Tastes

The nose has a decent amount of peat but the peat comes off a little green. There is a briny sea air and iodine tinge as well. The palate is fairly complex with stone fruits and citrus leading up to a hint of vanilla and tannins. The finish is weak for an Islay. Hoping to find a cask strength to see if it helps. I wouldn’t dream of adding water as it is already seeming a little too under proof. The one advantage is the smoothness that Laphroaig presents especially for an Islay newcomer

In the glass, she has long, thick, oily legs like a vintage Sports Illustrated model! The nose has a decent hit of peat and salty smoked salmon and salty sea air. There is also a small hint of mint and anise on the nose as the pour starts to disappear. The palate is warm and inviting like a campfire. Chewing brings out caramel front/mid-tongue and granny smith apple on the back sides. There’s a fair amount of bitter orange peel on the back of the tongue as well. The finish is long and lingering with an oily mouth feel and gullet warmth only found in well matured high quality Whisky/Whiskey. The light mint shows back up in the finish but not as noticeable as Lagavulin 16 This is my favorite Islay Scotch!

The nose was significant with lots of baking spice, caramel, honey, tobacco and vanilla The palate was buttery toffee right off the bat. Once it breaths, the caramel and vanilla come through with just a hint of oak The finish is stronger than the proof with a nice Kentucky hug and lots of flavors sticking around for a while!

The nose is welcoming with typical vanilla and caramel notes. There is a fruity element too The palate was herbal like Queen Annes lace meets chicory then gave way to vanilla and caramel The finish was fair with a decent Kentucky hug

Nose was all vanilla to start and eventually opened up some oak and cinnamon spice. On the palate, the richness and smooth mouthfeel of Blantons is very welcoming. Vanilla gives way to light expressions of charred oak and leather. The finish was a little weak compared to comparable bourbons but lasted long enough for a small Kentucky Hug.

Nice BBQ brisket, Bandaids and smoked sea salt on the nose. Opens up to warm notes of pepper spices as it breathes. The palate starts with slight iodine and sweet smoked salt water fish. Very light floral notes but not very fruity. Finish is long and rounded with a nice almost anise or mint freshness. Very nice!

Beautiful nose with your typical high quality bourbon showing vanilla, cherry and other stone fruits. Palate started with the stone fruits and a hint of rhubarb jam that hits the back of your tongue. The finish is very nice without being too forceful

Peat and repeat on the nose! Warm stone fruits and lemon-lime soda start to waif out of the Glencairn once it sits for a bit. The palate will surprise you with what seems like a weak start then as you swirl and chew, the great complexity of a true Islay abounds! Citrus is the first note with grapefruit, lemon-lime and tart apple. The peat comes up next but not with the punch that hit you on the nose. The peat on the palate is subtle yet complex. Brings back campfires during hikes on the Appalachia’s and the salty briny beaches of Corolla! The finish is long and strong for a scotch probably due to the higher than norm 108.4 proof. Fantastic Islay!

Cherry Bomb! Stone fruits hit the nose immediately then trails to vanilla and oak. Palate starts with cherry coke and as you chew, Granny Smith apple shows up on the back of the tongue. Definitely mouth watering! As it sits and breathes, toasted marshmallow appears both on the nose and palate. The finish is warm and inviting with that special Kentucky hug. Warmer than the 110 proof would lead you to believe which I personally like. The vanilla and oak really come alive in the fairly long finish as well.

It’s like a certain cola company and Buffalo Trace conspired! On the nose, very alcohol forward then opens up to cinnamon cherry cola. After breathing for about 5-7 min, vanilla and caramel make their presence known. Palate packs a whooping with a great mouth feel that starts with decent alcohol burn and gives way to cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom. The vanilla and caramel come through similar to the nose The finish is long and strong with a decent Kentucky hug. Oak shows up in the end but just a hint. Like most, I put it pretty close to Stagg Sr with more alcohol and less oak and leather