Throw a little Peat on the fire - January 2012

[Ganga]

Well, some of the new members wanted to have peated whiskies for January. Well, here's your opportunity. Bring out some of those peated whiskies and let us know what you think.

[outamyway]

I've been drinking the Laphroaig Quarter Cask... damn...

[pkt77242]

I've been drinking the Laphroaig Quarter Cask... damn...

Well, then post some tasting notes.

[outamyway]

Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Aroma: Smoky, Phenolic, Peaty, like smoked seaweed and charred wood.

Appearance: Clear, Golden/Copper, Legs like a 40's pin up girl.

Flavor: Green like cut grass, smoky like a sweater you wore beside a camp fire the night before, toasted nuts, slight sweetness, earth, phenols (not so much like you're drinking a bandaid but enough to notice).

Finish: The alcohol burns slightly, numbs your lips after a couple of sips, the smoky/grassy/peatiness gives way to a slightly sweet smooth long lasting pleasantness on the tongue.

[pkt77242]

Laphroaig Quarter Cask

Aroma: Smoky, Phenolic, Peaty, like smoked seaweed and charred wood.

Appearance: Clear, Golden/Copper, Legs like a 40's pin up girl.

Flavor: Green like cut grass, smoky like a sweater you wore beside a camp fire the night before, toasted nuts, slight sweetness, earth, phenols (not so much like you're drinking a bandaid but enough to notice).

Finish: The alcohol burns slightly, numbs your lips after a couple of sips, the smoky/grassy/peatiness gives way to a slightly sweet smooth long lasting pleasantness on the tongue.

Very nice tasting note.

Hmm, I might have to get a bottle of the QC as it has been a while.

[outamyway]

Thanks. I just noticed you are in Phoenix, my son lives in Glendale. I envy your mostly year round great weather, perfect for enjoying a few drams and a cigar at night.
Slainte!

[pkt77242]

A couple of Caol Ila's tonight.

First up is Caol Ila Distillers Edition 1996/2009

N: Sugar, white wine, and a fair amount of brine. A little white grape juice and smoked wood.
P: Very sweet, with a fair amount of brine as well. Sugar, a sweet white wine, smoked wood and a little peat.
F: Medium on wood smoke, brine and sugar.

I actually enjoy this alot. Not a great whisky but it is fun and different.

[Ganga]

Don't think I've ever gotten a CI DE before. Worth the $$?

[pkt77242]

Don't think I've ever gotten a CI DE before. Worth the $$?

It is probably to expensive in my opinion. If it was $50-55 I would say just for the variety it would be worth it but at $70-75 I don't think it is a rebuy.

[pkt77242]

AD Rattray Caol Ila 1984 26yo Bourbon cask

N: Lots of brine, coal smoke, peat, lemon, oak and vanilla. a touch of tar and diesel as well.
P: Lemons in brine with coal smoke (or what you think coal smoke would taste like). Some vanilla and diesel. A touch of lavender.
F: Medium on lemons in brine, that have been smoked using coal and diesel. Some dry oak and a slight floral note.

[Ganga]

Now that one sounds somewhat tasty Sean.

[Ganga]

Lagavulin 16 bottled 2011


brandy glass

Nose: lemons, polished wood, smokey (campfire), vanilla creeping in
Palate: beach bonfire-salty, iodine, smoke, diesel, lemons, seaweed (dried)
Finish: long, lingering bits of diesel oil and brine

[Ganga]

And now with some blackberry pie.....

Gives more of a bandaid feel than iodine. Otherwise big smokey beast.

[pkt77242]

Caol Ila 25yo OB 1979/2005

N: Sea air, brine, oysters, and wood smoke. Lemons (and other citrus).
P: Lemons, brine, wood smoke and some hints of peat. A little oysters and scallops. Some smoked fish.
F: Long on brine, wood smoke and lemons. Some oysters and smoked fish. Even more salt (and some salted fish).

Just a great whisky.

[Ganga]

It wasn't intentional but Glenmorangie. I didn't rinse after the Laga and I'm getting this whispy smoke and dashes of diesel with the sweet malty character of the Glenmorangie 10

[AdamMY]

Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist


Nose: Oranges, honey suckle, heather, and a good bit of peat, pork fat and assorted vegetable material.
Taste: Raw green vegetables, cabbage, broccoli, asparagus, hints of smoked pork fat.
Finish: quite short, hints of malt, and the dryness associated with smoke.
Balance: Quite nice.

[AdamMY]

Ardbeg Uigeadal


Nose: Buttered carrots, hints of walnut, and lots of honey.
Taste: This is where the smoke really is, with a good bit of peat, and herbs, I notice the sherry a whole lot more when I compare it to the ANB.
Finish: Hints of pecans and walnuts, with smoke, and brown sugar.
Balance: I will say one thing both of this Ardbegs are wonderfully near perfectly balanced.

[pkt77242]

Ardbeg Alligator

N: Big vanilla and oak. Some cotton, oil and slight smoke. Then some light peat and lemon.
P: Big oak and vanilla. Rather dry, then the lemon and smoke come out with a touch of tar and oysters/mussels. Just a little peat and diesel.
F: Medium on big oak and vanilla, then some embers from a fire, and oysters in lemon juice. Very drying.

[pkt77242]

Ardbeg Rollercoaster

N: Salt, sea air, light smoke and some citrus (mostly lemons). hints of tar and nuts. Not very expressive.
P: Lots of salted fish, oysters, tons of campfire smoke, tar, diesel, and lemons. Some smoked almonds as well.
F: Medium long on salted fish, campfire smoke and lemons. The smoked almonds keeps growing and growing. Some tar and apples as well.

The flavors seem very seperate and not integrated but it is pretty good.

[Knolly]

Well, all of this Caol Ila discussion meant that I had to participate!

As a side note, i actually quite like the standard CI DE bottling - it's a little sweet, but it's what I would define as a super drinkable whisky. Certainly not the most complex out there, nor challenging, but easy going


OK - CI's tasted tonight (I've enjoyed these both before, but never formalized tasting notes) - See picture for bottle details:

IMG_3655.JPG

First off, Duncan Taylor Rare Auld 29 yo Sherry Single Cask Caol Ila (@47.4%)

Nose: moderate intensity with feint smoke but not really any peat. Marzipan and almonds, salty black liquorice, clover honey develops later on.

Palate: somwhat oily. Oak more pronounced with strong vanilla; smoke and peat obvious but very mild (Bowmore type levels) most likely due to aging. Sherry component is only mildly apparent - not sure what type of sherry it's matured in: initial sweetness that fades quickly to brine. Amontillado perhaps? I don't think it's as dry as Fino. Huge tobacco / cigar notes - along with a bit of wax - developing later and very pleasant.

Finish: Alcohol integration is good, but not amazing, giving its relatively moderate strength and especially its age. Medium to long finish with very little if any sweetness: tobacco notes very prominent with moderate peat and smoke apparent still with perhaps some citrus.

I like it - i would rate if (for what that's worth) around 88 points if I was into that kind of thing (and possibly higher if it was not my first whisky of the evening). Perhaps a little muted for Caol ila - it's definitely pretty moderate on the flavours compared to some expressions: definitely more of a gentle giant kind of whisky that will take some time to discover.

Interestingly enough, Whiskyfun reviewed this bottle here: http://www.whiskyfun.com/archiveaugust11-2.html#290811


Next up - Gordon MacPhail CASK Series 11 yo Sherry Caol Ila (@57.6%)

Nose: Fairly intense with an overriding sensation of sweetness and medicinal iodine. Oak as well - can't figure out exactly what the sweetness is (first though was beeswax, but it's not that - got the wife involved and she couldn't peg it either). I hate to say Christmas cake because it's used so much, but it's like that mixed with butter tart. Of course it has the required smoke and peat components. Fantastic!

Palate: WOW!!! Awesomely intense notes of peat and sherry - a bit of smoke as well. Very different than the nose. Less oily than the 29yo, but not thin: perhaps lighter in body. While the nose has many layers to discover the palate is straightforward peat, sherry (highly obvious here & standing out on its own, but without tannins) and some smoke. Orange citrus notes come through at the end. Surprisingly, for almost 10% higher ABV, I would say that the alcohol integration is at least as good, if not better than the 29yo.

Finish - more crisp and fleeting than the 29yo as the main palate components fade off quickly (i.e. medicinal, peat, smoke and sherry sweetness), but - similar to the 29yo - lingering tastes and smells of tobacco last for a long time.

Overall, this younger Caol Ila is the more enjoyable of the two and i think better drinking whisky. It would give any serious Lagavulin, Ardbeg or especially a Laphroaig (with this fairly young CI's medicinal qualities) a run for its money. I would give it 90 pts FWIW.

Hope you enjoyed the write ups!

[Ganga]

Laga 16

Nose: creosote, resin, charred oak, vanilla
Palate: charred vanilla, shaved oak, light pine resin
Finish: more of the palate and long.

[Ganga]

Ardbeg Uigedail 2011

Nose: briney, tarry, slightly fruity
Palate: coal tar, watermelon, fishing village
Finish: long and oily

[Ganga]

Signatory Islay 5, 40%

Nose: fruity creosote, melons
Palate: oily, tarry, brownie mix
Finish: short and oily