Reviews

The Amoroso casks definitely leave their mark here. As compared to the classic Talisker 10, the Distiller’s Edition is most notably different on the nose. That iconic seasise smoke is certainly still there, but its more subdued, and its met with more sweetness, and even a grassy quality. Some would definitely say then, that the nose is more complex. On the palate, its briny, as all Tally is, but its also more full-bodied and comes with a sweet cocoa note and maybe a tiny bit of overripe fruit. I get raisin, but thats just me. Apple also makes an appearance. Then on the finish, the gentle bitterness and barrel spice show, with the signature salt being the longest lingering quality. I’d say its actually a little less spicy and easier to drink than the 10, but in my opinion that is owed to the sweet notes and the extra time in barrel. It’s darker, and more rich. That said, this may be one of the few DE releases from Diageo where I’d say I actually prefer the classic instead. I think the 10 year just packs a bit more punch and is a little more memorable to me. Its more immediate, and sharper. That being said, this is a fun bottle to drink, and if you like peat, a hard one to hate. It may even make for a pretty nice intro to peat for those who are unfamiliar. More interesting than the 10? Arguably. Better? I wouldn’t say so.

This is pleasant enough, especially on the nose where you’ll find a really nice, gentle, floral quality. The whisky just smells nice and light. The palate however, I must say, is a bit underwhelming. Its not bad, but there just isnt much to it. There’s sweetness, those floral notes again, and then a quick and very soft finish. That’s about it. I’d say this is very drinkable, and even refreshing. But it’s far from impressive especially among its peers.

Very gentle, fragrant fruity notes come with a delicate sweetness. The nose is pleasant and not too strong, and the palate opens up to a malty finish after the fruit notes. Its rich, but like a gentle richness. The sherry notes are alive and well. This makes for a very nice entry to the Kurayoshi line.

The batch I had sat at 59.89% abv. And boy could you taste every bit of that. This is dense and bold, with loads of barrel spice and tons of character on the palate. But I can’t say the nose is all that great for such a high abv. It’s classic bourbon oak and cherry, just louder, but with not much sweetness or any other interesting notes behind it. Maybe some pepper. But that’s much more prevalent upon the taste. And the burn of the abv is harsh, which I tend to like, but you’ll want to prepare for it. I’ve had better from Smoke Wagon, but I’m still a very big fan of what they’re doing.

Drinking the 2005 DE (Bottled in 2020) batch no. lgv. 4/509. Good. God. Okay so with this bottle, the iconic laga peat smoke is wrapped in a rich vibrant sweetness that I can only describe as bold, dark and sophisticated The nose has a dense vanilla (think extract) and a toasted note, light brine, and dried fruits like raisins. That raisin note continues onto the palate, where its met with a rich bitter chocolate, molasses, fig and underripe plum. The salt also kicks up a notch on tasting. All the while, that all-to-recognizable meaty peat smoke is ever-present. But it never runs away with your palate. Its balanced by the bold rich sweetness and dried fruits so elegantly the whole way through. I cant believe I’m saying this, but this may have surpassed the 16 for the title of my favorite Laga. I was beginning to think I would never say that. But the PX sherry cask finish really gives it a balance unlike anything. That same mistifying and baffling cool, minty (eucalyptus?) finish is there. It still magically goes from deep dense smoke to a vaporous cooling note somehow. But now its almost as though its wrapped in yet another layer. It’s as dynamic and interesting as the 16, but it’s almost like it’s refined older cousin. Savoring this bottle for sure. My favorite Laga to date, and just a hair shy of a perfect rating for me.

Smooth, easy drinking. The nose is light with apple, floral notes, and subtle sweetness almost like a poundcake. Palate is soft, with a creamy texture. Delicate fruit, light spice, and a bit of sugar. Very short and gentle finish as well. Its got range but not a ton of complexity, which in this case is okay because it makes for a pleasant sipper. Worth noting I bought this at a grocery store in Kyoto for…not much. Probably around $40ish. Over there its considered a slightly above average classic, mostly drank by granddad. Come to find its being sold here in the US for well over $250 a bottle, and fair warning, its really not worth that kind of price. You cant get it easily, so the scarcity is all you’re paying for. But if you’re ever across the pacific, it’s definitely worth a try.

Very interesting. This is meant to be placed in the freezer and then sipped at ice cold temp. So naturally, I first tried it at room temp, as is. It’s unmistakably a Dalwhinnie. There’s still that gentle, balanced palate with crisp apple, fruits and honey, plus a touch of peat smoke - the notes that the distillery is known for. It reminds me an awful lot of the classic 15, but with a few noticable changes. The difference here is in two places. On the nose, I think there’s a lighter fruitiness that I would maybe liken to apricot. I don’t believe it suffers much ar all in comparison to 15 in this regard. However, on the palate, it’s less balanced. A hint of spice and bitterness jumps up, and this detracts somewhat from the honeyed, crisp-apple finish that we get on the 15. In my opinion, this does diminish the palate/finish just a touch, but the quality is still well above average. Now, to try it as the distiller’s intended, after a long stay in the freezer…. With the newfound frigidity, not much has changed on the taste front (which is unsurprising because that’s not how taste really works), although I did notice a slight dissipation of the bitterness on the finish as it’s overpowered by the chill. Beyond that, I can definitely say that the flavor profile plays out nicely at the low temp. The whiskey works either way, whether you drink it chilled or at room temp. But I have to say (and I could just be a hapless victim of the marketing) I think I do prefer it chilled as the distillers suggest. Altogether, it may fall a hair short of the 15, but I think this is a really cool offering from an amazing distillery. Definitely worth a try.

I wanted to like this, especiall at that price point, but I must admit I think this is just a bad whiskey. The nose gives me little more than fermented barley, and the palate is unremarkable with a strange and somewhat unpleasant finish. I will say, its not a difficult drink, and it works well in cocktails, but its rare that I find an Irish whiskey that turns me off this much. I suppose I may be being a touch harsh, but by Irish standards, suffice to say you can find much much better, even at the low price point.

The underlying notes of vanilla, honey, nuts, and light fruits are very similar to the Dalwhinnie 15. But there are a few key differences. First, smoke is slightly more subtle than the 15 (where it’s already pretty subdued). On the 2005 DE, the smoke is barely even perceptible on the nose. It really only shows up on the finish, and even that is more dominated by the sweet notes. There’s also some much more vibrant fruit across the palate, which is almost certainly due to the time spent in Oloroso casks. Lastly, there’s a notable sweetness on the nose that’s almost candy-like. I wouldn’t say it persists, but it definitely pops on the first whiff. I will say I can’t come to a clear conclusion on which I like more, the DE or the 15. I think it really just comes down to how much smoke I’m in the mood for.