PEAT FEST - Live Tasting - February 6, 2010

[Ras Mazunga]

Celebration(undisclosed) 10yo 60.1% the whisky exchange

n: some solvent, paint, paprika, stewed apples, seashore, some kind of boiled vegetable. much later lemonade ,
t: starting with peanutsauce then suddenly extreme peatiness appaers, meat grilling, creosote, tar, cooked milk,
f: a massive bonfire.

Another fantastic sherried peated whisky.

[Ganga]

Ardbeg Beist
Brand : Ardbeg Expression : ANB 1990, L7
Nose : seashore bonfire, fishing village, fruity Palate : vanilla, fruity, loads of dark peatiness Finish : Finish, citric peat Comment : - Colour : gold Score : 0
Age : 16 Years Old Vintage : 1990 ABV : 46% Bottler : Glenmo PLC	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : - Ice : - Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ganga]

Good evening Ras. Looks like you've got some good peatiness set aside.

[Spirit of Islay]

Expression - SOS 1993 Ardbeg Cask 1084
Year - 1993
Age - 10yo
ABV - 57.6%
Cask / Bottle No. - 1084 /
Colour - Pale Gold
Nose - Very peaty , citric (Lemon) , slight smoke .
Palate - Very citric (lemon) at first , then incredibly peaty .
Finish - Long and peaty . Also....lemon !
Comments - Dist 24/6/1993 , Bott 31/12/03 . Another nice Ardbeg , seems to be missing the other Ardbeg Traits though ( Coffee , chocolate , pine nuts etc) .

[Ras Mazunga]

Laphroaig 10yo 57.1% Whiskybase bottling.

Last drop of a very sweet bourbonny Laphroaig.

Couldn't resist eating some very spicy food from the fridge. My tongue is on fire now.

[Ras Mazunga]

Good evening Ras. Looks like you've got some good peatiness set aside.

Just getting warmed up here.

[Holysinner]

Caol Ila 12
Brand : Caol Ila Expression : 12
Nose : Lemon, melon, sea air, gentle smoke. Palate : Sweet melon, lemon juice, seaweed, peat. Finish : Sweet peat, oak. Comment : - Colour : Straw Score : 0
Age : 12 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : None Ice : None Glass : Tulip Nosing Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ras Mazunga]

Nikka White 43%

n: vanilla, wood, honey, oak, wax, leather, wet paper and a hint of mint.
t: peat, lemon, vanilla, fudge, some tabacco
f: lemon, fudge
c: starting to like this one more and more.

[Ganga]

Bowmore 17
Brand : Bowmore Expression : 17 yo
Nose : Some cross between lavender and grapefruit, light smoke and straw Palate : smoked fruits, heather and lavender, citrus Finish : moderate, very sweet florals Comment : It's too sweet for me. Colour : light amber Score : 0
Age : 17 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 43% Bottler : Bowmore	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : - Ice : - Glass : Brandy Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Willie JJ]

Evening all. I'm a bit late I'm afraid

[Ras Mazunga]

Hello Willie,
Late where? In what timezone?

Ardbeg Corryvreckan 57.1%
n: cauliflower, burning panhandle(as I smelled tonight while cooking), this nasty burned bakelite didn't seem to go away but it did leave, very nice, stewed fruits and jams(raspberry), fresh wood, green tea, the gets fuller all the time, seashore, oysters, seashells, vanilla, more smoke after some time
t: woody, stewed apples, creosote, candy(werthers), chocolate, lapsang souchong tea with milk,
f: stewed fruits, spices.

[Willie JJ]

Not as late as you in your timezone Ras.

Jura Prophecy year 1 Profoundly Peated 46%

Nose: The first time I tried this I was underwhelmed by the peating level, but tonight it seems to have more weight. There's definite smoke, but its mossy too. There's earth and turf and old fishing nets. Hints of iodine and TCP. Much better than I remembered.
Palate: Little initial hit, but then it opens up and the malt is consumed by smoke. The flavours don't emerge from it again.
Finish: The finish is shortish and not that interesting.
Comment: The front end of this dram is better than I remembered, but it just isn't following through.

[andyt]

Not as late as you in your timezone Ras.


Comment: The front end of this dram is better than I remembered, but it just isn't following through.

aye but following through can be dangerous

[Spirit of Islay]

Evening Doctor !
we're in the chatroom if you're interested......

[Willie JJ]

Not as late as you in your timezone Ras.


Comment: The front end of this dram is better than I remembered, but it just isn't following through.

aye but following through can be dangerous

Especially after that curry earlier Andy

Evening Doctor !
we're in the chatroom if you're interested......

Thank you for your kind invitation. I'll join you right away. I thought there was a lack of chat on the thread.

[andyt]

Big Smoke 60, no finesse just a shoulder charge of Peat that dares you to call it one dimensional, lovely way to get peatrified

[Willie JJ]

Kilchoman Autumn 2009 release 46%

Nose: Very nice. Some real complexity here and less of the signs of youth seen in the inaugural release. Still clearly young, but real development of iodine and sticking plasters with the backdrop of a peat fire.
Palate: The youth is more evident here. Still lots of smoke but there nice malty sweetness too.
Finish: Not a huge finish, but there's a lovely freshness that balances the heat and smoke.
Comment: Every time I try Kilchoman I enjoy it. Its still early days but I just feel that its going to be a fantastic malt once it reaches a decent age, say 8-10. It's really drinkable already.

[Holysinner]

Bruichladdich 3D3
Brand : Bruichladdich Expression : Norrie Campbell Tribute Bottling
Nose : Wood smoke, vanilla. Palate : Sweet peat, powdered sugar, lime (and maybe other green fruits I can't place). Finish : Woody, sweet then drying. Comment : I don't think my notes do it justice. I really like this and it isn't overly woody, just that the smoke and peat have a woody rather than vegetal or ashy quality. Colour : Pale gold Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 46% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : None Ice : None Glass : Tulip Nosing Glass Notes : -
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[Ras Mazunga]

Laphroaig 1998 61.2% "Our Fifth Birthday" bottled by Jean Boyer.
n: a gently smoked seabreeze, at first just tequilla.
t: lemonade with oysters, very pure.
f: lemon in mouth, white pepper burn on tongue, smoke all over
c: very very good.

[Willie JJ]

PC8 60.5%

Nose: Perhaps the eldest but definitely the most youthful smelling of the drams so far tonight. Plenty of life and calomine and sticking plasters, but still a bit feinty.
Palate: Great weight of peat and loads of power. Not the most complex dram though.
Finish: It all gets very interesting here. The finish is excellent with waves of peat, barley and citrus coursing across the palate.
Comment: Worth buying for the finish. Very enjoyable stuff.

[Ras Mazunga]

Highland Park 20yo 1989 46% oloroso butt bottled by Van Wees
n: sweet oloroso sherry, beeswax, honey, salty, old books, this is getting better all the time,
t: marmalede, sandalwood, nutmeg, cooked fruits, leather, chocolate, praline,
f: chocolate, lemon, peppers(red and white), sushi!
c: I'm an ass if don't send an email to the shop to hold one for me.

[Willie JJ]

The English Whisky Co., Chapter 2 46% 50ppm


Nose: Extremely new-makey (fair enough I suppose). There is some sense of the peat, but its mostly malt and berries.
Palate: Thinnish in the middle. Not much going on.
Finish: Lots of smoke, but not that much else.
Comment: Its really just a heavily peated new make at this stage. Very little sign of development.

[Holysinner]

Ardbeg Uigeadail
Brand : Ardbeg Expression : Uigeadail
Nose : Sherry sweetness, tar, brandy butter, ozone. Palate : Deisel, dried fruits. Finish : Christmas pudding with a slight burnt bitterness, drying peat. Comment : Grand. Sample from a deceased bottle. Colour : Gold Score : 0
Age : 0 Years Old Vintage : 0 ABV : 54.2% Bottler : -	Type : Single Malt Region : Islay Water : None Ice : None Glass : Tulip Nosing Glass Notes : L6
More tasting notes by None Please do not reproduce or copy this tasting note without permission.

[andyt]

Should be in bed but was led astray (a big boy did it and ran away) Supernova, nice

[dramtastic]

Thought I'd crack this open for the tasting.

The Cask Hakushu Heavily Peated 1993 58% White Oak #3B40573

Nose: Fairly subtle peat hangs over balanced oak, pine, varnish, then with a little time that Japanese magic of lychees and cherry blossoms breaks the surface followed by some cereal notes and earthyness. After about 20 mins some brineyness becomes apparent.

Palate: Peat of the sweet variety comes through in a big way. A lovely spice hit of cinnamon/nutmeg/salt followed by a hint of Hubba-Bubba that I've found in few Japanese whisky's mainly Yoichi. A little water brings out some chocolate.

Finish: Is held mainly on the palate with sweet peat, soft oak, and a sweet/hot spiceyness combo dominating. Water brings out the chocolate on the finish.

Not a peat monster by any stretch but an extremely well balanced and complex whisky.

[Ras Mazunga]

Highland Park 1991 46% Signatory Unchillfiltered Collection 17yo

Opened this one yesterday and it didn't taste very promising but after some oxidation it is much better now.

I think I've done my best for tonight. I'm of to bed.

[Willie JJ]

Ardbeg Supernova 58.9%

Nose: The first time I tried this I thought it was younger than it is and now I can't see why. I think I mistook the freshness for feints. Now its awesome, like an elastoplast factory on the beach in a westerly.
Palate: The explosion of flavours is brilliant. Malt, citrus, iodine, tarry rope and a lovely sweetness.
Finish: Crunchy sugar and smoke and flames and mmmmmm.
Comment: Lovely.

[andyt]

sounds lovely dramtastic, I'll need to keep an eye out? for this one.

[lockejn]

Nose: The first time I tried this I thought it was younger than it is and now I can't see why. I think I mistook the freshness for feints. Now its awesome, like an elastoplast factory on the beach in a westerly.
Palate: The explosion of flavours is brilliant. Malt, citrus, iodine, tarry rope and a lovely sweetness.
Finish: Crunchy sugar and smoke and flames and mmmmmm.
Comment: Lovely.

I think you forgot a minor detail on this one. . .

[dramtastic]

The Cask of Yamazaki Heavily Peated 1993 62% White Oak #3Q70047

Nose: Stap yourself in for one hell of a ride. Bonkers peat. Forget any Islay medicinal notes, this is peat on steroids only. Sweet, dry, earthy, oaky peat, you name it it's here. Yamazaki heavily peated, thy name is not subtle.
Hang on, wait a little while and something else starts to come through, nah my mistake, just more peat.

Palate: This is the only whisky I need water with, but what the hay, neat first. This is powerful stuff, peat bomb to the max. You may as well go out to a peat bog, shovel up some of the stuff and take a bite. There is also some heavy duty spices as well now and a little oak. Water brings out the same lychee and cherry blossom both on the nose and palate that it's 'little brother' The Hakushu HP 1993 has. Barely makes a dint in the peatyness though. Peanut oil oilyness to the mouth feel.

Finish: Spicy, hot, Peatyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Absolutely love it!!

[Willie JJ]

Octomore 02.1 62.5% 140ppm 5yo

Nose: Less feinty than Octo 01.1 seemed to me. Salt air and seashells. Hint of vanilla.
Palate: Vanilla , barley sugar, then heat and smoke. Very powerful but no sophistication.
Finish: Feiry but long. A real throat burner.
Comment: Maybe its a tired nose and palate but this seems better than 01.1. Still way too young to really be a serious drinker though.

[Willie JJ]

Nose: The first time I tried this I thought it was younger than it is and now I can't see why. I think I mistook the freshness for feints. Now its awesome, like an elastoplast factory on the beach in a westerly.
Palate: The explosion of flavours is brilliant. Malt, citrus, iodine, tarry rope and a lovely sweetness.
Finish: Crunchy sugar and smoke and flames and mmmmmm.
Comment: Lovely.

I think you forgot a minor detail on this one. . .

Good point. I have fixed it.

[andyt]

Lappy 10 CS, possibly the only thing on my shelves that my abused palate can register. Dark colour sits uneasy after the Ardbegs, I can't taste any difference at the moment but it is certainly seems incongruous.

[dramtastic]

Golden Horse Chichibu 12YO 56%

Nose: Oak, Caol Ila 12 type medicinal notes, peat, butter menthols.

Palate: As per the nose with some big spices, salt, biscuity and a slightly oily mouth feel.

Finish: Spicy, hot, sweet peat and a lttle drying right at the end.

This is my didn't see it coming, favorite whisky of the last 6 months(as opposed to the ones I expected to be good).

Fantastic balance and I'm a sucker for a malt with big spiceyness.

For those you have tried Yoichi 12(a whisky I love), I prefer this.

[Willie JJ]

The Cask of Yamazaki Heavily Peated 1993 62% White Oak #3Q70047

Nose: Stap yourself in for one hell of a ride. Bonkers peat. Forget any Islay medicinal notes, this is peat on steroids only. Sweet, dry, earthy, oaky peat, you name it it's here. Yamazaki heavily peated, thy name is not subtle.
Hang on, wait a little while and something else starts to come through, nah my mistake, just more peat.

Palate: This is the only whisky I need water with, but what the hay, neat first. This is powerful stuff, peat bomb to the max. You may as well go out to a peat bog, shovel up some of the stuff and take a bite. There is also some heavy duty spices as well now and a little oak. Water brings out the same lychee and cherry blossom both on the nose and palate that it's 'little brother' The Hakushu HP 1993 has. Barely makes a dint in the peatyness though. Peanut oil oilyness to the mouth feel.

Finish: Spicy, hot, Peatyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Absolutely love it!!

I have a bottle from 3Q70048. It is awesome.