Tastes

Christmas cake! This has the classic Wild Turkey profile cranked to 11. Maple syrup and brown sugar, dates and raisins, vanilla, cinnamon and pepper. This is a sweet, viscous, and deeply rich bourbon that masks the high alcohol content well. $35 in NH. Highly recommended.

Honey and floral on the nose, with a cereal grain sweetness. Bread and astringent notes of bright fruit on the palate with a surprisingly dry finish and medium burn. Certainly a tasty irish dram, if unremarkable in any one way.

At first blush, all the classic notes from the 10 year are there: sea spray, barbecue, leather and tar. Having a little more time with it, there is a subtle sweetness that isn't there in other Laphroiag drams I've tasted. In addition to pears and jam, there is a woody earthiness as well. My appreciation for the 10 year remains, but this adds some very interesting layers to the classic Islay profile and the slightly higher proof gives it a warmer finish as well. Outstanding.

Overall this is probably closer to a 3.5 (man I wish this was a 10-point rating scale). The 16 is very light on the palate, even for the proof. Fruit is the name of the game in this sherry-forward whisky, with cherries, plums, syrupy sweetness, apple pie and raisins. Fairly short finish. Overall I appreciate the craftsmanship, though I must prefer higher proof and smokier whiskies. This is subtle throughout and there is a lot of depth in the flavor profile, when you take some time sipping the dram. But it is without that aggressive edge that I crave in most whisky. Still, this is a great starter for someone who is interested in trying scotch with greater depth and doesn't want the aggressiveness of a peated malt.

Definitely a step up from the Small Batch. Woody earthiness, toffee and caramel on the nose. Baking spices, rich custard-creaminess and a berry sweetness taste. Peppery cinnamon finish with a lingering menthol. Very complex, and very nice go to bourbon in the $35 range.

I had a few pours at a bar on St. Patrick's to show willing, but this isn't one I need to get again. Harsh nose with not much discernible beyond a cereal grain sweetness. Acetone, tartness, and a bit of citrus oil flavor. Quick finish, nothing memorable. Would rather spend a few more bucks for the mid-range Jameson expressions, or spring for John Powers Signature or Knappogue.

This is probably closer to a 3.5, given it was the first peated whisky I ever tasted, so it has a special place. Nowadays I lean more toward Ardbeg's aggressive smokiness. This opens with gentle wisps of smoke, and baking spices. Medium sweetness and salty chips, with a dessert quality to it. Relatively short finish for an Islay. Enjoyable and a good first foray into peat.

Wild Turkey's entry level offering isn't breaking the mold when it comes to the classic bourbon profile, but their mash bill hits the right notes for me. Cinnamon, pastries, brown sugar, and a little alcoholic heat. A very respectable option in the bottom tier price range bourbons.

Very drinkable. Not complex or challenging, but right level of sweetness and classic bourbon profile. Huge bargain.

By the standards of some other Islay expressions, the peat presence in Lagavulin's flagship is a bit more subdued. The nose is pipe tobacco and seaweed, with a little more sweetness than normally expected from Islay. First sip has classic wood smoke and brisket notes you expect, but underlying that is a palpable fruitiness of apricots and pears. The finish is medium, with the bracing ocean brine and smoky pepper. This is a far more complex dram than other entry-level Islay offerings (Laphroiag and Ardbeg 10). Is it $30 better than those expressions? It would depend how I was feeling that day. For smoke bomb enthusiasts, Lagavulin may come across as too subtle, but there are so many layers to this, peated scotch lovers should keep a bottle on hand.