Laphroaig Cask Strength Batch 006

Another go at the mighty Laphroaig Cask Strength bottlings, this time Batch 006 (February 2014 bottling date). Matured 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels, bottled at a hefty 58% ABV (116 proof!). I've reviewed this twice before, with very positive things to say both times. I have no doubt this will go the same way. Shout out to Lion's Liquors in Petworth, Washington DC, where I found this.

Kilkerran 12 Year

Kilkerran 12 year, owned by Springbank, has been long in coming. For years they released their progress towards this bottling, and people were elated when this finally dropped. Non-chill-filtered, non-colored, bottled at 46% and aged for a dozen years in a mix of 70% ex-bourbon barrels and 30% ex-sherry, this is the core offering of the newest (third) Campbeltown distillery. 

Ardmore 15 Year (Exclusive Malts)

This Ardmore 15 year was the big winner of Rob Martin Whisky Day... Ardmore is generally known as the main whisky in the blended Teacher's Highland Cream, but has also been known for some single malt offerings, including some real gems from independent bottlers. This version is ex-bourbon cask and bottled at a brisk 51.5%. 

Nose: Surprisingly wine-like - fragrant, a little sour, a little astringent, floral, grapes, malt, some vanilla, hints of smoke and peat (not strong), leathery. Opens over time. 

Mouthfeel: Thick, viscous. 

Palate: Diverges a bit from the nose - less wine and more ex-bourbon. Char, light smoke, vanilla, leather, heavy malt, but very smooth! No hint of alcohol burn. The taste also carries forward the floral note, but I can't identify it clearly. Very clearly a middle-aged ex-bourbon cask strength bottling, it has all the hallmarks, but a few nice wisps and angles of its own. 

Finish: Char and vanilla and peppery tannins all slowly fade until only a light smoke element remains. Nice. 

Verdict: I really liked this, despite the fairly lackluster reviews on the net. But I'm a big Ardmore fan anyway, from their old Traditional Cask days. Whatever flavor profile they are bringing, it matches up for me. This was a nice, smooth, and flavorful dram that was expertly balanced - a little flowerly, a little malty, a little asstringent, a little sweet. Worthwhile. 

Port Askaig Cask Strength (NAS)

Port Askaig isn't a distillery, it's just a town - "the gateway to Islay" - and so this isn't a normal bottling but an independent cast strength anonymous ex-bourbon Islay offering, non-chill filtered and uncolored. One rumor (ScotchNoob) is that it's Caol Ila. Let's see how it does...

Balblair 10 Year (2003)

Balblair has been rebranding lately, much as fellow InBev distillery Old Pulteney was rebranded. This bottle comes from before the rebrand, and is certainly a nice Speyside, especially for those seeking a gentler, softer experience.  

Bottled at a completely decent 46% ABV, and distilled in 2003 (matured in 2nd fill ex-bourbon for 10 years, 2003-2013). This came on a day where I tasted several rich drams in a row, with Balblair roughly in the middle - did it get lost in the shuffle? Let's find out...

Deanston 20 Year Oloroso Cask

My good friend Rob Martin let me taste this one... and what a journey it ended up being! Deanston is a Highland Scotch, matured 20 years in ex-oloroso sherry casks, bottled at 55.3% ABV.

Ardbeg Blaaack (NAS)

The 2020 annual release from Ardbeg, "Blaaack" refers to sheep, specifically the 7:1 ratio of sheep to people in New Zealand - where the red wine (Pinot Noir) casks used to finish this whisky came from.  This is the general release, bottled at 46% and matured in ex-bourbon, finished in red wine. 

Clynelish 14 Year

I've been hearing about Clynelish (KLINE-leash) off and on since I started this blog. The story is really in two parts - a story of two distilleries. The original Clynelish distillery is now called "Brora" and was last open between 1968 and 1983, making heavily peated whisky to make up for a shortage on Islay (!) for blending purposes (!!). Brora is long closed, and any remaining bottles from it are in the Holy Grail pantheon of whiskies. 

The modern Clynelish, up in the far, far northeast of Scotland (think: Old Pulteney), has been putting out high quality whisky for many years now, but - as is the way of our capitalist society - most of it has been channeled straight into Johnnie Walker Gold. 

Craigallachie 13 Year

It's long since time that I try Craigallachie 13 year, a Speyside with a big reputation. This was the core whisky in Dewar's for years - and I guess it still is - but for a few years now they have issued a single malt expression as well. Bottled at 46% ABV, aged for 13 years in ex-bourbon barrels, non-chill-filtered but colored. Famous for a "sulphurous" quality due to use of a worm tub in the distilling process.