islay | NYC Whiskey Review

Lagavulin 8

December 20, 2023 Scotland

Name: Lagavulin 8

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Peat, salt, malt, caramel

Taste: Peat, malt, sea grass, caramel, straw

5 Days left before Christmas! Do you have all your bottles yet?!?

Lagavulin is a winter favorite of mine and I have not had it in a while so on my last visit to the Potstill in Glasgow I decided it was time for reunion. I was leaning towards trying the 25-year-old, but I opted for the 8-year-old as it is more popular on the shelves in the USA.

The distillery originally released the 8-year-old for their 200^th anniversary but has now added it the permanent list of expressions. I found the 8 to have much more flavor than the 16 on my immediate tasting, but it was not nearly as smooth or refined from what I can remember. The 8 is bottle at 48% abv and the 16 is bottle at 43% with a price difference of $65 vs. $90+. I will give the 8 it’s due and proper, it is a good whiskey and very drinkable. However, the 16 is better, but I really need to sample them both side by side.

This expression would make a good gift to someone who has interest in peated whisky but you don’t like enough to spend almost a hundred dollars on.

Lagavulin Expressions produced are 8, 12 cask, 16, 21, 25, 30, 37, Offerman, and Distiller’s Edition.

Priced around $65 and worth it if you are on a budget, but the 16 is better.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Lagavulin 16

October 26, 2023 Scotland

Name: Lagavulin 16

Color: Caramel Brown

Nose: Smoke, peat and brine

Taste: Smoke, peat, orange iodine, smooth seaweed brine notes

Originating from the region of Islay in the Highlands of Scotland this single malt 16 year old whisky is in the realm of “Laphroaig” but has been smoothed out very nicely and finishes easy while still being a “big boy” Scotch. Do not misunderstand me, this is still a full-bodied peat smoke styled Islay Scotch but it is softer than others I have tried while maintaining its character. Most will still find it to be an acquired taste.

When you compare it to Laphroaig 10 you are getting 6 more years in the barrel and a much smoother finish so it’s going to cost you more but I feel it is worth it. You may also recognize this whisky if you watch “Ray Donavan” on Showtime as this is the one he seems drinks the most next to Blue Label. (Note: He is all over the map in what he drinks)

Priced between $80-90 it is a good value for those who love Islay whisky or are entering the heavier bodied smoke peat flavor spectrum.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Ardbeg 10

September 14, 2023 Scotland

Name: Ardbeg 10

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Peat, coal, smoke

Taste: Smokey peat, spices

Ardbeg 10 is a Highland scotch from the Islay region in Scotland that I like to put into a category I call “Big Boy Scotch”. Ardbeg is considered by some people in the whisky world to be the peatiest of all the scotches. I can think of a few other scotches out there that can compete for that title but with heavily peated scotch is truly a matter of individual taste. The name “Ardbeg” is Scottish Gaelic for a “small promontory”. A promontory is defined as “a point of high land that juts out into a large body of water”. See map below.

As I have mentioned in previous reviews, I like to start my tasting experiences with 10 to 12-year-old scotches so I can get a feel for the baseline flavor profile. Plus, and this is an important point since I self-fund this operation, they more affordable! Some people just like to jump to the much older and aged scotches. I never found this helpful in the learning process of tasting. It is hard to graduate upwards and gain appreciation for what you are drinking if you start with the best first. Also, many people are uneducated shits that want to look cool in the company of others. When it comes to heavily peated scotches I do not see the need to go to the oldest or most expensive bottle you are learning or developing a taste for peated whisky.

Ardbeg produces other expressions that range in price and quality. These expressions are, but not limited to the following; An Oa, Blasda, Corryvreckan, Supernova, Uigeadail, Rollercoaster, Alligator, Ardbeg Day, Kelpie, and Grooves. Some of the prices of these are very high and I look forward to the Rabbie Burns Tasting in 2019 to sample some of these expressions.

Price around $55 and a very good scotch if you like peated whisky. It is also a great scotch to warm you in cold winter weather.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

September 15, 2022 Scotland

Name: The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

Color: Clear

Nose: Juniper and fresh green earth notes

Taste: Similar to nose, no burn on the finish

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin 22 is produced by the Bruichladdich Distillery in Islay, Scotland. Since it is the clear liquid cousin of a very good scotch producer it was worth a try and review. Before I was into whisky I was Gin & Tonic drinker but one trip to Kentucky changed all that in 2008. I do not know why Bruichladdich decided to make this gin, but I am glad they did.

The Botanist Gin is a London dry styled gin that is bottled at 46% abv, made from 22 hand-forged botanicals on Islay, and contains 9 core aromatics. You can look them up as there is a lot

Upon first nosing the gin I found aromas all over the place. I could not really determine any specific notes. The taste is sweet with earthy greens and it was very easy to drink neat which was a surprise. A martini straight up with a twist of lemon was then created for assurance of quality. It was excellent.

Priced around $45 and worth the money if you enjoy gin or want to add a bottle to your bar.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Caol Ila 12

February 24, 2022 Scotland

Name: Caol Ila 12

Color: Light yellow

Nose: Peat, smoke, iodine, sea salt, lemon

Taste: Oak, peat/smoke, citrus, flowers, pepper

Caol Ila 12 is produced by the Caol Ila Distillery in Port Askaig on the Isle of Islay. The distillery was founded in 1846 and has changed ownership over the years and is now owned by Diageo (this will be important in a minute). Pronounced “Cull Eela” which means “Sound of Islay” this single malt is bottled at 43% abv and is lighter than Laphroaig 10 and less complex than Lagavulin 16.

The peat and wood taste are a bit different than other Islay scotches, but it is in the same ballpark and there was something familiar about this scotch. Every once and while when I am sampling a whisky and it seems familiar, but I cannot put my finger on it. After some research on this scotch I discovered that what Caol Ila scotch that is not used for their bottles ends up being put into Johnnie Walker….surprise! And no surprise, it is owned by Diageo. I sampled JW Black and Caol Ila 12 side by side. There is a very strong similarity on the nose and taste, but the peat overpowers so you have to search for it.

Caol Ila is what it “is” and that is overpriced Johnnie Walker Black plus 35 ppm peat. I found it to be ok. I assume it was produced to grab some of the Islay market. For the money I spend on this bottle and a few dollars more I could have gotten Lagavulin.

Priced around $70 it is overpriced for what you get in the bottle.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Port Askaig 8-Year-Old

February 23, 2022 Scotland

Name: Port Askaig 8-Year-Old

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, peat, citrus, light wood

Taste: Malt, wood, peat, lemon

Port Askaig is whisky is produced by Elixir Distillers. They own Specialty Drinks, which in turn owns The Whiskey Exchange which is… ah fuck it. You get the point.

The whisky is aged for 8 years in ex-bourbon barrels, non-chilled filtered, has no color added, and is bottled at 45.8% abv. The whisky is sourced from Caol Ila and some comes from Laphroaig. Anyone see where this is going?

Islay whisky’s have a very specific flavor profile (peat/smoke) and have a limited market as most people do not prefer the Islay flavor. Port Askaig appears to be created to grab a bit of the market away from the other distilleries by selling something of similar taste but less quality. Like Caol Ila, it is creation to make money, not to produce something of value.

Priced around $60 and overpriced and tastes like shit.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Bunnahabhain – Stiuireadair

January 13, 2022 Scotland

Name: Bunnahabhain – Stiuireadair

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, lemon, seaweed/iodine, flowers, cedar wood

Taste: Malt, lemon, sherry notes, white fruit

Stiuireadair (pronounced stew-rahdur) is an “other” expression from the Bunnahabhain Distillery which hails from Islay region of Scotland. There is no aged listed, it is 46.3% abv, natural colored, un-chill filtered, and matured in sherry casks. The name is Gaelic for “Helmsman” which is the guy who drives the boat. (“Hooper drives the boat Chief!” – name the movie!)

The expression is listed as a “tribute to the sea” so I will page Don Draper as I usually do when I read this type of bullshit marketing.

Bunnahabhain has core and “other” expressions. Many of these expressions I have not seen in stores or on menus, so I am curious to sample more.

Core Expressions: 12,18, Toiteach, 25

Other Expressions: Amontillado, Feis Ile, Palo Cortado, Port Pipe, French Brandy, Moine Brandy, Vintage Marsala, Moine Marsala, Moine Oloroso Toiteach A Dha, Culag, Moine Bordeaux Red Wine, Pedro Ximenez, 40 year old, Canasta 46 year old, Eirigh Na Greine, Cruach Mhona, An Cladach, Ceobanach

The profile is very good and works well as a winter whisky served neat or a summer scotch on the rocks.

Priced around $60 and worth it if you like the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

December 23, 2021 Scotland

Name: The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

Color: Clear

Nose: Juniper and fresh green earth notes

Taste: Similar to nose, no burn on the finish

Review:

3 Days until Christmas! Do you have all your gifts and bottles ready?!?

The Botanist Gin is a London dry styled gin that is bottled at 46% abv, made from 22 hand-forged botanicals on Islay, and contains 9 core aromatics. You can look them up as there is a lot

Priced around $45 and worth the money if you enjoy gin or want to add a bottle to your bar.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011

December 23, 2020 Scotland

Name: Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malted barley, lemon, green apple, flowers, light smoke and oak

Taste: Barley, oak, peat, lemon citrus

Review: 3 Days until Christmas! Do you have your bottles bought and ready for the Holidays!

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011 was distilled in 2011, aged 6 years in oak casks and bottled in 2018. The expression is un-chilled filtered, non-peated, and 100 proof. From my research the flavor comes from the terroir and the casks it is aged in along with the quality of production.

The Terroir: This whisky expression has two types of barley that are grown at three different farms. The barley is Publican and Oxbridge and the farms are: Claggan, Cruach, and Island & Mulindry. In short; 3 farms + 2 barleys = 1 scotch. The differences between the barleys are too much to go into in a short review but the terroir assist the barley with the flavor

The Casks: 75% of the scotch was aged in first fill American whiskey casks.15% of the scotch was aged in second/third filled Sauternes and Austrian sweet wine casks.10% of the scotch was aged in first fill Rivesaltes (French sweet wine) casks. The scotch was then merged for 6 months before bottling. I think this might explain the excellent taste.

I am still yet to be disappointed with Bruichladdich. Each expression I have tried has been excellent. I do wonder if some of their higher priced expressions are worth the money. If you want to learn about Bruichladdich watch “Scotch: A Golden Dream” on Amazon Prime.

This scotch works well as a summer drink on the rocks on the back porch or a winter scotch neat by the fire.

Priced around $65 and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Bruichladdich – The Classic Laddie

November 26, 2020 Scotland

Color: Bruichladdich – The Classic Laddie

Color: Light gold

Nose: Citrus, light oak, iodine

Taste: White fruit, apples, grapes, apples, toffee, honey

Review:

The Classic Laddie is an unpeated, non-aged statement (NAS), non-colored, 100% Scottish barely Islay Scotch. The whisky is light, fresh, clean, and not what you would expect from this region of Scotland. The Island of Islay is mainly known for what I like to refer to as “big boy” Scotch. Whisky from distilleries such as Laphroaig, Ardbeg, and Lagavulin all come from this area and have big flavors with a lot of wood and peat. In comparison, The Classic Laddie is at the other end of the taste spectrum.

One thing that really stands out is the color of the bottle. The color code is somewhere between Baby Blue and Tiffany & Company Blue. On a liquor store shelf full of mainly clear glass bottles filled with brown spirits this bottle will not be hard to locate. I am not a fan of the color of the bottle, nor was I blown away by the flavor profile of the whisky. It was good, but not great. My first sip immediately reminded me of another whisky but I could not put my finger on it. This reaction was probably because the master distiller has been in the business for over 50 years. He has worked at other distilleries in the region and this might be why I found the flavor oddly familiar for tasting this whisky for the first time.

I am keeping this bottle on my bar for friends who want a dram of something light. I do not plan to purchase another bottle, but if I had to bring whisky to party this summer I would bring this bottle. The Classic Laddie would stand out nicely among all that Rose wine everyone drinks in the NYC area. For some reason, beyond my understanding of human behavior, Rose wine aka shitty White Zinfandel is extremely popular to drink.

Classic Laddie is a good whisky, but not amazing. It is a light clean tasting type whiskey at a decent price.

Price around $60, you be the judge.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Lagavulin 8

Lagavulin 16

Ardbeg 10

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

Caol Ila 12

Port Askaig 8-Year-Old

Bunnahabhain – Stiuireadair

The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2011

Bruichladdich – The Classic Laddie

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