Kategoriarkiv: Islay

Caol Ila, Islay

Caol Ila 25 YO

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 43 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a sooty peat with a fresher hay note within. The whole feels dry and mineral rich at first. When the peatiness settles there’s room for a honey sweetness and just a hint of marzipan and sponge cake underneath. An apple and pear fruitiness is in there as well as orange marmelade. There’s a ginger note floating around as well. Everything is quite laid back and mellow. This is a very nice nose. It feels a bit younger than the stated age though.

Mouth: It starts out with a mix of ginger and peat and it’s quite spicy even though it has low ABV. It’s lemon peel in the back, mineraly peat on the edges and a slightly spirity, aromatic and very sweet center with honey and vanilla. It feels way younger than its age at this point. There is some old oak notes floating around and there’s a hint of cooking spices attached to it, but at this point this isn’t the greatest experience. It feels pointy and unbalanced and nothing feels like it’s sitting in the right place. There’s a savory note arriving in the back for those who wait.

Finish: The transition is a continuation of the existing spicyness and the old oak, which is now increasing in intensity. It’s finally really showing its age with a lot of dusty oak notes and a hint of leather. The peat is still residing at the edges and never really feels like a part of the whole. The sweetness fades quickly and the late finish is all about a nice old bookcase and some lemon peel notes. This is a good whisky, but it really doesn’t deliver as a high end expensive islay whisky should. It’s all over the place, and it lacks power and complexity.

Additional information
This core range was aged for mostly in ex-bourbon barrels with some ex-sherry casks added as well.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Islay, Laphroaig

Laphroaig 10 YO Cask Strength Batch 015

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 56.5 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a sweet vanilla and menthol layer sitting on top of a hot burning campfire. When it starts to settle the whole becomes more medicinal, but the sweetness and the menthol remain on top. There are iodine and tar notes sitting in the center together with a hint of green sour apples. It’s quite mellow despite the heavy peatiness and the high ABV, which makes it very balanced in regards to the sweetness and the rowdy peat notes. Dry soil, liquorice and fresh oak is part of the main character as well. This is a great nose. It’s not very complex, but it delivers a lot of nice flavours.

Mouth: It starts out with a medicinal and mineral rich peatiness building up in the back while the sweetness and warm campfire notes stay at the edges. There’s a spicyness slowly increasing in power and when it reaches its peak becomes a nice powerful effect. It’s not as sweet as on the nose but there’s a nice little tropical fruitiness peeking through in the back. Otherwise there’s still iodine, dry soil and vanilla floating around and they never seem to reside anywhere for a long period of time. This makes it very nice to explore.

Finish: The spicyness increases through the tranisiton and hides most of the flavours. When it slowly disappears it gives room to a nice oakiness which has tiny tropical fruitiness attached to it. There’s a lemon note in the back and an anis root note up front. There’s also a slightly nutty quality to the oakiness, but it’s mostly a grey old oakiness coming through. The finish is still mineral rich with the dry soil note ever present. This is a fantastic whisky which gives a rowdy impression, but it’s a very balanced and flavourful. It’s a brute, but a sophisticated one.

Additional information
This whisky was aged in ex-bourbon barrels. It was bottled in december 2021. This is a limited release. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bruichladdich, Islay, Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte 16 YO Feis Ile 2020

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 55.8 %
Origin: Campbeltown
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and peaty. At first there’s a mineral rich peatiness with a base of honey and vanilla. There’s a minty overlay and a fruitiness in the back. A hint of nail polish remover floats on top at first, but settles as the whole gets sweeter after some time in the glass. The fruitiness is sweet and bright but stays in the back. It’s lemon and sweet ripe grapes. A rounded and mellow oakiness is also found. Everything feels very integrated and well composed. This is a very nice nose with a lot of small things to discover, but has a big character.

Mouth: It starts out with a sweet and sour initial impact with a peppery overlay and a hint of black liquorice. The peat comes next and it resides at the edges of the palate. The whole is mineraly and slightly medicinal, but the heavy and gritty notes are nicely balanced with the sweetness and the fruitiness. It’s still a honey, vanilla and sweet grapes mix with a twist of lemon in the back. It feels quite oily and rich and after a while there’s a dry soil note floating around as well.

Finish: The transition offers a slight increase in intensity but just sort of continues along the same path as before. The peat spreads inwards a bit more and the fruitiness stays in the background. It comes a bit more ripe than before and the lemon note is overrun at this point. The peat paves way for the oakiness, which seems to emerge from within the peat, first as a campfire, then as a fresh woodshop oakiness. The late finish is nice, with the peat and oak sticking around for a bit. The oak is a bit uninteresting in the end though. This is a great, well put together whisky. It somewhat feels like a thug in a fancy suit.

Additional information
This whisky was made with three different cask combinations: Refill hogsheads/first fill ex-bourbon, first fill ex-bourbon/ex-Sauternes and ex-sherry/ex-bourbon/Virgin Oak. 3000 bottles were released. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Islay, Klichoman

Kilchoman Sweden Small Batch Release No. 3

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 48.2 %
Origin: Campbeltown
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and ashy. At first there’s a mild and sweet center core with a soft berry fruitiness, vanilla and oak. On the outside there’s a layer of peat with ashy notes towards the edges and savory ones nearer the middle part. When it settles a very young and spirity distillate shines through and the the top layer gets more accentuated with ashes, peat, vanilla and oak. The sherry notes are quite subdued but mixes nicely with the other notes. This is a good nose which comes through as a bit too young to be great.

Mouth: It starts out with a heavy peatiness with a mix of ashes and minerals attached to it. It feels really young and spirity at this point. There’s a sweet and soft fruitiness with red berries and a slight nuttiness, but it’s not enough to hide a harsh spirit note. There’s a bitter note in the back and the peatiness increases in intensity throughout and a savory note is floating around which really doesn’t make any sense.

Finish: There’s a nice amount of spicyness showing up through the transition. The middle part becomes larger and now presents a mix of vanilla, honey, gentle fruits and earthy peat. The outside stays the same as before with the ashy notes on the edges. A floral note is hiding somewhere in between. The late finish is not the most interesting part. It’s the same notes fading out and they leave peat and oak behind. It’s a nice enough oak. This is a good whisky. It’s too young and not very balanced, but offer a nice peat punch whenever one needs it.

Additional information
This whisky was aged in a mix of ex-bourbon, ex-Oloroso and ex-PX casks for an undisclosed amount of time. Batch size was 1260 bottles. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Islay, Laphroaig

Laphroaig 25 YO (2019)

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 51.4 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is fresh fruits and peat. At first there’s a fresh fruitiness with green apples and a hint of tropical fruits. There’s a nice, mild peatiness with a tobacco character and just a tiny amount of iodine. Every note seems to be intertwined and it fits together nicely. After a good while in the glass there’s a lemon and elderflower freshness arriving, as well as the ambience of a dusty old cellar. A sweet side completes the whole. It consists of milk chocolate, vanilla and honey. A lot more fleeting and illusive notes pass by throughout. This is a fantastic nose which feels complex and extremely balanced.

Mouth: It starts out with a honey sweetness up front while a nice spicyness gently spreads out over the palate. A tropical fruitiness starts at the edges and moves in towards the center where green apples and lemons meet up. The peat is integrated in both the sweetness and the fruitiness and brings iodine and minerals to the mix. At this point it feels fresh and lively for its age but there are notes of age in the back with some dusty old bookshelves. It’s a sweet and sour character overall.

Finish: The transition feels logical and there are no surges or dips in flavour. The tropical fruitiness and the lemon note are really taking charge up front while the peatiness lingers out on the edges. It’s almost a sweet white wine character in the early finish. When it starts to fade the fruitiness hangs on, and so does the peat, while the oakiness starts to emerge from the back. It merges with the fruitiness and brings some notes of age with it. It’s a slightly nutty and dusty oakiness which seems to fit perfectly with everything else. This is a fantastic whisky. It’s extremely balanced and brings with it a wide arrange of sensations and flavours.

Additional information
This whisky was aged in ex-bourbon casks and it’s a cask strength release. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bowmore, Islay

Bowmore 15 YO

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 43 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is a big bowl of assorted fruits with a baseline of tobacco, leather and smoke from a hot, burning campfire. There are tropical fruits, red berries and darker notes with ripe plums and raisins. The sweetness comes as white chocolate and vanilla surrounding the fruits. This is extremely pleasant and well balanced on the nose.

Mouth: Lemon sour approach with the leather and tobacco notes up front. It comes with some spicyness and a tiny amount of coffee bitterness. The ripe plums together with the tropical fruits are pushing forwards together with a speck of dust tagging along. It’s not as sweet as the nose would suggest. The oak can be noticed in the background. It’s not dry nor astringent, but brings the bitter tone to the mix. There’s also a salty caramel note laying as a thin layer on top of everything.

Finish: The darker sherry notes move forward together with the now refined tobacco notes. The tropical fruitiness comes as a wave rolling through together with some spicyness just before the oak finish takes over. The oak comes with espresso and the chocolate has now switched from white to dark. It’s a long finish which rewards the flavour seeker. All the fruitiness can be found over and over again all the way to the end.

Additional information
This Bowmore is supposed to be the same as the ”15 YO – Darkest”. It’s matured for 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels and finished for 3 years in Oloroso sherry casks.

Bunnahabhain, Islay

Bunnahabhain Mòine

2 kommentarer

ABV: 46.3 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 3
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet peat with a hint of fruits. The first thing to come through is wet hay, a warm burning wood fire and mild honey sweetness. In the center there’s a savory note coming through and in the back vanilla and some red apples create a nice solid backdrop. This is not especially complex on the nose. It is nice, but needs quite a bit of time in the glass to open up.

Mouth: The honey sweetness is first to arrive and then the peatiness comes after. It’s still hay and woodsmoke, but now there’s a medicinal note attached to it. The savory note is toned down and the fruitiness is barely noticable. After a second or two a layer of bitterness builds up around the edges.

Finish: A mild spicyness creates a small introduction to a very medicinal peat note. It soon changes back to the warmer notes again with the woodfire and honey still as main flavours. A hint of the vanilla returns and together with the mild bitterness it transcends into a fresh ”wet” oakiness. There’s no astringency and the peat, the honey and the oakiness sits together in a long, very pleasant finish.

Additional information
This was released in 2015. The cask type used isn’t disclosed but smell, taste and colour suggest american ex-bourbon oak barrels. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bunnahabhain, Islay

Bunnahabhain Mòine Brandy Finish

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 55.3 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is ashy and fruity. At first there’s an ashy layer sitting on top of a fruity center part mixed with both herbal and coastal peat notes. The fruitiness comes through as mainly ripe grapes and apples. When it starts to settle, vanilla and honey notes add to the center part and a slight dustiness appears in the back together with a floral (almost soapy) note. There’s a nail polish remover note somewhere within as well. This is a very rich and interesting nose with a lot of different roads to explore. It lacks a bit of logic and at times it feels like it’s all over the place.

Mouth: It starts out with a big peat punch with a herbal and wet peatiness growing in the center part while the ashy notes spread with a peppery note in all directions. The peatiness switch character halfway through and becomes very mineral rich. It’s dusty and after a few seconds the ripe grapes appear in the middle of the palate. It’s not especially sweet and it’s a very rough character at this point. There is a liquorice note appearing after a few sips. The floral note is still found in the back but it’s easy to miss behind the big wall of peat.

Finish: The transition is logical without any big spikes or dips. A gentle rise in the pepper spicyness occurs, otherwise the flavours carry over in a nice way. The ashy peat is still floating around on top and it’s still a mineral rich peat in the center with the ripe grapes and an apple or two.. Once the heavy peat settles the floral notes with lavender, coconut and the dustiness start to take over and becomes the main feature until the oakiness start to appear. The oakiness arrives in a nice, slow pace and seem to let the other flavours have their time to shine. It’s a nice old and dusty oakiness with a touch of hazelnuts. This is a great whisky which is really interesting to explore.

Additional information
This is a limited release aged in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in ex-brandy casks. It was distilled in 2004 and bottled 2017. The bottle no. is 718-4152. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bruichladdich, Islay

Bruichladdich The Laddie Eight

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 50 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet and savory thick. There’s a baseline of salt, rubber and grease. On top there’s honey, vanilla and a handful of Bassett’s allsorts. There’s a chili spicyness and the oak comes through as newly cut wood. There’s also a floral and herbal side to it. This is a great nose. It’s a very interresting and complex experience.

Mouth: At first there’s a thick layer of honey and chili spicyness with a lemon freshness on the side. A sweet white wine note fills the center of the palate. It’s very thick and got an oily mouthfeel. There’s still a floral side to it and savory notes show up in the back. After a few seconds milk chocolate and salted caramel are detectable.

Finish: The rubbery note comes first, then honey and after that the bassetts allsorts with focus on the liquorice. The floral side shows up as violets, but it sort of comes and goes. It’s very rich and all flavours stay a long time before the oak gets through. It’s a fresh, nice oakiness. It’s not astringent at first but after a few sips it really starts to build up. There’s no bitterness, but it’s got a good amount of saltiness. There is a dust note coming up towards the end. This is a very good whisky with a lot to offer.

Additional information
The Laddie Eight is a travel retail exclusive bottling from Bruichladdich. It was released in 2015-2016 and it’s aged in both american and european oak casks. It has natural colour and it’s unchillfiltered.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bruichladdich, Islay

Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie – Scottish Barley

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 50 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is a mix of sweet and salty. At first there’s a layer of honey and vanilla with a mild cloud of peppermint on top. The base consists of coastal notes, like seaweed and salty ocean air. It’s not especially fruity, but there is a hint of citrus fruits floating around somewhere in between together with a slightly perfumey floral notes. The nose is very consistant over time and it doesn’t evolve too much in the glass.

Mouth: It starts out with a sour tang, but soon becomes savory. It feels rowdy and a bit rough around the edges, but in a very good way. There’s tar, motoroil and coastal notes, which are still very much in focus. It’s not as sweet as on the nose and the honey and vanilla notes move out towards the edges. There’s a bitter oakiness coming through and after a few seconds there’s a black pepper spicyness starting to build up. With time there’s a bitter black liquorice emerging from the back.

Finish: The savory notes are first to appear and they are accompanied by peppermint and brine. It’s very salty, but it starts to lean away from the coastal notes and lean more towards a herbaceous character. It takes a second or two for the oakiness to arrive, but when it does it packs a punch. It becomes very pronounced in the finish. It’s a nice oakiness and it feels genuine and almost like it’s coming from a ship wreck, since it’s mixed with the savory and salty notes. This is a great, albeit young, whisky which doesn’t cater for people who want an easy sipping experience. This is rough around the edges, and that’s a very good thing.

Additional information
The Classic Laddie is mainly aged in first and second fill american ex-bourbon casks. There’s also a couple of ex-wine casks in the mix. The batch of the tested bottle is 19/192.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bunnahabhain, Islay

Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dhà

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 46.3 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is red fruits and sweet peat. The full impact is immidiate and it brings liqeuer-soaked red fruits, raisins and a sweet and smoky peatiness. The peatiness is coming through with notes of vanilla and pipe tobacco. There’s a background layer with dry soil and a touch of sea salt. It’s quite mild on the nose, yet very rich even though there’s a youthness shining through in the background. The nose remains very consistant and doesn’t change with time, except for it becoming slightly sweeter.

Mouth: It starts out with the liqeuer-soaked red berries and a hint of lemon but soon the peatiness starts to roll through to become the main feature. The dry soil is still found in the background. After a while a bitter note starts to emerge to, ever so slightly, take over the background together with a rubber/oily note. It’s still salty, but there’s no vanilla and the whole thing is less sweet than on the nose.

Finish: The rubbery/oily note is making an appearance before the sweet side of the peatiness comes through once more. A mild pepper spiciness spreads out and the red berry fruitiness is now residing in the back together with the bitter note. The oakiness arrives and steps forward after a few seconds. It’s a spicy oak and it brings a nutty quality to the finish. This is a great mix of sherry and peat, and a very nice overall experience.

Additional information
The Toiteach A Dhà is aged in a mix of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks for an undisclosed amount of time. This is a sequel to the Toiteach expression. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bunnahabhain, Islay

Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 46.3 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 1
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is red fruits and salty ocean air. The first thing to come through is sweet red berries and vanilla with a coastal backdrop of salt, seaweed and driftwood. There’s also a grapefruit note somewhere in the middle. It’s not a sweet nose but there is a sweetness which seems connected to the sherry notes. It becomes brighter and fruitier with time in the glass and the grapefruit is soon accompanied with a squeeze of lime. There’s a small hint of cardboard coming through from behind, which probably is a sign of some younger malts used. This is an interesting nose, which brings two differences together to make one whole.

Mouth: It starts out oaky and malty. It’s dry and there’s a green pine youthness coming through. The outer layer is still very much a coastal thing with the salty notes and dry weathered oak. It’s honey sweet but the vanilla is barely noticable. The fruitiness is still coming from fresh red berries, but it’s not as pronounced as on the nose. There is a spicy side to it, but it takes a bit of time for it to show up. The fresher citrus notes is still in there and they create a much needed contrast to the other flavours. It becomes sweeter with time and a couple of sips.

Finish: It’s still malty with a bitter tone sitting in the middle. There’s a chili pepper spiciness building up as the other flavours arise. The pine note is all too present and the coastal notes is still residing in the outer layer. It’s a touch astringent and dry. When the oak starts to emerge it seems to be attached to the pine note. The fruitiness returns in the late finish and somewhat rescues the oak from the green, young pine note. The vanilla also make an appearance down the road. This is an interesting dram, but the pine note brings it down a notch or two.

Additional information
The Stiùireadair is aged in first- and second fill ex-sherry casks. The ages varies between the casks. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bowmore, Islay

Bowmore 12 YO

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 40 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 2
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is mixed fruits and mellow peat. At first there’s a mix of dried tropical fruits and ripe grapes occupying most of the space in the center. The outer layer consists of vanilla and a muted leathery peat with a hint of tobacco. There is a honey sweetness somewhere in the middle, but it’s not a perticularly sweet nose over all. With time, the dried fruits become fresher and liquorice comes up on the edge of the glass. There’s not much else to it. It’s a nice, but low impact nose.

Mouth: The leather and tobacco peatiness is first to come through, and it’s way more pronounced than on the nose. After a few seconds the whole thing becomes a tiny bit dusty and slowly the tropical fruits arrive. There are some ripe plums and raisins in there and there is a green grape note coming through from the back. It still has a very low impact, but it has a lot more to offer now. The oakiness comes through from behind and a touch of sea salt can be found in the back together with some black liquorice.

Finish: At first, there’s a big gap with no taste what so ever. After a second or two, the fruitiness start to emerge again. It’s now very bright and fruity and there’s a pineapple note which slowly transforms into the oakiness. It’s a slightly dusty oak. It never really takes over and the fruits follow along through the entire finish. The leather and tobacco notes are pushed way back into the background. This is a nice dram with great flavours, but it’s a bit uneventful and never really takes off.

Additional information
Bowmore does not disclose the cask types used in their 12 YO, but it’s bulk seem to be american ex-bourbon oak barrels, and possibly some european ex-sherry casks. This is part of the standard core range.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bowmore, Islay

Bowmore 10 YO – Dark & Intense

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 40 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 2
Impression: 3/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is dark and sweet. At first there’s a thick layer of dark fruits, mostly liqueur-soaked raisins and plums, together with honey and pipe tobacco. After a few seconds the peatiness changes towards leather and a warm campfire smokiness. In the background there is a lemon sourness and a salty note. There is a medicinal side to it as well. This is a very pleasant nose, but lacks a little complexity and depth.

Mouth: It starts out with a few seconds of sweet honey and vanilla before the dark fruits and the peat returns. Now it’s very much a pipe tobacco and leather kind of peat. After a while the fruitiness becomes a bit brighter and starts to move towards assorted tropical fruits. At the same time, a nice black coffee bitterness slowly emerges around the edges.

Finish: The assorted tropical fruits are immidiately the main feature and comes through together with a very characterful oakiness. The coffee note remains on the edges and the peat is now residing in the background. The dark fruits is still in there, but sort of floats around somewhere in between the other flavours. A nice savory note surprisingly pops up when everything else is about to disappear. This is a good whisky and decently priced, but it lacks some intensity, which is quite ironic.

Additional information
This is a travel retail exclusive released in 2017. It’s matured in spanish ex-sherry oak casks and hogsheads.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bowmore, Islay

Bowmore Dusk – Bordeaux Wine Casked

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 50 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 4/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is dark fruits and peat. At first there’s a quite sweet mix of dark fruits and fresh red berries with leather and tobacco notes attached. In the background there are assorted tropical fruits and a lemon sourness. There’s a peppermint layer floating around on top and just underneath some vanilla as well. It’s a powerful nose. The peatiness comes through mostly as the tobacco and leather notes, which are attached to the port notes as well. There’s a campfire smokiness in there too. It seems very stable and the different layers really don’t move or mix. This is a very nice nose, but the whole seems a bit divided.

Mouth: It starts out with a sweetness and an ABV punch before it starts to deliver the other flavours. When it does, there’s a long row of things queueing up. Dried fruits (both dark and yellow), dust, malt, floral notes (mainly violets), lemon, baking and cooking spices are some of the starting notes. It’s not as peaty as on the nose and the tobacco and leather notes are really pushed back at this point. The campfire smokiness can be found on the edges. When it settles the violet notes are very much in focus with the rest of the flavours backing it up. It’s a very pleasant experience at this point.

Finish: The spicyness becomes black pepper and spreads out through the transition. It soon gets pushed away by the floral notes, again with violets up front. It almost feels a bit soapy at this point, which is less than ideal. It does shift towards the darker notes as well as the fresher fruitiness which saves it. It’s a long finish and it takes a while for the oakiness to appear. It’s a slightly dry and dusty oakiness and it feels a bit underwhelming. The peatiness has basically disappeared but there are still campfire smokiness and vanilla notes on the sides. This is a very good whisky. It has a lot of blemishes, but it’s still very drinkable.

Additional information
This whisky was aged 12 years in american and spanish oak and then finished for about 2 years in ex- bordeaux wine claret casks.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bowmore, Islay

Bowmore 21 YO Château Lagrange French Oak Barriques

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 48.4 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet, peaty and fruity. At first there’s a tropical fruitiness in the background, a sweetness in the center and a slightly mineraly tobacco and leather peatiness up front. When it settles it becomes more homogenous and ripe red and black berries are added to the mix. It’s got a nice, dark character and the assorted bright fruits in the back create a nice contrast which still works well. Notes of salt, liquorice and dry soil floats around within and creates a quite complex character. This is an amazing nose with a lot of attention seeking things to discover.

Mouth: It starts out with a very round and sweet dark fruitiness up front. Underneath there are notes of tobacco, leather and campfire smoke which sits together with the brighter fruits and a dash of lemon. It’s very rich and even though it presents a lot of different sensations it still delivers a fantastic and well balanced character. Laid back notes of the age shines through with some dusty book shelves in the center. There’s still a mineraly side to it as well. The red wine notes travels outwards and makes the whole bigger as the seconds goes by.

Finish: The round and dark berry note increases in intensity through the transition together with the minerals and the salty note. It soon reverts to being a nice mix of the peat, the tropical fruits and the sweetness. It takes a good while before any of the flavours subside to give room for the oakiness. It’s a nice and competent oakiness. It feels fresh for its age. There are some hazelnuts coming through in the late finish with gives it a nice send-off. This is an amazing whisky with a character which creates a fantastic balance and richness throughout.

Additional information
This is the second limited release in a series of french oak expressions. The whisky was aged in french ex-red wine barriques for the entire aging period.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bowmore, Islay

Bowmore 15 YO – The Feis Ile Collection 2018

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 52.5 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is dark and fruity. At first there’s a thick mix of dark raisins, overripe plums, tobacco and leather in the center and assorted tropical fruits in the background. There’s a peatiness spreading out towards the sides and the background and it delivers leather, campfire smoke and some minerality to the mix. There’s a nice balance between all the elements and nothing really takes the spotlight. This creates a whole which is greater than its parts, and all the parts are very good. There’s a sprinkle of salt and a squeeze of lemon floating around as well as a hint of vanilla and walnuts. This is a fantastic nose with a great cohesive profile.

Mouth: It starts out with a mild and dark center with dark chocolate and tobacco. After a few seconds a fruitiness with multiple layers start to come through on the outside. There’s the dark and sweet fruits and berries, yellow tropical fruits and some lemon. There’s also an elusive floral note floating around. There’s a chili spicyness which slowly builds up around the edges which gives it a nice power-up. The peatiness is in there, but even though it’s quite noticable it doesn’t feel protruding and just adds to the mix instead of taking over. It’s still has a leather, woodfire and minerals character. There’s a slight dustiness within as well.

Finish: The dark chocolate and the tobacco are first out once again. After a second or two the whole cycle repeats itself with the mixed fruits on the outside, the peatiness growing in all directions without taking over and the peatiness now seems to intertwine with the darker sherry notes. There’s a toffee note in the center and the floral note is still floating around somewhere within. When everything starts to reside the whole becomes a mix of dark chocolate, tropical fruits and oak. It’s a very mild oakiness which fits the journey nicely since the rest of the journey has been quite busy. This is a fantastic whisky with a lot to offer, both as just a nice dram and as an explorer’s experience.

Additional information
This whisky was aged in first fill ex-Oloroso sherry casks. 3000 bottles were released for Feis Ile 2018. The Bottle tried is No. 1280.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Bowmore, Islay

Bowmore 10 YO – The Devil’s Casks Small Batch Release II

Lämna en kommentar
ABV: 56.3 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is dark and fruity. At first there’s a thick and dark layer with raisins, overripe plums, tobacco and dark syryp. There’s a mild menthol layer on top and underneath lies a fresher tropical fruitiness and a drop of lemon. When it settles a peatiness start to emerge from behind. It’s quite subdued and never really breaks through the thick sherry influence. It’s more of a side note which complements the main flavours. There’s a slight minerality to it and there’s a brine note coming through every now and then. This is a great nose which doesn’t change a lot, it just stays the same throughout the journey.

Mouth: It starts out with a sweet dark layer in the middle and a quite noticable lemon sourness in the back. Soon the peatiness start to push through together with a tropical fruitiness around the edges. There are still raisins, plums and tobacco and a big bag of mixed dried fruits of all kinds. The balance between the peat, the sherry influence and the Bowmore house-style is amazing at this point. With time the menthol note becomes a spicyness which spreads out nicely over the palate. There’s an espresso bitterness coming through in the back as well.

Finish: The transition reveals some oak and some minerals before the dark fruits and the sweetness return. The peatiness is residing in the back together with the oakiness. With time the flavours switch places and the sherry notes make their way to the back and give room to both the oak and the peat. The tropical fruits and the lemon note return at this point and the middle part of the finish is a pure delight. When it starts to fade the coffee note returns and the oakiness takes over. It’s a nice enough oakiness but it’s not the best part of the otherwise lovely journey. This is a fantastic whisky. It’s not perfect as a whole, but offers so many great things throughout.

Additional information
This is the second release in the Devil’s Casks series. It’s aged in first fill ex-Oloroso sherry casks. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Ardbeg, Islay

Ardbeg 23 YO – Twenty Something (2017)

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 46.3 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is dark fruits and peat. At first there’s a cloud of mint and campfire smoke floating on top of a vanilla and dried fruits center. It’s a mineral rich peatiness with a coastal side to it as well. When it settles there’s a note of unscented lotion coming through in the center. The whole feels quite vibrant despite its age. With time in the glass everything seems to level out and it becomes a well-balanced nose. There are now notes of dark chocolate, raisins, figs, honey and leather floating around and the whole becomes quite complex. This is a great nose with a nice mix of new and old.

Mouth: It starts out with a lemon note in the back and a nice peppery spicyness around the edges. The mineral rich side of the peatiness grows quickly on the outside while the center part fills with sweet fruitiness with raisins, figs, honey, vanilla and old leather. It still feels quite fresh for its age but a slight veil of dustiness sits in between the sweetness and the peat. It’s quite complex and there are many small notes floating around. After a few seconds the coastal notes arrive and it becomes slightly salty which adds to the experience. (If it gets 10+ minutes in the glass there’s a fresher fruitiness arriving as well).

Finish: The transition is gentle and there’s no surges or spikes. The dried, dark fruitiness with raisins and figs are first out together with a now detectable oakiness. It’s connected to the vanilla and the unscented lotion note. The minty and mineral rich top layer is still floating around while the background fills with coastal notes, leather and dustiness side by side with a lemon sourness. With time in the glass there’s a fresher fruitiness added to the mix as well. The oakiness is dry and the late finish is a mix of oak and campfire smoke. This is a fantastic whisky and it’s an ever changing experience while time passes in the glass.

Additional information
This whisky was aged in ex-bourbon barrels and ex-Oloroso sherry casks. It’s unchillfiltered and has natural colour.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button

Islay, Laphroaig

Laphroaig 28 YO

Lämna en kommentar

ABV: 44.4 %
Origin: Islay
Type: Single Malt
Bottles in collection: 0
Emptied bottles: 0
Impression: 5/5

Tasting notes
Nose: This is sweet fruits and mild peat. At first there’s a gentle campfire smoke floating on top of a sweet center which consists of vanilla, oak, honey and assorted dried fruits. Underneath there are notes of lemon and fresh herbs. There’s a coastal side to it with a whiff of salty ocean air. A smidge of iodine is detectable but the age really shows through, especially in the mellowing of the peatiness and the rowdy Laphroaig character. There’s also a mix of pipe tobacco and sweet liquorice found within the center part. The fruitiness grows darker with time in the glass. This is an amazing nose, both for exploration and just being a pleasant experience.

Mouth: It starts out very mild with a nice ripe, red berry fruitiness. After a second or two, the whole grows exponentially and delivers vanilla, mild smoke and a complex age note with dusty bookshelves and leather. Then it slightly shifts and delivers a fresh tropical fruitiness, lemon, liquorice and a small black coffee bitterness in the back. It really shows its age in taste and it has a very nice, yet mild, character. In the back there are notes of peat with a mix of tobacco, smoke and coastal notes. The iodine is gone and it comes through as very poised and distinguished through and through.

Finish: The dusty bookshelf note increases in intensity through the transition and a very mild black pepper spicyness gently rolls out over the palate. First out in the center part are the fruit notes. The darker ripe berries seem to have merged with the tropical fruitiness. Vanilla, coconut and oak are mixed in with the fruits and the first half of the finish is pure magic. There’s still a fresh lemon note in the back and the peatiness covers the outside of the palate. The complexity of the whole continues throughout but the finish feels a bit fresher and younger. When everything starts to fade the oakiness reveals itself and it’s a nice oakiness with a mix of oak spices, vanilla and coconut. It still has some old grey and old oak planks within though. In the late finish a chocolate note appears. This is a fantastic whisky which balances all the sensations and complexity throughout the experience.

Additional information
This limited release was aged in a mix of quarter casks and ex-bourbon barrels and then finished for 12 months in sherry butts. It was released in 2018.

If you like my reviews and wish to offer a small donation, please click the ”donate” button below!

Small Donate Button