Tastes

Received a sample of this dram at the friendship cairn at Laphroaig and then I had a second driver’s dram while sitting on the beach at Port Ellen. Tough to keep the experience from not automatically making this whisky a favourite for me but this one was my top pick on a day that I had three samples straight from the cask in Warehouse 1, Lore, the newest travel exclusive and this one. I have never had a chance to buy this one but I would highly recommend it. All of the best parts of the 10 amped up to another level.

Tested blind in colored glasses against the Grand Cru. I couldnt pick which one was older but I picked the Orchard as being slightly better and both had a nice fruity body with a long finish. It’s good and a much better value than the Cru.

Tested blind in colored glasses against the Orchard Experiment. I couldnt pick which one was older but I picked the Orchard as being slightly better and both had a nice fruity body with a long finish. Cru is good but it cannot justify it’s price.

So crushable. Easy to drink and a pretty decent Irish whiskey. Not complicated, just tasty and good.

Decent nose, peat is more like Spey Fumare than an Islay. Must be really young. There is nothing to back up the nose. Thin and flat. A pass.

Muted nose despite the high abv. Notes of cardboard but nothing interesting. Unfortunately, the abv hits really hot on the palate. This whisky must be young and trying to capture the cask strength market. It is bad, flat and hot. A definite pass.

Loght and fruity. Young with sour notes.

Light and fruity, feels young. Light bourbon finish, sour note. Not a buy for me..

Terrible nose, sulfur and sour old fruit. Body is the best of the Wolfburn lineup. The taste and finish is dominated by pepper. Very divisive, some could not forgive the nose but I liked the pepper notes. Best of Wolfburn but not a buy.

June 3, 2023 - tested a blind line up of 10, 10S, QC and Lore. Samples were in coloured glencairn glasses. Ranked nose 10, 10S, Lore, QC. Partner ranked Lore 1st, 10, 10S, QC. Predicting what each one was - we were wrong 75% of the time. The 10 was guessed as Lore and QC. Lore was guessed as 10 and 10S. Advancing from first head to head for me was 10 and 10S. Partner picked Lore and 10. Me 10, 10S, Lore, QC Partner 10, Lore, 10S, QC QC was ranked 4th for both of us and was a distant 4th. Maybe the 43% for the 10 versus all the rest at 48% made it appear better balanced. The nose and flavour are lively on the 10 and it stands up well in the family line up. Conclusions - 10 is the flagship release for a reason and maybe the best value in Islay. Lore is not worth the premium over the 10. Quarter Cask, which I expected to stand out, is not one I would buy.