The Perfect Playlist for a Caol Ila 12 Yr Whisky Tasting: Anthony Burgess Complete Guitar Quartets

It’s the end of another wonderful week. I recently found a new recording of Anthony Burgess’s guitar quartets performed by the Mēla Guitar Quartet. He is someone I had little knowledge of until the hearing of this album and an investigation into his life history. I am amazed by what he accomplished. Therefore, I wanted to pair the listening of this album with a British Isles single malt. If you have time, then I invite you to join me in listening to Anthony Burgess: Compete Guitar Quartets and sip on some Caol Ila 12 Yr is a single malt whisky.

About the Mēla Guitar Quartet

The Mēla Guitar Quartet is a classical guitar quartet based in London, UK. Four guitarists founded the quartet in 2016 while studying at the Royal Academy of Music: George Tarlton, Daniel Bovey, Matthew Robinson, and Jiva Housden.

The Mēla Guitar Quartet has quickly established itself as one of the leading guitar quartets in the world. The quartet has performed at major concert venues throughout the UK, Europe, and North America, and has released two critically acclaimed albums: Pluck, Strum, and Hammer (2018) and Burgess: Complete Guitar Quartets (2022).

The Mēla Guitar Quartet presents passionate and dynamic performances with a wide-ranging repertoire. The quartet performs a mix of classical and contemporary music, including works by composers such as Bach, Debussy, Ravel, Burgess, and Assad.

The Mēla Guitar Quartet is also committed to education and outreach. The quartet regularly gives workshops and masterclasses to guitarists of all levels, and it has worked with a number of charities to promote music education in disadvantaged communities.

The Mēla Guitar Quartet is a highly talented and versatile ensemble, and it is sure to continue to be a major force in the classical guitar world for many years to come.

Anthony Burgess: Complete Guitar Quartets Performed by Mēla Guitar Quartet

About Anthony Burgess

Anthony Burgess (born John Anthony Burgess Wilson; 25 February 1917 – 22 November 1993) was an English writer and composer. He was a prolific writer, publishing over 50 novels, as well as many works of non-fiction, including criticism, essays, and translations. He also wrote libretti and screenplays and composed over 250 musical works.

Burgess is best known for his dystopian novel A Clockwork Orange (1962), which was adapted into a controversial film by Stanley Kubrick in 1971. Other notable works include the Enderby quartet of novels (1963-1970), the novel Earthly Powers (1980), and the libretto for the opera Moses and Aaron (1954) by Arnold Schoenberg.

Burgess was a highly erudite and versatile writer. His work is characterized by its wit, its moral earnestness, and its exploration of complex themes such as good and evil, free will and determinism, and the nature of art. He was also a master of language, and his books are full of puns, neologisms, and allusions to other works of literature.

Burgess was a complex and controversial figure. He was a devout Catholic, but he was also a heavy smoker and drinker. Burgess was a staunch opponent of censorship, but he was also critical of popular culture. Though a brilliant writer, he displayed a difficult personality and a sharp tongue.

Despite his flaws, Burgess is one of the most important and influential writers of the 20th century. His work continues to be read and studied by people all over the world.

About the Album

Naxos Records released the album Anthony Burgess: Complete Guitar Quartets in 2023. It features the Mēla Guitar Quartet performing the three guitar quartets by Anthony Burgess.

John Butt produced and recorded the album at the Henry Wood Hall in London in 2022. The sound quality is excellent, and the Mēla Guitar Quartet gives outstanding performances of all three quartets.

The album opens with Burgess’s Guitar Quartet No. 1, which was composed in 1986 as a homage to Ravel. Lyrical melodies and rich harmonies characterize the three-movement quartet.

The second quartet, composed in 1987, is a more ambitious work. It is in four movements, and it explores a wider range of musical styles, including neoclassicism, minimalism, and jazz.

The third quartet, composed in 1988, is the most challenging of the three. It is in five movements, and it uses a variety of advanced compositional techniques, such as polytonality and atonality.

The Mēla Guitar Quartet plays all three quartets with great skill and virtuosity. The quartet’s interpretations are both sensitive and exciting, and they bring out all of the nuances of Burgess’s music.

The album Anthony Burgess: Complete Guitar Quartets is an essential recording for anyone interested in the music of Anthony Burgess or in the guitar quartet repertoire. It is a highly enjoyable and rewarding album, and it is sure to please listeners of all musical tastes.

I would like to add that the album has been well-received by critics, with many praising the Mēla Guitar Quartet’s performances and the sound quality. The album has also won several awards, including the 2023 Gramophone Award for Best Chamber Recording.

Let’s Pair This Beautiful Album with Caol Ila 12 Yr

About Caol Ila Distillery on Islay, Scotland

Caol Ila distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery near Port Askaig on the isle of Islay, Scotland, owned by Diageo. It is one of the largest distilleries on Islay, with a production capacity of 6.5 million liters per year. Hector Henderson founded the distillery in 1846. It has been producing whisky continuously ever since.

Caol Ila whisky is known for its smoky and peaty character. The distillery uses heavily peated barley in its production, and the whisky matures in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. This gives the whisky a complex flavor profile with notes of smoke, peat, vanilla, caramel, and fruit.

Diageo’s uses Caol Ila whisky in a number of blended whiskies, including Johnnie Walker Black Label and White Horse. However, the distillery also produces a number of single malt whiskies, including Caol Ila 12 Yr, Caol Ila Distiller’s Edition, and Caol Ila Moch.

Caol Ila Distillery is a popular tourist destination, and it offers a variety of tours and tastings. Visitors can learn about the whisky-making process, see the distillery’s stills and warehouses, and sample some of the distillery’s whiskies.

Caol Ila distillery is an important part of the Islay whisky industry. It produces some of the most popular and award-winning whiskies in the world. The distillery is also a major employer on Islay, and it contributes to the island’s economy.

About the Whisky

Caol Ila 12 Yr is a single malt whisky produced by the Caol Ila distillery on Islay, Scotland. It matures for a minimum of 12 years in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. The whisky is bottled at 43% ABV.

Caol Ila 12 Yr is a well-balanced and flavorful whisky with a complex aroma and palate. The aroma is smoky and maritime, with notes of seaweed, brine, and iodine. It has a full-bodied and smooth palate, with flavors of smoke, peat, vanilla, and caramel. The finish is long and warming, with lingering notes of smoke and oak.

Caol Ila 12 Yr is a popular whisky among both experienced whisky drinkers and newcomers alike. It is a great whisky to enjoy neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. The whisky is also known for its versatility and can be paired with a variety of foods, including seafood, meat, and desserts.

Caol Ila 12 Yr has won numerous awards, including:

• Gold Medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• Silver Medal at the 2022 International Wine & Spirit Competition
• Bronze Medal at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards

Caol Ila 12 Yr is a must-try for any fan of Islay whisky or single malt whisky in general. It is a well-made and affordable whisky that offers great value for money.

Conclusion

The pairing of Anthony Burgess’ Complete Guitar Quartets and Caol Ila 12 Yr Single Malt Whisky is a truly unique and sensory experience. The smoky and complex flavors of the whisky perfectly complement the rich and lyrical melodies of the quartets. Listening to the music while enjoying a glass of whisky is a great way to relax and unwind, or to simply appreciate the beauty of both art forms.

If you are a fan of either classical music or whisky, I highly recommend trying this pairing. You may be surprised at how well the two go together. And who knows, you may even discover a new favorite whisky or piece of music in the process. So next time you are looking for a unique and enjoyable way to experience music and whisky, give this pairing a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Also, check out our other useful articles:

• Savoring Chateau Lilian Ladouys St. Estephe, 2019, with the Soulful Sounds of Judicaël Perroy
• Harmonious Evenings: Savoring the Sounds of Alirio Díaz Vol. 3 with JURA 12-Year-Old Whisky
• A Mature Pairing: Los Vascos Cromas Cabernet Reserve with Music of Barrios by David Russell
• Savoring Palacios Remondo Propiedad Rioja Garnacha, 2021, with the Soul of Spanish Guitar and Pablo Sainz-Villegas

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Chadwick Becks

I have two degrees in guitar performance and was privileged to study under Aaron Shearer, Tom Kikta, David Skantar, Ken Karsh, Tim Bedner, and currently Christopher Berg. Outside my editorial work on this blog, I teach full-time across many genres including classical, jazz, blues, rock, funk, and metal.