• Join, for peat' sake
    • or

    Most active reviewers

    1. ColoradoDram
    2. Colin
    3. Eye-lah Guy
    4. ChadDavis
    5. Saul

    Can't find what you're looking for? Suggest it!

    Reviews by: Eye-lah Guy

    Glengoyne 10 Years Old

    Glengoyne 10 Years Old May 16th 2012

    86
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Sunny gold in the glass
    Nose
    Spicy vanilla and tree fruit
    Body
    Light with sheer legs
    Palate
    Initially a drop of sugared sherry, which gives way to honest grain, sweet buttery toasted malt, with returning sherry as subtle as I’ve tasted in a dram recently. The grain is sharp enough to introduce dryness that when paired with the sherry is both well balanced and quite unique.
    Finish
    The warm and medium finish sneaks up catlike, subtly rubbing against you with vanilla oak silkiness. A sugary afterglow ensues.

    Excellent in it’s ability to conjure up multiple essences, none of which are anything less than quality; it’s a stealthy and effectual dram, highly recommended, especially for the price.

    Laphroaig Quarter Cask

    Laphroaig Quarter Cask Feb 15th 2012

    95
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Golden sepia in the glass
    Nose
    Coastal spray of relentless peat
    Body
    Sultry, with a sheer set of legs
    Palate
    Sea salty with an all-out affront of hospital iodine; the slightest hint of malty brown sugar sweetness gives way to brutally intense white oak, followed by a seemingly microsecond confluence of every single olfaction thus far...
    Finish
    Ringing finish which quakes your gut and sends you spinning in a centrifuge where your insides are out and you're punch-drunk - even prior to the onset of the second finish. That's right - while you regain balance from the first K/O on shaky foundation, you are embraced, warm and familiar; it’s like you've been saved from the bowels of Hell by Divinity; comfort envelops you as you wallow in it's warm afterglow...

    All I can say is, HolyShitte, this is everything you expect from Laphroig and anything you ever were left longing for after the standard 10 year. Head and shoulders above it's more popular version, which ain't no slouch itself. I'm still reeling. This just entered my top 5 whisky's of all time.

    Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Yellow Label)

    Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Yellow Label) Feb 14th 2012

    88
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Amber red in the glass
    Nose
    Sweet corn and peach
    Body
    Aggressive with legs
    Palate
    Explodes on the palate with all out sensory attack of barbecued corn in an oak-fire pit, warm cinnamon apple crisp balanced with vanilla; thick-as-Kentucky-air grains as proud as the South.
    Finish
    The finish gets a bit lost amongst the palatial proceedings, but commands attention with a blast of spicy malt and rich figs

    American whiskey at it’s best: bombastic, yet efficient-and sheer working class. As Americans, for $20 it’s the home-cooked meal grandma makes as opposed to spending way more dining out. And home is where the heart is.

    The Macallan 10 Years Old

    The Macallan 10 Years Old Jan 7th 2012

    87
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Bright gold in the glass
    Nose
    Subtle sherry, tree fruit and spice
    Body
    Fair bodied
    Palate
    Initial palate is oak barrel and sweet sherry. Manages to balance even considering it's 3-cask maturation. Formidable rush of char provides a hair-standing finish that defines the dram.
    Finish
    A sweet fadeout of vanilla oak just when there appeared to be no more to give adds to the mystique of this malt...

    Razor sharp grain represented throughout keeps the sherry in check; hence, a satisfying Speysider if not entirely delightful, but at under $40, it's well worth rotating on your shelf with The Dalmore 12 and Cardhu.

    The Macallan 12 Years Old

    The Macallan 12 Years Old Jan 7th 2012

    84
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Amber gold in the glass
    Nose
    Noses of malt and cream sherry
    Body
    Medium
    Palate
    A bit heavy on the sherry over the grain, though the grain did reach semi-equal ground upon subsequent pulls
    Finish
    Somewhat disappointing finish, but one detects sherry, cream, and grain

    A nice dram but a bit off balance and short on finish, and you may find yourself inexplicably searching for the grain in this classic Speysider; I found that I much prefer the 10 year

    Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old

    Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Jan 7th 2012

    87
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Dark amber and slightly opaque
    Nose
    Up front nose of charred oak, vanilla extract and spicy malt
    Body
    Medium to heavy body, serious
    Palate
    Just prior to contact, the weighty sweetness of the body insinuates it’s way into the taste buds, with a maple/honey character of extreme intensity for a Scottish malt. Languishing sweetness can seem imperious and burden the balance, though...
    Finish
    Depending on your dinner or mood, the maple and brown sugar is relinquished for a tangy and spicy malt finish that is jackhammer-efficient at times

    While this is a whisky of deep-character and fine repute, I find the sum total of the parts of Bunnahabhain XII superior to the whole; at long last, it’s a B+ whisky, reminding me of a reliable Speyside or Lowland double cask like Glenrothes, Arbelour or Auchentoshan. I’m not in Islay. Where is the salt, the iodine, the sea?!?

    Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength

    Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength Aug 17th 2011

    50
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Caol Ila 12 Year Old

    Caol Ila 12 Year Old Aug 9th 2011

    91
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Liquid gold in the glass
    Nose
    Delicate honey vanilla with charred oak undertones and iodine (Yes-this has spent all 12 years of it’s life on the salty, damp Islay coast and there’s no need to hide that fact)
    Body
    Medium; but serious as a heart attack
    Palate
    This exceptional malt seduces with a sultry sweet come-hither palate, which somehow insinuates itself just before the tip of your tongue meets the liquid, resembling Vermont Grade A Dark Amber as you swallow...
    Finish
    ...just before you’re ready to write it off as another trendy Islay that has bowed to Yankee pressure to “take the hospital taste out,” an attack of charred oak and smoky peat make a devastating one-two punch which obliterates the sweetness and sends you sprawling to the canvass in a dopey stupor.

    This is what I crave from my Islays, man, I need a knockout-something so intense and overwhelmingly complex at the same time I require a ten-count to prove I’m still worthy- yet I count the seconds until my next pull. This mid-priced and exquisite dram serves up a stunning one-two punch, and makes my list of Divine Scotch Malts. A revelation at $54.

    The Glenlivet 12 Years Old

    The Glenlivet 12 Years Old Jul 29th 2011

    81
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Medium amber in the glass
    Nose
    Spicy oak
    Body
    Medium
    Palate
    Fine grains with sweet honey, charred oak and understated peat; well balanced
    Finish
    Oak char rounded out by subtle sweetness, with an overall spicy character that’s inherent throughout the dram

    The venerable Speysider still has purpose, though doubtless luster has been lost to the proliferation of other Scottish Malts in the past two decades. With its former vitality up for debate, it’s nonetheless significant and certainly solid. Sales are steady, but can it return to greatness?

    The Dalmore 12 Year Old

    The Dalmore 12 Year Old Jul 24th 2011

    87
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Golden amber in the glass
    Nose
    Clearly palpable touting oak vs. sherry
    Body
    Mid to full-bodied
    Palate
    Fine pure malt and grains finished with sweet sherry and caramel; thankfully unlike the nose, balance eschews competition; a fine balance is indeed achieved where neither new oak nor sherry cask triumphs-instead, they pay one another fine compliment
    Finish
    Finishes with a sting of malt and sherry, while fading out to reveal caramel and toasted oak char.

    This is exquisite stuff; not your archetypal Highlander. May even hold up to a cigar as honorably as it’s specialty cousin, but it’s even better since there’s no need to trade complexity for the requisite bombast to ward off a tobacco onslaught.

    Laphroaig 10 Year Old

    Laphroaig 10 Year Old Jul 24th 2011

    87
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Bright amber gold in the glass
    Nose
    In-your-face peat, coastal sea salt and smoky malt
    Body
    Lumbering
    Palate
    initial palate is a flash of sweetness, with a blast of iodine, then incredible, intense peat invasion renders the nose a mere tease; peat is successfully balanced with malt and sea salt.
    Finish
    Finishes with the subtlety of a forest fire, and leaves one stunned and stranded on the salty coast with nothing but another pull to figure it all out.

    Not for the meek, and will lose some Speyside, Highland and even Island drinkers due to it’s utter relentlessness; but for those with the stick-to-itiveness to endure, there’s the underlying brown sugary molasses, the cinnamon raisin hints, and the guilty pleasure of having finished a fine cigar and a homemade chocolate chip cookie in the finish. Hey, no one in their right mind goes here without knowing full well what to expect, and the enlightened are rewarded with revelation at the least.

    Knob Creek

    Knob Creek Jul 4th 2011

    85
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Dark amber in the glass
    Nose
    Sweet honey and malt
    Body
    Stalwart
    Palate
    At first spry and sharp vanilla, followed by deep, chocolate malt; underpinnings of sweet molasses ring throughout
    Finish
    Warm oak; flavor of sweet malt lingers for a satisfying fade out

    A good dram from the Beam distillery, however, aged nine years in small batches, I expected an excellent one. Either white label, black or Beam rye are all superior (and more afordable for that matter).

    Glenfiddich Special Reserve 12 Years Old

    Glenfiddich Special Reserve 12 Years Old Jun 29th 2011

    84
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Sparkling yellow amber in the glass
    Nose
    Delicate nose hints of honey nut
    Body
    Light
    Palate
    A burst of sparkling clean grains with subtle oak undertones and malty spiciness, a master distiller’s balance is evident.
    Finish
    Effectively detained and arrives at first with vanilla-oak, then the razor sharp grains return, and leisurely dissipate.

    Archetypal Speysider; it’s a complex character. The subtly inclined will appreciate this classic which still rings true.

    Cardhu 12 Year Old

    Cardhu 12 Year Old Jun 11th 2011

    87
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Sunny amber in the glass
    Nose
    Delicate nose of oak and tree fruit
    Body
    Soft
    Palate
    Sparkling grains and sugary vanilla/peach with a suggestion of peat, harmonious balance of a wise distiller
    Finish
    Appears with a quick announcement, including overtones of oak cask, malt, and warm vanilla peach

    A gem; everything you enjoy a Speyside for, with the intricate and fine character we crave in Scottish malts; a dandy of a dram.

    Glenkinchie 10 Years Old

    Glenkinchie 10 Years Old Jun 1st 2011

    85
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Light sparkling amber in the glass
    Nose
    Buttery sweet--don't be fooled!
    Body
    Light
    Palate
    Clean grains to the fore with oak arriving to very effectively balance the grain and the slightest peat
    Finish
    Warm, medium finish features a subtle smoky maltiness

    This "Edinborough Malt" won't floor you on first taste, but will lull you with it's sultry personna. A sleeper and at under $40, one to be re-visited often.

    Bowmore 12 Year Old

    Bowmore 12 Year Old May 31st 2011

    82
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Golden amber in the glass
    Nose
    Faint peat and barrel wood
    Body
    Light
    Palate
    Oak char and grains with too subtle peat for an Islay; only a decent balance
    Finish
    Finish of oak char is too one-sided

    A disappoint considering it's region and reputation, an Islay that stays straight down the middle of the road to me is not an Islay.

    Chivas Regal 12 Year Old

    Chivas Regal 12 Year Old May 31st 2011

    75
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Medium amber in the glass
    Nose
    Nose of orange peel and oak commands attention immediately
    Body
    Medium
    Palate
    Subtle grains are dashed by myriad of flavors: toffee spice, golden raisins, and finally subtle oak, but the flavors are way off balance
    Finish
    Good warm finish of oaky malt.

    Still a good dram, and don't make the mistake of tasting just once; there tends to be much ado here, but somewhat wrecked by the havoc of random flavors making no particular statement. 

    Bulleit Burbon Frontier Whiskey

    Bulleit Burbon Frontier Whiskey May 31st 2011

    89
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Russet amber
    Nose
    Dry oak abounds and subtle sweetness compliments
    Body
    So mellow, it's very nearly a light body
    Palate
    Heaven on the palate, it's less sweet than many bourbons, due to reported higher rye content, and at 45% alcohol, remarkably smooth. The grain/sweetness balance is superb.
    Finish
    Mild but lasting warm finish of oak and vanilla

    Something is amiss here, Watson! Combine all of the wonderful characteristics of this singular bourbon, and then look at the average retail price. At $20 - $25 per 750 ml, Bulleit should be in everyone’s recession-era liquor cabinet--and beyond…

    Glenfarclas 10 Years Old

    Glenfarclas 10 Years Old May 31st 2011

    88
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Medium amber in the glass
    Nose
    Complexity kicks in right from the nose, which alternates between warm winter oak on the fire, buttery sweet toffee, and light peat.
    Body
    Medium
    Palate
    Toasted oak emerges along with razor-sharp grains which balance out so exquisitely, don't blink or it's "one."
    Finish
    A warm bolt of all flavors.

    All that's good about the Speyside whisky region is represented duly here. This 10 yr bottling may be even more complex than the 12, and for the price, it's a definite.

    Aberlour 10 Year Old

    Aberlour 10 Year Old May 16th 2011

    85
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Reddish amber in the glass
    Nose
    Delicate & sweet
    Body
    Medium
    Palate
    immediate clean grains, then sweetness of sherry cask hits you--at once dispensed by the oak, followed by malt; this happens quickly so it appears to balance
    Finish
    Sherry returns for a warm, sweet finish

    Note: this review refers to the 12 year, NOT the 10 year Aberlour, which is not found on the site but very common in shops in my area... Don't be put off by the sherry casks, or the fruity nose; there' a lot more going on here...

    Auchentoshan 10 Years Old

    Auchentoshan 10 Years Old May 2nd 2011

    87
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Bright gold in the glass
    Nose
    Subtle banana-vanilla nose
    Body
    Light, airy
    Palate
    Immediate sweetness of the sherry casks on the palate, balanced quickly with clean grains and oak
    Finish
    Sherry returns for a sweet warm unique finish

    This is an excellent malt and a steal at around $40.

    Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Years Old

    Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Years Old Apr 22nd 2011

    85
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Medium to dark amber
    Nose
    Lively with hints of mixed fruit
    Body
    Medium
    Palate
    A bolt of fine grains, light oak, bananna almond, then oak char this particular tasting; somehow, this all balances out, becasue the master distiller knows his craft.
    Finish
    Long, warm, with heavier grains and sweet malt. Excellent dram for the money.

    A go to blend of 40 whiskeys; complex and exciting, with multiple required tastings. It's $10 less than some single malts and in many ways, on par.

    The Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old

    The Balvenie Doublewood 12 Year Old Apr 1st 2011

    87
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Medium cream amber in the glass
    Nose
    Green apple and vanilla almond
    Body
    Light
    Palate
    Grains swarm the palate at first, then port subtly introduces itself; fine balance
    Finish
    Somewhat stingy on finish, which is warm, but too mild-mannered

    A quality whisky--if the finish would present more aggressively, it could be great... 

    Glenmorangie 10 Years Old

    Glenmorangie 10 Years Old Apr 1st 2011

    92
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Shiny treasure chest gold on the eyes
    Nose
    Notes of vanilla and ripe tree fruit on the nose
    Body
    Feathery and fair
    Palate
    The slightest honey sweetness on initial palate; a brief rush of cask oak and sharp grain balances with Bosc pear and toasted almond like yin and yang, it’s so damn precise
    Finish
    Intense yet immensely inviting finish of warm cask and vanilla-almond is like sputtering oak logs toasting in a cozy brick fireplace

    As much a dichotomy as it is harmony, this singular malt triumphs in it’s unique marriage of multitudes of diverse flavors cascading into an essence so unified it’s at times unparalleled. The complexity achieved at such relative youth is a testament to the distiller’s genius. Resplendent and airy - yet secretive and intricate, this is a beautiful dram that reflects differently each time out. An anomaly among its Highland peers, this malt stands superlative; the femme fatale of Highland Scotch whisky

    Johnnie Walker Red Label

    Johnnie Walker Red Label Apr 1st 2011

    79
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Light amber
    Nose
    Delicate vanilla
    Body
    Light, sunny
    Palate
    Sparkling clean taste of a Speyside malt, with clear grains giving way to the slightest oak char; solid balance
    Finish
    Warm and sweet with apricots and pears

    Much superior to my last tasting, a solid blend with Speyside roots.

    Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

    Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Apr 1st 2011

    74
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Medium to light amber
    Nose
    Sweet corn and oak
    Body
    Medium but assertive; young
    Palate
    Sweet honey then summer corn, with an honest balance
    Finish
    Satisfying, warm and somewhat lengthy

    A perfectly good whiskey, but at the same price as the exquisite Beam white label, I'm not likely to go here again.

    Jack Daniel's Old no7

    Jack Daniel's Old No7 Apr 1st 2011

    82
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Medium to dark amber
    Nose
    Just by nosing the big, sweet juicy corn you can tell this is in your face whiskey!
    Body
    Surprisingly light
    Palate
    Combines sweet corn and deep toffee, with a firm balance
    Finish
    Warm and mellow, with the famous Jack oak prominent

    the classic mellow sipper is still a solid dram.

    Lagavulin 16 Year Old

    Lagavulin 16 Year Old Mar 14th 2011

    96
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Heavy amber in the glass
    Nose
    Sea salt and hospital iodine, significant as one might end up in urgent care if not prepared for Lagavulin; peat lurks none-too-subtly behind the curtain
    Body
    Thick, oily, demanding
    Palate
    Piles of up-front peat and smoke naturally dissipate into fresh coastal spray of iodine and seaweed, with a wink of mocha and dried fruit. This is balance and complexity at its summit!
    Finish
    Finish: A lasting crash of warm, smoky peat and black oak hit like a hapless dinghy against the jagged island rock. As on the salty coast, the desire to repeat the natural order is reflected in the adventure of the next pull of this unparalleled dram. Each subsequent experience is as exquisitely revealing as the first.

    Everything an Islay should be; unabashedly oily and in your face, yet stealthily effective in its ability to masque subtle undertones amidst the spectacle with unparalleled complexity. Kicks your ever-loving ass to the canvass, and yet you rise up for more; stronger and wiser for the beating. Yeah, this is the best Scotch whisky.

    Glenfarclas 12 Years Old

    Glenfarclas 12 Years Old Mar 14th 2011

    88
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Copper amber in the glass with sheer legs
    Nose
    Cinnamon and vanilla nose with "VT Fancy maple syrup," pears, distinct malt, and a hint of the most delicate sherry.
    Body
    Medium
    Palate
    A sock to the palate with a myriad of sensations: brassy molasses, woody tannins, sherry most subtle, sour apple, and fiery oak, and inherent undertones of copper tartness, expertly balanced.
    Finish
    The finish crashes the party, but is long and extremely warm, with oak char and razor sharp grain, simmering down to the amiable aroma of sweet rum pipe tobacco on a warm summer night.

    This is a sherry casker done with the subtlety most of it's peers have not approached. In avoidance of featuring the overdone sherry cask aura and relegating it to supplanting the malt, comes exquisite genius of simplicity; this is a complex character requiring multiple tastings and rewritings. Do those copper pot stills (“the largest on Speyside!”) account for the brassiness? Outstanding.

    Highland Park 12 Years Old

    Highland Park 12 Years Old Mar 14th 2011

    88
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Deep Amber
    Nose
    Notes of spice and sherry
    Body
    Full; aggressive
    Palate
    Fine grains evident in clean taste; on second experience, evidence of oak and honey. Extraordinary balance.
    Finish
    Finishes with subtle peat and toffee tones

    Outstanding dram, from the northern most island, with alternating characteristics of both Highland and Island.

    Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

    Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mar 12th 2011

    86
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Medium amber
    Nose
    Gentle, sweet maize.
    Body
    Lighter in body than many of it's Kentucky contemporaries
    Palate
    White corn, then grains and finally oak takes over creating a fine balance
    Finish
    Finish is at first oak, then, surprise: a delayed vanilla is released.

    Decidedly subtle, and a quality bourbon experience, but I prefer a bit more rebel bombast with my American whiskey. 

    Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

    Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky Mar 12th 2011

    92
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Grade B Maple syrup
    Nose
    Toasted oak and tree fruit
    Body
    Rich and aggressive body, with legs that cling
    Palate
    Summer corn on the charcoal grill, and it balances out like identical twins on a sea-saw
    Finish
    A double-edged samurai sword of a finish-first nuclear apples and cinnamon, backed up by a bolt of lightning-infused malt, it takes no prisoners and dares you to step in for another contest (which, of course, you do).

    Talk about "proud to be an American," this dastardly dram earns pole position in every whiskey drinker's cabinet. A Holy Grail of value in the US at just $26, it sports massive essence with wide complexity. This Kentucky reins atop the hill of it’s peers, and actually seems to improve with each tasting. A doozy of a dram. What else do you want?

    Jim Beam Black Sour Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

    Jim Beam Black Sour Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mar 12th 2011

    88
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Medium dark amber
    Nose
    Wooden fruit barrels in autumn
    Body
    Oily and rich
    Palate
    The corn sweetness balances wonderfully with the other grains, and the heavenly oak
    Finish
    A long, enjoyable finish with subtle heat and sugar

    A kicked-up version of the classic is a great bourbon at an excellent price

    Ballantine's Finest

    Ballantine's Finest Mar 12th 2011

    72
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Airy gold
    Nose
    Orange peels
    Body
    Light
    Palate
    Vanilla almond with evident grain, a good balance
    Finish
    The finish -  where is it? Timid at best. Honestly, for $5 less, I'll take a Clan MacGregor.

    The lightest of airy blends, I don't buy the comparison with Glenmorangie at all.

    J & B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky

    J & B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky Mar 12th 2011

    77
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Sunny yellow
    Nose
    Nose of berries and citrus
    Body
    Light, yet determined
    Palate
    Fine grains give way to a hint of spicy vanilla, a decent balance
    Finish
    None to speak of...the only issue with this whisky

    Short on finish, but still enjoyable. On par with Clan as my go-to blend at this price; very sound dram. 

    Oban 14 Year Old

    Oban 14 Year Old Mar 12th 2011

    84
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Medium to light amber
    Nose
    Apple nose with spicy highlights
    Body
    Medium bodied
    Palate
    Notes of oak and vanilla in taste with a good, level balance
    Finish
    Mild, somewhat disappointing finish

    Not a typical highlander, it's darker with less grains and more wood.  Stuck between a Highland and an Island. There are others at this price point and less I would revisit first.

    Talisker 10 Year Old

    Talisker 10 Year Old Mar 12th 2011

    92
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Sparkling copper in the glass
    Nose
    Spry nose of campfires and sweet currants
    Body
    An able and strong body with Betty Grable legs
    Palate
    An able and strong body with Betty Grable legs. Sweet honey and Highland-like vanilla on initial tip of the tongue succumbs to an invasion of peat most wicked, and unabashed wooden barrel char; this unholy alliance somehow balances like Jekyll and Hyde.
    Finish
    Finishes with the subtlety of a car accident, the fiery oak blazing to a smolder, with the chilis, current and malt of the nose melting back in as it’s cleared; this is one extraordinary display of closure.

    This is lip-quivering, eye-twitchingly good stuff. The double cask Speyside crew will appreciate it, and there's enough sea brine and peat to keep the west coast crew exceedingly stimulated. Yeah, this kicks your ass; while not all at once, suddenly you look up and your legs are wobbly, and Muhammad Ali is standing over your prostrate body; as the beaten rise and are ready and willing for the next pull, with gloves up and mouth open…

    Ardbeg 10 Years Old

    Ardbeg 10 Years Old Mar 12th 2011

    93
    Reviewer
    Eye-lah Guy
    Color
    Extremely light in the glass, which may put off the unsuspecting…that’s a P.C. term for them! Of course, anyone who pours from this green bottle must sense how acute this experience is going to be…if you don’t, go back to your overpriced P. Diddy Vodka
    Nose
    Clean as sea spray, with hints of vanilla/iodine, but absolutely no clue as to the arresting storm that approaches...
    Body
    Lighter than many of it's Islay neighbors
    Palate
    On first pull the hospital is all over your palate to the point that you almost feel the stiff sheets; and while the coastal salt renders springier than many Islays, this makes the balance of grain malt and cask wood all the more incredible.
    Finish
    Oh, and The Smoke, The Mouthful of Peat, The Beast? Oh, He’s Here, and He emerges, rampaging with a vengeance, stomping, in your face, shaking your ass to it’s very core in the finish. Wanna go here again? You can’t help yourself. Naturally, you’ll deal with The Beast each time out, until you love Him. And, of course, you will and you do…

    Numbingly complex--a multitude of moods live in the dram at different times, and of course, depending on your dinner; your mood; your DNA. I’m knocked on my ass so scarcely, and the handful of whisky’s that do it are a few Islay’s, some Kentucky’s, and the rare Skye or heavenly Highlander. This makes The Short List.