Whisky & Jazz II

April 27, 2010

Scotch: Lagavulin 16 yr old

Musician: Dexter Gordon
Song: Round Midnight

Present: Patrick (host), John, Ian

This W&J meeting introduced a new semi-tradition of smoking pipes. We figured smoking pipes would add to the experience of drinking Scotch and listening to jazz. I also felt it would add to the man experience if we we had our bare chests showing while smoking pipes. I like to sit around with my shirt off anyway. Also, there was a piano that belonged to someone inconsiderate enough to store it at the apartment where there was little storage room anyway. To show our appreciation in our slightly altered state of mind, we opted to add a smokey scent to the piano. Afterwards, we continued enjoying Lagavulin, jazz, and pipes. We failed to finish the bottle until recently.

From i'll drink to that

From i'll drink to that

From i'll drink to that

From i'll drink to that

From i'll drink to that

From i'll drink to that

Whisky & Jazz I

April 13, 2010

Springbank 10 yr old was the Scotch, Charlie Parker was the Jazz.

This was the first W&J meeting and included John (host), Patrick, and Ian.

In the pictures below, Patrick has received a phone call from his xgf and has to deal with her while we patiently wait. John is obviously nervous about this first W&J ands prepares himself by rereading the pages he is about to read out loud. As we wait, I enjoy playing with John's dog Atticus. Once Pat is off the phone, John reads a brief history of the jazz musician, Scotch distillery, and their correlation. After we hear all about it, the book informs us of what we should expect from the Scotch and the jazz. We cheers the glasses and drink up.

From i'll drink to that

From i'll drink to that

From i'll drink to that

From i'll drink to that

Introductions

It started with a book.

One of the foremost commentators on all things Scotch wrote a book. Instead of only focusing on one passion, he combined two beautiful things, and the whole was greater than the sum of its parts.
Hans Offringa loves Scotch, and he loves Jazz. So he wrote about both.

Including short introductory chapters on the history of whisky and the history of jazz, he followed up with specific details about ten great jazzmen and ten great single malts. He described the story behind and the importance of each man and each dram.

This would have made a great book, but Offringa added a little lagniappe that changed things.

He suggested something novel: Whisky and Jazz can be paired in the same way as a gourmet meal and fine wine. When paired correctly, the drink brings out subtleties of the music and vice-versa.

It changed the way we thought about jazz and whisky. We learned about the great men and distilleries and enjoyed great company. Every other week, we got together, drank a specific whisky, listened to a specific artist, and discussed.

Not only did we enjoy the drinks and the music, we enjoyed catching up, and forcing ourselves to take time to relax with good friends.

Here is where the blog comes in: We are through with the book, but we've been converted by Offringa. Music and drinks go together, and when paired correctly, heighten the experience. We are going to continue, but without a book to guide us, we are going to base the rest of our series on our own thoughts.

We'll not restrict ourselves to Whisky & Jazz, but open the floor for a variety of mixes. We will select an artist (or an album) and the right drink, give a little background and tasting notes, and explain why they fit together, then get together to try it out.

We'll find some perfect matches; others might be off a bit, but we'll survive, I'm sure.

A toast then:To the things that bring us together: Good music, Good drinks, and most importantly, Good Friends!

I think I'll drink to that.