Two Great Malts for the New Year

One more time, and perhaps for the last time, the Careys have brought G-Man two exceptional whiskies from Scotland. We have become so spoiled by the amazing whiskies they have purchased, it’s hard to imagine we can ever find comparable malts in this country. Even at a place like Keens, it’s difficult to measure up to these exceptional whiskies.  And I have to admit that, although I consider my collection to be rather extensive, I’m awed by the spectacular and rare malts that G-Man now houses in Portland.

 

This year’s offerings include Glenfarclas 175, a vatting of whiskies from the past six decades, bottled to celebrate the 175^th anniversary of this family owned and run highland distillery. The Farclas 175 presents itself with a rich amber color, and long legs clinging to the side of the glass, indicative of the rich texture of this malt.  On the nose, we detected vanilla, caramel and butterscotch, and found that a drop of water (don’t use more than a drop or two) enhanced the nose considerably. In the mouth, there were notes of caramel, vanilla, citrus, and even a little spice. And, as suggested by the long legs, a rich mouthfeel, a luxurious texture on the tongue.  The best thing, however, was the complexity of the whisky, undoubtedly arising from the different characteristics of the many malts that were blended into this vatting. As the whisky lingered on the tongue, more and more flavors presented themselves. G thought that the citrus became more prominent as the whisky remained in the mouth; I just loved how the taste evolved as I swirled it around. There was a soft pleasant finish, not as complex as the palate, but certainly a pleasing finish.

 

Glenfarclas is a favorite of many malt lovers, for its consistency, and for its value. Joe at Federal swears by Farlcas, and over the past several years, we have tasted any number of their whiskies from the 12 all the way up to the 40. But if you are looking for a special malt to add to your cabinet, I highly recommend this 175 anniversary malt. No way you’ll be disappointed.

 

Our next, and final offering from the Bottle Shop is a 37 (!) year old Glen Grant, bottled by Berrys. It was distilled in 1974, and is bottled at 47.8%. Every whisky has its predominant characteristic – for some it’s the nose, or the mouth-feel, or the smoke.  But for this Glen Grant it’s the finish. In one sense, you only need to pour a spoonful at a time, because once you taste it, the finish is so long, and so consistent, that you continue to taste the whisky for the longest time afterward. As I’m writing this, it must be five minutes since I last tasted the Glen Grant, yet its flavor is lingering in my mouth.

The taste is light, and clean, with strong citrus notes. The mouth-feel is almost dry, like a good wine, and as G-man said, “There’s no fat on this steak.” Somewhere deep inside the Glen Grant, there are very subtle spicy notes, but try as we could, and even with the help of others with very sensitive olfactory skills, we could not discern that specific flavor. Citrus, spice, a light nutty flavor, in fact surprisingly light for a malt that spent so long in the barrel. Working all the way back, the color is a deep gold, reminiscent of Cognac.

 

On behalf of all the whisky lovers who have come to Great Barrington over the years, I want to thank the Careys for their extraordinary generosity, and their astute selections. We have all had the chance to taste a variety of unforgettable malts. And I want to thank G for sharing these beautiful whiskies with us.

David Ortiz - My Sportsman of the Year

It was a year in which many athletes, particularly older athletes, came back from injuries and once again dominated their respective sports. Serena, for example, regained her old form, reasserted her dominance, and won two majors. Last summer, she seemed almost unbeatable. Peyton too had a spectacular year, breaking almost every single season passing record, and leading his Broncos to the number one seed in the AFC. He is assured of playing at home in Denver throughout the AFC playoffs, but then again, neither Peyton nor the Broncos have yet to win a playoff game this year, let alone the Super Bowl.  

LeBron succeeded, not only in dominating his sport individually, but also in leading the Heat to another championship, and in the end left everyone wondering whether another NBA dynasty had begun its rule over the league – perhaps one to match the Bulls’ dominance throughout the 1990s.

But for my money, no one accomplished more in 2013 than David Ortiz, Big Papi. It’s hard to recall that as the season opened, no one was sure that Papi’s body would hold up, that his Achilles injury was fully healed, and that even if healed, he could catch up with fastballs as he once did. His numbers, even when healthy, seemed to be in decline. But before anyone could answer those questions, the Patriots Day bombings thrust Papi into a new role as the spiritual leader of RedSox Nation. It was the Saturday following the bombings, and the Sox returned to Fenway for the first time. After a long ceremony honoring the first responders, and the victims, and the many law enforcement personnel who had, only the day before captured the younger maniac responsible for terrorizing the city, Papi electrified the crowd with his profane rallying cry. Boston Strong became the motto, not only for healing the city of Boston, but for inspiring the Sox throughout the long summer season. 

But Ortiz is, after all, an athlete, and he gets paid, not to be an inspiration speaker, but to play baseball. And that he did, all season long, putting up numbers that made everyone forget the physical struggles he had faced over the prior couple years. In the end, he hit thirty home runs, and drove in more than a hundred, and along the way, set some career records for designated hitters. But much more importantly, he led his team back to the World Series, in itself a remarkable achievement after the disastrous 2012 season. He might not have dominated either the ALDS, or the ALCS, but there is no arguing that his Game Two grand slam in the ALCS saved Boston’s post-season, which at that moment was teetering on the edge of the abyss – looking at an 0-2 deficit, and facing Verlander in Game Three in Detroit. 

That, however, was only the prelude. Ortiz then single handedly dominated the World Series in a way we had not seen in a long time – perhaps since the time of Koufax or Gibson. Everyone knows the numbers by now – how he batted .688, and set some kind of record for consecutive on-base at bats. But what was even more remarkable was how he reprised his April role as the team’s inspirational leader: in Game Four, when the Sox trailed the Cardinals two games to one, and seemed flat and lifeless, he gathered his teammates in the dugout, and challenged them to play the game the way they knew how. Soon thereafter Gomes hit a three-run homer, and the Sox took Game Four. And then they proceeded to sweep the Cardinals for the rest of the series, winning it all in Fenway for the first time in almost a century. 

So then tell me: who had a bigger year than the Big Papi? I think he deserved Sportsman of the Year by acclamation, but then again, I don’t get a vote. And the truth is, I’d much rather that Papi got his ring, and the Sox got to hang another banner on Yawkey Way. The one popularity contest he won – the vote for World Series MVP – typically denotes that the winner wears a ring. And in the end, what else really matters?

Cuse Still Looking Strong

Saturday's win over Nova in the Dome was the twelfth straight for the Orange this year, and their second win over a ranked team; not to mention a sweep of the Maui Invitational, a thrashing of Indiana, and a road win over a tough St. John's team. No cupcake December schedule for the Orange this year. The upshot is that the Cuse find themselves atop the all-important RPI rankings; and while I hardly expect them to continue their undefeated streak, nor to maintain their lofty ranking all through the difficult ACC schedule, this early success will leave a strong foundation for their late-season RPI, which should help them secure a decent seed come March.

Two stats continue to leap out at me. One, Tyler Ennis is not turning the ball over. On Saturday, not a single turnover in 37 minutes of play, against a team whose guards have always bedeviled us. He has a total of 13 turnovers for the twelve games played so far. And if there was a basketball Bill James, I'm certain he could demonstrate that the lack of turnovers could be shown to translate directly into more scoring, and fewer possessions for the opponent. All of that seems so obvious, but there must be some direct turnover to point differential ratio. Second, Trevor Cooney has hit five three point shots in six of the last eight games; I'm not even sure that G-Mac shot that consistently in his day. And if the Orange can count on fifteen or more points from Cooney, that will keep other teams from packing their D into the lane, thus opening up the middle for the Cuse. Both of these factors should allow the Orange offense to perform better this year than the last couple years, compensating for the fact that the D may not be quite as formidable as it has been.  Although, I have to say, the zone is playing better and better as the season wears on, and as the young  guys become more familiar with it.

One more game -- Eastern Michigan -- before the tough ACC schedule opens. I'll be interested in seeing how they perform against North Carolina in two weeks. I don't expect the Orange to dominate the ACC this year, and we really don't know much of anything about how tough the away venues will be. What with the ACC having been a basketball first conference for so long, I expect all the venues will be packed and majorly hostile. All of which is good preparation for March. In fact, if you want to look at it from the perspective of the tournament, the rest of the season is nothing more than preparation for March. Especially the end of the regular season, when the Cuse will have to play four of their last five games on the road. Followed, of course, by the ACC tournament, held in the heart of Carolina.

But barring injuries, if Fair continues his consistent play, if Ennis continues to protect the ball, if Cooney keeps his hot hand, there's no reason why this team can't play deep into the tourney in March. Once again, high hopes for the Orange faithful.

So as 2013 draws to a close, all together now: Go Orange!!

Orange at Altitude - Way up in the Rankings

It’s time to begin posting about the Orange. Any moment now, in fact perhaps before this posting gets uploaded, Cuse will find itself close to the top of the rankings. They were already as high as four or five, and with two of the top five teams losing last week,  I expect them to end up ranked as high as number two. (Rankings just came out, and they are no. 2 in the AP poll, and third in the coaches poll.) Too high, really. This team is playing well, and shows promise, but number two or three in the country? 

So what do we like about this year’s team.  First of all, scoring balance: three different guys have led the team in scoring during the first nine games: Fair, Cooney and Ennis, all of whom, along with Jerami Grant, are averaging in double figures. Plus, several more have scored in double figures at one time or another. This is clearly CJ Fair’s team, but if Cooney continues his hot three-point shooting, he could just as easily end up the scoring leader for the Orange this year. And with the team as a whole shooting over 36% from beyond the arc, and with turnovers being kept low (see below),  this team might overcome the offensive woes that ended up plaguing the Orange last year. 

That’s a good thing, because although the zone is improving, I don’t think it will be quite as stifling as it has been over the past couple seasons. One difference is that the guards are not as tall, and will not present as much of an obstacle at the top of the zone, as did Triche and MCW. Plus the young guys are not quite as adept at playing the 2-3. Now that may improve as the season wears on;  but for now, I’m glad they are hitting from the outside, and scoring enough to overcome any defensive lapses. 

Last year, when Carter-Williams was racking up double digit assist numbers in all the early games, he was drawing media attention from all over. But I think one of Ennis’ statistics is even more impressive, and perhaps more responsible for the hot start to this season: I’m talking about his turnover numbers. In nine games this fall, freshman point guard Tyler Ennis has a total of nine turnovers. In case anyone is having trouble with the math,  that averages out to a single turnover per game. Eliminating turnovers gives the Cuse more possessions, and quite obviously, more scoring opportunities. But in addition, it reduces the number of run-outs against the Orange, thus reducing easy scoring opportunities for the opposition. 

Another thing I like about the team is Grant coming off the bench. He could be as talented as anyone on this team, and if he masters his outside shot (easier said than done), he could end up playing at the next level. But for now, even without a dependable jumper, he is instant energy – rebounding, getting put-backs, blocking shots -- and he typically gives the Cuse a lift when he comes in.  

Having said all that, one problem the Cuse  might face as the season wears on, especially once the conference schedule begins, is the lack of a true back-up point guard. Cooney and Gbinije have managed to fill in so far, but what happens if Ennis finds himself in foul trouble against, say, Duke or UNC? Let’s hope we don’t have to find that out, or at least don’t have to worry about it too often. 

There are clearly more talented teams playing this year, but if these guys continue to shoot, as the 2-3 zone improves during the season, they might have another opportunity to play deep into the tournament come March. Wouldn’t that be nice?  So with that thought in mind, let’s just leave it at: Go Orange!

Ellsbury to Wear Pinstripes

On the one hand, I’ll hate seeing Jacoby Ellsbury in a Yankees uniform come springtime; but on the other hand, I cannot quarrel with Boston’s refusal to match the Yankees’ incredibly generous offer. And neither can I blame Ellsbury for choosing to become one of the most highly paid players in the majors. I mean, who wouldn’t want to earn $22 million a year for playing ball?

 

Ellsbury has been a valuable member of the Sox since late in the 2007 season. Although he didn’t even have enough plate appearances to qualify for a rookie season that year, he did play a role in their World Series sweep of the Rockies. Remember Game Three of the Series, when he and Pedroia combined for seven hits and four RBIs? He’s been a great defensive centerfielder, and a good leadoff hitter, leading the league in stolen bases in a couple years since then. However, he had only one superstar year, in 2011, when he hit 32 home runs, and had 105 RBIs. Arguably, if he had that kind of production every year, one could justify a superstar salary exceeding $20 million. But the big problem has been Ellsbury’s durability, or more accurately, his lack thereof. Over the two seasons since 2011, he’s only hit 13 homers and knocked in 79 RBIs. Even this past year, when he was more healthy and played more regularly, while the Sox led the league in runs scored, Ellsbury wasn’t among the league leaders in that category, because he really didn’t play in enough games.  So from the perspective of history, if he’s typically a .300 hitter, but one with modest numbers otherwise, how can any club justify an outlay of $150,000,000?

 

So then one can’t argue with the Sox’ refusal to pay stratospheric numbers for Ellsbury, especially over seven years. It was only a year ago that Boston shed its enormous long term obligations to A-Gon and Crawford, freeing up the money they used to sign the guys who actually contributed to the recent World Series championship. Furthermore, how could Boston pay Jacoby more than they’re paying Pedroia and Papi, the two guys who have led this team, on and off the field?

 

But neither can one argue with Jacoby’s choice to become a multi-millionaire, especially if he shares these concerns about his durability over the next seven years. Plus, I’m sure he’ll be happy to play in Yankee Stadium with that short right field fence. If he stays healthy, his numbers could return to the 2011 level.

 

Still, I’d much rather have seen Ellsbury playing for any other high-paying club, and not wearing pinstripes. Really, who still has affection for any of the other Sox who defected to New York: Boggs, Damon, Clemens? Are we inviting any of them back to throw out the first pitch, a la Kevin Millar? Sox fans have more love for Mariano Rivera, who probably did more to extinguish the hopes of the Nation over the past 15 years than any other one player.

 

One last thought – maybe Jacoby left because he couldn’t compete in Boston’s clubhouse in the now-all-important beard category. Ellsbury was late to join in with the whole beard thing, and even once he did commit, he ended up with a pretty weak-ass effort. Who knows, maybe he’ll feel more comfortable in the clean shaven surroundings of the South Bronx. Whatever the case, adios Jacoby; it was fun while it lasted.