Tastes

The nose is utterly intoxicating- it has smoke, coast, and a citrusy flavor derived, most likely from the fino finish. It has the briney, smokey, coastal flavor that we all know and love from Laphroaig, but it also has a sharp, zesty, citrusy, lemony flavor, from the fino finish. It's got hot peppercorns, ash, saltwater, and lemon. Stellar- the only thing better than regular Laphroaig is special, limited release Laphroaig!

The rum flavor is a bit too strong and overwhelms quite a bit of the rye. The flavors are not melded or balanced enough. it's not bad, just meh.

Uncut tasting(no water) A hint of rye on the nose, spicy, wood. Hot, fiery rye flavor, cinnamon, oak, fresh cherries - long, hot, dry finish with a gradually developing almond flavor - the cherry flavor lingers and wood, but more like cedar than oak. I feel like this whiskey is wild and raw, but there is something elegant about it too. It's like a thunderstorm in a glass.

Nose is grass, grain, malt, maybe even a hint of yeast. This whiskey is extremely malty - I feel like I almost need to chew it - it has some bread-like qualities. It is light and sweet - herbal with hints of grass, a very slight bit of mint. There are some decent caramel notes as well. The finish is dry and grassy.

Needs a splash of water to open it up. Very long finish- butter scotch, but not sweet. Buttery, spicy- black pepper, cherry. Vanilla and marzipan. Prior to water it had a strong rye flavor.

Before water, dark chocolate and tree fruit on the nose. Dark chocolate with a long finish as well as toasted malt with a hint of honey. After a drop or two of water, the dark chocolate on the nose gives way to malt and tree fruit. The dark chocolate on the tongue moves to the background and the maltiness moves to the fore. The honey is more pronounced and central. There is a strong pepper flavor, more white than black emerges. A bit of lemon rind and grass?

Kind of tastes like a blend of Blanton's and Eagle Rare with a little more fire added. Sweet, full bodied bourbon with dry woody vanilla notes - oily palate, opens up with a bit of water but just fine straight. Brown sugar and burnt brown sugar. Maybe the faintest hint of banana? The rye gives a very pleasant cinnamon burn. I like it - great full bodied sweet bourbon.

I have been drinking several whiskeys tonight - Auchentoshan 3 Wood, Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie, Glenlivet, and finally Mortlach. I was surprised at the intensity of smokiness found in Mortlach, it's certainly not Islay, but it was quite a puff of smoke on the first sip. It had a vegetal, horseradish flavor that I most often get from various species of Ardbeg. The Distiller reviewer mentions sulfur - there is something too that, though I don't think I could have come up with that description myself. This whiskey has a full body too it - it has a nice burn on the tongue, but it's not exactly black pepper - it's more like sulfur and horseradish. There is a bit of sweetness in the finish but it's difficult to place, it's like sherry mixed with charcoal - it's earthy. Something makes me think of limestone. There is a lot going on here - the balance is a bit off, but it's enjoyable. A few more years on this to let the flavors marry together more and it could be truly sublime.

It's been a long time since I've had any variety of Auchentoshan. The nose has a hint of bourbon, brown sugar, spice, alcohol, raisins, and perhaps something like figs? It's full body, but fairly mellow. There is an earthy note from the sherry finishes, but it's far less sweet than I expected from something in a PX cask. The finish is long, spicy, there is some wood, but it reminds me more of pine or cedar than what I typically think of as oak, and the wood is not excessive. There is a spicy burn, but more like white pepper than black. Dark chocolate comes out along with a bitter grassy flavor that I associate with lowland whiskey. It's not going to replace Islay, but it's a nice change of pace. It's nice to be reminded that scotch can be great without smoke.

Smokey, peaty, coastal, salty, but not medicinal like Laphroaig, not earthy and vegetal as Ardbeg. Strong black pepper. It's more of a smokey , but otherwise light whiskey - smokey and light seems like a contradiction, but that is the most apt description, I think because it is more smokey than peaty, and the lack of overwhelming peat let's the core flavors shine through. It's sweet, salty, some mild, dry, herbal flavors(something like oregano?)- it's like smokey sea water, mixed with just a drop of honey or butterscotch. It has a nice balance. The Distiller reviewer mentioned that it's like Islay, but with the sun, and a sunny day on Islay is just about a perfect description. Laphroaig and Ardbeg are more like a raging storm on Islay, but this is a sunny day on Islay. I really like this. Might have to buy another bottle once I finish this one.