Tag: Islay Whisky Page 4 of 10

Whisky of the Week review and tasting notes for whisky from the Islay whisky 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 regions. Because of this, Islay has become a centre of “whisky tourism”. The whiskies from Islay are known for their powerful smoky, peaty character.

Currently there are nine Islay distilleries. They incude 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 year old 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

Ardbeg Corryvreckan Islay Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 08/30/2021

In Single Malt whisky

In honour of Ardbeg Day, I decided to try the Ardbeg Corryvreckan Islay single malt Scotch whisky. The Corryvreckan is seen as the personification of ‘the untamed spirit of Islay’ and was released to replace Airigh Nam Beist. Ardbeg Corryvreckan takes its name from the famous whirlpool that lies to the north of Islay.

Ardbeg Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery on the south coast of the isle of Islay, in the Inner Hebrides. Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy owns the distillery. Ardbeg was legally established as early as 1815, but claims of some distilling pre-dates its legal start by a decade or two.

With the official 2014 FIFA World Cup start just weeks away, the theme for this year’s Ardbeg Day is predictably Football. Or as Ardbeg define it “the Ardbeggian take on the football World Cup.”

Football has a rich and noble history in mainland Scotland where kings and lords would take to the pitch and teams were made up of gentlemen. Playing on Islay, however, has its own unique challenges like playing knee-deep in peaty pitches.

Wild About Whisky in Dullstroom hosted Ardbeg Day in South Africa this past weekend. Events for the day included Peaty Football South African style and shorty foosball. And the most important activities during the day was Ardbeg tastings.

Limited information is available on the age and what casks this Corryvreckan single malt was aged in, but some sources indicate that it was ex-bourbon and virgin French Limousin oak.

Related Article: Kilchoman Sanaig Whisky

Ardbeg Corryvreckan Islay Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 57.3%

COLOUR: A dark amber. It is a wonderfully oily whisky that clings to the side of the glass.

NOSE: Peat even at a distance. Classic peat, smoke and sea salt come through. There are medicinal notes with some creamy butter and hints of sweetness. All dark and brooding and the smell of seawater and fishing boats during a storm at night.

PALATE: The Corryvreckan is a huge mouthful. At first, it tastes like having a peat bog in your mouth. The initial notes are followed by liquorice and vanilla. There are smoke, tar and medicinal notes on the tongue.

This whisky is wonderfully smooth with hints of salt, spice and perhaps a little fresh fruit. Both the nose and palate have a remarkable complexity that stays.

FINISH: Long and lingering. It slowly builds and reaches a crescendo long after you put your glass down. It builds and builds warming your soul along the way. There are notes of spice, pepper and toffee. Oak and vanilla float about. This complex whisky leaves you with some liquorice and salt at the finish.

RATING: DIVINE

It is my first Divine rating for a single malt this year. And it is well deserved. If you have another dram of Ardbeg Corryvreckan, a whole new range of nose, palette and finish pops out. It is, however, a polarizing whisky.

You will either hate it or love it. Nothing about this whisky is average. There will be some firm opinion from people. The price for the Ardbeg Corryvreckan whisky is around £62 in the UK.

I paired this single malt with some Lindt Cranberry Intense chocolate, and the results were terrific. This Ardbeg Corryvreckan is part of the Ardbeg standard release and readily available. Some other magnificent Ardbeg core range releases include the Ardbeg Uigeadail and Ardbeg An Oa whisky.

Also Read: Aberlour A’bunadh whisky

Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay Whisky

By Jeannette Wentzel

On 07/19/2021

In Single Malt whisky

It is one of the bottles that have been in my collection for ages. I keep on drinking it but never writing about it. So, with the Laphroaig Distillery 200th anniversary during 2015 and before I finish this bottle, I decided that it is time to write down my tasting notes for the Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay single malt Scotch whisky.

Laphroaig is named after Loch Laphroaig on the south coast of Islay. Donald and Alexander Johnston established the distillery in 1815. Members of the Johnston family mainly ran the distillery.

There was a short spell where Donald Johnston died after falling into a scalding kettle and for a period the manager of Lagavulin, Walter Graham, ran Laphroaig. Lagavulin is only a short distance from Laphroaig.

Laphroaig returned to Johnston’s hands again in 1857. In 1954, Ian Hunter, a nephew of Sandy Johnston died and left the distillery to one of his managers. After this, the distillery changed hands a few times and ended up as part of the Beam Suntory brands in 2014.

The Laphroaig flavour is recognised worldwide and comes in part from its vicinity to the coast and the high moss content of its peat, which is processed on the distillery’s maltings floor.

Laphroaig is celebrating 200 years of making whisky on Islay in 2015. They released the very entertaining #OpinionsWelcome campaign. You can also go to their website and add your Laphroaig opinion.

The Laphroaig Quarter Cask was released in 2004. This expression is first aged in the standard oak casks and then transferred to smaller quarter casks for a further period. Due to the smaller barrels used, the oak surface whisky contact is more significant than with standard barrels.

Also Read: My Top 5 Whisky Food Pairings

Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay Single Malt Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 48%

COLOUR: A beautiful gold

NOSE: This is a classic Islay malt and epitomizes the Laphroaig style. Burnt peat, seaweed and iodine come to the front. Mild smoke and a surprising hint of spicy sweetness. The typical medicinal notes are floating in the background. A bold, rich, and complex aroma.

PALATE: It’s a perfect dram at the end of a long and hard week. There are notes of peat, smoke and some seaweed floating about. Hints of iodine, citrus and honey. In the background lurks some oak, liquorice and fruity notes. The palate feels rich and thick, befitting a proper Islay whisky.

The addition of water makes the Quarter Cask smoother and softens the medicinal notes. Water brings out more of the ashy notes; however, the dram remains big and bold.

FINISH: It’s long, and it’s lingering, and it’s complex. It changes from peat to sweet to spicy. Nevertheless, it leaves you with a warm feeling in your stomach. Long after you’ve swallowed, the Laphroaig Quarter Cask is still serenading you with its brilliance.

RATING: EXCELLENT

When you had a long hard week, and you want to sit back and relax with a complex dram that will take your mind off the drama, this Laphroaig Quarter Cask Islay whisky is the perfect dram. It is the embodiment of the Islay style. Rich, big, bold, peaty in your face wonderful.

I have tried various Laphroaig’s and captured tasting notes as follows:

I have done a side by side comparison between the Laphroaig 10 year old and the Quarter cask whisky to see how they differ.

Here is my Laphroaig Quarter Cask #OpinionsWelcome version; What is yours?

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 Askaig is a range of single malt whiskies from the Scottish Islay. It is named after Port Askaig, the most accessible port to enter the peaty paradise. The Port Askaig brand was launched in 2009 by London-based Elixir Distillers, a creator, blender and bottler.

Except for Port Askaig, Elixir Distillers’ other core whisky brands are Elements of Islay, and ‘The Single Malts of Scotland’, while it also bottles rum under the Black Tot brand. Elixir also own The Whisky Exchange shop. The Covent Garden shop is one of my favourite places to visit when in London.

All Port Askaig’s whiskies are sourced from existing Islay distillers, usually as fully matured whiskies ready to bottle. The range includes the 8 year old, as well as a 16 year old, a 19 and 30 year old and even a 45 year old whisky.

According to some internet research, the Port Askaig 8 year old whisky is sourced from Caol Ila distillery. The whisky was matured for a minimum of eight years in refill ex-bourbon casks. Port Askaig is non-chill-filtered and is free of added colour.

Also Read: Laphroaig Brodir Whisky

Port Askaig 8 year old Whisky Review

REGION: Islay

ABV: 45.8%

COLOUR: Lightest pale yellow

NOSE: Big, bold Islay. There is a peaty earthiness, bits of salty seaweed with hints of smoke and a fruity sweetness. Fresh and clean, without the medicinal notes from a Laphroaig or Ardbeg. Bits of vanilla and sweetness.

PALATE: O my word! Soft ash mixed with honey sweetness. Salted caramel balanced with smoke and peat with a bit of vanilla and nutmeg. Liquorice, green grass and fresh fruit. All perfectly balanced. Peaty Islay but elegantly wrapped up in a sweetness that is just amazing. None of the fishy medicinal notes, just a unique earthy deliciousness.

No alcohol heat, and we finished the first glass without any water. On the second glass, we added a bit of water. The water highlighted the elegant balance and made the dram even smoother.

FINISH: Long and lingering with a grassy green sweetness and hints of peat smoke.

RATING: DIVINE

John and I looked at each other in wonder. We both were thinking the same thing. It is probably the sweetest (peated) Islay whisky I have ever tasted. But it is perfection! The sweetness is a perfect match for my sweeter palate. It is perfectly balanced with salt and earthiness that do not allow the sweetness to overwhelm.

The Port Askaig 8 year old single malt Scotch whisky is the nicest Islay dram I have tasted in quite a while. This dram might even beat my beloved Big Peat Cape Town Edition. It was that delicious. I will have to do a side by side with the Big Peat to see which one is my favourite.

This dram also made it onto my favourite peated whisky list. You can follow the link to read the article of all the other peated drams that also made it onto the list.

Also Read: How to Start a whisky club

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: The finish is 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