A Grown-up Glass Part 2

When the Scotch Chix launched their web site in 2008, they each served their guests whisky from hodge-podge of nosing glasses derived from whisky purchases and surprising finds at consignment stores. With the advent of Scotch Chix though, CA Scotch Chick realized that if the Chix were going to hold themselves out as whisky lovers, such a situation simply would not stand.

Consequently, soon after launching Scotch Chix, CA Scotch Chick outfitted DC Scotch Chick with a set of her very own whisky glasses. She researched the best of the best glasses, decided that the Glencairn glass was worthy, and managed to score a fantastic price for the set from the good folks at Cobhthaigh Celtique, see A Grown-up Glass.

A quick note about whisky glasses. The shape of a true whisky glass is very unlike the cut glass tumblers of Hollywood fame. A good whisky glass concentrates the nose and presents the liquid to the palate in as optimal a way as possible.

The Glencairn glass is truly a fine whisky glass. These little gems were created for the pub and restaurant trade, and not only do they present the whisky in a way that allows a true appreciation of its finer points, they are sturdy little glasses that fit nicely in one's hand and don't break easily.

Despite her best of intentions, however, CA Scotch Chick never got around to purchasing the CA Scotch Couple a set of whisky glasses. The CA Scotch Couple's natural tendency to be reclusive combined with their diminutive Little Beach House meant that entertaining was simply not a priority.

Studio A changed all that. The CA Scotch Couple now had no excuse — Studio A had ample space for entertaining, and the CA Scotch Couple had even gone against their deepest ingrained misanthropic natures and scheduled a party. It was time for the CA Scotch Couple to get their own grown-up glasses.

In addition, it is an understatement to say that CA Scotch Gent had a pretty awful birthday last year. He spent it with broken wrists and a split open head waiting to see if CA Scotch Chick would survive surgery. This time last year the CA Scotch Couple came very close to being no more, and CA Scotch Gent, consequently, did not get much celebrating done. He deserved to have an extra special birthday this year.

With CA Scotch Gent's birthday falling a week after the CA Scotch Couple's unveiling of Studio A and coinciding with the anniversary of their accident, CA Scotch Chick desperately wanted to find a gift that would appropriately celebrate her best buddy, their amazing new home, and their stolen year together. Consequently, she again turned to Dave and Marty Coffey of Cobhthaigh Celtique to make it happen.

The Coffeys are a remarkable couple who travel the world on whisky adventures, and who happen to have both the least expensive prices for sets of Glencairn glasses and the best customer service. Their site, Cobhthaigh Celtique is also a photography site — the Coffeys are skilled photographers, and they sell haunting photos of the scenery captured on their whisky adventures. However, CA Scotch Chick was seeking out the Coffeys for both their killer prices on their Glencairn glasses as well as their all important custom etching.

The Coffeys do all of their etching in house. When CA Scotch Chick asked about the etching process she was told that they do both true type font initials and custom logos. CA Scotch Chick sent them a logo she had created for Studio A, and while the Coffeys say that they aren't graphic artists, they certainly tweaked CA Scotch Chick's Studio A logo to make it eminently etch worthy.

Two years after first working with the Coffeys, CA Scotch Chick was just as impressed this time around. The Coffeys cleaned up her logo, provided updates on timing, and turned the job around in an astonishingly short time period — certainly long before the August 31st party. In addition, they are still the best source on the net for multiple glass purchases, and their etching service is amazingly affordable. Oh, and, one final note, CA Scotch Chick didn't realize this before — Cobhthaigh is Gaelic for their name, Coffey, so the Coffeys also get points for a clever word play.

And so, when the CA Scotch Couple undraped their furniture hours before their party, CA Scotch Gent found a special present under the plastic, a set of his very own grown-up glasses. The CA Scotch Couple set them out on the Drinks Table, and their guests were more than suitably impressed. It was an evening to remember, full of toasts from good friends to Studio A, CA Scotch Gent, and the long and happy stolen years ahead for the CA Scotch Couple.

Sliangevar!

Studio A

The Ca Scotch Couple firmly believe in living below their means. They shop at consignment stores, sock away the max for retirement, and adhere to a strict 25% debt to equity ratio. Consequently, the CA Scotch Couple's move to paradise in 2004 couldn't have come at a worse time. It was at the height of the real estate boom; the only houses even remotely within the CA Scotch Couple's price range were shacks, and even those shacks had multiple bidders.

So, it is no surprise that the beloved Little Beach House was one such shack: a circa 1913, 700 square foot single wall construction edifice with outdated wiring, inadequate plumbing, precipitously sloping floors, and a hole in its roof. The CA Scotch Couple spent many (many many many) years making the Little Beach House habitable. Unfortunately, no matter what they did, there was no escaping the reality that even with its new wiring, plumbing, and roof, the Little Beach House was a shack.

So, when the real estate bust hit San Diego hard, the CA Scotch Couple decided to see if they could trade their shack for something a little more spacious. They took a financial bath on the Little Beach House, and set out on their house hunting adventures with three goals for the new home: it needed to have lost at least as much value as the Little Beach House had, it needed to be more spacious than the Little Beach House; and it couldn't be a project.

One of the first properties the CA Scotch Couple viewed was a lovely old mixed use loft conversion in a slightly dodgy area. This 1933 grand dame had started its life as an old fashioned car dealership/garage and had then become an artist's studio and residence. It had magnificent arching barrel ceilings, open architecture, exposed terra cotta masonry, and concrete floors. It also wasn't up to earthquake code, had a leaking roof, had been stripped of plumbing, appliances and countertops, and, worst of all, had birds nesting in it. It was a whopping 2700 square feet, but man, oh man, it was project. CA Scotch Chick dubbed it "the Bird Sanctuary," and the CA Scotch Couple swiftly walked the other way.

But the CA Scotch Couple kept their miserly eyes on the Bird Sanctuary, and within a few months, market forces had driven it down to the price that the CA Scotch Couple had paid for the Little Beach House in 2004. Project or not, the CA Scotch Couple simply couldn't resist. It was a remarkable space, and it was worth the pain to make it beautiful again. They made an offer.

For seven months, long before the accident and throughout the CA Scotch Couple's recovery, they fought their way through the tortuous short sale and then foreclosure process. They managed to buy the Bird Sanctuary from the bank on the final day of 2009, immediately moved in, and endured endless months of living under plastic sheets with construction chaos ringing around them.

On the day they finally closed on the Bird Sanctuary, CA Scotch Gent sat CA Scotch Chick down and asked for two favors. First, could they please, please, please, set a goal of having the renovations done by the end of summer? No more projects stretching for years. Secondly, could they please, please, please, stop calling it the Bird Sanctuary?

They set a goal of August 31st as the drop dead date for finishing the renovation, and they scheduled a party to make sure they met that goal. Then they cast around for a more suitable name — finally deciding on "Studio A" in honor of the sign over its door.

It was a long hard nine months, complicated by the CA Scotch Couple's recovery from their injuries and those all encompassing work schedules. However, on August 31st, a mere three hours before their party, the CA Scotch Couple finally removed the last of the plastic, pushed the furniture into place, and claimed Studio A as their own.

It was well worth the effort. Studio A is now up to code; the birds have been evicted; it has been scrubbed from top to bottom; and it is now equipped with new bathrooms, appliances, countertops, skylights, and roof. Gentle light filters into its spacious and gracious interior giving the CA Scotch Couple the impression that they are stepping into a magnificent cavern whenever they return at the end of the day — the perfect refuge for a pair of recluses. It has been an extremely long tough year, but the CA Scotch Couple are finally home.

The Return of CA Scotch Chick

When last we left our heroine she was recovering from being run over by a car ( Life Can Change in a Split Second) and happily reviewing her stash from her good buddy, the Japanese Peat Chick. She had shared her ordeal with her fans and managed to keep up with her posts through the worst of the recovery, when suddenly, there was silence, nothing, nadda.

It was enough to test a Scotch Chix Fan's deepest loyalty. Scotch Chix Fans must have felt like CA Scotch Chick's mother — "You never write; you never call; you never tweet; you never post on Facebook…"

So, what the heck happened?

The simple answer is that life hit CA Scotch Chick like a tsunami after the new year. Her foot didn't exactly recover with the greatest of ease; she and CA Scotch Gent moved once again; and that all encompassing world of work reared its ugly head. Consequently, CA Scotch Chick put Scotch Chix on hold for a few weeks…and then another tsunami hit: more surgeries, renovation, work…

…and, suddenly half a year had whirled by, and, being the recluse that she is, CA Scotch Chick discovered it was easier to find herself retired than to face her fans. She gave herself until today, September 5th, the anniversary of the accident, to make the decision whether to pick up Scotch Chix or to officially retire.

CA Scotch Chick would probably have officially retired had it not been for a series of adventures with the whisky community that deserved sharing. In early August, CA Scotch Chick needed to put together an exceptional gift for a very special birthday, and she contacted her old friends Dave and Marty Coffey at Cobhthaigh Celtique to arrange for some custom whisky glasses. Scotch Chix Fans will remember the Coffeys from their role in helping the Scotch Chix finally transition to drinking whisky from "A Grown-up Glass." Both the quality of the product and the customer service from the folks at Cobhthaigh Celtique absolutely needed a review.

At the same time, CA Scotch was struggling to replace some beer glasses that were only available in Europe, and she reached out to a little shop in the Netherlands known for having the best whisky selection in Amsterdam, Ton Overmars Wijnwinkel and Slijterij. The proprietor of the shop, Ton Overmars, went out of his way to acquire the glasses and have them waiting for CA Scotch Chick on her latest business trip to the Netherlands. In addition, the whisky selection CA Scotch Chick discovered upon visiting Mr. Overmars was well worth reporting.

Finally, CA Scotch Chick didn't really want to retire. There is so much to share. The last nine months have been packed with whisky, food and travel adventures, and there is much much more ahead. CA Scotch Chick wished to come back, if only her fans would have her.

So, if there are any Loyal Scotch Chix Fans still out there, we are off once again. Please join us for the further adventures of the Scotch Chix. We'll start by telling the story of why the glasses from Cobhthaigh Celtique were so special, and then we'll lead you on a tour of Ton Overmars Wijnwinkel and Slijterij. We still won't be calling, tweeting or posting on Facebook, but we promise to write and not to test your loyalty again.

The Japanese Peat Chick

A couple of years ago, the CA Scotch Couple were pleased to make the acquaintance of the lovely and intelligent Japanese Peat Chick. They first met this remarkable individual when she was casting around for a school at which to spend her year long sabbatical. Since her work is in an area very close to that of CA Scotch Gent, he was her primary contact here in San Diego.

During their first meeting at the University Club, the Japanese Peat Chick commented that she liked whisky, but that while she knew a great deal about the Japanese whiskys, she had limited knowledge regarding the whiskys from Scotland and would need some guidance. Now, CA Scotch Chick has been involved in a fair number of deals involving Japanese nationals, and has been drunk under the table by her clients numerous times, so she should have known better.

However, she recommended a fairly benign whisky, an Oban 14. The Japanese Peat Chick politely asked for something with a bit more flavor. The CA Scotch Couple next offered up a Glenlivet 18. Again, the Japanese Peat Chick politely asked for something with a bit more flavor. The CA Scotch Couple were baffled; these were pretty flavorful whiskys. Finally, out of desperation, the Japanese Peat Chick took the ordering into her own lovely hands and requested that the waiter bring a Laphroiag 15. The light dawned — that kind of flavor; the CA Scotch Couple's new friend was a peat lover!

The Japanese Peat Chick chose San Diego as the base for her sabbatical, and a friendship based on mutual admiration both for each other and for whisky was born. While the CA Scotch Couple have tried to share their knowledge of whisky from Scotland with the Japanese Peat Chick, they have definitely received more than they have given over the past year.

The Japanese Peat Chick's education both in academics and in whisky took place in Hokkaido, a large island in northern Japan. Hokkaido just happens to be the home of Nikka Whisky, the first Japanese whisky distillery. It was founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, the father of Japanese whisky. Its offerings differ from whisky from Scotland in that the flavors are more intense; for example, the Nikka Yoichi 12 Woody and Vanillic resembles Highland Park on steroids, packing the palate with vanilla and butter. Consequently, while the Japanese Peat Chick was indeed searching for peat during that first meeting, it is understandable that she was also looking for something with a bit more flavor in general.

Each time the Japanese Peat Chick has made a voyage home, she has returned bearing gifts from the Nikka distillery for the CA Scotch Couple. Since much of what the Japanese Peat Chick has brought to the CA Scotch Couple is only available at the distillery itself, the CA Scotch Couple are well aware that they are truly privileged to sample this nectar from Japan.

The Nikka Line-up

Taketsuru Pure Malt, Single Cask 20, Single Cask 25, Yoichi 12 WV, Yoichi SS, Yoichi 15

The Japanese Peat Chick and her boyfriend, The Tax Attorney, came 'round the CA Scotch Couple's home the other day while he was visiting from Japan. The CA Scotch Couple set up their Drinks Table with a wide variety of whisky, including the line-up from Nikka, and while the Japanese Peat Couple indulged in the offerings from Scotland, the CA Scotch Couple focused on the Nikka whisky.

The Drinks Table

It was evening of friendship, fun, and a whole lot of whisky, and it gave CA Scotch Chick an excuse to finally review all of the wonderful Nikka whiskys the CA Scotch Couple have been privileged to sample over the year. Below please find CA Scotch Chick's reviews of Nikka Taketsuru 12 Year Pure Malt, Nikka Single Cask 20, Nikka Single Cask 25, Nikka Single Malt Yoichi 12 Woody and Vanillic, Nikka Single Malt Yoichi Sherry and Sweet, and Nikka Single Malt Yoichi 15.

Nikka Taketsuru 12 Year Pure Malt

Nikka Taketsuru 12 Year Pure Malt

This award winning vatted malt is difficult if not impossible to find in the United States. It is a sweet single malt reminiscent of Highland Park 12 with just a bit more raisin, apricot, and cherry on the palate.

Single Malt Whisky: Nikka Taketsuru Whisky 12 Year Pure Malt

Region: Hokkaido, Japan

Color	Gold
Nose	Light Sweetness, Cherries
Body	Smooth, Light
Palate	Sweet, Raisin, Apricot, Cherry
Finish	Short with just a bit of bite
Comment	A delightful whisky

Nikka Single Cask 20

Nikka Single Cask 20

This Nikka Single Cask 20 is super smooth with a buttery, creamy palate and just a hint of apple. The only thing CA Scotch Chick would change is the finish. There is just a bit too much of a bite to it.

Single Malt Whisky: Nikka Single Cask 20

Region: Hokkaido, Japan

Color	Gold
Nose	Sweet, vanilla
Body	Super smooth
Palate	Butter, cream, just a hint of apple
Finish	Bit of a bite
Comment	Perfect until the finish

Nikka Single Cask 25

Nikka Single Cask 25

This smoky single cask is round and luscious in the mouth. Sweet smoke predominates, appearing in the nose, on the palate and in the finish.

Single Malt Whisky: Nikka Single Cask 25

Region: Hokkaido, Japan

Color	Gold
Nose	Smoke, sherry, sweetness
Body	Round, luscious
Palate	Sweet smoke, cherries
Finish	Short smoky finish with just a hint of pepper at the end
Comment	Appeals to both peat lovers and regular whisky drinkers

Nikka Single Malt Yoichi 12 Woody and Vannilic

Nikka Single Malt Yoichi 12 Woody and Vanillic

If the Nikka 12 Pure Malt is reminiscent of Highland Park, Nikka's Single Malt Yoichi 12 WV is Highland Park on steroids. This whisky is packed with vanilla and buttery flavors.

Single Malt Whisky: Nikka Single Malt Yoichi 12 Woody and Vanillic

Region: Hokkaido, Japan

Color	Gold
Nose	Strong vanilla
Body	Light
Palate	Strong vanilla and butter
Finish	Short sherry finish
Comment	Highland Park on steroids

Nikka Single Malt Whisky Yoichi Sherry and Sweet

Nikka Single Malt Yoichi Sherry and Sweet

There is a bit more sherry in this whisky than CA Scotch Chick cares for. Despite this, it is a complex whisky with a hint of smoke and a spicy finish.

Single Malt Whisky: Nikka Yoichi Single Malt Sherry and Sweet

Region: Hokkaido, Japan

Color	Red
Nose	Smoke
Body	Medium
Palate	Sherry with a light smoke
Finish	Short spicy finish
Comment	Bit too much sherry.

Nikka Single Malt Yoichi 15

Nikka Single Malt Yoichi 15

Nikka's Single Malt Yoichi 15 is a sleeper. There is not a whiff of smoke in the nose or on the palate, but just as the finish reaches its climax, it emits a distinct puff of the stuff. Quite a pleasant whisky.

Single Malt Whisky: Nikka Single Malt Yoichi 15

Region: Hokkaido, Japan

Color	Gold
Nose	Vanilla
Body	Light but round
Palate	Vanilla again, Sweet
Finish	Nice and quick with a short puff of smoke at end
Comment	Very Pleasant

Powell's City of Books

Powell's City of Books

1005 West Burnside

Portland, OR 97209

9 am - 11 pm

www.powells.com

The CA Scotch Couple are bookstore fanatics. Trip planning always includes research into out of the way independent bookstores for a pleasant afternoon's perusal. Long before Powell's books became a new and used book Internet powerhouse, Powell's City of Books, the independent bookstore in Portland that sprawls across an entire city block, was one of the CA Scotch Couple's favorite places to pass the time.

Part of CA Scotch Chick's complaints against out of the way independent bookstores is that they often tend to be a bit musty and disorganized. Not so with Powell's City of Books. What could be a true labyrinth is broken into well organized color coded rooms. One could either wander the entire facility or pick up the handy dandy map upon arrival and focus on the areas in which one has an interest. And, although Powell's City of Books itself might not quite have the charm of a smaller bookstore, these rooms are intimate little browsing galleries with new and used books sharing space on the shelf.

The Handy Dandy Map

Since the CA Scotch Couple are mystery fans, they usually spend the lion's share of their time in the Gold Room. And, on the evening that the Chef and the Saint took them to Powell's City of Books, that is exactly what they did. The two couples split off and spent a leisurely hour before Powell's closed and they toddled off to bed in the company of the books of their choice.

The only caveat to visiting Powell's is that one must actually check the prices of the books one is scooping up. On that pleasant evening in Portland, CA Scotch Chick picked up a beaten on old book that was the first in a series she was contemplating starting, only to glance at the price in line and discover that it was a rare copy for sale for over eighty dollars. Such is the beauty of Powell's, however. What treasures those shelves contain!

Update

So sorry for not being able to stay in touch, Loyal Scotch Chix Fans. It has been a brutal month, both physically and in terms of balancing work with the multitude of doctor's appointments. CA Scotch Chick most definitely did not have the time to be run over by a car!

The recovery process, particularly for the foot, has been disappointingly slow. It ended up living in its splint for 8 weeks instead of 6, and when it emerged it was a quivering mass of raw nerves, unused muscles, and excruciatingly tight ligaments and tendons. Learning to walk on it again is requiring a fair amount of gritted teeth and colorful language. This is definitely not the kind of pain one "rides." Quite interesting how many kinds of pain there are.

The eye has stabilized enough so that CA Scotch Chick could take the special driver's license exam and get back behind the wheel of her PT Cruiser convertible last week (the bum foot is the left one). This has taken some of the load off of CA Scotch Gent, who, even with his hurt wrists, has borne the brunt of getting CA Scotch Chick where she needed to go.

And so, life is slowly returning to normal, and with it, I hope, Scotch Chix will as well. I believe we were planning to discuss a certain used book store in Portland when we were so rudely interrupted. Tune in next week, Loyal Scotch Chix Fans, for CA Scotch Chix' review of one of the most awesome bookstores in the world.

Life can Change in a Split Second

Hey Loyal Scotch Chix Fans! Sorry that it has been awhile since there has been a post. Life recently changed pretty dramatically for the CA Scotch Couple. On Labor Day Weekend, the CA Scotch Couple was car-jacked in a parking lot in Northern California.

CA Scotch Gent was violently assaulted and suffered from broken wrists, head wounds, and multiple lacerations. CA Scotch Chick was more than a bit too slow on her feet, and ended up being run over by the car. She spent the next 8 days in the ICU and 10 days in the hospital trying to get her lungs to work again, nursing a split open left foot, and adjusting to the fact that she had lost most of the sight in her right eye. It was a dark time, and while the CA Scotch Couple are now back home in San Diego, there is still a long road ahead before life returns to any semblance of normalcy.

Of course, CA Scotch Chick has written the incident up. It is a bit long and rather intense for the more delicate Scotch Chix Fans to stumble upon over a cup of coffee in the morning, though. If Loyal Scotch Chix Fans want to travel the dark road the CA Scotch Couple travelled, however, here is a link.

http://docs.google.com/View?id=dd7nxvkr_11fvnbtqfx

CA Scotch Chick will try to keep up with posts in between the multitude of doctor's appointments (and, of course, naps). Until then, hold on tight to the ones you love, Loyal Scotch Chix Fans. It can all change in a split second.

Single Malt and Scotch Whisky Extravaganza

The Fall Schedule of the Single Malt and Scotch Whisky Extravaganza has just been released! It's the perfect opportunity for both novice and experienced scotch drinkers to sample a wide range of premium single malts. The event focuses exclusively on single malt and Scotch whiskies. There will be 85 whiskies available for sampling. Included in the price of admission is a gourmet dinner buffet, premium imported cigars, a Robb Report magazine, a souvenir tasting glass, raffle prizes, and of course, the whiskies. Tickets are $115 for Society members and $130 for non-members.

The Fall Schedule is as follows:

Chicago

October 8, 2009

The Union League

Club of Chicago

65 W. Jackson Boulevard

Chicago, IL 60604

(Jackets Required. No Denim or Athletic Attire)

Boston

October 22, 2009

The Taj Boston

15 Arlington Street

Boston, MA 02116

Washington, D.C.

October 28, 2009

JW Marriott Hotel

1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington, D.C. 20004

Philadelphia

October 30, 2009

The Union League of Philadelphia

140 S. Broad Street

Philadelphia, PA 19102

(Jacket Required. No Denim or Athletic Attire)

San Francisco

November 18, 2009

Intercontinental San Francisco

888 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

Los Angeles

November 20, 2009

The Loews Santa Monica

Beach Hotel

1700 Ocean Avenue

Santa Monica, CA 90401

Fort Lauderdale

December 13, 2009

The Seminole Hard Rock

Hotel and Casino

1 Seminole Way

Hollywood, FL 33314

To purchase tickets go to: https://www.amerisurf.com/singlemaltextravaganza/form_tickets.html

Park Kitchen

422 NW 8th

Portland Oregon 97209

503 223-7275

http://www.parkkitchen.com/

The Chef and the Saint chose Park Kitchen, a cutting edge restaurant focusing on local seasonal cuisine, for their night on the town with the CA Scotch Couple. And, as the two couples strolled through the the North Park blocks, a hip and happenin' arts area in the Pearl District, they noticed that the temperature had dropped and the breeze had picked up. It was almost cool, certainly cool enough to sit outside — a very pleasant surprise.

The second pleasant surprise came when the very friendly and highly efficient waiter presented the drinks' menu. There was a relatively decent smattering of single malt whiskys, and a rather large stock of interesting looking bourbons. Since the CA Scotch Couple's past bourbon experiences could be characterized as hit or miss (mostly miss), they were excited to take the opportunity to try something new. They settled on a Four Roses Small Batch, since they considered the regular Four Roses Bourbon to be actually worthy of the Drinks Table.

Park Kitchen's Drinks' Menu

The highly efficient and friendly waiter returned with a generous pour of the Four Roses Small Batch, and the CA Scotch Couple gave it a try. Alas, it was a bit disappointing. While the palate was caramelly sweet with a hint of citrus, the finish was harsh and bitter. They were lamenting not being able to add Four Roses Small Batch to their list of worthy bourbons when their highly efficient and friendly waiter stopped by and overheard them.

He advised the CA Scotch Couple that if they wanted to sample a really special bourbon, they should give the Pappy Van Winkle 20 year a try. He also pointed out that he could serve them a half a pour in case they didn't like it. Did we mention that he was highly efficient and friendly? The CA Scotch Couple jumped at the offer.

Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year was certainly worthy! Its most remarkable characteristic was its lush, round, chewy body. The palate was infused with butter with just a hint of maple, honey and vanilla. And, while the finish was a bit fizzy, it was still quite nice.

Later the highly efficient and friendly waiter filled the CA Scotch Couple in on what else made this bourbon so special. Supposedly, the entire state of Oregon was only allocated 1 case of this nectar, and 1/2 of that ended up in Portland. Park Kitchen's bar manager, Shane King Feirstein, is both a spirits aficionado and connected, and he had managed to snag a bottle for the restaurant as part of his ongoing effort to stock Park Kitchen with interesting spirits. The highly efficient and friendly waiter offered to introduce them to Shane, and the couples had a rousing discussion with this incredibly informed and quite nice bar manager.

Soon the food began to arrive, and arrive, and arrive. The Chef and the Saint had ordered the Small and Large Tasting Menu for the table, and the CA Scotch Couple were treated with wave after wave of wonderfully interesting dishes. Each dish was unlike anything the CA Scotch Couple had experienced before and reflected a blend of fresh ingredients and fantastic flavors. The highlight of the meal was chocolates from Xocolatl de David which combined sweet and salty to perfection.

The Chef and the Saint and the CA Scotch Couple, wiled away the summer evening and then ambled over to nearby Powells books for a perfect ending to a perfect evening. Join us next time, Loyal Scotch Chix Fans, for CA Scotch Chick's review of one of her favorite bookstores.

Also, below, please find CA Scotch Chix' review of Four Roses Small Batch and Pappy Van Winkle 20.

4 Roses Small Batch

This Four Roses Small Batch was a bit disappointing. Although the caramel and citrus palate was pleasing, the long bitter finish was a bit harsh.

Single Malt Whisky: Four Roses Small Batch

Region: Lawrenceburg, KY

Color	Light Yellow
Nose	Buttery sweet
Body	Medium
Palate	Lemon/Citrus, Carmel, Hint of Butter
Finish	Long and bitter
Comment	Had me until the finish

Pappy Van Winkle 20

This elderly bourbon may be difficult to track down, but it is well worth the effort. The body is remarkable in its round lush richness.

Single Malt Whisky: Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year

Region: Kentucky

Color	Yellow
Nose	Vanilla, Fruit
Body	Smooth, Round, Rich, Lush
Palate	Sweet, Butter, Maple, Honey
Finish	High and Complex, Some Fizz
Comment	Loved the Body

The Chef and the Saint

The business colleague with whom CA Scotch Gent was meeting is actually the CA Scotch Couple's best buddy from CA Scotch Gent's medical school days. It was apparent, even during training, that this man would be an amazing physician. He is bright, insightful, and has an excellent bedside manner. He is also a world traveler and a superb chef, characteristics which immediately endeared him to the CA Scotch Couple. The CA Scotch Couple spent many a happy evening at the Chef's table during those long hard years of training.

After graduation, the Chef met and married perhaps the most genuinely nice person the CA Scotch Couple have ever known. While on one hand, the term "Saint" doesn't really apply, in that she is not sanctimonious in the least, in another, it is perfect. The Saint is the most kind, calm, and gentle individual the CA Scotch Couple know. In addition, she is bright, interesting, and a whole lot of fun.

The Chef and the Saint and the CA Scotch Couple kept in touch for many years after school. In fact, CA Scotch Gent was the Chef's best man, and the Chef and the Saint joined the CA Scotch Couple in Paris and Vienna when the CA Scotch Couple were living in Belgium. Alas, life intervenes, however, and it had been eight years since the CA Scotch Couple had seen the Chef and the Saint. In the interim the Chef and the Saint's family had grown exponentially. They now had three young boys: the (not evil at all) Evil Boy Genius (age 9), the (very) Brave and Faithful Aviator (age 6), and the (clothes are optional) Commando (age 3).

Now the CA Scotch Couple like children. The CA Scotch Couple's misanthropic tendencies mean that they often find it more comfortable to spend time with children than with adults. However, as individuals whose lives are not populated by a whole lot of children, they are sometimes frustrated by how child-centric society is today. In the CA Scotch Couple's humble opinion, children should be a part of a social environment, not the total focus, and they should be independent enough to entertain themselves when parents have company. Long ago the CA Scotch Couple discovered, however, that most of the households they visit these days do not harbor these same beliefs. Lives revolve around the frenetic schedules and demands of the child, and there is little opportunity for adults to sit and talk.

What a refreshing experience it was, therefore, to visit with the Chef and the Saint and their three boys. Somehow, this little neighborhood in Washington is a world that time forgot. The children all flow in and out of each other's houses, riding bikes, cutting across back lawns, and in general playing independently the way children did in the past. It helped that the Chef and the Saint have a lovely old rambling house that they have carefully restored and that is big enough to stash large groups of young males. However, the general atmosphere was simply one of a lazy summer afternoon. There was no dashing off in a car to meet the demands of a busy Saturday schedule, no interruptions requesting that the parents referee disputes, and not a single video game or television turned on while we were there. The children (from the entire neighborhood) were all respectful, and even the Commando played independently with the big boys!

When the crash of kids joined the adults for the Chef's killer BLT sandwiches, it was a peaceful setting, with the children all at one table and the adults at another, all eating and talking happily. No bad behavior, no tears — just two groups of individuals having lunch. The CA Scotch Couple are well aware that it took many long hours of establishing expectations and encouraging independence to create such an idyllic scene, and in the CA Scotch Couple's opinion, whatever the Chef and the Saint and the other parents in this neighborhood are doing should be applauded. It made for a delightful afternoon, both for the children and the adults.

That night the Chef and the Saint arranged for their regular babysitter to stay with the boys, and the the two couples ventured into the Portland night life. Join us next time, Ladies and Gents for a review of a fantastic meal and a bourbon surprise.

Homemade Chicky Fry Poutines!

The CA Scotch Couple picked the hottest week in the history of the west coast for their little jaunt up to Oregon. It was a hundred degrees and hazy when they landed in Portland, and the CA Scotch Couple were overheated and hungry when they finally made it to their hotel. After cool showers, CA Scotch Chick decided that it was too hot for them to go back out and that she instead would do a little hunting and gathering in the vicinity of the hotel. She set out for a combination Kentucky Fried Chicken/A&W Root Beer right across the parking lot.

Her plan was just to pick something fairly light if possible, but when her eyes scanned the menu, they lit upon an entry for cheese curds on the A&W menu!!!!!! Loyal Scotch Chix fans will remember the CA Scotch Couple's love affair with poutines (and in general all things cheese curd), and of their very pleasant discovery of Chicky Fry Poutines in Toronto (see Toronto Poutine Face Off). Here was an opportunity for some homemade Chicky Fry Poutines. She ordered the KFC fries, the yummy chicky gravy, and the cheese curds and set off back across the heat soaked parking lot for the hotel.

CA Scotch Gent is a trooper. Canadian comfort food was probably last thing he expected to see CA Scotch Chick carting back on such a hot day, but he exclaimed over her good find and embarked with her on the experiment right away. They put some fries on a plate, sprinkled some cheese curds on, microwaved the gravy to make it extra hot, poured, and tasted.

It was a disappointment! While the fries and gravy were quite good, since the cheese curds were breaded, they neither had the right taste nor the right consistency. The CA Scotch Couple carefully picked the breading off a few of the cheese curds, and they tried again. Once more they were disappointed. The A&W cheese curds were fine as fried things go, but they just didn't work as a substitute for the cheese curds for poutines. Oh, the bitter disappointment!

It was too hot to head back out for some lighter fare, so the CA Scotch Couple gave up and took to just dipping the fries in the chicky gravy (much less mushy that way), and eating the cheese curds separately. Ah well, it was worth a try. The CA Scotch Couple will just have to block off some time for a trip to Canada.

Takin' to the Skies

Lance with CA Scotch Chick's Scooter, Woodstock, 

and CA Scotch Gent's Scooter, Blue Lightning

CA Scotch Chick tries not to ever forget just how fortunate she is to be living the life she does. While the CA Scotch Couple work harder than they should, their leisure time is spent enjoying each other's company while eating, traveling, playing, and, of course, sampling single malts. And, although daily stress can begin to weigh, CA Scotch Chick sometimes feels that she and CA Scotch Gent are two little kids whose parents told them they could go play adult for awhile and forgot to pick them up. One of the most enjoyable ways the CA Scotch Couple spend their play time is by flying.

The CA Scotch Couple learned to fly when they spent a couple of years in the middle of rural Illinois. CA Scotch Chick had always wanted to fly, and from her first paycheck for her first job at the age of 12, she set aside one hundred dollars per pay period for this purpose. When the CA Scotch Couple moved from the Los Angeles area to Southern Illinois, she pounced on the opportunity to realize her dream. 

Flying was not CA Scotch Gent's dream. In fact, he wasn't too sure about going up in those little airplanes. However, CA Scotch Gent is both supportive and practical. He knew that if CA Scotch Chick loved something, it would be a lot more fun if he joined in, and he also knew that "There was no way in H*!! he was going up in an airplane (with CA Scotch Chick) without knowing what was going on."

So, the CA Scotch Couple embarked on the adventure of learning to fly together. They took lessons from the same wonderfully fresh faced farm boy instructor (who is now a first officer for a major airline), soloed in separate airplanes at the same time, and took their check rides on the same day. Soon after getting their "tickets" (pilot lingo for licenses), they were fortunate enough to find a pristine and patient Piper Turbo Lance (his name is Lance), and from then on they have flown every mission as a crew. 

It has been a decade since the CA Scotch Couple learned to fly, and nine years since Lance came into their lives. The CA Scotch Couple's time with Lance has transformed them. It has changed the way they view the world, taught them safety principals that affect their entire lives, deepened their relationship, and given them hours of joy. 

Things have been getting a bit overwhelming lately, so when CA Scotch Gent needed to head up to Vancouver, Washington to visit a business colleague a couple of weeks ago, the CA Scotch Couple decided to reclaim some of that joy, to block off a week and fly up. It was a wonderful adventure, filled with fun times, fantastic scenery, excellent food, and a surprising bourbon discovery.

So fasten your seat belts, Ladies and Gentlemen. We are headed to the Pacific Northwest.