Reviews by: wtl.base
talisker 10 year old
- Reviewer
- wtl.base
- Color
- Caramel
- Nose
- Peat, light smoke, oak. Distinct and well-integrated; hard to deconstruct.
- Body
- Full, oily. Smooth but assertive.
- Palate
- Big and rather sweet malt, cereal, a touch of citrus and sweet red pepper. Something hot too, like black pepper.
- Finish
- Long, a bit dry. A very slight hint of burnt rubber at the end but not at all in an off-putting way.
Warm, rich, ale-like style. A few drops of water make it more approachable but don't change the balance much.
bowmore 12 year old
- Reviewer
- wtl.base
- Color
- Caramel.
- Nose
- Moderate peat and smoke, grapefruit, dark chocolate, Assam tea. Wet oak. Some faint floral notes too. Full of character, but needs time. I love the smoke, it is elusive but very distinct.
- Body
- Thin, lightly oily.
- Palate
- Dry, a bit sour and tangy. Lean malt. Some peat. The nose is still lurking in the background but in a veiled dulled-down form.
- Finish
- Medium, dry.
The nose is distinct and very inviting, but the lacklustre palate suddenly makes everything toned down, and the finish doesn't quite save the show. I always enjoy this dram but I can't help the feeling it should have been much better. Would love to try this bottled at a higher strength and with no chill filtration.
compass box the peat monster
- Reviewer
- wtl.base
- Color
- Pale straw.
- Nose
- Floral notes, some tropical fruit, gentle peat and smoke, warm apple cider, young vegetables.
- Body
- Light to medium, crisp.
- Palate
- Well-integrated malt and peat. Wonderful balance, slightly on the sweet side but with a touch of spice.
- Finish
- Very warm, long and dry. Spice and fruit fade away first, followed by longer lasting smoke; faint seaweed lingers on.
Apparently there has been more than one version of PM; I purchased my bottle in early 2010 in Ontario, Canada. A happy marriage where the sum is bigger than the parts, bottled the way it should be, this is a robust, finely balanced dram of great development and complexity. It takes water well - worth experimenting. A few drops reveal a lighter floral bouquet; there is so much more here than just peat. It really needs time, however. Magnificent whisky in modest no-nonsence presentation.
caol ila 12 year old
- Reviewer
- wtl.base
- Color
- Straw.
- Nose
- Light and floral. Peat and fresh smoke, some young vegetables.
- Body
- Medium.
- Palate
- Malt, dried apricot, a touch of fresh melon and a waff of peat. Great balance and a very clean feel.
- Finish
- Gentle peat and smoke. Exceptionally dry.
Compared to some other Islay malts of comparable age this one needs extra time and quiet or else its subtleties could easily be lost. Incidentally, I prefer this expression to the 18 yo for its freshness.
the macallan cask strength
- Reviewer
- wtl.base
- Color
- Red amber, caramel.
- Nose
- Sherry, faint fruit, a hint of smoke. Needs water and time.
- Body
- Medium, dry.
- Palate
- Sweet, peppery, spicy. Sherry, dried fruit, walnut.
- Finish
- Medium long, dry, tangy. Quite enjoyable.
Colourful and assertive, but... not my thing. I find the palate rather shallow. The sherry sweetness and other notes seem somewhat combative, not perfectly married.
the glenlivet 12 years old
- Reviewer
- wtl.base
- Color
- Very pale amber.
- Nose
- Chardonnay. An unobtrusive floral bouquet, a hint of raspberry.
- Body
- Fairly smooth.
- Palate
- Malt, cereal, light honey. The balance is towards sour, which I find quite refreshing.
- Finish
- Clean and short.
An elegant, subtle and well-rounded malt. No frills. I like to go back to it when I'm not in the mood for much spice or complexity, or a peat punch.
laphroaig quarter cask
- Reviewer
- wtl.base
- Color
- Light amber
- Nose
- Initially very medicinal (friend: "Is this whisky?"); peat, smoke and iodine. Then fermented fruit and citrus. With a drop of water it becomes even more complex. Kiwifruit? Heavy brine, peat and smoke in the empty glass.
- Body
- Medium
- Palate
- Confirms the nose; also some pepper. Not sweet; the malt is quite subdued. A drop of water brings out more fruitiness. Too much water shuts out the peat.
- Finish
- Very long. Dry smoke.
This Laphroaig is bolder, more complex and more interesting than the 40% 10yo. It's quite in your face, and I find it very easy to enjoy. Delightful!