Tastes

BUNNAHABHAIN CRUACH-MHÒNA (2017) Bottle opened: 12 Weeks Final Review date: 17-4-22 Nose: Sweet Peat, Sweet Liquorice and some Earthy notes. Flowers, Citrus (Lemon), Sea-air, Pepper, and Smoke. The Salt is there, although it is otherwise Sweet (Honey) (9/10) Taste: Sweet Peat. Ooh! Very thick, Oily, way too Sweet, Peppery, Smoky and a little Salty. Develops on Citrus (Lemon) & Sweet (Honey). Liquorice. (9/10) Finish: The finish is Dry, Sweet Smoke and Spicy. Medium-long finish. (8/10)

LAPHROAIG FOUR OAK (2017 - 305) Bottling Code: L7305YB1 Bottle opened: 3 weeks Final Review date: 26-6-20 N: Immediate smell of Earthy Peat, Wood Pellets, Ash, Salted Caramel, Sea-Air, Grass, Pine, Potpourri, and Peppery Spice. Honey and Vanilla Sweetness. On top of this, there is Citrus (Lemon). Oddly Calamine Lotion. (9/10) P: Thin and Watery. Sweet Peat and Chili Heat. Wood, Lemon, Salted Caramel, Ash, and Grass. Gets mildly Creamy with a hint of Vanilla. (8/10) F: Peat Smoke with Citrus, Hot Spice, Vanilla, Ash, and Salt. Medium-long and Dry. (9/10) There is quite a lot of complexity, but little sophistication. Rates higher than QC in my book though.

JOHNNIE WALKER XR 21 Bottling Code: L3338CS000 Bottle opened: 6 Months Final Review date: 16-6-20 N: Floral and nice mix of dense Fruit Sweets. Sweet fizzy Peach drink, Orange Zest, and sweet undertones of Vanilla. Raisins and some Cinnamon Spice. (8/10) P: Forest Fruit Jam and heaps of Wild Honey. Mild Smoke with Cinnamon Spice on the tongue. Oak and Citrus. (6/10) F: Medium and Dry. Honey, lots of Oak, and Smoke. (6/10) Bit harsh for the age.

JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL Bottling Code: L8135DN001 Bottle opened: 7 Months Final Review date: 18-6-20 N: Lots of Cedar Wood and Herbs. Sweet Floral. Very light Smoke with a hint of Leather. Honey and Orange Zest. Fruity Sweetness and Licorice. Touch of Spice (Cinnamon). Hint of Coconut. Everything is extremely Soft and Interwoven. Actually quite lovely. (8/10) P: Nothing of the complexity of the nose manifests itself on the palate. Absolutely no Alcohol to feel though. Very soft entrance of Oak, Dark Spices (Cloves) and Sweetness (Honey, Caramel) with subtle Peat. Licorice, Citrus. Softer Fruits appear, Tropical in nature (Mango). An extra point for how it transitions into the finish like Cotton Candy melting in the mouth. (8/10) F: Super Smooth, Honey, Oak, and Citrus. Subtle Smoke and Spice. Really short finish. (8/10) Blue Label is a legend in its own right and will continue to be one of the Ultimate premium blends.

WILLIAM GRANT & SONS ARAID 25 Selected: 14-3-16 Batch: 16/0818 Bottle No.: 2613/3000 Bottle opened: 7 Months Final Review date: 17-6-20 N: Lots of Wood (Oak) and Spices (Nutmeg, Cloves, Cinnamon) with a hint of Leather. Honey and Dry Fruit Sweetness (Raisins). Citrus, Licorice, and undertones of Vanilla. (8/10) P: Very Rich palate with Honey and Dark Spices (Cloves, Cinnamon). Citrus and Dry Fruits (Raisins). (8/10) F: Oak and Honey. Citrus and Spice with subtle Smoke. Medium and Dry. (8/10)

LAPHROAIG PX (2015 - 334) Bottling Code: L5334MB1 Final Review date 15-5-20 Sulphur (Rotten Egg) - hydrogen sulphide. Awful.

LAPHROAIG FOUR OAK (2017 - 305) Bottling Code: L7305YB1 Bottle opened: 25-5-20 Final Review date: 31-5-20 N: Immediate smell of Dirty Peat, with Wood Pellets, Ash, Salted Caramel, Pepper, Honey, Vanilla, Grass and Pine aroma. On top of this there is Citrus. Oddly Calamine Lotion. (9/10) P: Very thin. Sweet Peat, Lemon, Salted Caramel, Wood, Chili heat, and Ash. Gets mildly creamy with hints of Vanilla. (8/10) F: Medium-long, Dry. Peat Smoke with Citrus, Hot Spice, Vanilla, Ash, and Salt. (9/10) There is quite a lot of complexity, but little sophistication. Rates higher than QC in my book though.

LAGAVULIN 16 (2017) Bottling Code: L7184 Bottle opened: 29-5-20 Final Review date 29-5-20 N: Intense Peat Smoke, TCP, and Caramel notes at first. Orange Zest and Licorice. Little Fruity (Red Apple), Spicy (Cinnamon, Pepper), and Grassy, with Vanilla Sweetness. (10/10) P: Peat Smoke with Iodine and a touch of Spice. Orange Zest and Licorice, followed by Vanilla Sweetness. Grass and a bit of Cinnamon at the end. A bit one sided. Not that remarkable and memorable peat bomb I was expecting. (9/10) F: Warm, Medium length with Peat Smoke and Oak, hint of Pepper, and Vanilla. Slowly Drying. (9/10)

TOMINTOUL PEATY TANG (2015) Bottling Code: 24.11.15 Bottle opened: 2 weeks Final Review date 26-5-20 N: Initially, Ponk and Vegetal Peat with Floral notes in the background. Pine Cones and Wet Earth. After a while, Lemon Zest emerges. Medicinal (Bandage) note becomes more apparent with time in the glass. Not a usual whisky aroma by any means. (10) P: It is very light on the palate, almost Watery. Sweet, Peat, Ponk, Lemon, and Vanilla. Simple but yummy. (9/10) F: Smooth, Medium finish with the balance of Oak, Peat and Sweetness. Dry at the end. (9/10) Even though it is not very complex, it is an amazing Whisky (probably because it has this unique Ponk taste to it)! [Green immature sorghum grains (called Ponk) that are either parched or roasted.]

ARDBEG 10 (2019) Bottling Code: 26.02.19 Bottle opened: 2 Weeks Final Review date: 25-5-20 N: Intense Peaty (Vegetal) and Medicinal (Bandages) notes. Grass and Citrus (Lemon), followed by Sweetness and Vanilla. (10) P: Peat with medium Spice. Vanilla and Citrus at the start with long Peppery Spicy aftertaste. Lemon comes to the front together with a hint of Sea-Air. Vanilla has always been there. WOW! Spice, Peat, Sweet, Lemon, and Salty goodness. The balance is perfect. (10) F: Pepper, Peat, Lemon, Smoke, and Vanilla. Long and Dry at the end. (10) If I were forced to buy just one Whisky for the rest of my life, this would be it. Mind blowing!!!