Thread: Scotch/whiskey of the day

Yeah, I'm loving the bottle of Lagavulin 16 I just bought. A tiny chip of ice opens it up beautifully for me.

Originally Posted by SteveA

My favorite whiskys are from the Speyside and Highland regions, but I'm a big admirer of the Islay malts for the challenging complexity they offer. When the mood is right and I have lots of time to spend, I really enjoy them. Last night I went full Ron Swanson and had an excellent NY steak with a Lagavulin 16. The nose was so strong that people around us at the bar were commenting on the smell. The first sip was jarring, but after 5 or 6 drops of water and some time to breath, it rounded into a wonderful dram that perfectly complimented the steak. Love it or hate it, Lagavulin is unlike anything else I've tasted.

What kind of glass was it served in? Tumbler? Glencairn?

ChrisL

The Arran Malt 10 yr
46% ABV
Non Chill Filtered
25ml of a 50ml mini

1st Nose Full Strength: Bourbon, brown sugar, grapes, fresh currants, hint of smoke/peat, oak, sherry, malt, vanilla cake batter, buttery, toffee

2nd Nose @ 38% ABV: cream soda, cigar ash, nutty

Taste: Toasted almond, moderately sweet, burnt sugar, mildly peppery, faint molasses, barrel char

Finish: The sweet and toasted notes are in equilibrium on the fairly short finish

This whisky is well put together. It’s reserved in the sense there there are no bombastic ; it’s not a peat monster, sherry bomb, etc. The mild to moderate sweetness is static/carries through from nose, to palate to finish. What you smell is what you taste is what you get.

I checked out the distillery’s website for the first time after my tasting to learn more about the whisky. It did not specify bourbon or sherry casks, but the distillery says they use both in the maturation process of the distillery (nothing specific about which barrels/casks used for the Arran 10 that I could see).

On the following rating scale description I rate it: 85

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

ChrisL

Originally Posted by ChrisL

What kind of glass was it served in? Tumbler? Glencairn?

ChrisL

It was served in a heavy tumbler. I bet a Glencairn would have really intensified the nose. Fortunately the tumbler didn't have that obnoxious sanitizer odor that you find in some bar glasses. It's a shame to pour a whisky into a glass that reeks of sanitizer.

Originally Posted by ChrisL

What kind of glass was it served in? Tumbler? Glencairn?

ChrisL

Do you find a tumbler accentuates smoky flavours? I've been noticing that recently. Loving your reviews, by the way.

I finished a bottle of Lagavulin 16 today. I had the last dram neat in a tumbler like I used to drink it fifteen years ago. You do miss a lot of the subtleties but it still tastes awesome. Plus nothing looks as good as dark whisky in a cut crystal tumbler.

It's that time again and I can't man up and make my own decisions, so here goes.

Today's choice is between:

1. Glen Garioch Founder's Reserve (https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskie...e-1797-whisky/)

2. The Arran Lochranza Reserve (https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskie...eserve-whisky/)

3. Miyagikyo Non Age (https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskie...on-age-whisky/)

Voting is now open.

Originally Posted by PigHog

It's that time again and I can't man up and make my own decisions, so here goes.

Today's choice is between:

1. Glen Garioch Founder's Reserve (https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskie...e-1797-whisky/)

2. The Arran Lochranza Reserve (https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskie...eserve-whisky/)

3. Miyagikyo Non Age (https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskie...on-age-whisky/)

Voting is now open.

Glen Garioch Founders Reserve

ChrisL

Tobermory 10 Yr
46.3% ABV

25ml from 50ml mini
Copita glass

First Nose Full strength: Dry sherry, malt, vanilla, caramel, oak, white grape, creme brulee, marshmallow, juicy lemon

Second Nose: Floral, chocolate, red licorice, distilled malt note predominates

Taste - brought down to 38% ABV (5.5 ml water) Toasted sugared almonds, toasted marshmallow, mild sweetness yet there is a dryness on the palate.

Finish: Vegetal notes, short but clean finish.

This is a very light bright whisky. It’s a well blended single malt. By “light”, I mean it’s subtle. No one note predominates; rather, faint notes come together as an unobtrusive chord. Like a chord, you have to look for each note in order to find it.

Unexciting? It’s definitely not a circus on the palate. I like this whisky because it’s not trying to be something but instead falling short like I found Glenmorangie 10. This whisky doesn’t provide a center of focus; it doesn’t command attention. It’s well put together, however. It’s perfectly suited for providing solid satisfaction as when a glass of wine or a glass of sherry is desired. I would rather have this whisky at 38% ABV than a glass of wine or a glass of sherry.

If I found a bottle of Tobermory 10 for a good price I would not hesitate to buy it.

Based on the rating description below, I would rate this whisky an 86.

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



ChrisL

I don't know what all of you call it or if there's a name for the glass after the last sip of whisky has been drunk and the glencairn or copita glass has been left as is, but I call it "the ghost" of the whisky. My copita glass has a lid. I thoroughly enjoy lifting the lid of the empty unwashed glass the next day or days after to smell the ghost. Fine whiskies have an exquisite ghost. Eau de Whisky at its finest. There are notes in the ghost of some whiskies that don't seem to come out until the whisky has given up the ghost.

There is a liqueur that has an absolutely amazing ghost as well: Green Chartreuse. Nose a bit in the glass, sip, enjoy, finish it, then smell the ghost. Floral, herbal and spice cornucopia with sandalwood and cinnamon notes undetectable until the glass is empty.

ChrisL