Islay

Whisky #55: Kilchoman Single Bourbon Cask 5 Year Old

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IMG_2638Kilchoman Single Bourbon Cask 5 Year Old. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 61.00%. Tasted at Canton Lounge, $20.

Colour: Quite a pale straw, perhaps unsurprising given it only spent 5 years in an ex bourbon barrel. 

Nose: Strong alcohol vapours, although they soften with a bit of time in the glass. Peat dominates but some floral scents come through.

Palate: Rich warm flavours, but the peat just keeps coming. Salty.

Finish: Long and smokey, it’s like a warm peaty vapour cloud expanding in your mouth.

Comments: A single cask bottling, only ~260 bottles released. Not sure they should have tapped the barrel after only 5 years, it could have done with some more time to soften up a bit. Maybe they’ve released it early so they’ve got a different offering in the Kilchoman range. Though most likely it’s been released to generate some cashflow seeing as Kilchoman is such a young distillery that’s only been in operation a few years. Can’t say I’ve ever tasted such a young whisky before.

Whisky #41: Bruichladdich The Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky

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IMG_2605Bruichladdich The Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at Laneway Lounge, $16.

Colour: Very pale straw. Not that colour really matters, as I’ve quickly learnt.

Nose: A bit of oak, hint of smoke.

Palate: Sweet spice, a bit more oak. Not a strong flavour – quite subtle.

Finish: Spicy aftertaste without being fiery. Medium length.

Comments: Overall, it was ok; a decent drop. Quite pleasant to drink but nothing that really stands out and makes you go “Wow, this is so much better than the other Bruichladdies”. The fact that it’s organic? Really, who gives a toss – I choose my whisky because I enjoy the flavours, aromas etc., not because it’s been produced organically.

It’s by no means a bad drop (in fact it’s eminently drinkable!), but you can’t help but feel that it’s perhaps a bit of the marketing department suggesting it be produced to fill a (non-existent) niche in the market.

Whisky #37: Ardbeg 10 Year Old Single Malt…through the medium of interpretive dance

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Ardbeg 10 Year Old Single Malt…through the medium of interpretive dance. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%

Tasted at Alan Anderson : “Whisky For Dafties” @ Perth Fringe Festival. Cost: $20.

For the final round of audience participation, Whisky a Day and some other bloke were selected to come up on stage, provided with a dram of the Ardbeg 10 year old and asked to describe the taste…through the medium of interpretive dance.

It started off as ‘smokey’, then I have no idea what I was trying to describe later in the performance. Surely had nothing to do with the amount of whisky consumed…

Brilliant show Alan, very original, haven’t laughed this hard for ages! He’s a top bloke too…highly recommend you check his show out!

Whisky #25: Bruichladdich The Laddie Ten Unpeated 10 Year Old Single Malt

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IMG_2570Bruichladdich The Laddie Ten Unpeated 10 Year Old Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 46.00%.  Tasted at Whisky a Day HQ, $67.85.

Colour: Deep goldy amber.

Nose: Struggled to pick this one. At this time of night I’d struggle to even pick a dirty nose!

Palate: Briney, hints of peat even though it’s ‘unpeated’. Could even be described as a bit vinegary, but not in a bad way. More like a caramelised balsamic vinegar, with a balance of saltiness and subtle sweetness.

Finish: Has a bit of heat & intensity, medium length.

Comments: As my good mate Kiwi remarked, it was smoother than my entrance to the dance floor last night. To be fair, almost any whisky, moonshine or paint stripper would still have been smoother than my dance moves. Nevertheless, a great drop and one I look forward to having again very soon.

Whisky #21: Caol Ila Distillers Edition Single Malt

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IMG_2539Caol Ila Distillers Edition Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at Sentinel Bar, $22.

Colour: More of a yellow gold colour, deeper than the Caol Ila 12 yr. Much like apple juice.

Nose: Fruity, but not too sweet. Feint hints of peat, surprisingly not too much.

Palate: A soft crisp entry, then the peat flavours come through quite strongly. Has tastes of dried fruit. Thankfully does not taste like apple juice.

Finish: Again a long finish like the Caol Ila 12 year old, but more toward the tip of the tongue. Slight sweetness when you lick your lips after a sip. Tobacco aftertastes, dry finish.

Comments: Overall, not a noticeable step up in class from the Caol Ila 12 year old, they’re just different. Not sure it’s worth the extra investment. It’s good, but seems to lose a little of it’s distinctive Islayness (or should that be Islacity?). The Caol Ila Distillers Edition has been matured in ex Moscatel barrels for additional 6 months, which has softened it a tad too much in my opinion.

I didn’t actually realise until researching while drinking this dram that a distiller’s edition isn’t necessarily the creme de la creme of a distillery, but is actually the distiller choosing some select barrels and extra maturing their drop in these barrels.

I’ve just realised I’ve done a particularly serious tasting. After a long day at the office, my creativity and somewhat debatable wittiness is decidedly lacking this evening!

Whisky #20: Caol Ila 12 Year Old Single Malt

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IMG_2538Caol Ila 12 Year Old Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 43.00%. Tasted at Sentinel Bar, $18.

Colour: Pale straw / gold.

Nose: Oh yes, definitely an Islay. Strong peat, maybe a hint of medicinal scents when you really get your nose in the glass.

Palate: Smooth entry followed by smokey, peaty flavours that seem to hit the roof of your mouth and then gives the impression of wafting back like smoke trying to escape a room.

Finish: Long finish, front third of the tongue mainly which contrasts with the warming tingling sensation on the roof of the mouth & even lips. Salty, earthy flavours linger.

Comments: A solid example of an Islay, very drinkable. Not overpowering, quite smooth compared to say an Ardbeg or Lagavulin, yet still quite strong distinctive flavours & scents. Keen to try the Caol Ila Distiller’s Edition next!

Whisky #12: Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Single Malt

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IMG_2520Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Single Malt. Islay, Scotland. ABV: 46.30%. Tasted at Malt Supper Club, $14.

Colour: Golden sherry

Nose: Smells like a sherry matured dram, a little smokey.

Palate: Straw notes, surprisingly non-peaty for an Islay.  That’s all I’ve got for this one I’m afraid.

Finish: Absolutely no fucking idea.

Comments: C’mon give me a break – it was 2:30am, rather a lot had been consumed and I wasn’t really paying attention by that time of the evening (morning).  I blame my mate Brett for rather helpfully suggesting I tackle Sunday’s Whisky a Day dram on Saturday night/Sunday morning at stupid o’clock.  Thankfully I have a small bottle of the Bunnahabhain 12 yr at home so I can at least re-taste it at some point!

Whisky #8: Bruichladdie, The Laddie Sixteen

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FacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby featherIMG_2514Bruichladdie, The Laddie Sixteen.  Islay, Scotland.  ABV: 46%. Halcyon Bar, $16.

Colour: Deep gold

Nose: Smooth, hints of oak.

Palate: Quite a clean taste. Salty notes, picked up flavours of muscatelles. My good mate Giles got tastes of “candied elderflower”, to which I detected “scents of wankerbreath”.

Finish: Quite smooth, short finish on the front palette.

Comments: If you put your ear to the glass you can almost hear the waves crashing on the beach at Islay…not quite, but it sounded wanky enough for your stereotypical whisky review! Unpeated, so quite different to most other Islays I’ve tried.

Whisky #4: Kilchoman Loch Gorm Sherry Cask Matured Single Malt

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IMG_2622Kilchoman Loch Gorm Sherry Cask Matured Single Malt.  Islay, Scotland.  ABV: 46.00%. Tasted at Helvetica, $21.

Colour: Dark shade of Amber (i.e. she spent too much time in the spray tan booth).

Nose: Earthy, peaty notes.

Palate: Smooth smoky charcoal, a little sweet, maybe a hint of buttery walnuts?

Finish: Lingering sweet peaty tastes, long after you’ve finished the sip.

Comments: Doesn’t strike me as similar to other sherry matured whiskies. Peat sort of overwhelms the sherry flavours. But still very drinkable!