Tastes

I visited this distillery in Sperryville VA and left with a kit that include several bottles of this single malt unaged spirit and a 2L oak, charred cask. I "aged" the spirits in the cask for about 4 months over the fall and winter, which was probably a month too long. The result fit the descriptions on this page, except that mine was way too charred. But starting out as 124 proof, there was room to add a fair amount of water. I brought it down to 92 proof in the bottle and add a few drops more when I drink it. With the added water and given some time to breathe, I get a nice buttery nose with a lingering campfire note. It still is ashy on the palate, but in a nice way. There is a lot of burn through the finish. I've tasted down nearly a bottle now, and its either getting better or my taste buds are branching out in a new direction, because I'm really enjoying it. Time to get something else going in the cask.

I chose this one from a whisky bar line up because Talisker is apparently the westernmost distillery in Scotland, at least according to a distillery map I found on the Internet (so it has to be true). I've already tasted the Glen Garioch 12 year as the easternmost distillery, and the Highland 15 for the northernmost. So as soon as I can get my hands on some Springbank, I will have "boxed the compass" so to speak, and I will start filling in the rest. Might be easier to accomplish than my previous goal to climb all the 14-ers in Colorado. Oh the Talisker 10? There was a very distinct bandaid and peat nose, but nothing else remarkable. It was pleasant and I liked it but it didn't stand out much.

Not a fan of this one. It harsh and incohesive.

My first experience with this northernmost distillery: For the nose neat, peat was slight to moderate with banana and oak notes. The first taste was smooth and warm with a mild peat and sherry flavor, and some char, followed by a long burn finish. Added a few drops of water to open things up which added butter to the nose, and a sweeter, less peat flavor, as well as a nice oily mouth feel. The finish was a long peppery burn that went all the way down into my chest. All in all, it would have been pleasant Orkney afternoon if only I had been there.

So my note is actually for Pikesville Supreme 80 proof Straight Rye Whiskey. I tasted it against Rittenhouse, my favorite rye. The nose (Pikesville) initially was strongly ethanol with mint and oak, mellowing with time in the glass to a buttery caramel. I tasted grassy cereal before a quick spicey burn with anise that lasted through a long finish. With a few drops of water the nose turned slightly yeasty and the flavor was sweeter and the burn was slower. The finish was a nice lingering spicey anise glow. As nice a dram as it was though, it was hands-down advantage to the Rittenhouse which was sharper, cleaner, sweet-tartier (spell check didn't like that word), with a nicer oily-sweet lingering finish. FWIW, Old Overholt straight from a pocket flask had characteristics of both.

At my daughter's wedding, my son-in-law surprised me with a whiskey bar taken from my wish list, including this Laphroaig 10 year. It went fast but the bartender always seemed to have some for me. Some guests compared the nose to that of burning tires but to me it was the finest Islay peat. Can't say that I tasted brine or salt spray, but I was reminded of a cloudy rainy day - no wait, that's because it was a cloudy rainy day with the wedding under a tent. But thanks to the thoughtfulness of my new son, I was warmed inside. Like the wedding reception and after-party, the Laphroaig had a wonderfully long enjoyable finish. This whisky belongs on my shelf to be pulled out for appreciative friends and/or pleasant reminiscences.

I like the way the peat was barely there in both nose and taste when tried neat, but how it came through more definitively with the addition of a little water. The peat sort of hovered there at the finish, and landed slowly with the mild alcohol burn to end the taste.

Moderately peaty on the nose. Taste is nicely balanced between the peat and a slightly sugar sweetness. Did not feel compelled at all to add water or ice to open it up. This one is best enjoyed neat.

An unusual herbal-grassy nose and flavor until the rye rears up and bites you. This one is best with water or ice added.