Tag: Island Whisky Page 2 of 3

Island whiskies are produced on any of the islands around the perimeter of the Scottish mainland. Islay is not included and is seen as region on its own. Island whiskies tend to be somewhat in the middle of Islay and Highlands whiskies. They are slightly less smoky than most Islay whiskies, but smokier than most of the other Scottish regions.

Some of the most well-known Islanders are Highland Park (produced on the island of Orkney), Talisker (Skye), Jura (Jura), Tobermory (Mull) and Arran (Arran).

Ardbeg 10 vs Talisker 10 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/13/2019

In Whisky Comparison

ardbeg 10 vs talisker 10 yo single malt whisky side by side comparison
Today I have a big battle, a courageous battle; the battle of the islands. A side by side comparison of the Ardbeg 10 vs Talisker 10 year old single malt Scotch whisky. Nestled amidst the rugged landscapes and salty sea breeze on the Isle of Skye, is a dram that has stolen my heart; the Talisker 10 year old whisky.

In my whisky journey, I’ve discovered that timing matters. If I had encountered this island dram earlier, I might not have fully appreciated its allure. However, there is another Scottish island 10 year old whisky that has achieved cult status and that consistently offers a delicious drinking experience. One of John’s favourites; the Ardbeg 10 year old.

The Talisker 10 year old whisky embodies the essence of a coastal fishing village. In contrast, the Ardbeg 10 year old whisky emanates from the heart of peat. Today, I invite you to join me on a comparative journey as we explore the distinctive flavours of Ardbeg 10 vs Talisker 10 year old whisky.

Ardbeg 10 year old Whisky

Review and tasting notes Ardbeg 10 yo whisky with glass

Ardbeg, situated on the southern shores of Islay, proudly holds the title “Peat Capital of the World.” Their Ardbeg 10 year old Islay single malt is a testament to this reputation. It is crafted from heavily peated malt, boasting a remarkable peat content ranging from 55 to 65 ppm (parts per million).

Aged for a minimum of 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels, this whisky is a prized creation under the LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) umbrella.

Talisker 10 year old Whisky

Review and tasting notes Talisker 10 yo with glass

Venturing to the windswept Isle of Skye, we discover the Talisker distillery, founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill along the shores of Loch Harport. Now a part of the Diageo family, Talisker plays a vital role in the Johnnie Walker Red Label blend.

The Talisker 10 year old single malt carries an entirely different peat profile, with peat levels typically resting between 18 and 22 ppm.

Also Read: Ardbeg Uigeadail vs An Oa whisky

Ardbeg 10 vs Talisker 10 year old Whisky

ardbeg 10 vs talisker 10 Whisky Comparison

	Ardbeg 10 yo	Talker 10 yo
Region	Islay Whisky	Island Whisky
ABV	46%	45.8%
Peat Level	55 to 65 ppm	18 to 22 ppm
Colour	Pale Straw with green hints	Bright Gold
Nose	Peat and smoke with hints of vanilla, sea salt and citrus sweetness. Not overwhelming, but beautifully balanced and rich.	Smoke and peat mixed with fruity sweetness, seaweed and salty air. A dry bit of sundried fish and orange blossoms.
Palate	The characteristic Ardbeg peat and smoke and medicinal notes balanced with oaky vanilla sweetness and spice and lemon. Dark roasted coffee and a bit of iodine.	Peat, smoke with hints of ash and salt. This is all wonderfully balanced out with a fruity sweetness with hints of black pepper and coastal air. Faint hints of chocolate.
Finish	One of the longest and full-bodied finishes around with salted caramel, peat and hints of sweetness. An epic finish!	Rich and rewarding ending on notes of faint peat, bits of pepper and soft sweetness.
My Rating	Excellent	Excellent
Comments	Not chill-filtered Complex, and big, but not overwhelming.	It is rich and wonderfully balanced. This ensures that it is easy drinking and delicious.
You will like it if you are looking for…	If you are looking for the Islay medicinal peat notes, this is it. Perfectly balanced with peat, smoke and fruit.	If you are looking for sea spray, salt type of peat to remind you of the ocean. Warming like a wood fire while the storm rages outside.
Price	$65	$75
Pairs well with	Garlic leg of Lamb or a charcuterie platter, Blue cheese or smoky BBQ pork	Kipper quiche or paté, Strong cheddar or Roquefort, smoked almonds, sushi

Tasting these two whiskies side by side opens up a fresh perspective, allowing us to discern the nuances that might otherwise be overshadowed when sipped in isolation. The distinctions between these two island drams become pronounced in a direct side by side comparison.

Talisker graces the palate with a peaty, maritime essence, evoking the very soul of the ocean. There are notes of sun-dried fish, peat, smoke and orange blossoms. Fruity sweetness mixed with bits of chocolate and black pepper.

Ardbeg leans towards a more medicinal character. There are notes of peat and smoke mixed with vanilla and a medicinal (TCP) note balanced out with oak and dark coffee. Big and bold with a nice complexity.

Both are exceptional in their own right. Personally, I find Talisker to be the easier-drinking option. At the same time, my husband has a penchant for the bolder flavours of Ardbeg. Fortunately, we need not choose between them, as both standard releases are readily accessible and reasonably priced.

In addition to this Ardbeg vs Talisker comparison, I’ve also conducted a side-by-side exploration of Ardbeg 10 yo and Lagavulin 16 yo whisky, further enriching my Islay whisky journey.

So, whether you’re a seasoned whisky enthusiast or a newcomer to the world of spirits, these comparative tastings offer a delightful way to appreciate the intricacies and artistry that go into crafting these exceptional island drams.

Also Read: Ardbeg 10 vs An Oa Whisky

Talisker 10 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 03/19/2018

In Single Malt whisky

Talisker – A name I come across plenty. Friends have been sharing pictures of bottles from this distillery for ages. A book I on whisky food pairings listed this as one of the best drams to pair with food and I realised that did not have it in my collection.

We were out shopping one Saturday morning when I saw the bottle of Talisker 10 year old single malt Scotch whisky and bought it on the spot.

A few weeks later, I got around to opening the bottle. Now looking back, I can’t imagine why I waited so long. I bought this less than six months ago, and already I need to buy a second bottle.

Talisker is the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye. The distillery was founded in 1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill, on the shores of Loch Harport. The distillery was updated over the years and changed hand a few times. In 1960 disaster struck. A still-house fire tragically destroyed the distillery.

Fortunately, the distillery was completely rebuilt. Exact copies of the old stills and five replicas of the original stills were constructed to maintain the preservation of the original Talisker flavour.

The malted barley used in production comes from Muir of Ord. Talisker whisky is typically peated to a phenol level of approximately 18–22 parts per million (ppm). Combine this with the harsh terrain and mineral-rich water from Cnoc nan Speireag; this creates a specific taste profile that is typical Talisker.

Diageo added Talisker to its Classic Malts portfolio together with Glenkinchie and Laphroaig, to name a few. The Talisker 10 yo single malt whisky is the lead whisky of Johnnie Walker Red Label. Other releases in the Talisker range include the Talisker Skye and Talisker Storm single malt whisky.

Also Read: Highland Park 1997 Vintage whisky

Talisker 10 year old Whisky Review

The Talisker single malt whisky is mostly aged in American oak casks.

ABV: 45.8%

COLOUR: Warm bright gold

NOSE: Peat, smoke, waves of salty sea air with hints of dried fish and seaweed. There are hints of fresh fruity sweetness and orange blossoms. Inviting and refreshing.

PALATE: Peat, smoke with hints of ash and salt. It is all wonderfully balanced out with a fruity sweetness with hints of pepper and malt. Just wonderfully delicious. There are faint hints of chocolate in the background. Adding water releases a bit more of the fruity sweetness.

FINISH: Rich and rewarding ending on notes of faint peat, bits of pepper and soft sweetness.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The Talisker 10 year old an exceptional single malt Scotch whisky. It is certainly not the most complex whisky, but it is creamy and wonderfully balanced. This combination ensures that it is easy drinking and delicious. If I can take only one bottle with me to a desert island, it would probably be this one.

Best of all, it is not that expensive either. It retails for around R680 in South Africa and ₹ 5,610 in India. If you have not yet tried this release, what are you waiting for?

I saw a book that paired the Taliskers 10 year old whisky with so many dishes. The book was called ‘Whisky & Food’ by Jan Groth and Arne Adler and they were correct. The Talisker 10 year old whisky is perfect to pair with food, including seafood such as freshly shucked oysters. It also works very nicely with Comté cheese.

As part of my comparative series, I did an evaluation between the Talisker 10 and the Ardbeg 10 year old whisky. Follow the link to see how they stack up against each other.

Also Read: Macallan 15 vs Glenfiddich 15 year old whisky

Arran Napoleon Cognac Finish Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/09/2016

In Single Malt whisky

I love adding whisky finished in interesting casks to my collection. A rum finished whisky or a Sauternes cask finish adds interesting dimensions to the whisky and also to my collection. I have plenty of bourbon, and Sherry cask finishes, a Madeira cask finish and even a Merlot cask finish.

But one of the finishes I enjoy the most, looking at the nearly empty bottle on my shelf, is the Arran Napoleon Cognac single cask finish Scotch whisky. I can’t find many whiskies aged in Cognac casks. Not currently in South Africa anyway.

To learn more about Arran Malts, you can read my review on the Arran Sherry cask. The Arran Malt has also done a Lepanto PX Brandy cask finish as well together with a host of other unique cask releases.

But for today, let’s stand still and appreciate the Arran Napoleon Cognac cask whisky. Cognac is a variety of brandy produced in the wine-growing region around the town of Cognac.

The production methods of Cognac must meet specific legal requirements, and it is made from specified grapes. Cognac is aged and graded based on the time in cask.

This whisky was aged in Napoleon Cognac casks from A Hardy. A Napoleon Cognac designates a blend in which the youngest cognac was aged for at least 6 years. I have The Arran Napoleon Cognac cask bottle no 15 of 456. It was bottled 19 Sept 06 at an ABV of 51.8%.

Related Article: Amrut Intermediate Sherry whisky

Arran Napoleon Cognac Cask Whisky Review

REGION: Scottish Islands

ABV: 51.8%

COLOUR: Light gold

NOSE: Initially there are rose florals, fresh grapes and oak with hints of honeycomb sweetness floating about. It’s got a remarkably clean and flavourful aroma. Slowly the cognac notes start to build on the nose. When you nose it for the second time, more of the cognac sweetness comes through.

PALATE: Very surprising. It has far more cognac then expected. It hits you with a lot of cinnamon spice and then the traditional long slow lingering cognac finish. Some of the fermented grape notes, associated with Cognac, come through beautifully.

There are hints of leather and wood. The addition of water brings a lot of smoothness and takes away some of the spice. Water releases a bit more sweetness as well.

FINISH: It lingers and warms the heart. With the addition of water, the dram finishes on the more classic notes of dried wood, citrus and notes of leather.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This Arran Napoleon Cognac cask whisky is a dram that will polarize people. For the lovers of Cognac, this is a brilliant dram. Those who prefer the traditional style of whisky may not rush to this particular expression.

However, I find this an excellent dram. It’s different, it’s unique, it has personality and balances the oak sweetness wonderfully with the fruity Cognac notes.

Also Read: Glen Moray Classic whisky

Highland Park 1997 Vintage Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/29/2015

In Single Malt whisky

Today I try the Highland Park 1997 Vintage single malt Scotch whisky. Highland Park distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery founded in Kirkwall, Orkney. Sweeping plains of barley fields and rocky outcrops dot the landscape around Highland Park.

It is the most northerly whisky distillery in Scotland, about a kilometre further north-east than that Scapa distillery. Highland Park was founded in 1798 and officially licensed in 1826.

The name Highland Park does not refer to ‘The Highland’ area of Scotland. It refers to the point that the distillery was founded on an area called ‘High Park’ distinguished from a lower area nearby.

The distillery draws its water from the mineral-rich springs to the east of the distillery and the Crantit Spring. Highland Park is one of the few distilleries to malt its own barley, using locally cut peat from the Hobbister Moor.

The peat is then mixed with heather before used as fuel. Highland Park is also one of the ingredients of The Famous Grouse blend. The Highland Park distillery is part of the Edrington portfolio.

The Highland Park 1997 Vintage whisky expression was bottled exclusively for the duty-free market and is released in 1-litre bottles. Distilled in 1997 and bottled in 2009, makes this a 12 year old but the bottling does not have a specific age statement.

Based on some research, this 1997 Highland Park single malt spent some time in both American oak and Sherry casks as well as some bourbon casks.

Related Article: Tomintoul 16 yo whisky

Highland Park 1997 Vintage Whisky Review

REGION: Islands

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: Amber or dark gold. It is very dark in the bottle but redder in the glass. It is quite an oily whisky.

NOSE: Offers sweetness mixed with spices. There are hints of citrus, cloves and cinnamon. Some butter and toffee float around. This Highland Park 1997 whisky has a great nose, and it promises a creamy mouthful.

PALATE: A bit of let down after the promise of the nose. We looked at each other and wondered where the flavour disappeared to? It has a medium body with hints of oak, marmalade, and citrus peel. In the background, there are bits of smoke and peat mixed with custard.

FINISH: Short and ends quite abruptly in notes of wet leather and oranges.

RATING: VERY GOOD

It is a smooth whisky that promises much, but doesn’t quite deliver what I expected. I keep on hoping to find a Highland Park that I would love. So many people love this distillery. For some reason, every time I try it, I am disappointed.

I tried the Highland Park 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky but was not blown away. What Highland Park release do you recommend I try next?

Also Read: Chivas Regal Extra whisky

Jura Whisky and Comté Cheese

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 06/17/2015

In Whisky & Cheese

whisky and Comté cheese header Jura whisky and cheese
I was quite intrigued when I found a Comté Cheese at Woolworths some time ago. It is not a cheese that I have seen before, and I naturally had to buy it to see how it would pair with whisky.

Comté cheese (also called Gruyère de Comté) is a semi-hard French cheese produced in France’s Jura Massif region. The unpasteurized cow’s milk used is mainly from Montbeliarde Cattle or French Simmental cattle (or crossbreeds of the two).

This hard mountain cheese is matured in the silence and darkness of special caves where the cheese gets its unique taste, texture and colour. The texture is relatively dense and firm. The taste is strong and slightly sweet.

Comte cheese has a pale yellow interior with a nutty aroma. The main aromatic flavours that linger on the palate is a balance of brown-butter and roasted-nut aromas and a sweet finish. Noticing that the cheese is from the Jura region in France made me, on a whim, take out our Jura 10 year old Origin single malt Scotch whisky.

The Jura 10 year old Origin Whisky

I had no real expectation that this whisky and Comté cheese pairing would work. For me, the idea that the region and the distillery coincided was interesting. I tasted the Jura whisky during 2014 and gave it a rating of Very Good.

Jura 10 yo Origin whisky and Comté Cheese pairing
The island of Jura is located so close to the island of Islay and the ‘Parish of Peat’ that the distillery often participates in the annual ‘Feis Ile’ whisky festival of the Islay distilleries. However, the Jura 10 year old single malt whisky flavours are different from the peaty whiskies from the neighbouring island of Islay.

It is a medium-bodied whisky and regarded as an accessible, easy-drinking whisky. My tasting notes captured apricots and flowers on the nose. On the palate, I picked up apricots, raisins and a little oak. There are hints of mild spice and citrus.

Related Article: Pairing bourbon and cheese

Jura 10 year old Whisky and Comté Cheese Pairing

Jura 10 yo Origin whisky and Comté Cheese pairing
Much to my surprise, this pairing of a Jura whisky and Comté cheese worked surprisingly well. This smooth cheese brought out more malty cereal notes in the Jura whisky and heightened the saltiness. The fruity flavours became more pronounced, and more spice notes came through.

The Jura whisky is medium-bodied enough to stand up to this nutty, fruity cheese and not overpower it. The whisky brought out more smoky and sweet notes in the Comté cheese. I give the Jura Origin whisky and Comté Cheese a RATING: EXCELLENT.

A great combination I will try again in future. Have you tried this interesting cheese?

Also Read: Whisky and Mature Gouda pairing