Tastes

Bought a sample of this tonight over our monthly date night. I've had a few Old P's previously...always thought they were good, just nothing great. I stand corrected on this 21 yr old. Lemon shortbread cookies on the nose. Sort of like the old fashioned ones they had in prim and proper British tea houses. Really rich and elegant on the palette, mixed with a wisp of smoke and salinity. As if a Dalmore, Talisker and Balvenie had a love child. If any negative, it's gotta be in the finish. I found it a bit bitter and long, sort of like orange rinds. I paid $7 for a 2 oz pour...no idea what a full bottle is costing, but I'll definaltey be looking out for one if I find it at a reasonable price

Whisky Friday....get to finally have my end of week Dram!!! So this evening is a sample generously provided by Modern Drinking---thank you!! I think I've found the perfect combo in whisky. It's peat and port. Goes together like peanut butter and jelly. This is hands down the best Cairdeas I've had...all are really good, but I think this one is a step ahead of the rest. The nose greets you with plums and cigar smoke. I can smell this all day. Taste is a smooth fruit forward with a healthy backbone of smoke and ash. The smoke really plays well with the port finish. One doesn't outshine the other, but together they're just perfect. I think these aren't available anymore, so I'm that much more thankful to sample it. Thanks again to Modern Drinking for the chance.

This is a masterclass on how to develop an Islay whisky with finesse and balance. It's a soft heather aroma on the nose (like a young Balvenie), with a touch of brine and salinity. Then the palette continue with more brine, salinity, citrus and caramel. No where close to the signature in your face Laphroaig, which isn't a bad thing...just shows how well it balances the softer floral flavors with a stronger peat backbone. Thanks to ModernDrinking for a generous sample!

This is another one I've been meaning to try a long time, and can't believe I've come this far into my whisky journey without ever trying it. It's not as in your face as the Uigi or Lag16, but it's certainly no timid field mouse either. Makes the burnt wood presence known from start to finish along with a powerful citrus sweetness. Must try for any Scotch fan, and a must have for any Islay fan.

I had this last night, hoping to enjoy it over a Giants win on Packers. Unfortunately, the G-men decided not to show up after the half. Anyway---I love this color---not sure if it's natural or color added ( I thought though that Laphroaig is non-chill filtered and no coloring). You can clearly see the Madeira influence on the color. Nose---not crazy about it, but it does still hold the classic Laphroaig band aid medicinal. As much as I'm not a fan of the aroma, I think the palettte is simply amazing. The band aid aroma changes quickly to oak and fruits. I don't think I've had previous Cairdeas before, but now I'm curious to try other versions, especially the Port and Amontillado ones. Thanks to Davie for a generous sample!!

As much as I hate business traveling, one of the perks is picking up whiskies not often available state side. I was lrecently in Manchester, and picked this up from the duty free. Not bad---$90 for a liter. II'm still partial to the DE as my hands down favorite (and furthermore, it always reminds me of my late mom's fresh homemade samosas with this spicy smoked tomato tamarind chutney), but this is almost up there. Modern Drinking and Peter Kaalundi's review nail it---this starts off with a smoky seawater aroma, and the taste then continues starting with brine and smoke, but quickly converts to a sticky smoky sweet, like a Kansas City barbecue. This is no where as "grow hair on your chest" strong smoke like the 16, or the samosas of DE, but I'd say somewhere in between. If you happen to be coming up on an international trip, save space in the hand luggage for this. It's well worth it.

I can't believe I got away this long without ever having tried this. I have a bottle I bought years ago, but never got around to opening it. It's somewhere in my stash, probably. (this entire thing of having only two drams a week really slows down bottle consumption I guess). I feel as if this is one of the bedrocks of the modern whiskey world. Without this, we'd be missing a keystone foundation. It's like American football without the likes of Joe Montana, Lawrence Taylor, Tom Brady (Scott...forgive me...I know we're Giants fans), or Walter Payton. This has to be a bedrock in the same discussion as the Macallan 12, Ardbeg 10, Lagavulin 16, Glenlivet 12 and Glenfiddich 18. These are the bedrock whiskeys (in my opinion...but, it's up for debate). I had this sample most recently, graciously provided by Davie (thank you Davie!!). I don't know even know if I should bother describing the nose and palette...why bother. I'm going to just say " it's good...and go get some". Sort of the online blogging version of dropping the mic. ( Davie...again, thank you!).

I opened up a small 50ml sample I had from some time ago. I don't even think these are available anymore, the aged version is replaced fully by the NAS. I wish I bought a full bottle...but, not knowing what this blend was, I was apprehensive of getting a full bottle. Having had the Hibiki 12 and 17, I think this is better than the 12, and right up there with the 17. Nose is floral, like cherry blossoms. Really delicate and mild mannered, but that's not to be confused with 'boring'. Taste extends the delicate profile. More of the cherry blossoms, but now augmented with violets, and green apples. Really a great profile...not like a Lowlander, but just something totally different. Maybe a cross between a Lowlander and a Hibiki. I think the NAS versions are stil available, but I'd not be surprised if those don't live up to the aged version. If you do see a bottle, pick it up...you won't be disappointed. I remember paying 4 euros for this over two years ago, and a full bottle was only 50 euros. If available even twice that much, I'd not hesitate to pick this up.

One of the things I learned quite by accident in trading samples is that we get to try whisky that we otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity for whatever reasons. BenRiach is one of them. If it weren't for Lee sending a generous sample, I'd never even think of buying this bottle. I probably passed by this brand a few times without even thinking twice of buying it, probably because of the high price combined with the general ignorance of the brand. This dram is really good, and makes me think port and peat go together like peanut butter and jelly. First of all, I love the color! It's a burnt sienna, fall-autumny color. On the nose, the peat isn't overwhelming, but plays well in the background with red fruits like raspberries. On the palette, it changes quite a bit from red fruits to smoked meat and plums. I'm getting a bit of wasabi and ginger too. It leaves a long lingering ginger and smoked tea, like oolong. Really recommended, and quite a positive departure from your run of the mill Speysiders. Another great sample provided by Lee...thank you!!!

This is just pure innovative science. It's amazing how they get a sooty, ashy aroma upfront, only to be married to a sweeter palette of dates, figs, salt and citrus, and have the finish long citrusy with a mild tinge of sweet pears, with a slight trail of cigars. Yes, my favorite Ardbeg (or top 5 all time, for that matter) was the Ardbeg 21, but this is just amazing bang for the buck, and in its own right a category developer. A must try for anyone---regardless if you're a fan of Islay or not. Thanks to Davie for the generous sample!!!