Blair Athol 24, d.1991, Hemp Sparrow, Two Ten-Thousand, Bottled by Morrison & MacKay Whisky, Hogshead No. 7296, 251 bottles, 53% abv.

This description is a continuation from the "one ten-thousand" bottle. Hemp sparrow/majong is traditionally played on a square table with a smooth surface to allow the 4 players (some variants have 3 players) to shuffle the tiles facedown in the table center. So basically up to 8 hands do a sort of carwash motion (wax-on/wax-off) which allows the tiles to hit each other making a crackling sound. Low quality plastic tiles make a softer sound while ivory tiles make a unique squeel. However, Hemp sparrow/mahjong is primarily a gambling game so the shuffling phase is where many cheating technqiues have been developed. Nowadays, most places have electronic tables that shuffle the tiles for you inside a bin installed in the table center and then sets up the "deck" or playing field for you.

Nose: fruit and toast, some grapes in there. After a teaspoon of water, light grape juice and still toast.

Palate: fruity and wood, backseat old steamed lotus leaves. After a teaspoon of water, cooling.

Finish: medium, cooling, some wood.

For a Blair Athol product, I was a little shocked it didn't have the super sweet fruity nose like the other blair athols and the body was a little different, less wood and old steamed lotus leaves. Seemed light compared to other IBs. Still good and interesting, but I feel the OMC and Signatory versions are better. Maybe it's the bottle?

Grade: C+

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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