I like island scotch. I’m a regular Ardbeg drinker, an occasional Laphroaig drinker, and I just recently got a bottle of Lagavulin. Since all three are together on the southeastern coast, I figured I’d taste the them together and see what I thought. I threw in a bottle of Bowmore as a control (also an Islay), and a bottle of Talisker (Isle of Skye) as I consider it to be the gold standard, the scotch by which all others should be judged. Some bottles are, and some aren’t, the most common bottlings. I’ve had all the standard ones, so hopefully this will make things even more interesting. Its warming up, so I knew the sooner I got to these drams the better (summer is bourbon season for me). I had three Mad Men’s on the DVR, so I figured that theres no time like the present.
I got a glass, and began my tasting.
I started with the Bowmore to get my palate accustomed to drink. I enjoyed the sweet peaty nose. I found the mouthfeel to be fairly light, but it did have the rich smokey finish of island scotch.
Next I tried the Lagavulin. It had sweet caramel on the nose, but it was tighter on the peat. The flavor was thick and rich iodine. I found this one very enjoyable, and can’t remember the last time I had it. I’ll have to put it back into regular rotation.
I drink a lot of Ardbeg 10, but this was my first corryvreckan. This pour had the most pleasant nose of all the whiskies I had tonight. Very sweet and lots of fruit. I got sweet, and nutty flavors. Also something kind of like coal tar soap smells like. It was very complex, but to be honest, I missed the strong salt character of the 10 year. I added a few drops of spring water to this to open it up, and right at the end, got it about where I wanted it.
For the Laphroaig, on the nose, I got mostly peat. On the tongue, mostly peat. I wouldn’t say its one dimensional, but the peat definitely stands out; The Laphroaig really has that quintessential scotch taste and smell. I enjoy the quarter cast, but I think the standard bottling is my preference.
Ah, my old friend. A sweet iodine nose. A complexity of flavors, with a strong salty profile. Still the king.
All in all, I had a great night. I think Don may have had a better one.
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