Tastes

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.

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.

Tried it a two sittings. Neither time did I finish it until taking a final swig before going to bed. Not sweet or fruity, lightly peated, dry. Okay but not a buy in any way.

Fan of Islay, really like Ardbeg 10, An Oa, Grooves. The reviews for Uigeadail are consistently good so I was very interested. C$108 + C$6 tax in Alberta, Canada. So overrated. Hot, and somehow doesn’t get better with water. A bolder 10? Yes. In a good way? No. This is the Ardbeg for the whisky fans that tell you how cask strength is the only way proper way to serve whisky. I’m not in that group, the 10 is much better for me. Opened in October 2021 and thought it would grow on me. Poured the rest of the bottle into sample bottles in March 2022 and they will be gifted or traded away.

Third bottle of Triple Wood so I guess that tells the story. Excellent.

Received a sample. The wheat helps it and makes it okay but bourbon is generally a no-go for me.

Tasted side by side with HP 12. The HP 12 has a better nose and more floral notes. The cask strength nose is buried under alcohol and needs water to open up. This shows the skills of the master distillers, they pick lower abv’s for a reason. Super hot, this one is a pass for me and I’ll stick with the 12.

The nose is both distinctive and intriguing. Some fruit and bubble gum, no alcohol. Very nice. The whisky shows its age and delivers a sweet palate with stickiness and dark fruit. The finish is long and spicy with a hint of dryness. The highlights are the spice and nose. You would never guess that this is 54%. I would rank this with the upper end Canadian whiskies including Gooderham & Worts 49 Wellington and Pike Creek 21. Not sure on price but a definite buy if priced in line with G&W 49 and Pike Creek 21.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban has a beautiful strawberry hue and a nose that jumps up with cranberry and grape. The palate is, as the box describes, velvety and rolling with a touch of spice. Hints of fruit, almost no malt (which I like) and the impact of port elevates Glenmorangie 10 whisky to new levels. The finish is spicy with hints of dark fruits and berries. The common complaint that Glenmorangie is too sweet does not apply here. Fruit and spicy dominate. This a great whisky that gets a bump in score for being a reasonably priced and part of a readily available core range.