sengjc Posted February 7, 2015 Posted February 7, 2015 I think I had some last night. The current batch appears to be sweeter than I can recall - almost like the Uigeadail or Ardbog. Very nice. Maybe it was an Uigeadail or Ardbog, can't really recall now as it was the last drinks after this: Many bottles were finished last night and many new ones were brought out. 2
JohnS Posted February 7, 2015 Posted February 7, 2015 Some very fine bottles there, sengjc! I've heard good things about Auchentoshan, for example...never tried it.
sengjc Posted February 7, 2015 Posted February 7, 2015 Some very fine bottles there, sengjc! I've heard good things about Auchentoshan, for example...never tried it. Some people like it and others don't. It is ultra smooth since it has been triple distilled. Those who do not like it say it does not have much character as it is not as lively as other malts (triple distilled). Different strokes fro different folks, I guess.
free85 Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 I'm one of those people who likes a whiskey with character! But I also like anything that's just down right good.
TM-US Posted February 9, 2015 Posted February 9, 2015 I think I had some last night. The current batch appears to be sweeter than I can recall - almost like the Uigeadail or Ardbog. Very nice. Maybe it was an Uigeadail or Ardbog, can't really recall now as it was the last drinks after this: Many bottles were finished last night and many new ones were brought out. What is that Glengoyne cask strength and how is it? I'm a fan of the 21 for its viscous sweet character.
sengjc Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 What is that Glengoyne cask strength and how is it? I'm a fan of the 21 for its viscous sweet character. It is a No Age Statement relaunch of the old Glengoyne Cask Strength 12 Year Old. This is viscous, sweet and really spicy - takes a little bit of water well and you get floral and fruity notes.
TM-US Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 It is a No Age Statement relaunch of the old Glengoyne Cask Strength 12 Year Old. This is viscous, sweet and really spicy - takes a little bit of water well and you get floral and fruity notes.Thanks. That sounds interesting.
joshua84 Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Prefer Oban 14 instead if not picking up a Lagavulin or Laphroaig.
napbo00 Posted February 26, 2015 Posted February 26, 2015 im not a fan either, but possibly due to my age
rsanz Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 Huge fan of Ardbeg 10, Laphroig 10 and Lagavulin 16. Love the Islay malts.
StumpyJoe Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 Ok, all you Islay fans help me out here! The first time I had an Islay malt was the Bowmore 12 (The Legend I think). I was overwhelmed by the taste and smell of iodine...never finished the dram and never wanted to try it again. Started to become leary of any scotch that mentioned peat. Some time passes and I try Highland Park 12...I taste the smoke but no iodine! Love it, one of my favorite scotches. I then try the Talisker 10, more smoke and still no iodine, also added to my favorites. Starting to think my tastes are changing and it might be worth trying an Islay malt again. Look over reviews and select the Lagavulin 16...I taste the smoke but I also taste an underlining of iodine...although not nearly pronounced as the Bowmore it's clearly there. I can taste the quality of the Lagavulin but still can't embrace the iodine. With that all said, I have a few questions for those who love Islay malts... 1). In your opinion does the term "peaty" immediately conjure the concept of smoke or iodine (I understand that peat is used as a fuel source to malt the barley but I get smoke from HP and Talisker with no iodine)? 2). Could you recommend another Islay malt that does have the taste of iodine but less than the Lagavulin? I'm thinking maybe I need to take baby steps to finally embrace all that is Islay. 3). Should I stick with Lagavulin and try to get over the hump with a full bottle? Looking forward to your suggestions!
free85 Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 Immediate caveat: Lagavulin 16 is mother's milk to me. I find it interesting that you don't find any iodine in Talisker, because I certainly find it in there, although not to an overwhelming degree. I've heard people recommend Caol Ila as a scotch that is a bit more gentle compared to the other Islay, maybe give a dram of that a try. For me peaty doesn't immediately conjure up iodine flavors, just some hearty smoke. What does make me think of iodine is a distillery near or on the ocean, for obvious reasons. That's one of the things I love about finding the iodine in a scotch, it oft comes with a saltiness, and when gentle and in balance I think it plays into the meatier (or even the ones where I find a dark chocolate hiding in there) notes of the Isla scotches I enjoy. For what it's worth the thing that seemed to "tip me over the edge" for Islay scotches was when I started drinking neat (or with a few drops of water to get the ABV where it should be). I used to be on an "on the rocks with a splash" guy but when I went neat It seemed to refine and calm my palate and when I went back into the peaty scotches I found I liked them a lot more.
StumpyJoe Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 [quote name="free85" post="576542" timestamp="1425870944 I find it interesting that you don't find any iodine in Talisker, because I certainly find it in there, although not to an overwhelming degree. I've heard people recommend Caol Ila as a scotch that is a bit more gentle compared to the other Islay, maybe give a dram of that a try. For what it's worth the thing that seemed to "tip me over the edge" for Islay scotches was when I started drinking neat (or with a few drops of water to get the ABV where it should be). I used to be on an "on the rocks with a splash" guy but when I went neat It seemed to refine and calm my palate and when I went back into the peaty scotches I found I liked them a lot more. Occasionally I get a wisp of iodine with Talisker but typically what I'm getting is the smoke like a campfire. I've heard others say that they taste iodine in Talisker but I have to guess its by degree and would be significantly less than what's found in Lagavulin. And I find it really interesting that you have Islay malts neat! Doesn't that increase the taste of iodine. For myself, I find when I add ice that it tends to mute the flavors of a malt. Thanks for the reply, this is becoming an education. And it looks like Caol Ila is the next malt on my to buy list. Thanks again!
free85 Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 I don't drink "strict neat" all the time. It depends on the scotch. But if I do add water it's not much. Each scotch seems to have a point where it's "just right" and with a little experimentation I can find it in a glass or two (I usually switch to Black Grouse when I start "firing for effect". The good stuff is for savoring, for me). All that said I don't add a single thing to Lagavulin. I suppose I should clarify my "when I started drinking neat" comment too. I used to avoid the Islay stuff for a while and over that period I started drinking Highland/Lowland scotches neat. When I came back to Islay stuff I enjoyed it straight away. Could be anecdotal, maybe I just developed a greater like of scotch! I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on Caol Ila!
rmill3r Posted April 7, 2015 Posted April 7, 2015 No, you're not. The 10 is just straight medicinal, whereas other Islays like Lagavulin and Laphroaig have a lot more going for them (in my opinion at least). Uigeadail on the other hand, though....damn.
raleigh Posted April 8, 2015 Posted April 8, 2015 Love the stuff! But in the beginning of my whisky career i didn`t like it at all. Trying a lot of Speyside, highlands and lowlands and loved all that. At cigar meetings there would always be a bottle of islay but it wasn`t my thing. But the lagavullin distillers edition and the ardbeg uigeadail changed all that. In winter islay`s are the whisky for me.
FHFinster Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 i too found if to be putrid. I'm nt sure it's the peat that creates that aweful flavor. I love Dalwhinnie which is very peaty. I like to stick to the highland single malts mostly. A bit sweeter and less smokey than others.
TM-US Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 Dalwhinnie peaty??? On what planet?Yeah, what?!? Dalwhinnie is definitely not even peated.
stigmata Posted June 13, 2015 Posted June 13, 2015 The dalhwhinnie is excellent for a change of pave away from peat. Love the stuff in summer
StumpyJoe Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 I don't drink "strict neat" all the time. It depends on the scotch. But if I do add water it's not much. Each scotch seems to have a point where it's "just right" and with a little experimentation I can find it in a glass or two (I usually switch to Black Grouse when I start "firing for effect". The good stuff is for savoring, for me). All that said I don't add a single thing to Lagavulin. I suppose I should clarify my "when I started drinking neat" comment too. I used to avoid the Islay stuff for a while and over that period I started drinking Highland/Lowland scotches neat. When I came back to Islay stuff I enjoyed it straight away. Could be anecdotal, maybe I just developed a greater like of scotch! I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on Caol Ila! Just finishing off the bottle now. I really did want to enjoy it. Had the first half neat and then started trying it on the rocks for the second half. Took me about a month to finish the bottle. Did everything to enjoy it and avoided a rush to judgment hoping I would grow to love it. With all that, it's not bad but it's also not my thing. Liked it better with ice. I can taste the quality of the whisky and I enjoyed the straw color and delicate flavors but I don't see myself buying another bottle for at least 5 years. I would say that if I want an island scotch I would reach for Talisker, Highland Park, Oban, or Scapa. But I still want to enjoy Islay...and so there is a bottle of Lagavulin 16 sitting in the liquor cabinet that might still change my mind. The quest continues...
maverickdrinker Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 I need to be in the mood for this. I cannot drink the peaty stuff on a daily basis. This is my current view. Been buying/drinking more sherry based scotches. Can only have Ardbeg now as a change of pace...
Guest rob Posted January 31, 2016 Posted January 31, 2016 It's great to have variety, that's for sure. It's like foods.... Eating the same food every day, regardless of how nice it is, while wear you down and create boredom. Except New York cheesecake.... I could eat that every day.
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