Blog — Page 140 of 277

Water of Life - Wolfburn

With a name like Wolfburn and a marketing department that has calibrated it approach to achieve a result oriented outcome, expectations were high right out of the gate for the this fairly new kid on the block  – partly due to the fact word around the campfire had that they use casks that previously housed the nectar from the mecca of peat, i.e. Islay.

The first Wolfburn expression that hit my palate was their Northland, which on the nose only is slightly astringent as it has hints of smoke embedded in more dominant fruity, sweet and nutty aromas.

The top of the roof is tickled by what I would like to describe as a wave of honey that is riding on a spicy, malty and peppery foundation, which again only hints a peaty nuance. It is that subtle melange of flavours that makes one lust for more and the elongated, crispy finish, again heavy on the honey and sweet and fruity side of things, only enhances the experience. Not bad at all and imminently drinkable for such a youthful whisky - a gently satisfying dram despite being slightly ethanolic and grappa-like.  

Given that this expression is merely three years old, it would make an amazing one in nine years’ time.

Wolfburn’s Langskip hits a bit harder in every aspect with an ABV of 58% and having matured in first-fill bourbon casks.

Flavour forward, the nostrils are tickled by rich nutty, floral and peppery nuances that hint at what is about to dance on the palate: More nutty flavours that run the gamut from almonds to macadamia, which are framed by gingery and cinnamon accents, only to culminate in an elongated finish that hits all the right notes as it navigates the chasm between fruity sweetness and peppery earthiness.

Wolfburn Morven is a recent addition to the distillery’s portfolio and got me excited because out of the three expressions, I found it the one most infused with a very subtle peaty character.

What materialized on the nose is already a beauty as it is crisp, grassy, juicy and fruity, anchored by a light peatiness, only to continue its journey on the palate by incorporating nutty flavours that sit in wafts of vanilla and fruity phenols and an oaky, peppery foundation.

The finish is sweet in every aspect and unexpected given its young age.

Another interesting, solid single malt, intense in taste and one that has again the potential to mature into a fantastic one if given more years to unfold its potential.

Water of Life – Absinthe Friends

I’ve danced with the ever elusive green fairy many a times and sometimes in more profound ways than other – be it in Berlin or Prague.

There is certainly no shortage of myth, folklore and fabrication around la fee verte and its qualities and facts that are proved and documented scientifically are less publicly known.

Now, when you first sample Artemisia absinthium, you might expect the exact equivalent of what was indulged in during the Belle Époque, i.e. the liquid that inspired Rimbaud, Baudelaire and Verlaine’s poetry and in its more extreme incarnations inspired van Gogh to trim his ears.

However, more recent incarnations of the position have seen many contemporary variants, some of which depart from the common perception of what absinthe should look like in terms of appearance, louche, aroma, flavor and mouthfeel.

Enter Winsome Spirits, i.e. Absinthe Friends, whose emissions’ hues, depth-of-colors, and clarity derive from the trademark green shading resulting from the chlorophyll extracted during the infusion.

Absinthe Friends’ emissions are natural and organic-looking even with the variants that are not the traditional colours, i.e. verte (green) and blanche (clear white, colourless).

Heavily inspired by Greek mythology, each of their creations is themed after the rivers of the ancient underworld, i.e. the river of woe, the river of fire, the river of death, and the river of regret.

Based on the artemisisa plant and fennel, Absinthe Friends infuse their creations with up to twenty additional herbs that give their expressions an idiosyncratic, alpine subtle and complex twist.

Take for example Phlegathon, an homage to the river of fire and flavoured this with a hint of Tasmanian pepper berry, set in scene by the fire colouring that comes courtesy of the calyces of the Hibiscus roselle.

Acheron comes with rather exotic colouring, which comes from butterfly pea flowers and flavoured from four different mints.

All of the expressions carry a rich and vibrant hue and are well-calibrated, i.e. they are not watery or “over-finished”.

The fact that Winsome Spirit’s libations are free of haze is testament to the expert finishing, which results in perfectly clear and gemstone brilliant potions.

When it comes to the ouzo effect or "louche", i.e. the final clouded effect and condition after ideally three to five parts of chilled H2O is added, both the Phlegethon and Archeron variations are rich, but translucent and opal with interesting refractory effects.

The mouthfeel is heavily informed by anise and fennel yet balanced by the myriad of herbs, which add an interesting, slightly dry and astringent character. There is a sense of weight, but it is not overbearing on the palate and certainly not heavy and chewy – au contraire, texturally, it is smooth, silky, clean, and dry-ish.

Summa summarum, Absinthe Friends stand for balanced, interesting and refreshing drinks with a non-tongue numbing lingering finish and I do not even mind sipping them neat, a quality rarely found in absinthes.

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Photo from company website

The Simpsons: A Cultural History

Rowman and Littlefield

Using a flipchart to outline the immense influence The Simpsons have had and still have on the fabric of our cultural DNA would hardly to justice to the impact of the show that once derived from The Tracey Ullman Show.

What started as a countercultural and alternative experiment arrived in the middle of society decades ago and it is astonishing to see what a fictional primetime series can achieve on different levels of the collective mind that underpins popular culture.

The elaborately thought through characters of the show have not only become icons but also archetypes that are informed by so much more than an accumulation of stereotypical traits.

The Simpsons: A Cultural History does not only shed light on the show’s roots and its development but also dissects the characters with surgical precision from a variety of angles – be it subversion, pop cultural phenomena, comic strip traditionalism, comedic lineage and histories, transcending boundaries between worlds through carefully orchestrated cameos and the influences and sources of inspirations along the way.

The fact that the book caters to both hardcore aficionados as well as the uninitiated by not only relying on trivia and rehashing its glory by elaborating on its episodes, but also a borderline scientific and never not unentertaining approach, is testament to the ground-breaking nature of the show.

The Simpsons: A Cultural History offers an in-depth look at how the times influence and have been influenced by this powerhouse of a show and brilliantly captures the background and impact of the hilariously dysfunctional, quintessential American cartoon family that became a tremendous force in pop culture.

As someone who has read quite a few books on the show, I’d recommend this one as it goes in depth without lacking entertainment and also without paying attention to the criticism the show has been exposed to.

West Side Story

Opera House

August 20, 2019

Sydney, Australia

There are few dance musicals that are as internationally known as the result of the joint effort between the quartet of what has become well established as luminaries in the world of musical, i.e. of Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents,  Jerome Robbins and  Stephen Sondheim.

If you think you are unfamiliar, think again – some of the songs of the score are inextricably linked to the pop cultural fabric of the 20th century.

Based on the classic Romeo and Juliet dynamic, the classic love story is transported into the concrete jungle of NYC where the Montagues and Capulets are replaced by the Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks, rival gangs fighting over local turf.

True to its original choreography, the Australian incarnation under the directorial guidance of Joey McKneely epitomises the essence of what the nostalgic, energising melange of theatrical, dance and immensely enjoyable score set out to be.

The committed triple threat ensemble delivered on all fronts – spectacularly realised dancing incorporating jazz, Latin and ballet style elements nuanced with near pitch perfect vocal feats reminiscent of both opera and traditional styles that set the narrative elements in scene, nuanced by the emissions and ardent score of a wonderful orchestra that only enhanced the emotional pull the captivating traditional tale enacts.

A stripped back yet atmospheric set design focussing on the balconies of New York’s 1950 underclass quarters with large scenic elements moving seamlessly into place as required, put the spotlight solely on the highly energetic performances, enduring melodies and choreography.

I have seen Westside Story in NYC where it originally emerged as well as in Europe and the Australian production is in no way less dramatic, entertaining without embellishing it – au contraire the set design and unique ambience of the Sydney Opera House gives it an x-factor that adds intimacy to a finger snapping, high-kicking irresistible evening that celebrates diversity with its vivid characters and carries a simple yet powerful and universal message.

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Photo courtesy of Prudence Upton

Philosophy and Poetry : Continental Perspectives

Columbia University Press

Footprint Books

Sure, there is a myriad of treatises and books on schools when it comes to studying the fundamental knowledge of the nature of thought, aestheticism and how it ties in with different styles of literature.  

Philosophy and Poetry examines the way with which luminaries in the realm of the contemporary continental tradition question and engage with the challenge calibrating the chasm meandering through the cannon of literary work and the arts, with the pool of chosen references being comprised of an illustrious melange of reputable representatives of their respective realms.

The main merit of this tome lies in overcoming the age old often artificially upheld demarcation line between abstracts and poetic elaborations, shedding light on how contemporary thought leaders as well as those from the previous century have managed to not only redefine but shift the exchange between philosophy, literature and its osmosis.

The way the areas of dispute are tackled and how the shaping and changes of approaches has morphed through intense interactions by thinkers, showcases in an intriguing manner how each individual realm actively spawned new hybrids that enriched traditional modes of comprehension.

Needless to say that reading that exposing yourself to this book also serves as a compelling source of hope and inspiration for overcoming the discrepancies and animosities between seemingly conflicting worldviews.

Despite the expertise of author Ranjan Ghosh being firmly in the field of literature, I like how he takes at times opposing standpoints into consideration in equal measure while keeping his focus on the culturally transcending qualities of literature with both the identity and function of the poet as a conduit.