Pennsic (first visit)

[cellio]

We went up today to set up the camp. As we pulled in we were astonished by how much was already done -- the kitchen and pantry buildings were assembled, several pavillions were up, and the shower was being put together. It turns out they had more people than usual yesterday, so they got a head start.

Today's projects were house maintenance, plumbing, the shower, setting up the kitchen and pantry (as much as we could; not everything's on site yet), setting up one or two more pavillions, and setting up the communal eating and socializing area (furniture and a couple of flies for shade). Oh, and Dani washed most of the camp's dishes, I gather. (We store them in the house, because this is stuff we use only at Pennsic, so they get dusty over the year.)

The house had been attacked by mold -- the dangers of storing it in a field with high grass in a wet year, I guess. So I spent a while scrubbing that all off; fortunately, it's treatable. We also had a hornets' nest this year; I am grateful to other camp members for killing it for me before I got there. Ick, stingy things.

I didn't do much that was especially strenuous, but I'm exhausted. I assume that some of that comes from working outside in the heat and sun (though the heat was moderate and I was wearing a hat). It's been a long time since I've had the boundless energy and stamina of a 20-something; sigh.

I owe a big favor to one camp member who did a lot of house-related work for me (including jacking it up to make it level and killing the aforementioned hornets). Can anyone reading this recommend decent single-malt scotches? He enjoys trying new things, so I'd rather not get one of the defaults (like, if I understand correctly, Glenlivit). I'm looking for something good and a little off the beaten path (hindered by not being a scotch drinker myself).

I was checked in by dr_zrfq. Heh -- I didn't expect to find him that quickly. :-)

Comments

[vonstrassburg.livejournal.com]

If you can get a Mortlach, esp. the 16 year old, it's very worth drinking. Otherwise if you want something extraordinary that shouldn't be too hard to find, go for a A'bunadh, by Aberlour. It's a 16 year old cask strength (remain seated while drinking), I see it on the list of scotches on the web site recommended by geekosaur. (You have state owned liquor stores? omg!).

I'm a big fan of Speysides myself, hence the above. If I'm buying something for someone who likes single malts then I'll find out what they like first. People have different preferences -- Island malts, Highland, Speyside, etc. If I can find out what malts he has tried that he likes then I can tell you what else is in the same vein.

Other than that, on the list from that web site, things that I see that I like include:

* Ardbeg 10yo, won the first prize trophy at the Malt Whiskey Convention in Sydney recently. Island malt and one of the good ones.
* Bowmore, 17yo.
* Glenfarclas 105, another cask strength. Speyside.
* Glenmorangie 18yo but probably over-priced on that page. A true highland, quite peaty but very fruity to the point of almost being acidic.
* Highland Park 18yo. Another island malt.
* Lagavulin 16yo but only if you know he likes Island malts. It's very seaweed/iodine flavoured (much like the Laphroig -- only get that if you know he likes that sort of thing).
* Macallan -- worth paying the extra $ for the 15yo, although the 18yo doesn't add much to that. They have the really old Macallans on the list too, I managed to wrangle my way into a tasting of the 1945. Not sure it was worth $5000+ per bottle but it was pretty extraordinary. Their 25yo is also quite special as is the cask strength, nicknamed the "red stripe of death" at our last tasting night as it has a red stripe around the top of the box.
* The Glenlivet 18yo is the pick of that bunch. Traditional speyside.

Looking for a present for someone you don't like? I have a half bottle of Pakistan's finest single malt whisky. :)