Kilchoman Machir Bay

46°
Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay
Bourbon and Sherry Casks
Original Bottling
Core Range
Single Malt
Launched in 2012
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
Peated around 50 ppm

This is the Kilchoman distillery's entry-level whisky, with no age statement.

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, the peat is thick, fairly fresh, mineral, earthy and damp. Imposing iodine, full of foam and sea spray. Cottony smoke, in broad wisps. Salt, stone, vegetal notes. A vanilla pod. A fairly soft, subtle caramel asserts itself on the palate, but the whole remains very abrupt, rocky, with barely sketched white fruits. Vegetal moss, lichen. I note the coarse salt, then the pepper rises to explode in a slightly bitter, sparkling finish. Honeysuckle, apricots..

In Short, 

It's very enjoyable, and this version has its fans. As far as I'm concerned, I find the value for money rather unconvincing compared to the great Islay classics.

Score : 84

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          The Black Keys - Next Girl

Smokehead High Voltage

58°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling

By Ian MacLeod Distillers

Core Range  

Single Malt
Launched in 2018

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

The reference edition in the Smokehead range, it has enough alcohol to justify its presentation.

Let's Taste It : 

Right from the start, a violently herbaceous peat, recognisable from a renowned Islay distillery, located in the south of the island, whose name does not begin with L. It's dark and damp, as if you were walking through a tunnel. Ash and white fruits, vanilla, a hint of citrus, caramel and wood. With the addition of water, it becomes a bit swampy, a trace of elderberry, mould and a medicinal touch. On the palate, it's young but easy to drink, obviously very peaty and vegetal. Perhaps a pinch of salt. The finish is explosive, with hints of wood and caramel, really pleasant and quite long. A metallic aftertaste in retro-olfaction. It's all very nice, but don't forget that for an extra 10 euros you get the Uigeadail.

 

In Short, 

A true Peat Bomb, as medicinal as it is smoky, which will not disappoint fans, and at a very enjoyable price.

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :  

  

                                           Iron Maiden - Rime of The Ancient Mariner

Finlaggan Cask Strength

58° 

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Independent Bottling

By The Vintage Malt Whisky Co. Limited

Core Range 

Single Malt

Launched in 2009

Peated around 35 to 38 ppm

This one is perhaps the most sought-after in the Finlaggan range, due to its high alcohol content and alsp a probable maturation in sherry casks. However, contrary to what is advertised, it is not cask strength. 

Let's Taste It: 

Concentrated iodine. Foam and sea breeze. Limestone. You can also smell the tide, the sand. And a touch of sherry, giving the whole a waxy quality. Smoke and a medicinal touch in the background, but which give a nice balance. The peat rises slowly, quite thick. On the palate, the sherry gives a slight cherry flavour, it's syrupy, but there's something rougher behind, very peaty, stony, then the spices rise. The finish is quite aggressive, but not too long, woody aftertaste. I'm sure it's C... Are we allowed to say it?

 

In Short, 

A great success, in the sense that it's not quite a Peat Bomb, because its profile is relatively softer than expected. Highly palatable, then, and at a very good price. 

Score : 87

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

  

                                           Scorpions - In Trance

'As We Get It' Islay Single Malt 2019

60,6°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

Bourbon Casks

Independent Bottling
By Ian MacLeod Distillers
Limited Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Since the turn of the century, bottler Ian MacLeod has regularly released a new version of this 'As We Get It' from the Isle of Islay, with no indication other than that it has not been altered in any way since it left the cask. However, it does not appear to be a single cask.

Let's Taste It : 

Granitic, stony, heady peat. A wisp of smoke. Heather, iodine. Pebbles in the bed of a very clear river, at the top of the mountain. A note of humus. With the addition of water, an ounce of white fruits. Wax. White chocolate. After a few minutes, tyre and tar, a vague medicinal touch. On the palate, it's a bit young, but already velvety, herbaceous, vanilla-flavoured, fairly sweet, not at all alcohol-laden, salty and slightly fruity. White pepper, spices, then a very pleasant finish, vegetal, vanilla, just the right amount of bitterness, not too violent and quite long. Caramel and nails in retro-olfaction. It looks like cask strength Machir Bay, but I'd say it's Caol Ila, after a great deal of hesitation.

 

In Short, 

It's really excellent, provided of course that you're an unconditional enthusiast. It's still young, and very peaty. The nose and finish are exceptionally intense.  

Score : 88

                          

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping : 

   

                                          AC/DC - Thunderstruck

Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2019 Edition

46°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay

Oloroso Sherry Butts

Original Bottling

Limited Edition
Single Malt

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
Peated around 50 ppm

Kilchoman has been releasing a new vintage edition of this Loch Gorm every year since 2013. Over time it has become the distillery's prestige reference. This one is a blend of 20 casks aged between 7 and 13 years, of which 15,000 bottles have been produced. 

Let's Taste It : 

A very dark sherry intrudes on the nose, combining dangerously with a very mineral and vegetal peat. It's almost meaty, with smoked ham, tar, tyres, stone, spices and of course red fruits, raspberries, gooseberries and blackcurrants. A few hints of tide bring fish and pebbles. On the palate, pomegranate, leather, rubber band, it's quite full-bodied, with the maritime character of the peat providing structure. Spices galore. The finish is a bit too sweet, but it's quite long on the other hand, the sherry coming through, with caramel, charcoal and earth.

 

In Short, 

It's an absolute success, and seems to get better every year. Despite its rather high price, you should buy it as soon as possible. 

Score : 88

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

   

                                          Theo Hakola - Cherries

Benromach 10 yo

43°

Distillery : Benromach - Speyside

Ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Casks, 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Finish

Original Bottling
Core Range 
Single Malt
Launched in 2009

Peated around 12 ppm

This is the entry-level whisky from the Benromach distillery. Its owner, the trading company Gordon & McPhail, is seeking to recreate the whiskies as they were produced in the 1960s.

Let's Taste It: 

Leather, cherry and caramel, the three distinctive characteristics of sherry. It jumps out at the nose, so to speak. Waxy leather that smells like new, crunchy red cherry, caramel straight from the pan, a tad bitter. Then there's light, ashy peat, varnished wood and something like white fruit, a hint of orange. Vanilla and milk. Fruity and spicy on the palate, more on the muscat grape, sour apple and a touch of milk chocolate. The caramel becomes more present on the finish, which takes on a certain fullness. Dried fruits and pomegranate seeds. Charcoal.

In Short, 

An example of elegance and distinction. A fine balance of bourbon, peat and sherry. A classic at a very decent price.. 

Score : 85

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :  

   

                                          Moriarty- Jimmy

Nikka Whisky From The Barrel

51,4° (90° Proof)

Distillery : Miyagikyo, Yoichi - Japan 

1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrels, Sherry Butts and Refill Hogsheads 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Blended Whisky 

Launched in 1985 

Almost Unpeated

Made from a blend of 105 different casks, this Blended is the proof of Japanese know-how and their taste for balance. It is said to be 10 to 12 years old.

Let's Taste It :

Wood, cinnamon leaves, slightly bitter caramel, a hint of peat from the countryside, the cocoa you sprinkle on cakes. Very pleasant smoke, balanced, grainy, bewitching. On the palate, a zest of citrus fruits, probably blood orange, green tea, cereals and chocolate. Slightly peppery and spicy, with cola and charred earth on the finish, it fizzes a little on the throat. You don't feel the 51°, but it's still solid and not too young. Chicory in retro-olfaction.

 

In Short, 

A little gem, offered at a very modest price despite its high alcohol content and complexity. The marriage of flavours is perfect, it's a classic.

Score : 85

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :  

   

                                          Cat Power - Nude as The News

Clynelish 14 yo

46°
Distillery : Clynelish - Highlands
Ex-Bourbon Casks
Original Bottling
Core Range
Single Malt
Launched in 2002
Peated around 8 ppm

Since 2005, this has been part of the Classic Single Malts of Scotland range launched by Diageo. Despite its great age, it is the distillery's entry-level whisky.. 

Let's Taste It : 

Candle wax, unless it's pomade, camphor or glue. Then the influence of wood makes itself felt, it becomes almost fruity, like orgeat syrup or white plum. Varnish, mint candy, a touch of iodine. In the end, it's quite maritime. Peat and sherry, not much. Light sherry, more dried raisins than red fruits. Elastic, leather, straw, ending on a farmy note. On the palate, it's quite mature, suitably spicy, woody, with apple and beetroot, and a dash of lemon. A very malty finish, with slight hints of caramel and yeast. In retro-olfaction, you'd think you were drinking stout, it's very cereal-like and somewhat earthy. All in all, very subtle and rather pleasant, it's a long finish.

 

In Short, 

A very original and enjoyable whisky. Its subtle and waxy character makes it a classic, available at a very reasonable price. 

Score : 85

                                      

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping : 

   

                                           Eric Clapton - Layla