Tasting 4 peated whiskies just for comparisons sake

Caol Ila, Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Springbank, like the mixed sessions I used to do a year or two ago, lets have one like that again just for fun. The reason for two photos in this session is that I didn't notice I've forgot to add the Laphroaig to the photo lineup until I'd had the Caol Ila and therefore to late to fix.
















Caol Ila 17yo 1977-1994 43% James MacArthur's Fine Malt Selection

The color is golden. It smells of ashes, smoke, vanilla, peaty, sweet, oyster, shrimps, honey, a very mild and gentle for a Caol Ila, but the peaty and coastal notes are absolutely spot on. The taste is sweet, caramel, cinnamon, honey, creamy, mussel soup, clams, vanilla, heather. Mild, sweet and creamy with a hit of peat in the finish. I must admit I didn't see this one coming as J.McA usually bottles most of their good casks, and even then some at CS.

One to settle down with after a long hard day: 8.5


Ardbeg 14yo 46% Cadenhead's

I've got no idea when this was distilled, but its definitively prior to 1990. It seems W.M. Cadenhead's had a shop in Aberdeen, at 18 Golden Square. That is now for sale by Aspect Apartments, so if they wanna buy back re-open that one, it'd be great! The color is golden. Remember, back in the days, even superb casks could be bottled at 46%abv or even below. It smells of aniseed, peppermint, peat, ashes, tobacco, sooty, tarry, slightly burnt. The taste is sweet, honeyed, smoke peaty notes, iodine, charred wood, chewing tobacco, mangos, ginger, kiwi, some sweet fruits that's rarely find in modern Ardbegs. The finish is peaty, some aspirin, medicinal notes and some yeasty notes.

Very good whisky, even if a bit of a stray: 7


Springbank 9yo 1996-2006 58% OB

This one was finished in Marsala casks, wow! I really do not think good peated whiskies needs this treatment, rather do a full on Marsala casked bottling in my opinion, but I could be wrong about Springbank here. Amber color. It smells of earthy, tannins, battery acid, leather, syrup, malty, peaty, wow!!! And this time I mean it, the nose gives me hope for new trust in the wine finishings. The taste is bitter, leather, drying, needs water, right now its just too bitter and dry. Now it turns more peaty, rum, salty licorice, tonic water, definitively an improvement, but I'm back to my belief that wine finishings of peated whiskies makes in most cases no justice to the spirit.

The nose was great, the rest was a bit over-wined: 5


Laphroaig 13yo 1988-2001 46% Murray McDavid cask#2108

From a bourbon cask. Golden color. I think its a shame that the Murray McDavid IB range seems to end now as Bruichladdich have gotten new owners. I've have had some very good whiskies at MM over the years. This smells of peat, black pepper, rubbery, coastal, seaweed, shrimps, cod liver, salty, more peaty than most young Laphroaigs I find today despite being at lower strength. The taste is mustard, peaty, vanilla, honey, apple vinegar, peppery, classic Laphroaig, a bit drying finish which adds to this other wise complex peat-monster.

A less medicinal, but very peaty Laphroaig: 8



Next tasting: Ardbeg Distillery