Thread: Scotch/whiskey of the day

Got a few left. I can't remember exactly which ones are which but it's interesting to note the subtle differences between them all. I seem to be preferring perhaps a slightly gentler flavour with more aniseed. And ones that should be chilled are nice on a summer's day.

I can't remember if I mentioned getting a bottle of the one named after the region I live. I feel it may be a little too subtle. A little lemon, a little carroway, then it's game over. Nice though. Refreshing and worryingly easy to drink.

Whisky-wise it's A'Bunnadh again for me. Awesome stuff. I just saw that one of the more recent batches has come in at under 60% and is available in Norway. Thinking I might pick one up for later.

Seen it on offer—can anyone comment on aberfeldy 12?

I've never tasted it, but the reviews on master of malt make interesting reading. I'll try and get a link in, but not done it before on here. It seems to generally have high scores and the ones who scored it low mostly comment that it's not as good as it used to be. Apparently they changed the packaging fairly recently and people seem to think the whisky hasn't been as good since. Could be worth a try if you can spare the money.

Hopefully this is the link. https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskie...ar-old-whisky/

Drop of Lagavulin 16 this morning after the night shift. Only one more dram in the bottle I think.

Deanston 12 Un-Chill Filtered.

8.7.15
Copita glass with lid
25ml whisky + 5.5ml water
Unchill filtered
46.3% brought down to 38%

Nose: Woody, Oaky, hint of white wine, fruity, coats glass moderately well, faint floral notes, little vanilla. Not very complex. faint caramel, sweetness. Yeasty malt

Taste: hint of smoke, burnt marshmallows, sweetness on the upper palate, light or medium roast coffee, semi-dark chocolate

Finish: Short. Nothing really stands out other than char overtone which itself is not aggressive. Other notes are muted on the palate and don’t seem to blend with each other.

I pegged bourbon cask aging before checking. Excerpted from rating scale used below I would rate this as a 78. I found nothing wrong with this whisky. It didn't have much character, however.

77 - 79 (C+) = Average - not good, not bad, just is

Glad I was able to try it? Yes. Glad I bought a 50ml miniature of it to try? Yes! Glad I didn't buy a whole bottle? Yes!!

ChrisL

Ledaig 10. Tobermory Distillery's Peated offering from the Isle of Mull

8.7.15
Copita glass with lid
25ml whisky + 5.5ml water
Unchill filtered
46.3% brought down to 38%

Nose: Peaty, iodine, medicinal, brine, kelp, malty, faint sherry, cacao, cinnamon, nutmeg

Taste: peppery, burnt sugar, mellow muted sweetness

Finish: licorice root, smoky peat, complex, fairly long and faintly sweet (good thing) finish

Opens up nicely over time in the glass. The peat shifts a bit to the side after a time both on the nose and on the palate giving the other flavors a chance.

Excerpted from rating scale used below I would rate this as an 84.

83 - 86 (B) = Good - not a "must", more of a nice-to-have

5cl miniature sample. Tried two different times at 25ml each. Nice whisky. Don't know if I'd buy a whole bottle, but would gladly accept a dram if offered to me at a friend's house.

ChrisL

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Ledaig 10. Tobermory Distillery's Peated offering from the Isle of Mull

8.7.15
Copita glass with lid
25ml whisky + 5.5ml water
Unchill filtered
46.3% brought down to 38%

Nose: Peaty, iodine, medicinal, brine, kelp, malty, faint sherry, cacao, cinnamon, nutmeg

Taste: peppery, burnt sugar, mellow muted sweetness

Finish: licorice root, smoky peat, complex, fairly long and faintly sweet (good thing) finish

Opens up nicely over time in the glass. The peat shifts a bit to the side after a time both on the nose and on the palate giving the other flavors a chance.

Excerpted from rating scale used below I would rate this as an 84.

83 - 86 (B) = Good - not a "must", more of a nice-to-have

5cl miniature sample. Tried two different times at 25ml each. Nice whisky. Don't know if I'd buy a whole bottle, but would gladly accept a dram if offered to me at a friend's house.

ChrisL

It's a long time since I had ledaig. Your description makes me think it's time i bought a bottle.

Kilchoman Machir Bay

5cl sample bottle

Copita glass with lid
25ml
Islay
Peated
Uncolored
Un-chill filtered


First Nose: Full Strength: Moderately peated with campfire notes and hints of brine. Kalamata olive, fleeting acidic fruit note-pineapple. A well balanced whisky. It makes we want to add a bit of water and open it up and find out if there’s more inside this package.

5.3ml water reduced to 38% ABV

Nose: This is not a heavily peated whisky. This is a perfect whisky for someone who wants an introduction into peated single malts from Islay. The “medicinal” notes (band-aids, etc) found in heavier peated whiskies are almost non-existent. Very accessible.

Taste: White pepper, slight sweet, faint caramel, hint of juniper. Medium bodied whisky. The peat is present at the outset then almost vanishes in a whisp.

Finish: short finish. Hint of char, grapefruit. The peat is there, but almost like a fond memory. Slight sweetness lingers on the tongue.

This whisky was pleasant albeit not terribly complex. I would call it “Islay-Lite” which is not necessarily a bad thing. I would rate it an 84.

Kilchoman founder Anthony Wills relays interesting info in a Youtube video: Five years or less in age. Buffalo Trace Bourbon barrels with a short finishing in Oloroso Sherry casks. Young whisky, young artisan distillery. I look forward to the future for this distillery!

ChrisL

Though I'm normally a gin and tonic or beer guy in the heat of our miserable South Carolina summers, I've really been into exploring more scotches this summer. I splurged on a bottle of Lagavulin 16 for my 50th birthday, and I am enjoying it more and more. As this iconic Islay is so rich and intense, I like to splash just about an ounce of it in a snifter for little sips. I find that a small ice cube really opens up new aromas and flavors, and sweetens it in a delightfully smoky way.

Comparing it to my 1st Islay, Laphroiag 10, I would use the analogy that while Laphroiag is the young Scottish brawler, more of a William Wallace mowing down the enemy with his claymore, powerful and hard to get close to. He nurses his wounds, heavily bandaged and reeking of antiseptics, as he sits by a smoky peat fire in his hut overlooking a stormy sea.

In contrast, the Lagavulin is a more mature, settled genteel Earl or prince presiding over his country estate, richly rewarding those who can appreciate his more refined, but still commanding presence.

On a simpler note, looking for a nice blend that would enable me to stretch my precious bottle of Lagavulin, I learned online that the Famous Grouse is the most popular scotch in Scotland. So I picked up a bottle of that this week for around $20, and have been enjoying it on the rocks. Nothing fancy, but a decent daily dram that is apparently a blend of some great malts, including my beloved Macallan, and Highland Park (on my list to try).

By the way, that Glenmorangie La Santa from the sampler pack was by FAR my favorite of the bunch. I'm a big fan of the sherry cask finished expressions.