickname. After sitting around the backyard fire pit sipping whisky and telling stories all evening, she can now dub him "Ironman." This moniker pays homage both to this individual's studly (and crazy) propensity to participate in those grueling tests of endurance (and not just once), as well as to his resolve in the face of amazing odds as he has built up his business. 

Ironman immediately cemented his reputation for generosity by showing up at the door carting a bottle of the Macallan Fine Oak 17 under his arm. Remember, this man was coming over to drink the (incredibly special) whisky he had given us, but he shows up with more whisky. What a guy! 

Ironman had amazing foresight. The Highland Park 30 was treated with the reverence it deserves, and there is still a great deal of it left for special occasions. The Macallan 17 was treated with the gusto it deserves, and was pretty much polished off by the end of the evening. 

And in another testament to Ironman's intestinal fortitude: despite an extended evening indulging in the Macallan 17, Highland Park 30, as well as several other single malts CA Scotch Chick had laid in for the Drinks Table, the next morning Ironman rode 13 miles on his bike to work. The CA Scotch Couple must admit that they were feeling a bit woolly headed after the evening's festivities, and while they would rarely be up for a 13 mile bike ride, they would have been particularly adverse to such an adventure on that morning.

Regarding the Macallan Fine Oak 17, CA Scotch Chick has to say that it has been awhile since she has been wowed by a whisky as much as she was by this Macallan. The triple casking of Spanish sherry cask, American oak sherry cask, and American oak bourbon cask has created an outstanding single malt. It is smooth, with a sweet candy palate, hints of lemon and butterscotch, and a brief easy finish — absolutely delicious. If it weren't out of her everyday whisky price range, it would be the CA Scotch Couple's new everyday whisky. It will certainly be on the Drinks Table when they entertain in the future. 

And, they hope to do so soon. Ironman has promised to return and to bring his lovely wife. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.