Tastes

“Fiery syrup” was the first tasting note from my friend as he took a sip of a blind advent calendar taste. And that’s the first impression without any dilution. But a little water opens this up to the bouquet of classic bourbon flavors hiding beneath the 130 proof veneer. Cinnamon red hots; spicy rye; vanilla; brown sugar. This is almost 1.5 bottles of fine bourbon disguises in a single bottle.

Delicious. My first foray into rum finished islay. Had this blind in an advent calendar and couldn’t place it because Of the sweet smoky peat on the palate. Had I known this was an ardbeg I’d have characterized it as subtle. I appreciate the smoke being muted here as it gives way to aromatic spices, citrus and sweet phenols.

Sweet marmalade and orange on the nose. Honey, orange and a slight sea spray note in the background it took me forever to spot. Finish goes on for awhile with a bitter note akin to an orange rind.

This is a perfectly drinkable whisky, particularly as an aperitif after a heavy meal. It’s perfect for people who don’t like scotch, smoke cigars, and have lots of disposable income. I have three fundamental issues with this scotch before I even get into the taste. 1/ the abv (40%) is ridiculously low. 43% should be the minimum allowable and I personally set a floor of 46 these days unless it’s exceptional quality. 2/ it’s chill filtered and colored. If you’re going to age in 3 different sherry casks you shouldn’t need dye. Let the casks prove their quality! 3/ it’s expensive for what you get. Given the price of single malts and the 15yr age statement I suppose $130-140 isn’t a ridiculous premium, but it’s a lot given the above and below. On top of that, the wood imparts a rather harsh and unwelcome leathery cologne tasting note. I’ll probably never have another dalmore and certainly not buy this bottle at this price again. Tasting notes: dark fruits-plums, cherries. Musty Wood. Reminds me of a chocolate covered orange. This would be pleasant as a single dram after a heavy meal but after more than one the dense woody leather aftertaste builds to an unpleasant level.

This is a solid sherried islay. Nose is smoky peat with a bit of a funk reminiscent of an old leather recliner. Bit of brine comes through as well and is continued into the taste. Rich dark fruits, slight spicy bitterness and trademark islay salty peat. A bit like the sanaig but slightly more subtle. Nose: Islay malt, smoky phenols and woody on the nose. Bit of must. Leather. Taste: salty, smoke from burning embers. Subtle sweetness and dark fruits in the aftertaste. Somewhat bitter and lemony in the development.

A pleasant dram. Tasted blind in a homemade advent calendar. Lots of honey, apple and the spice from the extra proof compared to the 12. Sherry notes are there too. Malty. I’d drink this over the 12 and feel it’s worth the extra money although I realize that’s not a popular opinion.

Spicy, malty. Turns a bit sweet with a touch of water. Honey, light fruits and a burn that sticks around. Downgrading to 3.5 stars. It’s still too hot for its proof. Not my favorite Arran.

Love the peat, funk and proof. Seems a tad one dimensional and overall I prefer the cousins (glengyle and springbank) as I get a bit more in those expressions. I’d love to try more cask finishes in the longrow family but they’re hard to find and expensive in my neck of the woods. There’s a sweetness to this that makes this Eminently drinkable. Update: bumped up to 4 stars. This becomes really nice the longer it opens up. My New Years resolution is to not use “funk” to describe campbeltown scotch. So let’s call this vegetal peat. It’s fantastic.

First flaming heart courtesy of a tasting from a friend. Really drinkable, doesn’t even need water. Peat and light fruit and honey on the nose, smells like a mashup of an islay smoke bomb tempered by the waxy character of clynelish. Peat and smoke linger but in the background with a mild burn at the end. I’d buy this Except it’s ridiculously expensive. Also the distiller score is ridiculously low, but the user ratings suggest something in the mid to high 80s at least.

This is a full bodied malt that shows its viscosity by coating the glass. It has a sharp malt flavor and gives off some sweet vanilla and nutMeg. There is a faint earthy peat on the nose that comes out on the finish. It’s a nice change of pace compared to the smoke and sherry bombs exploding all over maltville. I’d be interested in tasting more amrut juice as I was pleasantly surprised by this fusion of India and Scotland.