Tag: Islay Whisky Page 3 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.

Kilchoman Sanaig Islay Single Malt Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 05/18/2020

In Single Malt whisky

Today I go back to Islay and a taste of something from the Kilchoman Distillery, the Kilchoman Sanaig Islay single malt Scotch whisky.

The Kilchoman Distillery (pronounced Kil-ho-man) is a Scottish distillery on the northwest of Islay. Anthony Wills founded the distillery around 2005, and it remains a ‘farm to bottle’, family-run distillery. It is one of the smallest distilleries on the island.

Kilchoman uses barley grown on-site and malted at the distillery, as well as malt from the Port Ellen maltings and releases separate bottlings depending on the source of the grain. The fermentation time is around 85 hours, which is longer than the average 60-75 hours in the industry.

Also Read: Ardbeg Uigeadail vs An Oa whisky

Kilchoman Sanaig single malt was launched worldwide in 2016 and is named after a rocky inlet northwest of the distillery. It has no age statement. The Sanaig is aged in a combination of ex-oloroso sherry and ex-bourbon barrels (70:30). It is peated to 50ppm and not chill-filtered and with not coloured.

It is part of the Kilchoman core range. Other releases in the range include Kilchoman Machir Bay and Loch Gorm. In South Africa, it retails for around R880 and is (was before Covid) readily available.

Kilchoman Sanaig Islay Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 46%

COLOUR: Light golden wheat

NOSE: Oak, peat and earthy notes. Fresh grass with a fruity sweetness in the background. Bits of tar poled and ash mixed with orange peel and smoke. Soft sweetness with caramel and vanilla and a hint of coffee.

PALATE: Ash and wood with honey sweetness and green, fruity notes. Bits of plums, cherries and toffee mix with peat, smoke and dark chocolate. Rich and bold with water softening the earthy peat notes and bringing more fruit to the fore.

A good balance between peat and sweet notes. Interesting to note that the peat appears to be more Highland peat style with more green notes and no seaweed and iodine medicinal notes.

FINISH: Long and warming with notes of spices, brown sugar and smoke.

RATING: EXCELLENT

Different than the more traditional Islay single malt whiskies, but nevertheless delicious. I loved the interplay between the smoke and peat and the vanilla sweetness. I had tried one other Kilchoman release before this one and did not particularly like it.

So I was not very keen to open this bottle, but John convinced me to give it a go. And I am glad I did. It is a delicious dram that is perfect for winter. It warms you up nicely.

Also read: Port Askaig 8 yo Whisky

Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/27/2020

In Whisky of the Week

I tasted the Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine Islay single malt Scotch whisky for the first time a couple of years ago at a function when Pierre Meintjies poured me a tot. It was delicious, and I asked John to buy me a bottle.

Originally it was only available in travel retail, and he brought me a bottle on one of his trips via Heathrow. I decided to try this again as I need something to cheer me up after nearly 30 days of Covid lockdown.

Bunnahabhain distillery was founded in 1883 near Port Askaig on Islay. The name Bunnahabhain is Gaelic for Mouth of the River. It is different than the traditional Islay malt whiskies. Milder and softer with a lightly peated taste compared to the other well-known heavier peated whiskies.

Since 2014, the distillery has been part of the Distell portfolio and is one of nine active distilleries on the island.

Eirigh Na Greine translates to ‘morning sky’ in Gaelic. It is a reference to the colour of the morning sky on Islay. Bunnahabhain mature this single malt is exclusively in French ex-red wine casks. It is now available more widely than just travel retail.

The Bunnahabhain core range includes the 12 year old single malt whisky, the 18 year old and the 25 year old Scotch whisky. There are various independent bottlings as well as special editions and Distillery releases.

I see that Wild About Whisky has a few bottles left. The Eirigh Na Greine whisky is not too expensive either; it retails for just over R 1050 in South Africa.

Bunnahabhain single malt whisky is produced not chill-filtered, with natural colour.

Also Read: Lagavulin 16 yo Whisky

Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 46.3%

COLOUR: Warm, amber-gold

NOSE: Red fruits, some sweetness, oak with hints of Merlot red wine, raisins and nut and vanilla. Is that the smell of salty sea air in the background? Rich and delicious.

PALATE: Big, bold and delicious. Pears cooked in red wine, with sultanas and stone fruit. Hints of paprika, sea salt, black pepper, oak and red berry sweetness. Well balanced with a medium body. Bit of alcohol heat that is tempered by a few drops of water.

FINISH: Quite long, sweet and drying with bits of spice.

RATING: EXCELLENT

This dram is just as fantastic as I remember. When you taste whisky at a special event, there is always the risk of event bias. Because everything around you is beautiful, your mind can interpret the food and whisky you are having as delicious. When you taste it later in a normal environment, you wonder what you were thinking.

This Bunnahabhain whisky did not disappoint. It is rich and elegant and simply delicious. Just what I need after four weeks of being confined to our house. It warms my heart and makes me smile. I am pouring a second glass.

But after that, I am stopping. I need to ration myself as alcohol sales are still prohibited in SA, and I don’t know when I can stock up again.

Hopefully, it will not be too expensive one day when things return to some sort of normal; this whisky is worth getting. The Eirigh Na Greine is a beautiful tribute to the golden-red Islay mornings. My heart is happy.

Also Read: Macallan 15 vs Glenfiddich 15 yo Whisky

Laphroaig Brodir Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 04/20/2020

In Single Malt whisky

A Port finish release from Islay is not something you see every day. Today I try the Laphroaig Brodir single malt Scotch whisky. Over the years, my palate has evolved. In the beginning, I was not able to appreciate the peaty whiskies.

I found the Ardbeg and Octomore releases to harsh for my sweeter palate. But as I was exposed to more and more whisky, I learned to appreciate and even enjoy the more earthy drams. Now I am quite happy with a peaty Octomore or Laphroaig.

Whisky with some sweet notes remains my favourite. However, I discovered peated whisky, aged in Port, sherry or rum casks, and I fell in love. I find the balance between the earthy notes and the sweetness perfect for my palate.

One of my favourite ‘sweeter’ peated whiskies is the Laphroaig PX Cask. The balance between the spice and sweetness combined with earthy peat is wonderful. Looking at the Laphroaig range, I saw that the Laphroaig Brodir single malt had a Port wood finish and this is something unique I have to try.

I have captured tasting notes for the Laphroaig Quarter Cask and the Laphroaig 10 yo and also covered some of the Laphroaig history. The distinctive Laphroaig’s flavour comes in part from its closeness to the coast and the high moss content of the peat, which is processed in the distillery’s own floor maltings.

The Laphroaig Brodir Batch 001 single malt whisky was originally released in 2012 as an exclusive bottling for a Scandinavian ferry. Laphroaig launched Batch 002 in 2014. Brodir is the ancient Norse translation for the word “brother”, which is a nod to the ancient connections between Islay and Norway.

Laphroaig Brodir Whisky Review

Laphroaig Brodir is a NAS release. The whisky was first matured in ex-bourbon barrels, followed by a second maturation in European oak casks seasoned with Ruby Port.

REGION: Islay

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: Dark copper

NOSE: Seaweed, soft iodine and heavy, rich port notes. Hints of tropical fruit, red berries, salty sea winds and smoke. Cinnamon and nutmeg mixed with bits of peat and a light chocolate note.

PALATE: Tobacco and ash mixed with fruity sweetness and dry oak. Peat and cream with some wood spice, toffee, marmalade, plums and salt. Quite sweet, but in a sticky sweetness kind of way. Medium-bodied. It comes over disjointed and unbalanced. Water makes it slightly more drinkable.

FINISH: Peaty smoke with pepper and cinnamon and a port sweetness.

RATING: VERY GOOD

An interesting experiment, however, I battled to finish the glass. It is heavy drinking and somewhat sweet. Not something I would rush to try again. Brodir is not even close to as refined and smooth as the Laphroaig PX Cask. The sweet notes overwhelm the peat and leave some raw edges. Probably my least favourite Laphroaig I have tasted so far.

Also Read: Kilchoman Sanaig Whisky

Ardbeg Uigeadail vs An Oa Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 02/24/2020

In Whisky Comparison

In this latest installment of our side-by-side whisky comparison series, we delve into the world of Ardbeg Uigeadail vs An Oa, two exceptional peaty expressions from the renowned Ardbeg distillery. Peaty Ardbeg has unquestionably earned its status as a cult favourite globally in recent years. Whisky enthusiasts eagerly anticipate each Ardbeg Day, hoping for a special release to capture their hearts.

Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 02/10/2020

In Single Malt whisky

If you know about peaty whisky, the name “Lagavulin 16 year old” is bound to cross your path. This single malt whisky has become a cult classic, often serving as the measuring stick for Islay peatiness.

It’s a perennial favourite among many of my whisky-loving friends, and today, I am delving into the intriguing world of Lagavulin 16 year old Islay single malt Scotch whisky.

Lagavulin 16 yo whisky, a cornerstone of the Islay scene, has long been celebrated for its distinctive character. My journey into the Lagavulin universe began with the Distillers Edition. Now, it’s time to acquaint myself with its iconic 16 yo counterpart.

Lagavulin is a historic distillery with centuries-old roots, situated in a picturesque bay along Islay’s south coast. The name “Lagavulin” translates from Gaelic to “Lag a’ Mhuilinn,” signifying the hollow of the mill.

Founded by local farmer John Johnston in 1816, it stands proudly within sight of Dunyvaig Castle. However, illicit distillation has been a covert art in these parts for much longer. For a deeper dive into Lagavulin’s rich history, check out the details in my Distillers Edition blog post.

Among Diageo’s “Classic Malts of Scotland,” a prestigious lineup with Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Oban, and Talisker, Lagavulin holds its own distinctive place. This distinction can be attributed to its meticulous distillation process involving slow distillation speeds and pear-shaped pot stills.

Lagavulin offers various expressions, including the Lagavulin 8 year old, the different Distillers Editions, luxurious 25 year old and 30 year old bottlings, and regular 12 year old releases. The Lagavulin 16 year old single malt whisky was aged in oak barrels and boasts a peat level of approximately 35 ppm.

Also Read: Tamnavulin Double Cask Whisky

Lagavulin 16 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Dark gold

NOSE: Your senses are greeted by a symphony of scents—liquorice, smoke, subtle hints of peat, and tantalizing fruity sweetness. Oak, iodine, and vanilla notes dance delicately in the background, creating a beautifully balanced olfactory experience.

PALATE: You’ll encounter a dynamic interplay of flavours on the palate. Dry oak and peat form the backbone, complemented by a gentle cherry sweetness and wisps of smoke. The medium body carries traces of iodine and tar. It is not very complex and somewhat one-dimensional.

FINISH: Lagavulin 16 year old whisky leaves you with a medium-length finish with lingering peatiness, hints of oak, and a touch of vanilla.

RATING: VERY GOOD

We exchanged slightly disappointed glances as I shared this Lagavulin moment with John. Our anticipation was high, yet the experience didn’t match the hype. While undoubtedly peaty with its signature smokiness and fruity undertones, Lagavulin 16 year old single malt lacked the depth and wow factor we had hoped for.

It displayed a few rough edges and didn’t quite live up to the impeccable balance promised by its nose. This particular bottle might be in my collection for an extended period.

The Lagavulin 16 year old Scotch is one of those whiskies that begs to be paired with a robust cheese. Imagine the intense flavours of Blue Stilton or Roquefort cheese intermingling with the peaty nuances of this Islay classic. It is a match made in heaven for any connoisseur.

In my ongoing series of side-by-side comparisons, I’ve ventured into a Lagavulin versus Ardbeg 10 yo whisky comparison. Are you curious to see how these titans of Islay measure up against each other? Dive into the world of peat and flavour with my detailed analysis.

As you venture forth on your whisky journey, remember that Lagavulin 16 year old whisky is an essential stop on discovering the rich, smoky wonders of Islay single malt. Whether it completely sweeps you off your feet or not, its legendary status is undeniable, making it an experience every whisky enthusiast should undertake.

Also Read: Three Ships 6 yo vs James Sedgwick Distillery 6 yo