Indie Bottler Laphroaig week ….4 out of 4……concludes,

Laphroaig 16yo 1989/2008 (54.6%, SMWS of America 29.64, sherry)

What do we have from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America? A sherried Laphroaig no less and a decent cask at that.  As everybody understands, the peat reek effect does not increase with maturation but decreases over time; this can be some what of a surprise to new comers to the world of malt whisky, much like the fact that all scotch whisky (or new spirit) comes off the still colorless. Or the fact that there really isn’t a tooth fairy.

The nose is rich, complicated and oily; peat reek, diesel smoke and brine. Is it possible for the aroma of an Islay scotch whisky to improve on this? There’s also hints of muted Fisherman’s Friends, kippers and spicy oak but not overly dry (think of the three bears & porridge; just right!). A very different aroma to be sure…..The taste is sherried; sweet at first and then incredibly dry along with the afore mentioned oak and salt as well as some syrupy notes and even more peat reek. Peated malt. Absolutely marvelous. There is also a fresh orange juice vibrancy that is very refreshing. The finish is somewhat like being smacked about the face with a kipper; brief moments of the sea along with a shock every few seconds on either side of the face. Quite long, chewy peated malt and very much like the ocean….

Quite a different Laphroaig to say the least…..

US$130

Score 90 Points

Laphroaig Indie Bottler week continues …..3/4……

Laphroaig 11year old (46%, Duthies, 2009)

Robert W. Duthie was the nephew of William Cadenhead and he ran the company after the passing of Mr. Cadenhead in 1904.  Cadenhead’s recently re-established the brand. Bottled at 46% without chill filtration or the addition of colouring (which as everybody knows is a good thing). 

The nose is medicinal, peated and there is also brine and some whiffs of toffee however this is muted. There are also some vague hints of fresh cut hay and green cereal grains (think of a head of barley but still green and right off the stalk in the field). After some time in the glass the peat reek starts to grow and crowd out the other aromas and it changes to more coal smoke. The taste is gentle at first but grows as the peat reek takes hold, there is also some good malt, some sweetness and some dark unsweetened chocolate that is all very nice. There is also some pepper and spice. After a short while it is all peat reek and malt. The finish is very long and peated with the dark bitter chocolate and the malt. The green notes now make an appearance as green malt however it does not detract and it is a great finish. The peated malt continues to grow on the finish over time….and after nearly 10 minutes is much like coal smoke malt…

A very well balanced dram that is consistent and delicious; a really good Laphroaig. Well done!

C$99

Score 87 Points

Indie bottler Laphroaig Week Continues …2/4….

Laphroaig 10yo 1999/2009 (46%, Coopers Choice, C#4211, 720 Bts., Refill Butt)

A pale independent bottling from Coopers Choice sporting new bottle livery and happily bottled without artificial colouring or the ‘Un-chillfiltered’; good for Coopers Choice.

The nose benefits a short while in the glass to open up and then the race is on; peat reek, heather, juniper, malt dust and some sweet dessert wine notes however the evidence of the butt mentioned on the label is muted. The overall aromas are pleasant and a little hand warming coaxes out some more of the heather and juniper along with the peat reek. After a few minutes there is also some muted bandages, cocoa and peanut shells. The taste is malty and full of peat reek; there’s some attitude in here that perhaps has been calmed in the reduction for cask strength but the overall taste is very good. There are also hints of the heather, malt and cocoa along with some further sweetness that is not overwhelming but in harmony with the peat smoke. The finish is malty and somewhat akin to peanut butter along with some oak notes and the heather and juniper. After a minute or two there is the faintest hint of diesel which ties in the maritime aspect of maturation quite nicely. The peat continues un abated for quite some time…….and becomes even more malty.

One has to conclude that this is a refill – refill butt however no matter since it is simply a very good dram.

C$100

Score 85 points

http://www.vintagemaltwhisky.com/product-cooperchoice.html

Independent Bottler Week Featuring Laphroaig Begins…….1 of 4

Laphroaig 8yo 2001/2009 (46%, Signatory, UCF, refill butt, Cask#631, 859 Bottles)

Another offering from Signatory Vintage and from their Un-Chillfiltered Collection, bottled with out chill filtration and without the addition of colouring and a single cask but reduced from cask strength to 46%….

The nose is peated and honeyed that continues to open as more time in the glass passes by, some banana (think of candied banana cooking in butter just before it is folded into the crepes). There are also hints of barley dust, the afore mentioned butter and herbs along with some winey sweetness; this appears to be not the most active of sherry casks however the nose is very good. Perhaps the reduction from cask strength has smoothed out some of the more aggressive moments? Opposite side of a coin in many ways; a departure from the official bottlings. The taste is slightly more mellow than anticipated  (at first) but it grows in power to reveal a honeyed maltiness backed by some really good peat reek which changes after a few moments to become quite dry, peppery and oaky and then a flash of bacon but only for a moment and then toast and some herbs. The finish is warming and malty, peaty and then after a few short moments the herbs and some creaminess. The finish is very long, warming and malty…oh, that was already mentioned, no matter it’s consistent and good. After quite a while the finish is deep coal smoke intermingled with some brine and malt but the coal smoke it quite heavy..

Actually less sweet than the 7 year old of the same series, a tad drier but still has that Laphroaig attack. Would have been a killer at cask strength but is still very good none the less.

£26 from Loch Fyne Whiskies

Score 86 Points

Ardbeg NAS ‘Uigeadail’ (54.2%, OB, +/-2009) Lot L7 325

Jim Murray’s 2009 World Whisky of the Year (6th Annual Whisky Bible 2009) available in only a few markets and reported in the 2009 W.B. with an incorrect ABV of 52.3% which caused some what of a stir….mistakes happen, it’s nae the end of the world, it’s a dram not a drama…

The nose is of vibrant peat reek along with some good citrus, malt, oak, fruit and some more peat in the form of peat toffee (if such a thing exists!).  The aromas are stupendous and after a few minutes in the glass cocoa emerges from behind the other aromas. After a further few minutes the aromas expand to reveal some coal smoke and some brine. It would seem there is some youth in the glass; it does not nose like an older whisky. The taste is peated malt right off followed by the coal smoke and then a blast of the cocoa but the peat reek and the coal smoke lurk in the back ground and are the spine of the taste. After a short while in the mouth the vibrant peat reek is really very evident and very good. One is tempted to down tools and simply enjoy this. The finish is warming and once again of the peat reek and coal smoke along with the cocoa and some of the fruit and honey. There is a moment of creaminess and then some rich wine like notes however this is in second place to the peat reek and coal smoke. The finish is very even and very long.

What an enjoyable dram.

C$120

Score 88 Points

Visit Ardbeg at http://www.ardbeg.com/ but beware; they’ll ask your age before you can enter the site.

The last tasting note from ‘Peat Week’!

Ardbeg NAS (57.1%, OB, Corryvreckan, 2009)

http://www.ardbeg.com/twist/ Proof positive why you shouldn’t drink prior to a deep sea dive or while making short movies.

On the nose we have some smoked honey, some brine and light coal smoke along with hints of maple and cocoa. There are also some sweet wine notes and a slight hint of juniper hovering in the far back ground…with water the sample opens dramatically and the coal smoke becomes very dominant however the sweet notes are now verging on the ‘green’ side of the flavour wheel (think green peas, grass and perhaps damp uncooked lentils). Curious. After some time in the glass the green diminishes and the coal smoke is the main dominate aroma. The undiluted nose is better in some ways. The taste is very earthy and fragrant along with the cocoa and the peat smoke and after the first swish around the mouth the flavour changes to be mildly cream soda like….an unexpected surprise. With water the taste is of more gentle peat smoke and some of the honeyed coal smoke once again, this is good! The finish after a few minutes reveals some good malt and then the cream soda makes and appearance again. There is also some gin like aspects lurking around in the latter stages of the finish (that would be the juniper). After a few minutes the finish turn slightly soapy which is slightly unpleasant.

It was all going very well until the last second……..

US$85

Score 82 points

…..Peat Week continues 4 of 4 & most likely a bonus tasting note Saturday!

Inverarity 8yo (40%, Islay, +/-2009)

From Loch Fyne Whiskies;

A vatting of four Islay Malts bottled at not less than eight years.

Sales to Islay fans have been fantastic. There is a very emphatic phenolic and medicinal character peat and iodine which is classic Islay; a good oiliness, powerful flavours yet also a breeze of fresh air. This is an excellent variation on Islay malts which will provoke much debate among Islay fans as to where the four components come from. Ace.

The Inverarity range is now completed with the addition of Inverarity Islay, an eight year old all-Islay vatted malt (or blended malt) made up of four components. The price of Inverarity Islay 8 years old is £23.90.

THE INVERARITY RANGE
adopted as our house malts

The Inverarity range is now complete and we have adopted all three as our house malts because of their extremely high quality and good value.
Not to be outdone, the new Scottish Parliament has also adopted the range as the only official whiskies to the parliament, an outstanding achievement both for Inverarity and the government and we can only hope they continue to make such wise decisions! (Hindsight has shown otherwise).

Now it’s W.I. turn to comment:

The nose is light, peated and mildly fragrant (think heather and juniper) along with some hints of grapefruit (slightly bitter) and some smoked honey. The nose is quite nice and distinctly Islay along with some maritime characteristics and after a few minutes in the glass some chocolate notes. After a number of minutes in the glass it changes some what to be slightly more roust and it loses the fragrant aromas. The taste is very peaty and very much of coal smoke, brine, some mild seaweed along with the chocolate and some malt. There is noting here to cause alarm; it’s simply very good and while very peaty it is not all so, the other flavours enhance the over all experience. The finish is very malty at first quickly followed by the peat reek and then the dry oaky bitter chocolate (mildly different from the chocolate as noted prior). Once again there are no off notes, it’s a great finish, some really good dry peated malt emerge after a minute of so.

What a fun dram! Hard to find fault with the price of £23.90 and who ever sees an 8yo whisky these days? “very emphatic phenolic” is quite correct! 

Score 87 Points

Peat week continues 3 of 4 and very well may run to a bonus tasting note (or not).

Visit The Inverarity Vaults at

http://www.inverarity-vaults.com/Home/ 

and Loch Fyne Whiskies at http://www.lfw.co.uk/

Big Peat No Age Statement (46%, Douglas Laing, 2009)

A Vatted Islay Malt

From the labels, front and back; ‘A small batch bottling traditionally Unchillfiltered’ and ‘Historically we would call this – whisper it- “a vatted malt” but with a big peat kick’. ‘A shovelful of Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskies including malts distilled at Ardbeg* Caol Ila*Bowmore*Port Ellen*Distilleries’.

The nose is most definitely peated, right off and with a really nice back ground of sweetness (think of toffee & honey) along with the ever slightest hint of Elder flowers and Clementine’s. Oh my, this is very nice, the peat smoke and the sweetness are really quite something. There are also some hints of coal smoke, iodine and brine. On to the taste which is beautifully peated and sweet with a vague touch on cigarette ash which is quickly over taken by the sweetness and the peat followed by the hints of the Elder flowers and Clementine’s. There is also some slight hints of malt and porridge. The taste is very nice and despite the name the peat is not overwhelming, one wants more. The finish is once again peated along with some malt and some slight hints of ash followed by the sweetness ad then some beautiful dry dark bitter chocolate, oh, what a moment. This finish rolls on for what seems forever changing and revealing new tastes before gently easing off…well actually that last bit is a lie, it doesn’t gently do anything, it’s quite robust but very good. Ever slight hint of some soapiness after a few minutes but it really is very slight and does not detract in the slightest. The finish is carrying on…..whatever, off to lunch.

A most unusual departure for Douglas Laing…and who is this bearded Peat fellow depicted on the front label?

C$85

Score 85 Points

Shake hands with Peat himself at http://www.douglaslaingwhisky.com/home.php?WEBYEP_DI=35

Peat week continues 2 of 4………….

Smokehead NAS (43%, Ian Macleod, +/-2009)

From Ian Macleod Distillers come Smokehead, a single malt from an undisclosed distillery on Islay….The nose is very nice, sweet, buttery, fruity and has peat reek (peat smoke) by the shed load. There is also some dark unsweetened chocolate and some coastal influence. The sweet buttery notes backed by the peat reek are quite pleasant. The taste is very peaty and not overly strong but is also sweet and has some oaky spice, heavily peated malt (think of whole malt prior to milling) and a hint of juniper. After the nose the almost gentle mouth feel is some what of a surprise but the peat smoke is very much in evidence. The finish is once again dominated by the peat reek and also the oak spice, dark bitter chocolate and some small hints of creaminess towards the middle of the finish which is quite long. After a minute or two the finish carries on and reveals the hint of juniper and still, after some time has passed the finish continues and does not fall apart and remains rock solid which is what one would hope for.

Very nice indeed; Smokeheads will not be disappointed.

88 Points

Many thanks to Sam Filbus of  ImpEx Beverages, Inc. for the sample….

…and so begins ‘peat week’ ………. 1 of 4

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey 2yo (47%, OB, Small Batch #47, D’7-7-06)

A small batch American whiskey made in Colorado with 100% malted barley. The nose is very sweet and some what bourbon/rye in style along with some dusty malt along with caramel, brown sugar and lots of vanilla. There is also some good fruit in the form of oranges and vague hints of banana.  While it is a very ‘light’ American style of whiskey a more accurate description would be Canadian whisky and in particular the style of the very deservedly stunning Alberta Premium from Calgary, Alberta. The taste is fruity (this time more tree fruit rather than citrus), mildly peated (?), loads of vanilla and mild shades of rye whisky which is quite nice. The mouth feel is very gentle for a higher ABV and it is quite dry, all in all a quality whiskey especially for the age when compared to Scotch whiskies. The finish has some banana, fruit, loads of wood spice from the oak and also some gentle creaminess and lashings of grand malt. The finish is quite long and very enjoyable without any hint of off notes. 

This tastes much older than two years old and is undoubtedly a very high quality whiskey. This distillery is going to be very well known and will give many others a run for their money, it is very drinkable and ‘moreish’. A delight.

Score 87 Points

Many thanks to Sam Filbus for the sample. Visit Stranahan’s at http://www.stranahans.com/