Tasting a series of some peated whiskies from different regions, and a small surprise in the mix, from a distillery which I haven't tried an a good while... Remember, initial score only, based on just the tiniest sip and no water added.
1. Benriach 12yo 2009 46% OB Heredotus Fumosis
Did they run out of gaelic names? This is a peated Benriach finished in a PX sherry hogshead. The color is golden. It smells peat, dry, slightly Ben Nevis, rhubarb, turmeric, phenols, leather, tobacco, a rather polished peat monster. The taste is malty, sweet, malt syrup, ginger, honey, white peppercorns, wasabi, root vegetables, boiled cabbage. The finish is peaty, phenolic, tannins, rather unpleasant.
Initial score: 3
2. Glen Peat Class 18yo 50% Malts of Scotland Batch#2
Since there are no "Glen-distilleries" on Islay, or any other Island, I guess this should be a peated Highlander or Speysider? Maybe its not even a single malt? I have little info on this one. The color is auburn. It smells sweet, waxy, heather, floral, cinnamon, vanilla, custard, mustard, a whole other story. The taste is peppery, marzipan, vanilla, black pepper, waxy, salty, some Clynelish here? Once again, it could just as well be an Islay malt with this kind of profile. The finish is lemon, sour, drying, some peat and dry licorice as well.
Initial score: 4.5
3. Arran 6yo 2005-2011 55% OB for the Nectar Belgium
A young peated Arran from a Bourbon cask. I don't know wether this was bottled at CS or not. The color is golden. It smells vanilla, caramel, syrup, butter, very sweet and less peaty than what I expected. Reminds me a bit of the 1997 Fettercairn from cask#2320. After some breathing, there's a small punch of peat on the nose. The taste is all on gingerbread, peat, ashes, tobacco, malt syrup, camphor, cinnamon, caramelized bananas, brown sugar. The finish is bitter, ginger, grassy, herbal notes.
Initial score: 4.5
4. Connemara NAS 2010 58.2% OB Turf Moor
An Irish peated whisky, not much of that around, but its coming along. The color is white wine. I wouldn't be surprised if this is another 5-7yo. It smells peaty, wool, ashes, struck matches, burnt cedar wood, sweet white wine, sauternes, bananas. The taste is burnt oak, raw, spirity, peppery, a mixture of peat and little influenced spirit. Reminds me of a peated newmake from Bladnoch which I had a couple of years back. The finish is grainy and austere.
Initial score: 3.5
5. Mannochmore 15yo 1984-1999 60.7% MacKillop's Choice cask#3696
Long time, no Mannochmore. Time to change that. The color is dark amber. It smells chili oil, burning, roasted cumin, tarragon, dry sherry, amoroso sherry notes, coal. The taste is honey, apple cider, cinnamon, prunes, sweet vinegar, cranberry juice. The finish is peppery, vinegar, soy sauce.
Initial score: 7.5
6. House Malt 9yo 2003-2012 43% Wilson & Morgan Born on Islay cask#12592,12593,12594,12595,2596,12597
Another one from an undisclosed distillery, could very well be a Bunnahabhain, with no peat at all. Quite some casks in the mix. But please remember, single casks aren't necessarily better than a mix of different casks. The color is dark amber. It smells leather, vanilla, butterscotch, dark chocolate, perfumy, satin, rich and clean. The taste is on licorice, rubber and bath salts, light and clean, nothing advanced here. The finish is light and easy.
Initial score: 3.5
7. Kilchoman 3yo 2011 50% OB Inaugural 100% Islay
Since Kilchoman is a farm distillery and have their own malting floor, I wonder when they'll release a 100% Kilchoman bottling. The color here is white wine. It smells peaty, flinty, pear cider, coastal, sea salt, brine, stilton, much more Islay indeed! The taste is vanilla, maritime peat, salt water and clay, wheat biscuits, Islay gin (you know the distillery). The finish is peppery, coastal, smoke, ashes, seal salt, cod liver, rubber boots, tarry.
Initial score: 7
8. Kildalton Cross NAS 53.2% Malts of Scotland Images of Islay
I'm utmost positivt this is a whisky from Ardbeg Distillery. It's been a while since I last had an Ardbeg. The color is white wine. It smells heavy peat, ashes, leather, chalk, used spunge, coal, really peaty, reminds me of older batches of the TEN. The taste is coal, ashes, peppery, sea salt, cedar wood, struck matches. The finish is on ashes, vanilla, honey drops and black pepper. I so hope for more IB Ardbegs in years to come.
Initial score: 7.5
9. Bowmore 10yo 55.1% OB Tempest batch#4
Fourth batch of this series of 1st fill bourbon matured Bowmores. I remember batch#1 very well, one of the better I had from this distillery. The color is golden. It smells peppery, chili, buttery, peat, stamp glue, sulphur, ashes, cooked bananas, hairspray, caramel. The taste is burnt, peppery, rubber, ashes, coal, licorice, juniper berries, burnt. This seems a bit younger than what I remember from previous batches. The finish is peaty, ashes, drying, pretty humble for an Islay whisky.
Initial score: 6
Next tasting: One Irish whiskey before taking on some other countries...
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