Tastes

Like a bear out of hibernation, I know I am REALLY late to the party. Music and Parks on the Air, Inc. have been taking up all my "extra" time. This was a treat though, and that is saying a ton coming from someone who is NOT in to grain whisky. This is the only reason I took so long. I didn't want to come into @Generously_Paul doing a gracious pour and come out being unappreciative. Wow, this one changed the game a bit. You see, @PBMichiganWolverine (Pranay) DID wow me with his Invergordon higher age statement a while back, BUT I was NOT a fan of the other various grain distilleries. Sorry for the delay on this as well @Scott_E and @LeeEvolved! It's good to see you guys still doing them! Anyway, back to this one! The nose brought out the fresh cut wood, but also a nice balance with a slight funkiness. Antique shop type. Slight pickling detected, but nothing out of line. Cherries, oranges, and other citrus fruits. Honeysuckle, and slight florals like a marigold. Not shabby at all! Slow running legs down the Glencairn. Palate did not disappoint at all, much better than expected with a great mouth coat. Dried fruits like apricots are more in your face. Slight leathery note, some watermelon and mango. Long finish, with more of the dried fruits and slight tobacco note. Adding drop of water, the nose changed to more of a surge of sugary sweetness. Light brown sugar/confection or powdered sugar. Lessen the fruit, but brought forth a nutmeg flavor or Chinese five spice, without any anise or licorice notes. For all the "old school" fans, we need a song eh? Since "time" seems to be the theme for dealing with great whisky, appreciating the pour, and the time it takes to form these great relationships, let's celebrate and say the theme is "Time Has a Way" by the Pattern-Seeking Animals. One of my all time favorite bass players, Dave Meros, shows off the bass parts here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTeWkAwUDOM

Nose - Faint slight peat, strawberries, vegetal notes, sweetness, malt barley, light florals, anise. Palate - Peat/smokiness is there, but still very faint, black pepper, dark chocolate, thin mouth coat (probably due to ABV), decent legs though...Sherry not as detectable. Spice level is nice. Finish - Red licorice and buttered popcorn, with slight mint. After water - lessened notes potency, no enhancements.... Worth initial 45-50 buck prices for something different that the typical Ardbeg 10, but NOT secondary market prices at all. I was lucky not to overspend on this one.

Nose – Great peat and smoke, raspberries, strawberries, barbecue, medium spices/florals, meaty and savory notes for balance. Palate – TCP/iodine, caramel, toffee, more berries, peat/smoke, heavy mouth coat, dark chocolate, vanilla, creosote. Not much port influence if you compare to Brodir, or Port 2013 Cairdeas. Red wine influence is here. Finish – Nice waxiness, brininess, white pepper, black pepper, black cherries but a tad short. Water – N – Brings out the medium red fruits more, along with haw/straw, and light florals, but lose peat/smoke. P – More spicy white/black pepper, sweeter with more caramel/confection sugar. F – Finishes with more bourbon influence. Brings out more dark chocolate with medium florals but very dry. Agree with @LeeEvolved not as good as Port 2013 Cairdeas, or batch one/two of Brodir! Feels like something is missing somewhere – 3.75 of 5.

Nose – Start off with the trademark vegetal, yet cereal-like peat. Bit of cinnamon, apples, and ginger. Palate – Smoky, toffee/caramel, lemons but met with a metal-like minerality that was surprising. A bit harsh, not in an ABV manner, but astringency. Quite an acidic and abrupt end. Finish – Dry as a bone and subtly oily. Maybe a little bit of a seashell/brininess with little peat/smoke, but very much a letdown. Water – N – Took the peat away…vegetal notes brought forward. Grassy, maybe some roses and hay. P- Turns the caramel to more of a butterscotch…brings out black pepper/white pepper, but nothing else. No cream… Finish same. Oh my! NOT the Lagavulin we all know and love.... 2.0 is all I can give… 50 pounds = 62 dollars…

Nose – Stewed apples/pears, tea, peat smoke, heather, brininess. Palate – Oakiness, mild dark chocolate, basil, molasses, caramel, more peat smoke… Finish – Lime, ashy properties, black pepper falls short and fades quick – too short. Water – N – Comp changes - Citrus tones, bright florals, mint. P – Dulls palate – tames peat/oak but little else changes…same with F…. Peat level (12/15) (30 for Valkyrie), 35-40ppm is nice, but not the same as Islay… A bit above average, about 3.75 of 5. Feels young…$70

(This is the new 40% version - UGH the 43% was a 4 out of 5 ... lol) ... Nose – Brown sugar, orange marmalade, marigolds, cereal, malt, and nutmeg. Palate – Slight smokiness, not peated, Apricots, red apples, Caramel, toffee, milk chocolate, medium mouth coat, tea, ginger and cinnamon. Finish – Medium length, Vanilla, woodiness, dry leather, but not bitter. Water – N – Sugars, confection. P - Pepper bomb! White/black, not as dry… F - More chocolate mocha… interesting… 3.75 out of 5.0 $120.00

Nose – Green apples, hay/straw, nutmeg, cocoa, medium florals and heather. Palate – Toffee, Caramel, vanilla, dark brown sugar, coconut, slight grapefruit and black pepper. Finish – Short, dry, slight molasses, cloves, spun sugar…. Water – N – Citrus like oranges/lemons, powdered sugar, woodiness…P – Tames pepper to white, slight minerality… Finish the same without the nice depth. 3.25 of 5.. 40 bucks.

Nose – Spicy cinnamon, slight smoky raspberries, leather, grass, little sulfur, roses… Palate – Dark/milk chocolate, espresso, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews, dates/figs. Green grapes… Medium mouth coat. Finish – A bit short, earthy, gravy-like, malted barley, smoke, cedar wood, dry.. Water – N – Brings chocolate to the nose, mossy grasses, bananas and herbs… P – Brings more spices/black pepper, caliente pepper. F – Bit bland, with some mint. No minerality detected. 4.0 of 5.0 – 60 bucks.

Nose - Blueberries, watermelon, apples, spices, vanilla, light florals, almonds…. Palate- Coconut, Pineapples, white pepper, crème brulee, butterscotch, crumble, ginger, slight minerality but meatiness. Sulfur? Best mouthcoat. Finish – Longest, vanilla/white pepper returns, white chocolate, waxiness. Water – N – Brings ginger forward, tea, hay, cereal, barley, oak. P – Spice down, more toffee, caramel, cinnamon, milk chocolate. F- Never dry, black pepper, still long, but prefer neat..maybe.. 4.5 of 5. Excellent! $125-150