Bruichladdich 10yo Old Skool

Bruichladdich 10yo Old Skool

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Dark gold 

50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Yoghurt, cream, malted grains, barley sugar, white pepper, hints of pencil erasers. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. Lemon zest, yoghurt, white pepper, fresh baked bread, sea salt, hints of rolled oats. 
Finish: Short. Lemon zest, yoghurt, cream, white pepper, rolled oats. 

Comments: 

Quite lactic, although doesn’t have the butyric note that Bruichladdich sometimes has. Quite lemony too, plenty of salty cereal. Not too peated, in fact it’s quite hard to discern.

Verdict:

I like this.

Oc5

Oc5

Elements of Islay, Specialty Drinks Ltd
Single malt - Islay
Pale green gold
59.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, peanuts, cotton sheets, peat, leather, autumn leaves, pineapples, hints of vitamin C tablets. With water, magic marker, pineapples, peat, vitamin C tablets. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens, expands, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Magic marker, cotton sheets, smoke, peat, creosote, peanuts, wet stones, fresh baked bread, white wine. With water, white wine, magic marker, lemon sweets, hints of cardamom. 
Finish: Short. White wine, lemon sweets, peanuts, pineapples, creosote. 

Comments: 

Very sooty, chemical Octomore. It’s rather lightly, and has fragrant, almost sweet notes that are quite unexpected. Some cereal and herbal notes appear with water. Complicated, not an approachable dram, but very rewarding. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Port Charlotte SYC:01 2006

Port Charlotte SYC:01 2006

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Dark gold
60.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Raisins, honey, apple juice, leather, peat, driftwood smoke, cream, hints of greengages. With water, honey, cooked rice, smoke, cocoa nibs, cream. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, driftwood smoke, leather, apple juice, cooked rice, cinnamon, sandalwood. With water, peat, new plastic, honey, cooked rice. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, cooked rice, honey, cocoa nibs, driftwood smoke. 

Comments: 

Sweet, but with a peaty, smoky, bitter edge. So far, so expected. The creaminess was something that I did not expect, however, and it was very pleasant. Water unfortunately didn’t improve it, bringing a slightly acrid plasticky note to the fore.

Verdict:

I like this.

Port Charlotte 16yo 2005/2022

Port Charlotte 16yo 2005/2022

Thompson Brothers
Single malt - Islay
Bright gold, hints of pink
57.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, smoked bacon, apple juice, peaches, malted grains, hints of honey. With water, toast, leather, honey, black pudding. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, hot, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Charcoal ash, leather, smoked bacon, quinine, malted grains, honey, apple juice, hints of jasmine. With water, toast, honey, smoke, black pudding. 
Finish: Long. Quinine, leather, smoked bacon, honey, hints of jasmine. 

Comments: 

A very meaty and iron-rich whisky, almost black pudding like. It’s also pleasantly bitter and luscious. Almost always get great stuff from the Thompsons.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Port Charlotte SHC:03 13yo 2006/2020

Port Charlotte SHC:03 13yo 2006/2020

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Chinese tea 
62.3% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toast, smoke, honey, lemon zest, figs, leather, peat, white grapes, hints of cloves. With water, tarry rope, smoked bacon, white grapes, hints of figs. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, slightly numbing, expands. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Leather, smoke, peat, orange juice, tarry rope, figs, charcoal ash, hints of smoked bacon. With water, orange juice, smoke, leather, charcoal ash, hints of figs. 
Finish: Long. Orange juice, lemon zest, leather, tarry rope. 

Comments: 

Quite sweet, despite the peating. At least when it’s neat, anyway. Several drops of water open up some more classic Islay flavours - tarry rope, charcoal ash and smoked bacon - but the sweet figgy character remains just underneath.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Black Art 1990 (Bruichladdich 23yo) Edition 04.1

Black Art 1990 (Bruichladdich 23yo) Edition 04.1

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay 

Amber
49.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Orange peel, honey, cucumbers, black tea, hints of sulphur.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, astringent, mouth coating, airy.  
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Honey, raisins, orange peel, cherry blossom, black tea, hints of blackberry jam. 
Finish: Short. Black tea, sulphur, leather, cucumbers, hints of wet stones.  

Comments: 

Unpeated Bruichladdich, not something you see everyday. Anyway, it’s been quite highly sherried. Lots of sweet notes, jammy even. But the sweetness is quite light, somehow, with sulphur and tannins hovering in the background. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Port Charlotte 10yo

Port Charlotte 10yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay 
Straw
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, pomegranate molasses, sea salt, orange peel, hints of lemon zest, hints of seaweed. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, astringent, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour salty. Lemon zest, salt caramel, smoke, peat, seaweed, walnuts. 
Finish: Short. Pomegranate molasses, lemon zest, salt caramel, walnuts, hints of sour cream. 

Comments: 

The first regular age statement Port Charlotte bottling. I’m a little late to tasting this, but I was pleasantly surprised at the ABV of 50%. It’s very generous and it made the drinking of this whisky very pleasurable. Heaps of savoury smoke over sweet things. Not too much of the kippery note that I sometimes find in Port Charlottes and Octomores. They’ve chosen to make this gentle rather than interesting. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Octomore 10yo Dialogos (3rd Edition)

Octomore 10yo Dialogos (3rd Edition)

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Golden beeswax
56.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tobacco smoke, peat, germolene, honeydew melon, peaches, hay. With water, drier, driftwood smoke, sea salt, tobacco, preserved lemons, wet leaves. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, astringent, hot. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Peat, tobacco smoke, leather, peaches, marmalade, vanilla fudge. With water, sour, driftwood smoke, preserved lemons, sea salt. 
Finish: Long. Hay, fresh baked bread, honeydew melon, smoke, peat. 

Comments: 

Octomore is finally old enough to be of an interesting age! Yes I'm a little behind, given this is the 3rd release. It's highly peated (duh!) but it's also floral and grassy, with some umami notes that resolve as preserved lemons, especially with water. It finishes at huge length, with sweet cereal fading to big smokey peaty notes.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Lemon Buttered Kippers (Bruichladdich 18yo 1997/2015)

Lemon Buttered Kippers (Bruichladdich 18yo 1997/2015)

Single Cask, Wemyss Malts
Single malt - Islay
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon juice, kippers, oakum, melted butter, peat, mint, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, airy, cool. 
Tasting:  Bitter salty. Peat, leather, butter, mint, peanuts, sea salt, hints of oakum. 
Finish: Short. Butter, shortcrust pastry, mint, vanilla, hints of lemon juice. 

Comments: 

Fragrant citrus married to something fishy, and heaps of tarry old rope. But it's gentle, the smoke is rather slight for an Islay whisky, and there's refreshing mint and buttery goodness on the tongue and the finish. Gloriously, unapologetic Islay.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Port Charlotte MRC:01 2010 7yo

Port Charlotte MRC:01 2010 7yo

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Copper
59.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cooked rice, leather, peat, smoke, wet dog, shiitake mushroom. With water, red grapes, honey, damson jam. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, tingly, turns watery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Leather, peat, cow dung, honey, orange peel, vanilla, red grapes. With water, sweeter, bitter oranges, peat, leather, raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Red grapes, peat, smoke, honey, damson jam. 

Comments: 

Peaty and leathery, very farmyard without water. It's scarily drinkable despite the strength, as so many of the best Port Charlottes are. With water, it mellows out, becoming sweet and honeyed, with notes of bitter citrus.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Port Charlotte 15yo 2003/2019

Port Charlotte 15yo 20013/2019

Maltbarn
Single malt - Islay
Amber brown
55.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry bonbons, condensed milk, smoke, leather, sour cream, hints of peat. With water, blackcurrant cordial, cream, hints of black tea. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly astringent, slippery, slightly tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Chocolate, sour cream, watermelons, leather, gentle smoke. With water, sweeter, blackcurrant cordial, red grapes, hints of honey. 
Finish: Long. Strawberry bonbons, watermelons, raisins, hints of orange. 

Comments: 

Maltbarn 119. This whisky is luscious, with gentle smoke but plenty of sweet fruity notes. There's a sour cream note that brings Bruichladdich to mind, of course. It's not unpleasant. Quite a delicious whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Bruichladdich 11yo 2007/2018 Rivesaltes Finish

Bruichladdich 11yo 2007/2018 Rivesaltes Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Amber red
62.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Sandalwood, red grapes, raisins, roast ham, peat, chocolate, brioche. With water, red grapes, fried eggs, toast. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, warming, astringent, sticky. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Red grapes, raisins, peanuts, leather, chocolate, fresh baked bread. With water, fried eggs, leather, red wine, more chocolate. 
Finish: Long. Mint, lemons, red grapes, raisins, chocolate. 

Comments: 

Cask 1310, bottled for the Laddie Crew. Lovely winey notes, obviously from the cask finish, but there's peat, roast ham, and some nice soft bready notes. Lots of leather on the tongue, even chocolate. With water, it opens up, becomes quite sulphury, lots of fried eggs, even raw egg yolk. Wild, interesting whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Octomore Masterclass 08.4 Virgin Oak

Octomore Masterclass 08.4 Virgin Oak

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Tea
58.7% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bacon, vanilla, honey, leather, smoke, hints of baked apples. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, volatile, tingly. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Leather, honey, lemon zest, baked apples, mint, smoke. 
Finish: Long. Smoke, mint, honey, baked apples, lemon zest. 

Comments: 

8 years old. This whisky is meaty and sweet, and the 170ppm peatiness is apparent only fleetingly. There is heaps of minty flavour mixed with cigar smoke, reminds me of smoking a rather good menthol cigarette while munching on baked apples. Lovely whisky.

Verdict:

I like this.

Bruichladdich 12yo 2006/2018

Bruichladdich 12yo 2006/2018

Maltbarn
Single malt - Islay
Amber
51.8% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, chocolate, honey, salt caramel, red grapes, hints of apples. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens slightly, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Peanuts, chocolate, salt caramel, toffee apples, red grapes, white pepper. 
Finish: Short. Toffee apples, chocolate, honey, red grapes, white pepper, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments: 

A very nice unpeated Bruichladdich, sherry casked, redolent of all manner of sweet things. A nice peppery finish too. This makes for a refreshing change, especially with all the peaty stuff the distillery is doing.

Verdict:

I like this.

Octomore 5 yo 05.1

Octomore 5 yo 05.1

Official bottling 
Single malt - Islay
Gold, tinge of pink
59.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, plums, honeydew melon, lemon zest, hints of car exhaust. With water, limes, lemons, more honeydew.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, mouth coating.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Peat, smoke, honeydew melon, lemon zest, vanilla, hints of car exhaust. With water, sweeter, way more lemons, limes honeydew.
Finish: Medium. Lemon zest, chillies, plums, honeydew melons. With water, fresher, slightly sweet, lemons.

Comments:

OK, I know there are peat freaks who will love this, but seriously, too much peat is too much of a good thing in my opinion. It's hard to get to the bottom of this whisky. I suppose it's a testament as to how good it is that I can taste anything at all behind that wall of smoke and peat. Still, it's complex and alluring, and very good indeed.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 127.1 (Bruichladdich "Port Charlotte" 8 yo 2001/2010)

SMWS 127.1 (Bruichladdich "Port Charlotte" 8 yo 2001/2010)

2010, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Golden
66.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Tar, smoke, peat, burning rope, honey, brine, vanilla, cream.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, slippery, oily.
Tasting: Sweet salty. Chillies, smoke, peat, char siu, brine, honey, hints of pears.
Finish: Long. Smoke, peat, brine, pears.

Comments:

Peaty, meaty, rounded in the mouth. A very appetising dram, though not satisfying. Leaves one wanting more, and more, and more. Not very good for me at the moment, but I did manage to keep myself to one. It was a crime to leave some of the dram on the table though.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 23.64 (Bruichladdich 7 yo 2002/2010)

SMWS 23.64 (Bruichladdich 7 yo 2002/2010)

2010, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Light gold
59% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cured ham, cream, brine, leather, butter, honey, hints of peat. With water, sweeter, vanilla, hints of golden syrup.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, smooth, slippery.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Cured ham, cream, leather, butter, honey, limes, hints of peat. With water, sweeter, vanilla, almonds.
Finish: Medium. Walnut skins, cream, limes, cured ham, peat.

Comments:

Quite milky, yet peaty and salty, with salty serrano ham. An interesting combination, but one that ultimately doesn't quite do it for me. I enjoyed this less than other Bruichladdichs, perhaps.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Bruichladdich 18 yo 2nd edition

Bruichladdich 18 yo 2nd edition

Official bottling
Single malt - Islay
Light gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, chillies, lemon sweets, butter, raisins, hints of hazelnuts .
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, cool, loosens.
Tasting: Bitter salty. Leather, peat, lemons, butter, raisins, honeydew melons, hints of hazelnuts.
Finish: Long. Leather, honey, raisins, honeydew melons.

Comments:

Finished in Jurancon wine casks. Salty on the tongue, but with a long raisin-sweet, Pedro Ximenez finish. I've never had Jurancon wine, but it must be pretty good. It was a bad idea to add water to this whisky, since it turns phenolic and chemical, but undiluted it's very nice indeed. Another great 18 yo whisky for my collection!

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

SMWS 23.61 (Bruichladdich 7 yo 2001/2009)

SMWS 23.61 (Bruichladdich 7 yo 2001/2009)

2009, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Golden
68.2% ABV
Dram

Nose: Cornflakes, peat, smoke, peanuts, salt caramel, roast lamb, whipped cream, hints of butterscotch.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, tingly, spicy, hot, volatile, thickens.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Smoke, peat, butterscotch, roast lamb, chillies, green apples, hints of brine. With water, sweeter, pears and apples appear.
Finish: Long. Green apples, lemons, peat, salt caramel.

Comments:

Peaty and muscular, quite complex. It's a little too strong, but I don't find that frustrating like I normally do. This time there's something like the joy of discovery - the whisky turns more appealing as I dripped water in.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 23.59 (Bruichladdich 14 yo 1993/2008)

SMWS 23.59 (Bruichladdich 14 yo 1993/2008)

2008, SMWS
Single malt - Islay
Gold
52.1% ABV
Dram]

Nose: Sour plums, brine, vodka, tomato, lemons, grapefruit.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, expands in the mouth.
Tasting: Sour salty. Lemons, hazelnuts, white pepper, plums, sea salt, apples, hints of peat. Water brings out plums, prunes and apricots.
Finish: Medium. Plums, cotton candy, sea salt.

Comments:

One of the very lightest Islays I have ever had. Almost could be mistaken for a Lowlands whisky, except for the slight hint of peat. Very fruity too, with no smoke at all. Quite refreshing and enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.