The yearly Robert Burns Tasting at Astor Center was a couple of weeks ago. I have been now 3 years running and I always have a good time. This year there was plenty of haggis and drams to sample. If you don’t know, Robert Burns is a Scottish Poet and in short, wrote the song we all sing on New Year’s Eve.

The Astor Center is the 2nd floor of the Astor Wine and Spirits Store in NYC. It has a sit down class room and a walk around area that have tastings and events throughout the year. This year there were approximately 40 scotch whiskies and I was able to sample 22 scotches I had not yet tried. This tasting was a “walk around”, which is what it states, you walk around and taste. Not my favorite style as you have to bump elbows with people.
The haggis was good but it was more American Kentucky Getta styled. The haggis in Scotland is much better. If you are not familiar with Getta, it’s the same thing as haggis but for some reason no one in Kentucky believes me.
This year’s Burns Tasting seemed to have less people and be missing a few key whisky’s. There was a lower amount of higher end scotches this year. That was fine, but something felt a bit off with the entire event. What was good was there were whisky’s I hadn’t tasted yet and I made a point to try them.
ARBERLOUR 18 YR OLD $160

GLENLIVET 18 YR OLD $125

THE MACALLAN AMBER SINGLE MALT SCOTCH $80

HIGHLAND PARK VALKRYRIE SINGLE MALT $90

BOWMORE DARKEST 15 YR $75

AUCHENTOSHAN AMERICAN OAK $35

WHISKIES OF SCOTLAND BLENDED ISLAY – 1997 $125

WHISKIES OF SCOTLAND MORTLACH SINGLE MALT – 1995 $150

WHISKIES OF SCOTLAND CLYNELISH 18 YR- 1995 $135

THE BENRIACH CLASSIC 10 YR. SINGLE MALT $70

THE BENRIACH CURIOSITAS 10 YR. PEATED SCOTCH $75

GLENGLASSAUGH REVIVAL SINGLE MALT $70

GLENDRONACH 12 YR. HIGHLAND $70

ARDBEG AN OA SINGLE $65

ARDBEG CORRYVRECKAN $90

ARDBEG UIGEADAIL $80

DUNCAN TAYLOR OCTAVE BENRIACH WHISKY – 2011 $125

DUNCAN TAYLOR OCTAVE GLENTAUCHERS WHISKY – 2008 $125

NAVAZOS PALAZZI BOTA #12 OVERSEAS MALT WHISKY $100

WOLFBURN AURORA SINGLE MALT SCOTCH $60

WOLDBURN MORVEN PEATED SINGLE MALT $60

WOLFBURN SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY $60

Nothing on the list blew my mind, and a couple were very disappointing for the price. However, I got educated on new whiskies and that is what counts. One thing I like the most about whisky (other than the taste) is the learning process. Just because its new, old, aged, non-aged, odd, etc. doesn’t mean anything until you taste it. Once you taste it, you learn something new and that to me is the most important part. Anyone can go to a store and buy expensive whisky and feel special, but not everyone wants learn.
If you like it, drink it and keep learning! Reviews on each whisky will be posted over the next few months.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!