Tastes

Nose: Wisps of smoke and the aromas of a (dark) roasted coffee brewing in my Bialetti Mokapot. Slight sweetness of milk chocolate. Palate: The warmth and slight sweetness of a mug of hot cocoa. Can taste the double shot Espresso coffee boldly in the middle. Towards the end a surprising hint of Spearmint Leaves. Finish: This is where the Guinness Cask finish kicks in - interesting mineral dryness and the full-heavy earthy stout - complemented well by a long-lasting heartwarming campfire. Smokey but velvet Cadbury chocolate. I am very impressed. Been waiting for this bottle for a long time and the perfect opportunity to pour a dram. Well done, Nick Offerman/Ron Swanson and Lagavulin. You've somehow managed to create a Whiskey that incorporates my favourite flavours/palate: Peated, Smokey Scotch with a Stout/Porter/Dark Beer - but somehow also Spearmint Leaves and Cadbury Milk Chocolate.

Nose: Massive hit of tar and burning charcoal. Subtle molasses sweetness then leads into green herbs/vegetables. Palate: Intense pepper that hangs around throughout. Licorice/aniseed initially... then Menthol. The tar and charcoal revives itself here.. Finish: Short quickfire finish, not very intense like the Ardbeg of old. Interestingly minty. Leaves a very mineral-like dry mouth/throat feel. An interesting dram. Was expecting a more brash, explosive Peat-beast for an "immature" fairly young-aged Islay dram (think Ardbeg 5 y.o Wee Beastie, and even Lagavulin 8 y.o.) It's a nice, quirky dram but I wouldn't rate this with Ardbeg's best. As a Committee release, I feel that it doesn't deserve to become a mainstay in the Ardbeg core range.

Nose: Mineral and briney (not as strong as a Talisker.) Ash from a fire on the beach. Progresses to a very sweet vanillary aroma and ends slightly nutty like hazelnut. Palate: Mega peated with huge red chilli spiciness. Finish: Surprisingly short, very dry on the tongue with a prolonged chocolatey sweet aftertaste - kind of reminds me of dark chilli chocolate.

Nose: Slightly medicinal, iodinated. Towards the end a slight citrus tone. Reminds me of a young-aged, untamed Islay Single Malt (Ardbeg 5 y.o Wee Beastie, or Lagavulin 8 y.o) Palate: Very peppery. Can really taste the peppery ashiness of the Caol Ila component in this blend. Slight sweetness of berries with lingering smoke with meats - the Lagavulin touch here. Finish: Short-lived hit of smoke, straight forward. Not a very complex dram. Could taste the Caol Ila and Lagavulin components of this blend but not the best marriage of distilleries. Not a "Peat Monster" but for a blend it is not the worst.

Strong sultana/dried Christmas Pudding/Fruitcake on the nose. Very syrupy/oily feel on the tongue with a strong hit of Peat/Smoke that progresses to oaky peppery spice. A long, dry mouth finish - the sweetness of Fruitcake and slight Cocoa/Chocolate taming the long-lived Peatiness. The peated slosh well balanced by the Port cask. All elements of Whiskey I love in one. My favourite Aussie dram.

Very sweet golden maple syrup with strong passionfruit/pineapple on the nose. Smells like a sweet Japanese dram with a feint hint of smoke. Briney coastal smoke - think Talisker but tamed by raspberry jam. Slight milk chocolate progressing to dry pepper. Really dries the tongue. Long peat, drawn out heartwarming finish. Interesting, complex dram all round.

Nose: Coastal Brine/Seaweed, reminding me of standing out the front of the Tallisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye. Palate: Medicinal, slightly more mellow than that of Laphraoig. Smoked meats, with lingering pepper. Very long, drawn out, mineral dryness similar to my fave Lagavulin 12 y.o Cask Strength. Finish: Smooth vanilla sweetness before that Islay smoke warms the heart. Spectacular dram.