Tastes

Not so smoky/peaty relatively speaking. The islay minty peat is light to medium forward that fades pleasantly to leather and dark dry chocolate. Vanilla beans and ice cream, hearty barley, pineapple, sugared coconut shreds, sour passionfruit, red plum, mild lemon rinds, sweet tobacco, grassy, sea brine rounds it all out. Almost as light in color as one of the compass box blends. A bit too little barrel aging gives this a tad too light body. Sanaig was more impressive. Majority bourbon barrel aging isn't that great compared to classic single malt scotch sherry aging statements.

Thick vanilla ice frosting, black pepper, black mission figs, mild mint, lemon pith, juicy sultana raisins, fine caramel, marshmallow, nutmeg, cinnamon bark, mellowed corn whisky, nutty barley and a good amount of grassy rye. Elegant tasting experience.

Runs a bit hot but not too bad. Caramel chews, nutty, herbal, chinese cinnamon, vanilla buttercream, soft oak tannins, orchard fruits, strawberry jam, sweet basil, clove, lemon curd pinches off the finish. Solid. Similar to pikesville rye and russell's 10yr.

Distilled Fall 2016 so the first release. Very nice, reminds me of 1792 and Wild Turkey 101. Chinese cinnamon, orange blossoms, nutmeg, peppery, caraway, fresh sweet corn, maple, grassy rye, dried plantains, thin oak tannins, juicy blue plums. The plum note reminded me of blaufrankisch wine. Orange blossoms and maplewood lingers long after. Very surprising at this price point.

Gala apples, spearmint, licorice, clover honey, black cherry, bavarian creme, biscoff, nutty, creamy grits, coffee, bitter oak, spicy. Not bad, but the nose was more interesting than the palate.

Closer to Jim Beam line than other knob creek labels. Jim beam peanut funk, nutty barley, grassy rye, succulent oranges, cream soda, sweet tobacco, big brand maple syrup, clove, peppery, roasted plantains. Fantastic. Would also recommend Russell's Single Barrel.

Rich lemon curd, buttery, roasted corn, vanilla cake & buttercream frosting, fresh mint, toasted coconut, nutmeg, peppery, burnt sugar, a bit of nutty barley, soft oak tannins. Superb and still affordable.

Hot & more heat. Animal cracker, cinnamon bark, clove, nutmeg, vanilla pudding, butter, prominent lemon pith, herbal, heavy oak tannins, grassy, fennel, praline. Not as good as previous years, especially before statesman release.

Bottled 10/21. Signature Laphroaig 'green' peat lays itself down heavy but I think 'monster' is a bit of a misnomer. Laphroaig peat has a brighter vegetal character than other Islays. Juicy anjou pear, orchard honey, nonspecific baking spices, baked red apples, leather, grassy, mild chocolate, nutty, sea brine, wet hay, shortbread, vanilla buttercream, meyer lemon, real tannic french oak bite cuts through all the sweetness at the end. Probably the lightest colored whisky I've ever had. The palate leans closer to caol ila. Like other compass box labels, does not develop well with oxidation. But that's coming from someone that never tried the legendary Brora releases.