Tastes
-
Continuing my series of whisky reviews of whiskies i had on my lat trip to Scotland, one very nice one was from a distillery i am not a fond fan... Bruichladdich. In the warehouse tour they gave us some rare straight from the cask expressions, and one of those was this 17yo Cask Strength, 2004 vintage. Matured First fill bourbon cask, poured at 60%abv. On the nose, quite interesting. Recently made rice; grapefruit, green fresh apples and fondant. It is like an apple spice, peach halves, and recently baked brownies. After a first sip, it released the "soapy" notes from Bruichladdich. Corny; Apple juice, green Apple peel. On the palate, it was great. Peaches, sugar syrup, sawdust and apples. Brownies. Pepper and strong spiciness. Afterraste was a bit unusual for a "Laddie". It felt charred. Ashtray, chocolate, scorching but pleasant. Dark pepper. Overall, this was a super complex great dram, that is starting to change my overall perception of this distillery since i have also had some of their "Black Arts" expressions and they were fairly good as well. Really a beautiful single malt, my score for it is 93 over 100.
-
Have you ever made a whisky, blend some important malts with grain, and then you mixed it with a type of french apple liquor called Calvados? Well, Compass Box did. Spoiler alert: it didn't work. Affinity gets its name from a mixture of a blended scotch whisky with Calvados, an apple liquor that comes from a city with the same name. The actual combination is 62% whisky, 38% Calvados. You can't called this whisky legally, that is why this is labeled as a Spirit Drink. Bottled at 46%abv. On the nose, it is terrible. Sider, mr. Clean cleaning chemicals. Yellow apples, cleaning thinner, vinegar. It smells like wet paint. On the palate it is bad. Its like a red apple "flambe". Not good. Aftertaste is like bubblegum. Actually bubblegum ice cream, the blue one. Overall, you should avoid this. Compass Box, let me tell you this, i love you, but don't ever do this to me again. I am dissapointed, cloyed and even sad of having to rate this. My score for it is 41 over 100.
-
Laphroaig 17yo Bourbon and Madeira matured, Straight from the Cask
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed August 15, 2022It is always good to have a Laphroaig. It is even better when it comes straight from the cask at the distillery premises. This is the case of my last single malt of the Laphroaig tour, a 17yo that was initially matured 8 years in ex bourbon casks and later finished for 9 years in Madeira barrels. Poured at 54.4%abv On the nose, it is all about thick syrupy red fruits. Floral, milk chocolate and Cigarrette ashes. Hazelnut. Very good stuff. On the palate, it is sweet, chocolaty and a little peaty. Milk chocolate mix with almonds. Toblerone chocolate bar. Metallic/copperish and toffee. Aftertaste explodes after a muted start. If you wait three seconds it gives you a sonic boom of chocolate and chilli. It has a nice bite, chocolate and hazelnut with the classic Laphroaig "fresh can of tennis balls" peat. Overall, this was an spectacular dram, quite sweet for a Laphroaig. The medicinal peatiness mixed well with the chocolate and almond notes, for a lovely experience. I really look forward for more madeira matured single malts from this epic distillery. My score for it is 95 over 100. -
Laphroaig 18yo Straight from the Cask, Distillery exclusive
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed August 14, 2022 (edited August 15, 2022)Back when i was at Laphroaig distillery, i had the chance to taste another whisky straight from the cask. This time an 18yo single malt that has been triple matured, first for 5 years in a bourbon cask; then 1 year in a Quarter Cask, and finally 12 years in american white oak. Poured at 49.6%. On the nose, it is very fresh and minty. Lemon air freshener, peppermint, vanilla ice cream. It has the classic Laphroaig aroma of a fresh can tennis balls. Citrus and vanilla. Very citric lemon peel. On the palate it follows the same rythm. Lemongrass, vanilla. Pepper and salt, lots of lemon leaves. After a first sip it became a vanilla ice cream. The lemon reigns here. There is a nice aftertaste. Medicinal, lemon. Very fresh and minty. Ginger spice. Overall, this can be described as the most typical Laphroaig there is. It has every tasting and aroma note that you expect; but delivered in a more elegant, tamed way. This is the proof that distilleries like Laphroaig are better when their spirits are younger and bolder. It is a very good whisky, but for a 18yo straight from the cask, it feels it should be better. My score for it is 89 over 100. -
My last whisky in Ardbeg's distillery was their newest expression, the Ardcore. This one honours punk rock music and attitude, and it has been distilled from Black Roasted Barley, which is a new experiment from Bill Lumdsen. Of course, as most Ardbeg Day expressions, this one has a Committee release as well, bit this review is for the normal one. Bottled at 46%abv. On the nose, it feels yeasty and spongy. Beer and Chocolate. Not much else, but nice. On the palate, it follows the same rythm, there is this Chocolate and Vanilla note that is mixed with some salty yeast. Aftertaste is the best part. A smoke explosion. Beer and yeasty. Salty. It feels like charcoal smoke and charcoal rocks. Nice. Overall, this is not the best Ardbeg out there. I thought my palate and nose were a little off, then i went online and i found a bit of backlash against this one. Even Ralfy is criticizing it. I don't think it is a bad dram, just a little simple, straightforward and not full of complex notes. My score for it is a dissapointing 83 over 100.
-
Ok, lets restart the counter, this is my whisky review 1001 and it is a new beggining. In my visit to Ardbeg, i convinced a guy in the distillery to let me taste one of their old special expressions, and i got lucky since i had the chance to taste the famous Ardbeg Renaissance. This single malt, was part of a collection that was released to commemorate that Ardbeg was reopened in 1997, and they made 4 whiskies, "very young", "still young", "almost There", and this one, "Renaissance". As the name suggests, this whisky celebrates the reborn of Ardbeg, in hands of Glenmorangie Distillers, later to be owned by LVMH. It has been bottled at 55.9%abv and it has one particular characteristic: it was bottled from the first new make spirit made in 1998, as soon as it was 10 years old in 2008. This is, the first new Ardbeg. On the nose, it is actually super sweet. Red fruits, vanilla cake, almonds. Deep nutty cake, pine, grassy. Very herbal. Coffeee and black pepper. It can be described as herbal peatiness. On the palate it is ok. Vanilla cream, chocolate cream, salty. Sulphur and metallic. Actually very salty and maritime. "Swampy". I liked the aftertaste more than the palate. Smoked metals. Copper. Black pepper. Meat balls. Maritime salty water. Overall, this is not the best Ardbeg out there, but it that does not mean it is bad. It is actually very enjoyable, but lacks some complexity and maturation, it feels young. Having said that, it is undoubtedly a piece of history. My score for it is a well deserved 88 over 100.
-
Ardbeg Kildalton 2014
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed August 6, 2022 (edited January 4, 2024)5 years ago, i started my journey in whisky. It has been a super fun and lovely experience, and now it has reached a beautiful milestone. This my friends, is my whisky review No. 1000. After 1000 whiskies i can honestly say i have tasted enough from most scottish distilleries, and, in a very subjective way, i can pick my favorites. My top three would be Glendronach, Talisker and Lagavulin. The rest of the top ten would be, in no specific order, Ardbeg, Arran, Dalmore, Edradour, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Highland Park. It is awesome to share ny reviews with you, and the actual 1000 whisky was an Ardbeg. Tasted at the distillery warehore, a 2014 special expression, the famous "Kildalton". This one was originally intended only for distillery visitors, and it honours the Kildalton Cross on the Isle of Islay. It is the best preserved celtic cross on Scotland, and that makes it a wonderful monolithic structure with historic importance. Bottled at 46%abv, this special edition has been bottled in bourbon and sherry casks. On the nose, it starts with green apples and the Ardbeg peat, but tamed. Minty, herbal, smokey. It takes time to fully open. Gooseberries. Super fruity and slightly ashy. Very perfumed; it has released a scent of hand lotion. After a first sip, it gave me a vanilla explosion in a fancy, well delivered way. Vanilla ice cream, coconut, lemongrass. Super complex. On the palate, it is pure perfection. Grassy, herbal. Ashy water in a good way. Not watery, but very grassy. Petrichor. The second sip gave me vanilla and herbal Tea. On the third sip it had a sugary character. Aftertaste is peaty and super enjoyable. Ashy, a puff of smoke. I can only describe it as a herbal powder is such thing exists. Sider and metallic notes, copper. Overall, this one is very fresh, minty and herbal in a very good way. The palate was the absolute highlight of this very rewarding dram. Having said all that, i am so happy that i have reached 1000 reviews, i can finally said that "i have drunk a little whisky". My next step of the journey is to write a book, that will contain my thoughts on this great beverage, and of course i will include all my reviews on it. My score for this single malt is 96 over 100, but it feels like one thousand! Slàinte!! -
Ardbeg 21 year old, Single Cask, Distillery Sample, straight from the cask.
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed August 2, 2022 (edited August 6, 2022)This is my whisky review No. 999, and i offered you that the last 10 critics to reach 1000 were going to be only super memorable drams. This is the case, since not everyday you get to taste a 21 year old single cask Ardbeg, straight from the cask at the distillery, drawn at 49.4%abv, from a second filled bourbon barrel. You have always known, that age statement in whiskies by law, are the age of the youngest drop in the bottle. That is why you have always been told, and maybe you did not believed it, that in some classic blends like Chivas 12yo or Johnnie 12yo, there are older, much older whiskies but the youngest is the twelve year old. Well, let me tell you, this 21yo Ardbeg, which is something quite hard to find, will someday be part of the super standard "Ardbeg Ten". This is one component of the final single malt that is released for $70 pretty much everywhere in the world. That was a very crazy fact the tpur guide told us before pouring this very old juice. On the nose, it was surprisingly fruity. Pineapple, green apple juice and herbal medicine. Sider and a medicinal lotion for skin. Tropical fruits; Sambuca, it is not peaty at all in the first nose and it feels very elegant. Sea water. After a sip, the aroma became like an apple dipped in lotion for burnt skin. Sea water with pineapple and a slight note of tar. Very appealing and complex. Perfect score here. On the palate, fruitiness meets the peat. Grapefruit, apple sider and smoked pineapple. Peppery, gingery, bold but manageable spiciness. Very fresh. The second sip gave me apple and vanilla; Its like bitting a wonderfull tamed peaty green apple. Aftertaste was marvelous. Ashy, fruity, ashy, fruity, smokey, fruity, those are the layers that dance in an unstoppable way. A second sip was all about smokey beautifulness with some fresh fruitiness. So rewarding! Overall, i want you to know, that i have handpicked the last 10 reviews, because in the middle of all this tastings i have had some regular, some good and some excelent whiskies, but i picked the best for this almost natural "top ten" till i reach the 1000 milestone. And i had to clarify that in order to tell you that i am not feeling any placebo effect for having super expensive and crazy rare drams, and that is why i am giving super scores to them. I like to think, that even if i usually give good rates to many of the single malts i taste (because i am such a whisky lover), i always try to be as objective as i can be. Having said all that, it is obvious now, that i have a perfect score for this beauty. This is really the heart of what this distillery can achieve in a single cask, for 21 long years. Where were you two decades ago, when the youngest drop entered the cask for maturation? I was starting law school. Almost all my adult life has passed for me to drink this as my whisky 999, and i believe that to be memorable. My score for it is 100 over 100. Slàinte! -
Ardbeg 9yo Single Manzanilla Cask, Distillery Exclusive
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed August 2, 2022 (edited August 6, 2022)Have you ever tasted a million dollar whisky? Well, i kinda have. I have arrived to Ardbeg distillery, one of my favorites, to reach my landmark, 1000 whisky reviews. I never imagined that No. 998 was going to be a 9yo dram, that was drawn from a cask that if you would like to buy it (the whole barrel), you'll have to write a check for the amount of money Dr. Evil has dreamt about in every Austin Powers movie. Drawn from the barrel at 60% abv, this is a 9yo single Manzanilla cask. This will never be bottled as a single cask, this will be blended with other casks. That is what they told us in the tour. On the nose, a lovely scottish shortbread, biscuits with filling. It smells exactly like salmon, this is actually "fishy" in a lovely way. I can only describe this as cotton candy with codfish. Milka caramel chocolate. THIS IS AN INSANE AROMA. After a first sip, it released Lindt chocolate. Incredible stuff. I want to inyect this chocolate in my veins. On the palate, it is the most bitter and darker Chocolate ever. Crazy good. Starts creamy and oily, then explodes in saltiness. Chocolate madness, with a sonic boom of sulphuric saltiness. Chocolate caramel. Aftertaste is all about smoke and elegant tar, if such things exists. Crazy notes of fresh can tennis balls, nerf toys, foam toys and rubber. New shoes. Silicium. Overall, this is the craziest Ardbeg i have ever had and that is quite a bold statement to make. Incredible interesting, sweet and peaty notes. I try not to feel influenced by the price of the cask, but this is by far the most expensive whisky i have tasted, or maybe not, since a bottle of this might be just a couple thousands if i divide it mathematically. Leaving the price aside, it was wonderful and it has gained a perfect 100 in my books. Slàinte!! -
Bowmore No Corners To Hide 23 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed July 30, 2022 (edited January 2, 2023)(Insert creepy movie narrator voice here before reading) It is widely known, the the devil appears every now and then on the Isle of Islay. But people on the Isle have never been scared of him. That is why they always chase him to kill him, but the devil has the custom of entering Bowmore's church, where he hides in the corner. The locals, tired of this situation, decided to demolish the church, and replaced it with a round one, where the devil HAD NO CORNERS TO HIDE. So, the day came where the devil was chased again... he entered the round church, and he saw no place to escape his fate. One window was left open, he threw himself through it. He ran to Bowmore distillery and when he reached the warehouse, he splitted into tiny little devils, and then he hid for ages, in what is now known as THE DEVIL'S CASK. This allegedly true story, is the theme for Bowmore's lastest hit, a refurbished release of the once glorious "Bowmore's Devil's Cask". "NO CORNERS TO HIDE", has been created by making a lovely box and label by the artist Frank Quietly, who is a cartoon drawer, which hits like Batman, and X-men. Bottled at 51.5%abv, this is a 23yo expression of Bowmore, matured initially in ex-bourbon American oak hogsheads, and then two years in "Essencia barriques". These casks are built by Tonnellerie Demptos, a French cooperage. On the nose, Perfection. Bbq sauce, bacon, honey; strong earthy peat. Cherry syrup appeared out of nowhere. Old oranges. After the first sip, the aroma changed, bacon intensified; it released toffee mixed with solid sweet sherry and peat. Orange candy. Plastic And glazed pork. On the palate, you won't ever find something better than this. Old oranges, Hay peat and sulphur. Sherried: Red fruitiniess, sherry spices, sherry sweetness; sherry perfection. Aftertaste is extraordinary. Smokey. Sherried lovely red fruity finish. AMAZING SYRUPY FINISH MIXED WITH PEAT, just WOW!; Smokey maraschino cherries. Overall, i believe this is one of my favorite whiskies ever. This is just perfect in every sense: sweet, peaty, syrupy, powerful, flavorful, etc.; If i can give you some advice, do not drink this ever, two reasons for that: 1.- more for me; and, 2.- this can ruin all other whiskies for you. My score for it is 1000 over 100. Yes you read that right, a thousand points, now let's listen to ACDC's Highway to Hell, Slàinte Mhath!!
Results 331-340 of 1366 Reviews