Tastes

Neck pour, neat, let sit for about 15 minutes before sampling. Warmed the glass from hand heat a bit too. Nose: so subtle. Leather and sweet, an oaky/woody/sweet aroma like sawing apple/cherry wood, some toasted malt there too. Palatte: very light again, no alcohol bite, very smooth, that apple element persists it feels like a lot of flavours are just out of reach from obtaining, really curious if flavours will be emboldened in 4 or so weeks. Maybe a berry sweetness making a late appearance. Finish: so smooth. This is one you might not realize how much you’ve had until you stand up. This is where the smoke shows up, atypical for an Islay that smoke is so late to the party. The sweet steps into the shadows and the smoke takes the limelight, but there is a baked apple of pie or crumble remnant peeking through. Blind tasting I’d never have guessed this was an Islay whisky, very different from most bottles on that island. Having had multiple Sherry cask finishes, this was surprisingly light on those notes, again, neck pour so will a later sample produce different results, will update later.

Nose: cereal and floral, vanilla and a hint of leather but never to be confused with a bourbon. There is a sweetness here, honey, white flowers/roses, and never like a processed/baked good sweetness. Palatte: sweetness continues. Some astringency surfaces, but doesnt override the sweetness of brown sugar, apples, and baked fruits. There is no confusion this is a rye, it is not. Finish: nice and soft, the baked/stewed fruits persist, feels more like peach/apple instead of berries, subtle, some vanilla and spice, it lingers but not like an unwanted guest, familiar, fun, assuring, delicious. Many layers to this dram, buy a few bottles. Tasted neat, neck pour, tuilip glass.

Nose: sweet grass like tobacco, or sweet bread baking on wood coals with the tinge of smoke wafting through. Salt and brine as well. Palette: this shifts to the bourbon family of flavours, vanilla and leather, and the cask strength shows up in its full force. Finish: the heat arrives here. Oak and bourbon, some sherry, baking spices, so good, savour every drop.

Honey, straw, and beeswax on the nose. Every sip brings a new flavour and image to the mind. Its a sweet dram, honey on the palette a bit of an alcohol bite but not like rye, its still smooth and pleasant. I did not add water but let it sit for 10 minutes or so, a tobacco aroma and flavour pops up. Finish is dry and swift, light and soft. This is a backyard summertime dram.

Nose: sweet, warm, summer. Red berries like raspberries and strawberries and wood/oak like when you walk through an orchard on a hot day smelling sun warmed trees and loam mixed with the fruit/flowers perfume. Palate: the alcohol bute arrives but without burn. I taste baking spices nutmeg/cinnamon, maybe vanilla extract with the alcohol bite. Lots of apple like a liquid apple crisp. Finish: the berries return, apples fade, and the alcohol bite remains. This is from my first pour of the neck.

Lots of flavours here, every nose, every palate, every finish another note to add to the symphony of flavours in each sip. Wood/oak, cocoa, dried berries on the nose. More wood and liquorice sweetness on the palette with some spice but not a rye burn of spice, more like brisket. On the finish some pepper, some leather, some dried fruit, some sandlewood, some that’s dang tasty. Such a worthy dram after Yellow Spot.

Surprisingly bourbonesque. There is a floral element to both the nose and finish. The nose has some sweetness to it, brown sugar/butterscotch. An oily mouthfeel with again the floral notes in attendance. I felt the dram on my tongue in between sips, it sits heavy but not unpleasant. Some brine but to be expected from the Maritimes. It’s soft and tender, no burn. NAS but the distillery is only 10 years old so I’d wager not very mature, nevertheless, a solid drink. This is like a Honda Civic, simple, some nice things about it but don’t expect much aside from it will do.

I’m not saying I’d leave my wife for this bottle, but if those baby blues get batted at me twice my heart is forever devoted to Redbreast Cask Strength. Very sweet nose, brown sugar, caramel, crème brûlée, similar on the palate with the bite/pepper of the cask strength. The finish is why kingdoms have fallen, so smooth, so rich, so good, so worth every drip and dram. Smashing good drink.

This is a diamond dram, each sip reveals a new facet of greatness. You want to taste desserts through to nuts with a creamy finish, this is the bottle for you. Very good bottle.

This is amazing. Nose of vanilla and leather like a bourbon but the slight pepper bite of a rye on the palette. Sweet and tasty and very lovely dram to have after a brisket or stew.