Tastes

Being someone into peaty scotch, I was very curious to try this Irish Peated Single Malt, and I am happy to say that it is not just another scotch and has its own character. The nose is brine, salt, smoke, a little bit of the bandaid, overall is very pleasing. The palate is very much Irish whiskey, pears, biscuit, a bit of vanilla. I actually not feeling the peat or smoke on the palate. The finish is where the peat opens up, it's pleasant and medium to long. There is also some cocoa and honey. Nice whiskey that stands out from competition with its Irish character and at 49.50 CAD is a steal.

Very interesting taste. The peated malt is actually sourced from Scotland. But it doesn't taste or smell as any peated scotches I have tried. Nose: licorice, ripe fruits, grass. Palate: a bit medicinal, tastes like roots, consistent with nose overall. Finish: lingering, doesn't change the palate over time. I somehow feel the taste of good quality gin in it. Overall, it feels like it's a very young whiskey. it might be a interesting whisky, unique, once it ages a bit longer.

The nose and palate are mostly pears, citrus. Smoke actually appears only afterthe alcohol burn at the very end of the finish. Which is a weird disconnect, as if I am drinking two different scotches. Not overly complex. I am not a big fan of caol Ila 12 or Johnnie Walker and this didn't change my mind.

It is highly rated, so probably my expectations were also too high. Spicy, alcohol bites the tongue and burns the nose. So i poured some water, still too strong, poured some more, the sweet fruity vanilla nose appears, but the sherry fades out, drinkable but then not much complexity afterall. What's the point of drinking 60% cask strength scotch that opens up only after you mix with water? I prefer aberlour double cask to this one.

My expectation were high on this one. Perhaps the one with the old brown label (Laphroaig matured in a refill hogshead (40%), Ledaig matured in a refill hogshead (20%), Caol Ila matured in a refill hogshead (13%), Ardmore matured in a refill hogshead (26%), and a Highland Malt Blend matured in French oak Burgundy toast barrels (1%) would be a better drink with Ledaig and Ardmore being part of the blend. Unfortunately I can no longer find it. This particular whisky has (Caol Ila matured in a refill hogshead (64%), Laphroaig matured in a refill hogshead (35%), and a Highland Malt Blend (1%).) I am not a big fan of Call Ila which is one of the components of Jonny Walker. And if I want Laphroaig, I will get single malt Laphroaig. So not sure what was the idea of creating this blend.

So smooth for such a peaty whiskey. Complexity is astounding here given that it is considered to be a peat bomb. Smoke, fruits, wood, all dancing with passion and grace in a wild dance.

Ocean, standing there on a cliff, breathing in the salty air, feeling the briny taste. The nose is very different from all the other scotches I have tried. It's not medicinal, not smoky, no burn, it's sea and ocean indeed. The palate is complex there is peat and smoke and brine and salt. It's too smooth, goes easy, waaaay to easy. The Finish is long and pleasant too. It's one of my new favourites. Love it

Smooth. I am a fan of sherry overall, and it is more prominent here than in Highland park 12. But I feel like it overtakes the smoke and peat and looses Highland Park identity with it. Overall a great drink, but my palate is completely "ruined" by the kinds of Ardbeg, Ledaig, Laphroaig and Talisker now

This is a review of someone who prefers scotch to bourbon, so it might not be the best perspective for bourbon lovers. It's VERY bourbon. Nose is honey, caramel, fruity. Palate is overbearingly spicy. This is pretty much all I can feel. No woodiness, no dry fruits or nuts, no smokiness or peat... I keep looking for scotch in bourbons, which is not fair, but this is very much a bourbon and the bourbon lovers will love it. I would stick to Elijah Craig or Bulleit otherwise

Very oily. Almost thick. The smokiness is more on nose than palate. The finish is very long. I do prefer the Triple wood edition because I like the woody taste, but this is a reliable scotch if you want Islay