Tag: Islay Whisky Page 2 of 9

Whisky of the Week review and tasting notes for whisky from the Islay region in Scotland.

Despite the small size of the island and the limited amount of distilleries, the Hebridean island of Islay is considered as one of the most distinct whisky regions. Because of this, Islay has become a centre of “whisky tourism”. The whiskies of the distilleries from Islay are known for their powerful smoky, peaty character.

Currently there are only nine Islay distilleries still active: Ardbeg, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Port Charlotte. The famous Port Ellen distillery closed its doors in 1983. Bruichladdich is the only distillery on the island that merely produces unpeated single malt whisky.

Big Peat Christmas Edition 2018 Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 12/13/2021

In Blended Malt Whisky

I am ending the year with my favourite Scottish fisherman; my last tasting notes for 2021 being for the Big Peat Christmas 2018 Edition blended malt Scotch whisky. Big Peat blended whisky needs no introduction; he has been a regular and welcome visitor on the blog over the last couple of years.

The Big Peat Cape Town Edition is one of my all-time favourite drams, and the Big Peat 26 yo Platinum Edition whisky is just as delicious. Since 2011, Douglas Laing has released a yearly limited edition of Big Peat to celebrate the festive season.

Also Read: Ardbeg Uigeadail vs An Oa Whisky

The 2018 label features Big Peat dressed as a Santa, trying to shimmy his way down a chimney. However, it seems that he got a bit stuck. The expression on this face is, as always, comically serious. The bright red and white labelling and packaging stand out between the more traditional bottles and look festive and tempting.

The 2018 edition is a blended malt small batch recipe that uses 7 Islay malts. Non-chill-filtered naturally coloured and bottled at a cask strength of 53.9%. The distilleries used in the blend include Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila, and Port Ellen.

Big Peat Christmas Edition 2018 Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 53.9%

COLOUR: Light golden straw

NOSE: Smoke, BBQ, earthy peat, tarry coal; all the Islay notes you come to expect from Big Peat. It is interlaced with a honey sweetness and some malt. The nose is lovely and balanced and not overwhelming or intimidating. Bits of BBQ spice and hints of dried pineapple and salted caramel. Just beautiful and warming.

PALATE: Soft and smooth with no alcohol heat! At 53%, you don’t have to add any water. Warming coriander and cumin, peat, smoke, with oak and bits of autumn fruit drizzled with honey. Hints of vanilla and dried salty seaweed. Wildflowers with bits of malt. Very oily and thick. It took me 3 glasses before I got around to add water. It is just perfection.

FINISH: Lingering with hints of peat, honey and mild warming pepper.

RATING: DIVINE

What a divine way to end this crazy Covid year’s tastings. This dram put a HUGE smile on both my and John’s faces. The BBQ notes remind me a bit of the Big Peat Cape Town Edition, but this release has a more flower honey sweetness to it.

It is rich and complex with enough Islay notes to impress peat lovers but is accessible enough for a Speyside lover as well. It has a superb balance between earthy and sweet notes, a perfect way to end the year.

I need to get my hands on more of the Christmas Editions. Looking at the 2021 Christmas Edition, Big Peat is enjoying a spot of sledding. I don’t think that edition will make it to our South African shores, but I will certainly look out for it when we travel again (one day).

Also Read: Compass Box No Name No 2 Whisky

Port Askaig 8 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/10/2021

In Single Malt whisky

A year or 2 ago, I noticed a few interesting sounding tasting notes on Twitter. They were for the Port Askaig Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Not too long afterwards, John had lunch at Bottega’s, and Savi brought him a glass of the Port Askaig 8 yo whisky. He loved it and immediately bought me a bottle. I think it is time that I try this bottle.

Port Charlotte 10 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 01/25/2021

In Single Malt whisky

Let’s have a peaty start to tasting notes for 2021 with the Port Charlotte 10 year old single malt Scotch whisky. After the dramatic year that was 2020, I want to start this year on a high note. Start as you mean to continue. Port Charlotte and the Bruichladdich distillery is no stranger on the blog.

The heavily peated Port Charlotte expressions, distilled at Bruichladdich, are a tribute to the old Lochindaal distillery. The Port Charlotte village and the nearby distillery were built at the same time around 1829 on the shores of Loch Indaal.

The distillery closed in 1929, precisely 100 years after it was built. Bruichladdich acquired most of the old distillery buildings and ground back in 2007.

The distillery, now owned by Remy Cointreau, also makes The Botanist Gin, Octomore and Bruichladdich.

Bruichladdich introduced The Port Charlotte 10 year old single malt whisky as the flagship Port Charlotte expression. It’s peated to 40ppm, and drawn from a combination of first-fill American whiskey casks, second-fill American whiskey casks and second-fill French wine casks.

Where Octomore is the Bruichladdich heavily peated expression, Port Charlotte is closer to the standard level of Islay peat. The Port Charlotte 10 year old whisky is non-chill-filtered and with natural colour.

Also Read: KWV 12 yo Brandy

Port Charlotte 10 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 50%

COLOUR: Deep gold

NOSE: I was expecting a bolder nose, but it is delicate and elegant smoke and peat balanced with tropical fruit sweetness. Bits of oak and earth with fudge and sun-ripened oranges. Bits of seaweed and ash with vanilla and sea air.

PALATE: After the elegant nose, I was expecting a softer dram. But it is all bold Islay with peat and wood spices balanced with smoke and toasted nuts. Oak and honey with bits of salt and malt. Very drinkable.

Water softens the peat and brings more caramel sweetness to the front. It softens the wood spice but doesn’t diminish the peaty notes. The higher ABV is barely noticeable. I finished my first glass without adding water and had to pour a second glass.

FINISH: long and smoky with spicy pepper and fruity sweetness. Soft and delicious.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Just delicious. This Port Charlotte 10 year old Scotch might be peated and smoky, but it is drinkable and elegant. The balance between the peaty notes and the smoke, sweetness and malt is luxurious and inviting you to try more.

It is a complex dram with many layers; each building on the next layer. You barely need water, just a drop or 2. A fantastic dram to start my year with.

Also Read: Kilchoman Sanaig Whisky

Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 12/07/2020

In Single Malt whisky

There is a new Beastie in town! Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 year old Islay single malt Scotchwhisky is the latest expression to join the Ardbeg distillery’s permanent range. Barely three years after the launch of the Ardbeg An Oa whisky, the Wee beastie is the youngest Ardbeg in the permanent range.

In Scotland, a ‘wee beastie’ is any small and irritating insect. It references the Robert Burns poem about a timid little field mouse.

The Ardbeg Wee Beastie whisky has been matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. Comparatively, the Ardbeg 10 yo was mainly aged in ex-Bourbon casks.

The Wee Beastie whisky, at 5 years old, is half the age of the standard Ardbeg 10 year old release. It retails for around R600. The Ardbeg 10 yo retails only R50 more. I wonder if the small price difference with the 10 yo whisky does not make the Wee Beastie a bit expensive. For an extra R50, you can get a delicious dram that is 10 years old. Is the Wee Beastie worth the premium price?

Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 47.3%

COLOUR: Bright Gold

NOSE: Big and bold recognizable Ardbeg with seaweed, green herbal notes, bits of peat and medicinal notes mixed with coffee, smoky bacon and a soft fruity sweetness. Ripe baked apples, vanilla sugar with bits of burnt toast. Not the most complex nose, but intriguing enough to want to explore more.

PALATE: Peat and smoke with dark chocolate. Bits of fruity antiseptic lozenges with ash and salt. Green grass, bits of citrus and fruit sweetness with damp earth and oaky bits. Big and bold but with the sharp edges of a young whisky. There are none of the marine notes you find in the Corryvreckan or Uigeadail; the Beastie also has a softer iodine profile.

Water softens the sharp edges a bit. I finished my first glass without water. So I had to have a second glass to check. Carefully add water, despite the young profile and higher ABV, water dampens down the peat smoke if you add too much.

FINISH: Short compared to the Ardbeg 10 year old and not as complex. Hints of smoke and salt, bits of lemon pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

It might be a Wee Beastie; however, it is a small version of a big animal. It shows all the big, bold promise of Ardbeg, but in a rawer format. It would be an excellent introduction to Islay peat for a whisky lover.

I do think it is a bit expensive when compared to the 10 year old release. However, it is a fun expression to have that shows the impact of time and wood on the Ardbeg spirit.

It makes for a fun side by side with the older brother and even with the Ardbeg An Oa. Go and give it a try and let me know what you think.

Also Read: Kilchoman Machir Bay Whisky

Big Peat Blended Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/06/2020

In Blended Malt Whisky

I love the Big Peat releases. They are fun, original and most importantly, delicious. This week I am looking at the Big Peat that started it all. The Big Peat blended malt Scotch whisky, the original Ileac fisherman. Last time I looked at the Big Peat 26 yo Platinum Edition and also at the Big Peat 10 yo whisky, but this release today was the start of it all.

This blended malt release from Douglas Laing was the first in their Remarkable Regional Malts series. Big Peat is a mix of whisky from Ardbeg (medicinal notes), Caol Ila (sweetness), Bowmore (balance) and Port Ellen (elegance).

Douglas Laing released Big Peat for the first time in 2009. The frowning fisherman in his signature yellow jersey has been featured on a variety of special releases in the past 10 years. His best known is the yearly Christmas Edition Limited bottling.

Also Read: Reisetbauer 12 yo Whisky

The Christmas Edition is usually bottled at cask strength to warm the coldest heart over the dark snowy Scottish winter with festive flair and zest. There is also a limited edition Big Peat 26 yo whisky that is just divine!

However, today I look at the start of the range; the bottle that started it all. Douglas Laing bottled Big Peat without added colour or chill-filtration. It is readily available and retails for around R650.

I chatted to Hector Mcbeth about this release over on Instagram, and he said that every bottle of Big Peat has a bit of older Port Ellen in. It is a NAS release with no added colour and non-chill-filtered. It is peated to about 40ppm.

Big Peat Blended Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Very pale gold

NOSE: Sweetness balanced with peat, barley and vanilla. Fruity sweetness with hints of chocolate and nuts. Soft smoke and little bits of salty ocean air. The nose makes me think of eating grilled peaches on the beach. Fruity with just hints of salt and peat.

PALATE: Ash, tar and peat. The sea breeze is blowing the BBQ smoke all around. Easy drinking and delicious. The sweetness from the nose is replaced with Islay notes. The sweetness comes through later with creamy chocolate, vanilla and bits of roasted nuts.

Even though it is a 46% ABV, you don’t need to add water. It goes down very smoothly with no alcohol heat. Water brings more grilled fruit sweetness to the front. Big and bold.

FINISH: A medium finish with bonfire ashes, peat and hints of white pepper.

RATING: EXCELLENT

I am a big favourite of the frowning fisherman. According to Hector, Big Peat is very popular in Belgium as well. I can understand why. He is easy-drinking, exciting and fun. The packaging is innovative, and the liquid is consistently delicious. I have yet to taste a Big Peat that I don’t like.

Looking at what food to pair this Big Peat whisky with, options include strong cheese such as blue cheese; I can see why that would work. The robust fisherman needs a strong taste to stand up next to. The creamy nature of the blue cheese will work deliciously with the peat and ash from the whisky. Smoked BBQ ribs would also work wonderfully, and Hector suggests a tomato-based stew to match the acidity.

Also Read: Great whisky gifts under R1000