Tastes

Next up in my Laphroaig series, is a sample of the 2021 Caidreas PX that was generously provided by @ctbeck11 The nose starts with a mix of fig jam on toasted sourdough, tangy barbecue sauce on charred pork belly and leather bound books then light diesel fumes, mild ocean brine, dark chocolate mocha and toasted hazelnuts followed by prunes, cherries jubilee and orange creme brûlée that transitions to light ginger and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium to full mouthfeel starting with chocolate ganache, grilled figs and tangy barbecue sauce on charred pork belly before a mild spice that quickly fades to toasted sourdough, espresso, mild ocean brine and freshly lit pipe tobacco followed by prunes, cherries jubilee and orange sorbet that transitions to light baking spices, leather bound books and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long, starting with chocolate ganache over creamy sweet berries that fades to the background of pipe tobacco, smoky barbecued meats, light ocean brine, asphalt, leather bound books and polished mahogany. This is a smoky chocolate treat that I could see some find the PX cask overpowering but for me it strikes a very enjoyable balance with those rich chocolate and dark berries counterbalancing the savory smoked meats and mild ocean brine. At a price of around $90, I think it’s very reasonably priced and I’ll be on the lookout to pick one of these up if I stumble on one. Ratings for the series so far: 10-year cask strength batch 11- 3.75 10-year sherry oak finish- 4.0 Lore- 4.0 2019 Caidreas Triple Wood- 3.75 2020 Caidreas Port and Wine - 3.75 2021 Caidreas PX - 4.0

Next up in my Laphroaig series, is a sample of the 2020 Caidreas Port and Wine that was generously provided by @ctbeck11 The nose starts with a mix of strawberry jam on toasted sourdough, tangy barbecue sauce on smoked short ribs and light diesel fumes then light florals, dark chocolate mocha and toasted almonds followed by black cherries, raspberry sorbet and tangerine orange that transitions to light ginger and freshly opened can of tennis balls with high ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with creamy and slightly tart red berries before a moderate bitter spice that quickly fades to a mix of toasted sourdough, tangy barbecue sauce smoked brisket, light ocean brine and light diesel fumes then light florals, dark chocolate covered bacon and almond croissant followed by cherries jubilee, dehydrated raspberries and tangerine orange that transitions to light ginger, asphalt and freshly opened can of tennis balls with high ethanol burn. The finish is long, starting with a mix creamy sweet red berries and orchard fruits that fade to the background of smoky barbecued meats, light ocean brine, asphalt and mildly bitter black tea. A really delicious and bold dram that the wine and port casks have imparted these slightly tart and sweet red berry flavors along with smoky meats, mild ocean brine and light spices. This suffers from some slight sour notes and the palate leans heavier on the spices than I’d prefer, but overall, it’s a hell of a dram that I think any fan of peated whiskies would thoroughly enjoy. At a price of around $90 when these were released, this was another well-priced offering that provides a unique variation to the typical Laphroaig profile that I’d happily buy a bottle today if I happen to stumble on one on the shelves for the original retail price. Ratings for the series so far: 10-year cask strength batch 11- 3.75 10-year sherry oak finish- 4.0 Lore- 4.0 2019 Caidreas Triple Wood- 3.75 2020 Caidreas Port and Wine - 3.75

Next up in my Laphroaig series, is a sample of the 2019 Caidreas Triple Wood that was generously provided by @ctbeck11 The nose starts with a mix of honey butter on toasted sourdough, smoked salmon and leather-bound books then light florals, blonde espresso and dark chocolate covered raisins followed by caramelized pears, grilled peaches and musty grapes that transitions to light ginger and freshly opened can of tennis balls with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium to full mouthfeel starting with creamy and slightly tart red berries before a moderate bitter spice that slowly fades to tangy barbecued brisket, grilled figs and freshly lit pipe tobacco then spicy dark chocolate mocha, mild ocean brine and toasted marshmallow followed by caramelized pears, sautéed strawberries and musty grapes that transitions to light ginger, diesel fumes and polished oak with high ethanol burn. The finish is long, starting with a mix of sweet orchard and sour berries that fades to tangy smoked brisket, dark chocolate mocha, asphalt, mild ocean brine and mild black tea. The nose is surprisingly mellow with this beautifully composed mix with sweet honey and toasted oak upfront underscored by lightly smoked meats that fade to slightly soured citrus that draws you in for a taste and quickly reminds you that this is nearly 60% ABV with a slightly sour berry uppercut to the taste buds before a moderate spice that eventually fades to rich barbecued meats, grilled fruits, berries and polished oak that finishes starting sweet with minor sourness before fading to rich barbecued meats and earthy spices that lingers for minutes after each sip. At a price of around $90 when these were released, I’d say these were very well-priced cask strength Islay offerings that were an interesting take on the Laphroaig profile that I’d happily buy a bottle of if I could find it for the same price today. Ratings for the series so far: 10-year cask strength batch 11- 3.75 10-year sherry oak finish- 4.0 Lore- 4.0 2019 Caidreas Triple Wood- 3.75

Continuing my Laphroaig series, up next is a sample of Lore. The nose starts with candied bacon, grilled figs and leather-bound books then a mild campfire smoke, dark chocolate ganache with light sea salt and pipe tobacco followed by caramelized pears, strawberries with balsamic vinegar and dehydrated mango that transitions to mild baking spices, asphalt and polished oak with low ethanol burn. The taste is a medium to full mouthfeel starting with creamy orchard fruits before a moderate spice that slowly fades to tangy smoked pork belly, grilled figs and leather-bound books then freshly lit pipe tobacco, dark chocolate covered sea salt caramels and almond croissant followed by caramelized pears, sautéed strawberries and mango that transitions to mild baking spices, asphalt and polished oak with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long, starting with a moderate pipe tobacco smoke that quickly recedes to creamy orchard fruits, dark chocolate covered raisins and candied bacon followed by light baking spices, mild ocean brine, leather bound books and polished oak. This is an exceptional dram that is masterfully composed with soft smoke intermixing beautifully with light sherry, creamy citrus fruits and well-aged oak that has a mild sourness and a higher spice than I prefer on the palate and the finish begins slightly off-putting with a moderate smoky bitter spice that quickly fades to allow for that delightful mix of light sherry, creamy citrus, candied bacon and oak to return and linger for minutes after each sip. At a price of around $140, I think this is a reasonably priced dram that allows for a taste of a tamer and softer side of Laphroaig. Ratings for the series so far: 10-year cask strength batch 11- 3.75 10-year sherry oak finish- 4.0 Lore- 4.0

Continuing my Laphroaig series is a sample of their 10-year sherry oak that was generously provided by @ctbeck11 The nose starts with a mix of tangy smoked short ribs, cherries jubilee and moderate campfire smoke then dark chocolate mocha, light diesel fumes, mild ocean brine and toasted hazelnuts followed by bacon wrapped dates, caramelized pears and blood orange sorbet that transitions to light baking spices and freshly opened can of tennis balls with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with creamy red berries before a mild spice that quickly fades to tangy smoked short ribs, strawberry shortcake and moderate campfire smoke then dark chocolate mocha, burnt rubber, sun soaked asphalt, mild ocean brine and toasted hazelnuts followed by bacon wrapped dates, caramelized pears and blood orange sorbet that transitions to light baking spices and freshly opened can of tennis balls with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long, starting with a mix of dark chocolate covered candied bacon, grilled figs and sautéed strawberries that fades to moderate campfire, asphalt, light ocean brine and freshly opened can of tennis balls that lingers for minutes. This is a wonderful smoky and sweet dram that the peat and sherry work perfectly together to create this balance of rich smoked meats along with creamy citrus, berries and mild earthy notes that lingers long after each sip. At a price of around $90, I’d happily buy one of these on sight next time I see one and think this is an absolute stunner of a dram by Laphroaig that thankfully isn't outrageously priced these days. Ratings for the series: 10-year cask strength batch 11- 3.75 10-year sherry oak- 4.0

Starting off my Laphroaig series is their 10-year cask strength batch 11 that was generously provided by @ctbeck11 The nose starts with a mix of honey glazed suckling pig, mild ocean brine and moderate campfire smoke then light diesel fumes and almond croissant followed by caramelized pears, nectarines and lemon zest that transitions to light ginger and freshly opened can of tennis balls with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium to full mouthfeel starting with creamy yet mildly sour citrus before a mix of barbecued short ribs, mild ocean brine and moderate campfire smoke that veers towards a moderate bitter spice that slowly fades to burnt rubber, asphalt and almond croissant followed by caramelized pears, peaches and lemon zest that transitions to light ginger and freshly opened can of tennis balls with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long starting with creamy citrus that quickly pivots to smoked short ribs, asphalt, mild ocean brine, moderate campfire smoke and freshly opened can of tennis balls. The nose is this wonderful balance with the smoke coming through immediately but not overpowering those rich smoked meats with a backdrop of sweet citrus and mild tennis balls which carries over to the palate but the citrus is slightly sourer than the nose with the addition of asphalt and a moderate spice that throws off the balance for me before finishing with a hint of sweet citrus before a mild peppery ash and rubber notes take over. At a price of around 85+ near me, these seem fairly priced for a cask strength Islay and would make any peat head happy.

The nose starts with a mix of dark chocolate covered pretzels, cherries jubilee and leather bound books then figgy pudding, freshly lit pipe tobacco and seaside rocky minerality followed by grilled peaches, poached pears and musty grapes that transitions to hay, mild baking spices and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium to full mouthfeel starting with creamy orchard fruits and light florals before a mild spice that quickly fades to dark chocolate mocha, cherries jubilee and leather bound books then baked figs, freshly lit pipe tobacco and seaside rocky minerality followed by raspberries, pear tart and musty grapes that transitions to hay, mild baking spices and polished mahogany with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long, starting with sweet orchard fruits that quickly fades to mild black pepper, dark chocolate covered raisins, freshly lit pipe tobacco, seaside rocky minerality, leather bound books and polished mahogany. This is an outstanding sherry bomb that the rich sherry elements are front and center with dark chocolate and red berries that works incredibly well in balance with the Hazelburn spirit creating a fantastic dram that keeps pulling me back after each sip wanting to explore this one further. Anything Springbank seems to be at an outrageous price nowadays, but I managed to find this at a price that I found justifiable. It’s a wonderful whisky that I’m going to share with friends, but if you can’t find it at a reasonable price, I’d just let these sit on the shelf until the liquor store drastically drops the price which is how I managed to get this one and just pick up another option while you wait.

The nose is rich and bold starting with a mix of dark chocolate ganache, honey drizzled over caramelized peaches and mild campfire smoke then figgy pudding, blonde espresso and seaside rocky minerality followed by pear tarte, musty grapes and candied orange peel that transitions to mild baking spices and sandalwood with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a rich velvety mouthfeel starting with a mix of Black Forest cake, honey drizzled over caramelized peaches and moderate campfire smoke then dark chocolate covered raisins, blonde espresso and seaside rocky minerality followed by musty grapes, cantaloupe and charred pineapple that transitions to mild baking spices and sandalwood with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long, starting with creamy tropical fruits, honeycomb and mild smoke that fade to a mix of Black Forest cake, espresso and seaside rocky minerality before mild baking spices and sandalwood. This is a rich syrupy dram that the flavors are bold with a mix of creamy chocolates, caramelized fruits along with a mild peat smoke, seaside rocky minerality and unique spices that are expertly balanced with minimal rough edges that the finish lingers for minutes after each sip. I’m really blown away by this dram and the bump from 46.8% ABV on the 01:21:01 to 59.8% ABV on the 09:15 CK.632 has really intensified the experience. Personally I prefer the higher ABV for the intensity of the flavors, but would be happy to have both bottles around for when I’d want something lower strength for the hotter months. Based on a quick online search, the cask strength versions are about $90 and the lower ABV versions are around $70 in the USA and I think both are extremely well priced for the quality and depth of flavors they are able to achieve. Thanks @Richard-ModernDrinking for the generous samples to explore Ardnamurchan, as I wasn’t aware of what I was missing and am going to need to pick up a few bottles from this wonderful distillery to explore further.

After reading some positive reviews from @soonershrink , I decided to finally get around to opening up the sample of Ardnamurchan 01:21:01 that was generously provided by @Richard-ModernDrinking The nose starts with honey drizzled over grilled peaches and pineapple, chocolate covered raisins along with a mild peaty smoke then light florals and seaside rocky minerality followed by sautéed apples, mandarin oranges and musty grapes that transitions to ginger, cloves and sandalwood with low ethanol burn. The taste is a medium mouthfeel starting with creamy orchard fruit, honey lozenge and a mild campfire smoke before a moderate spice that slowly fades to dark chocolate spicy mocha and dehydrated figs then light florals and seaside rocky minerality followed by candied lemon peel, nectarines and cantaloupe that transitions to light baking spices and sandalwood with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length starting with a mix of creamy orchard and lightly soured tropical fruits that slowly fades to dark chocolate spicy mocha, ocean brine, mild campfire smoke and sandalwood. This is a delightful dram that drinks far older than the 5 years it aged and for me, it invokes a sensory experience of sitting by the seaside with a campfire while watching the waves slowly crash over the rocks with a picnic of sweet and sour fruits, honey over charred bread and dark chocolate covered raisins with a rich mocha. It does suffer from a higher spice than I prefer along with a mild youthful sourness, but overall it is one that I’d really want a full bottle to explore more. This batch is likely all gone, but based off a quick online search, there are bottles available for around $70, which I think is very fairly priced for a wonderful seaside fruity dram with light peat smoke. I really look forward to seeing how their spirit does with more age and think this will be one to watch out for. Thanks again @Richard-ModernDrinking for the sample as this was a real treat.

Ever since I tried Cotswolds, I’ve been excited to try more English whisky and picked up a sample of Bimber’s ex-bourbon batch 1 that aged for around 3 years and was bottled at 51.8% ABV. The nose starts with a mild astringent and earthy mix of lemon juice, charred pineapple and wood chips then cocoa powder covered gooseberries and light florals followed by nectarines and tangerine orange that transitions to light baking spices and polyester with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a thin to medium mouthfeel starting with light creamy orchard fruits before quickly veering into a moderate bitter spice that slowly fades to lemon pith, charred pineapple and sawdust then cocoa powder covered golden raisins and light honeysuckle followed by white grapes, grapefruit and tangerine orange zest that transitions to light baking spices and polyester with medium ethanol burn. The finish is medium length starting with sour citrus and light florals that slowly fades to an earthy and mildly bitter profile. This is just far too sour and astringent for my palate that likely needs more time aging in the barrels to polish out those youthful notes. I’m more averse to sour flavors than others, so this would likely be more enjoyable for other palates than mine, but at a price of $150 near me, I’d much rather buy Cotswolds at almost half the cost that is a better fit for my palate.