Quote Originally Posted by Orville View Post
A rainy Malted Monday brings me back to Islay before I finish off a bottle of Laphroaig Quarter Cask without having posted a review. Quarter Cask is aged in standard ex-Bourbon barrels (Maker's Mark) for about 5 years before being transferred into smaller American Oak "Quarter" Casks for several months to accelerate the maturation process. It is then bottled at 48% abv. This whisky is Non-Chill Filtered (NCF). The spirit coats the inside of my glencairn in an oily film that takes about 20-30 seconds for tears to form.

Nosing is (surprise) a tarry smoke, like fresh paved asphalt. There is a briny sweetness like salted caramel which is very enticing. I have learned to allow Islay malts to develop their aromas, and that patience pays off with notes of leather, nuts, and, believe it or not, dill. It's like standing near a pickle jar.
In contrast to these airs, the first sip is honey sweet, with briny smoke quickly rushing in to remind you this is an Islay malt. After the initial blush, you will find vanilla and dark chocolate. There is, buried deep on the palate, just the slightest hint of bananas, before the earthiness of the peat and peanuts take over. Rising spice warmth leads to a drying oaky finish that fades into the smoky air which lingers in the mouth as you breath it in. For such a relatively young Scotch, it offers a fair bit to experience.

A few drops of water, now and, as the smoke clears, a creamier dram awaits. Still a burst of sweetness to begin, but now the flavours resolve more like a banana split, with chocolate sauce over vanilla ice cream. There are even chopped peanuts to be found. The finish suffers somewhat, both in being briefer, and offering less of that smoky beach fire reminder.

I think how you enjoy this whisky will depend on your preference for Islay Malts. A desire for peat smoke and brine can best be served neat, while a desire for more expressive flavours can be found with added water. Either way, this is a bottle to keep on the bar.
Funny-I just finished a bottle of QC, one of my favorites. I know I'm a heretic, but I like it with an ice cube; it really brings out the sweetness in this intensely flavorful dram. Right now, I'm sipping Knob Creek as we wait for Florence to pass over. So far it's been pretty uneventful, though we've got a big sweet-gum tree down in the back yard from the high wind-we'll see what tonight brings.