Tastes

Peated with a slightly medicinal or iodine note. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Smoked sherry with tangy salt undertones that often turn briny. There's Surf-n-turf with smoked red meat, swirling into a savory sweet shellfish; all the while, interlaced with smoke and brine. Very smooth and refined for a peated smoke monster, but a bit too briny for me. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Smoked ham and preserve... It gets sweeter with water, and turns it into something like a salty and smokier Oban 14. There is a minimal presence of Campeltown funk, but my mind re-imagines it as the salty aspect of the ham. For me, this was the first peated scotch where the nose and palate weren't completely obscured by smoke. It was also the whisky that introduced me to a savory, meaty flavor profile. Even though my mind's been made up in regard to Campbeltown funk [I don't enjoy it], this Campbeltown scotch opened the gates for me: to the Islands, Islay, and to peated scotches in general. I give credit where credit is due. But yes, after this discovery I felt like the keys to Hades had been handed over to me by the boatman of the dead. And, oh boy, the lord of the underworld had better hide his liquor. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

The initial nose is slightly sulfuric, and also reminds me of a Campbeltown. The palate plays between smoke and sherry sweetness, while not becoming savory. Subsequent tastes reveal typical sherry notes, as the smoke takes a back seat. A half-teaspoon of water highlights these notes, while not really taming the smoke. Finish is peppery, beef jerky. Subsequent oxidation changes the balance between smoke and sherry, to round it out into a savory character (but not quite meaty). My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Like drinking honeyed liqueur from a newly-charred barrel. The peat is intermingled throughout, but there isn't much of a journey here. I could almost fault it for confusing my palate, turning uniformity into consistency. Better than the Kilchoman Sanaig, and much less bold than the Ardbeg 10, this is worth a dram every now and then. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Honeysuckle, swirled with smoke, this blended malt is a unique and captivating palate journey. It blows the socks off of many pricier single malts. And it's an absolute steal at anything south of $50 USD. Does it deserve a permanent place on my bar shelf? I don't think twice about lining it up next to the likes of HP, Clynelish, and Oban. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Peated with mostly bourbon-cask notes. Following sips can reveal cereal, malty sweetness. Finish starts smokey, but lengthens into mild sweetness. Wait, what just happened - is that all? The 18 is much more rewarding. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."

Excellent balance of bourbon and sherry cask notes. Signature JW smokiness throughout. Dangerously smooth, and a worthy compliment to a Highland Park 12. My Rating Glossary: Two Stars: "I'd rather be drinking lite beer." Two 1/2 Stars: "Posh rubbish." Three Stars: "I love whisk(e)y. This is average love." Three 1/2 Stars: "May buy again." Four Stars: "I've got to get you into my life." Four 1/2 Stars: "Better than drugs." Five Stars: "Life is good. Whisky makes it better."