Tastes

After years as a struggling student drinking the cheapest Bell’s and Whyte & Mackay I could get at the student union, Glenmorangie was my gateway malt! I’ve always had a real soft spot for their whiskies and, while I’m more of an Islay man these days, I still love a dram from The Sixteen Men of Tain. This expression is a lovely NAS Christmassy winter expression. The initial hit is warm and orangey, with apple, cinnamon and pepper as it develops. The aftertaste is more of the same with added lemon peel and sherry that stays with you for a long while. Overall a lovely warming dram. I’ve nearly finished my bottle and it’s a hard one to find these days, so it’s one I’m likely to miss once it’s gone.

As is always the case with a Laphroaig, there is that typical TCP, medicinal taste up front, but this expression is richer than the typical 10y/o. The upfront taste is rich and spicy with a good hit of alcohol that quickly disperses into a sweet, dry and spicy finish. I’ve said before that Laphroaig is my ‘go to’ dram and I suspect a bottle of Lore may become a regular addition to my drinks cabinet. An excellent NAS dram!

This is very evidently a Laphroaig. It has that typical TCP, medicinal taste up front, but it’s sweeter and smokier than the standard 10/yo. This tastes to me almost like a dry, smoky bourbon. Laphroaig is my ‘go to’ dram and this is a welcome addition to the range - very tasty!

Sweet and fruity up front, a little sherry and a lot of dark fruits (plum & cherry). There’s citrus all the way through, but it’s most noticeable in the aftertaste. It doesn’t have a long finish, but what there is is quite sharp.

This is a lovely blend. It’s difficult to pin down the flavour as it keeps drifting to different places, but it’s a delightful mongrel. To attempt to describe it is tricky, but here goes: first hit is a fairly sweet, grain taste. It then moves to a rich fruity, spiciness that lingers for ages. The finish is a sweet sherry with cloves and salt. See, all over the place! Nice, ‘though!

(Bunnahabhain)

(Laphroaig)

(Bunnahabhain)

(Batch 10) This is a thick, oily dram. It tastes almost syrupy with bitter citrus and chocolate caramel. It ends on a buttery ginger note that lasts for ages. Typical of Ben Nevis’ older whiskies, it’s layered and complex. This one is growing on me the more I have. All-in-all, pretty good.

Sweet sherry and a lot of dried fruit up front, then moves into a chocolate ginger and caramel taste. The aftertaste is dry and floral. Overall, this is a very lovely dram.