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Stories from March, 2011

Compass Box The Peat Monster Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Compass Box

“ An awesome nose, sweet and fruity, with a great amount of peat on the taste and a long peaty finish. Really a peat monster. This monster takes no prisioners!”

96
Compass Box The Peat Monster
Compass Box has created a range of incredible artisan vatted, oops, I mean, blended malt whiskies.

This Peat Monster is a top-quality vatting of the peated Speysider Ardmore with some choice Islay malt: sometimes Caol Ila sometimes Laphroaig, Peat Monster is never less than excellent. Pitch-perfect balance and delicious chewy complexity.

This is the best value whisky I have ever had. Even forgeting the price it is a whisky so good that stand over whiskies ten times more expensive. If you like peated whiskies of course :)

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (96): inexistent. sweet, peat, honey, raisins, laphroaig quarter cask, oysters, sea, marine. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (96): . peat, sea, iodine, sweet, fruity, wood, pears, citrus. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (96): no finish. peat, peat, iodine, flowers. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Compass Box The Peat Monster with 96 points over 100.

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Compass Box The Spice Tree Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Compass Box

“ With that great fruity nose, the good vanilla and spices taste and the delicious wood finish this precious whisky must be recommended.”

92
Compass Box The Spice Tree
The very welcome return of Compass Box's 'Spice Tree', originally barred by order of the officious twerps at the SWA, but now reincarnated after a slight tweak in production technique - and there's nothing they can do about it. Huzzah!

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. sweet, some floral and fruity, pears, apples, melon, cinnamon. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, honey, vanilla, wood, spices, malt. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. wood, vanilla, some wood, sweet. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Compass Box The Spice Tree with 92 points over 100.

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Compass Box Oak Cross Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Compass Box
84
Compass Box Oak Cross
A cracking house malt that Arthur really enjoyed it's balance of cereal, honey and spice with a little background fruitiness. Bottled unchillfiltered at 43% This was given 3/4 Bunnies when reviewed by Playboy!

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, vanilla, honey, fruity, melon, pears. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (84): . sweet, honey, vanilla, fruity, pears, a little wood. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (80): no finish. wood, fruity, pears, honey. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Compass Box Oak Cross with 84 points over 100.

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Compass Box Asyla Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Compass Box
85
Compass Box Asyla
A lovely sweet easy drinking whisky of the highest standard. Matured in 100% American oak first-fill barrels and rejuvenated hogsheads and made with malt from the villages of Elgin, Longmorn and Ballindalloch, with single grain from Fife.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (80): inexistent. light, sweet, toffee, vanilla, flowers, grain, barley. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . sweet, vanilla, floral, peaches, apple. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. floral, honey, grain. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Compass Box Asyla with 85 points over 100.

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Compass Box Hedonism Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Compass Box
85
Compass Box Hedonism
A delightful blended grain whisky, Hedonism really is as enjoyable as the name suggests, a smooth and creamy offering from Compass Box.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (80): inexistent. light, subtle, barley, corn, vanilla. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . hot, grain, barley, corn, vanilla, sweet, bourbon. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. vanilla, honey, corn. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Compass Box Hedonism with 85 points over 100.

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Compass Box: True artisan whisky makers

By Miguel in Featured , Compass Box
Compass Box Whisky Company Logo

John Glaser Portrait

Compass Box is an specialist artisan Scotch whisky maker which creates small batches scotch whisky with a very high quiality. Most of them are awards winning bottles. Compass Box philosophy is to share the joys of great whisky with more people in the world.

The soul of Compass Box is John Glaser.
He learn his art through one of the industry largest companies, where he developed a passion for scotch whisky and dreamt of starting his own company.
In 2000 he started Compass Box Whisky Company, fine tunning his firsts whiskies in his own kitchen.

One of the things that define Compass Box is their seeking of evolutions of traditional techniques, particulary in oak maturation. This effort granted them problems with mighty powerful Scotch Whisky Association ( SWA ) which banned their first version of The Spice Tree because of the way whisky was matured in the cask.

In words of Compass Box:
The issue revolves around the SWA’s interpretation of the law regarding traditional practice in the production of spirits in European Union countries. While we disagree with their interpretation of the law, we have, nonetheless, decided to stop production of “The Spice Tree” while we continue to negotiate.

What the SWA does not like is our technique of using barrel inserts (made of the highest quality cooperage oak you can buy) in the casks we use to do a secondary maturation on the whiskies for “The Spice Tree”.

They changed the way whisky mature in the cask and released a new, better The Spice Tree whisky and this time SWA can do nothing about it! :)

Compass Box has many awards for their whiskies, among them four times Whisky Magazine Innovator of the year, two times Malt Advocate Blended Scotch whisky of the year and Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible Best Scotch New Brand.

This is my collection of Compass Box bottles:



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The Universal Whisky Experience Show

By Miguel in News

the universal whisky experience 2011

Universal Whisky Experience is the world’s premier promoter of luxury, super-premium whisky enjoyment experiences and the brainchild of C.E.O. Mahesh Patel.

The Universal Whisky Experience, a weekend long whisky tasting experience for those with a palate for fine whisky will debut at the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas next month on March 18th and 19th, 2011. The two day show will bring together the best whisky master blenders and distillers along with the rarest of expressions for an intimate weekend focusing on tasting, pairing, cocktails and meeting today’s whisky legends.

The list of confirmed exhibitors is really impressive as it is the list of super-premium scotchs to taste.

If you want to attend you can buy the tickets at Universal Whisky Experience website and you can use this code WS786987 for a 15% of discount.


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Black Bottle Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Black Bottle
85
Black Bottle
A superlative blend of Islay malts with some choice single grain whiskies, Black Bottle is criminally little-known for a whisky of this quality. Outstanding value for money.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, honey, more honey, malt. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . sweet, peat, wood, vanilla. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (80): no finish. peat and wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Black Bottle with 85 points over 100.

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Bunnahabhain 12 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Bunnahabhain
87
Bunnahabhain 12 year
A very lightly-peated malt that serves as perhaps the mildest introduction to the Islay style.

Bunnahabhain is a single malt where floral and fruity tones dominate with the peat influence in the background. The main base for the splendid 'Black Bottle' blend.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, floral, marine, sea. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . sweet, peat, earth, fruity, salt, tomato and iodine. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. fruity, peat. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bunnahabhain 12 year with 87 points over 100.

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Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Glenmorangie

“ One of the best flavours in the honey vanilla range that I remember. Think of Ballantine’s Finest, but with a more powerful nose and taste. Also the sherry, that reminded my of Fino, not pedro ximenez is simply delicious.”

93
Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX
Sonnalta PX is the newest addition to the Glenmorangie Private Collection, following on from the fantastic Astar.

This was named PX for its sherry finish in sweet Pedro Ximénez dessert sherry casks. The word Sonnalta is Gaelic for "Generous", a fitting title for this luxurious whisky.

One of the best Glenmorangie single malts that I have tried. Highly recommended.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (92): inexistent. fruits, wine sherry, citrus, wood, honey, vanilla. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (96): . sherry, wood, vanilla, almonds, nuts, citrus. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. vanilla and honey. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX with 93 points over 100.

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Glenmorangie 18 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Glenmorangie
85
Glenmorangie 18 year
The 18 year-old has always been one of the best of Glenmorangie's core range and, in common with all Glenmo's offerings these days, it really looks the part. Picked up the top prize in its category at the World Whisky Awards 2010.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (84): inexistent. floral, many floral, sweet, oak, vanilla, honey. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . sweet, grain, oak, honey, vanilla, grass, oak. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. grain, wood, smoke. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glenmorangie 18 year with 85 points over 100.

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Glenmorangie The Astar Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Glenmorangie
87
Glenmorangie The AStar
The Astar bottling from Glenmorangie is a second incarnation of the much-loved Artisan cask bottling from several years ago. A massive dram, with huge spices - a drop of water is the sensible option.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (84): inexistent. floral, really closed, wood, spices. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . sweet, floral, fruits: grapes and dates, oloroso, pears. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. fruity, wood, hot, malt. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glenmorangie The AStar with 87 points over 100.

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Glenmorangie Nectar D'or Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Glenmorangie
88
Glenmorangie Nectar D'or
The Bordeaux vineyards of south western France lend their grand heritage to Nectar D'or through Glenmorangie's use of Sauternes wine barriques to 'finish' The Original single malt whisky. Infused with the signature honey, citrus and spice aroma of the Sauternes dessert wine that lingers in the wooden casks, the result is a whisky of exquisite sophistication and complexity. The resultant elixir takes on the pale, lemony, gold transparency and honeyed taste that inspired it's name.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (84): inexistent. delicate, floral, a little fruity, pears, citrus. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (96): . sweet, floral, pears, sweet plums, honey, vanilla, wood. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. wood, honey. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glenmorangie Nectar D'or with 88 points over 100.

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Glenmorangie Lasanta Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Glenmorangie

“A whisky spoiled by sulphur. Better than a previous batch that I tried but still... not my kind of whisky.”

81
Glenmorangie Lasanta
Lasanta is the replacement for the old Glenmorangie Sherry Finish although, to be fair, this new one is a bit stronger at 46%. It says here that 'Lasanta' means 'Warmth and Passion' in Gaelic, which is nice.

This dram has a amber-like color.

Nose (79): more than average. honey, sulphur, wood, floral, almonds. Rather spoiled by a dominant bad sulphur aroma.

Palate (82): light, smooth, powerful. honey, sulphur, nuts, wood, oloroso, floral, citrus. Better that I remember, but still not a nice whisky. Just imagine a sherry monster whisky that does it best not to be a sherried whisky.

Finish (82): average. honey, sulphur, wood, floral.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glenmorangie Lasanta with 81 points over 100.

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Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Glenmorangie
88
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
After much hoo-hah and being sworn to secrecy (and I think we were the only people who took that seriously, but you live and learn), Ladies & Gentlemen let us present to you...(drum roll)...The Whisky Formerly Known As Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. floral, some fruits, grapes. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . fruity, honey, malt. hot. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. fruity and wood finish. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban with 88 points over 100.

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Glenmorangie Original 10 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Glenmorangie
87
Glenmorangie 10 Year Old– Original Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Elegant swan necked stills, the tallest in Scotland, produce Glenmorangie whisky which is coaxed into perfect maturation through the use of oak bourbon casks, settled in traditional stone - built, earth - floored warehouses. After ten years of relaxation in the gentle Highland climate, the whisky reaches a perfect harmony of sweetness and complexity that is the signature of Glenmorangie Original: Velvet textured with delicate, honeyed overtones and a burst of citrus softening into vanilla and almonds.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (84): inexistent. many floral, sweet, honey, almonds. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . floral, vanilla, honey and anise. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. honey and vanilla. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Glenmorangie 10 Year Old– Original Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky with 87 points over 100.

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Glenmorangie: The wood-formation of whisky

By Miguel in Featured , Glenmorangie
Glenmorangie Distillery

Glenmorangie Distillery Stills

Glenmorangie is the highland Scottish distillery that started to experiment with woods and wines finishes in the early 1980s. One of the best selling single malt whisky in the UK.

Glenmorangie stands near Royal Burgh of Tain in Ross-shire. It was established in 1843 by William and John Matheson. John was part-owner of Balblair and relative of Alexander Matheson who founded Dalmore. The production of the distillery was of 20000 gallons of alcohol per year.

The distillery was one of the first of Scotland to heat the was stills with indirect heat.

In 1887 the distillery was rebuilt and in 1918 it was sold to Macdonald & Muir (40%) and Durham & Company (60%), a whisky broker.
In 1930 Macdonald acquired the part of Durham and used most of the production in their blends.

Glenmorangie was not promoted as a single malt until 1970s. In 1979 distillery capacity was doubled and in 1990 double again.

Due to the light character of the new make, Macdonals & Muir was experimenting with different woods and maturation into wine barrels in order to increase the range of expressions. The owners made Glenmorange a public limited company in 1996 and in 2004 the distillery was sold to the luxury goods company, Luis Vuitton Moët-Hennessey.

In 2008 capacity was increased to six million litres per year with the addition of four new stills.

The stills of Glenmorangie are one of the tallest still of Scotland.

Water used on the distillery come from Tarlogie spring and the malting was done insite until 1977.
Glenmorangie was fourteen bonded warehouses, ten of them of dunnage type and four racked to eleven casks high.



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Bell's 8 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Bell's
76
Bell's 8 year
Up to 40 of the finest malt and grain whiskies are matured in oak casks before being skilfully blended to give Bell’s its rich nose, warm taste and lingering finish.

Established in 1825 by Arthur Bell. Bells Scotch Whisky is a finely balanced malty, fruity and rich whisky from Blair Atholl, Scotland.

Famed for its distinctively mellow character and uniquely complex taste, Bell's Scotch Whisky has earned its reputation as one of lifes truest indulgences.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (76): inexistent. sweet, honey, vanilla, wood. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (76): . sweet, wood, honey, peaches and vanilla. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (76): no finish. wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Bell's 8 year with 76 points over 100.

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DYC Fine Blended Whisky Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , DYC
80
DYC 5 year
The whisky is marketed to be low budget and is popular in Spain as it is much cheaper than Scottish, Irish or American whiskies. It is designed to be mixed with non alcoholic beverages and be easy drinking in the hot weather. This regular DYC release is a blend of malt and grain whiskies that have been matured in crianza red wine casks.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (76): inexistent. sweet, honey, vanilla, alcohol, peaches, cherry. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . sweet, honey, vanilla, malt, wood, cherry. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (76): no finish. vanilla and wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this DYC 5 year with 80 points over 100.

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J&B Rare Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Justerini & Brooks
83
J&B Rare
Europe's most popular Scotch whisky. This is a blend of 42 different whiskies, created by J&B, Justerini and Brooks.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (84): inexistent. sweet, malt, vanilla, honey, cocoa, peaches. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (84): . sweet, peat, wood, honey, vanilla, fruits. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (80): no finish. honey, wood and vanilla. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this J&B Rare with 83 points over 100.

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Penderyn Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Penderyn
83
Penderyn Aur Cymru
Penderyn is Wales' only single malt whisky, produced at a rate of just one cask per day at one of the smallest distilleries in the world. Aur Cymru, translating to "Welsh Gold," is an apt name for this small-production spirit. After distillation, this whisky is first aged in American oak Bourbon barrels, and then finished in Madeira casks to impart a generous flavor and subtle complexity. Penderyn is smooth and luscious, with enticing flavors of cream toffee and fresh leather, finishing with notes of tropical fruit, raisin and vanilla.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, many fruity: mango, melon, oranges. it is like a macedonia. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (84): . wood, fruits: pineapple, peach, cocoa and oranges. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (76): no finish. oranges, vanilla and pineapple. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Penderyn Aur Cymru with 83 points over 100.

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Saint George English Whisky Chapter 4 Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , St George

“ I took this one before an Ardbeg tasting to start with something soft and easy to warm up myself before the Ardbeg-rathon. And when I do the first sip I find this little jewel. It is worth each pound you pay for it and it is not expensive on the other hand.”

89
St George Chapter 4
A peated malt spirit from England's only distillery, the Norfolk-located St George's. As this is less than three years old, it can't be called whisky. This particular release has spent twenty-two months maturing in a first fill American bourbon cask.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, fruity, a little wood, peat and malt. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . peat, some sweet, malt, peat, wood and fruity. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. many peat, wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this St George Chapter 4 with 89 points over 100.

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Ardbeg 1978 Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Ardbeg
88
Ardbeg 1978
The second of the limited edition vintage releases of distillery-bottled Ardbeg 1978, this is from 1999.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, malt, citrus lemon, fresh, wood, honey. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . sweet, peat, honey, peat, herbs, salt. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. peat, wood, coffee, cocoa. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ardbeg 1978 with 88 points over 100.

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Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist 16 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Ardbeg
87
Ardbeg 1990 Airigh Nam Beist
There is a dark place on Islay, high above the Ardbeg Distillery, called Airigh Nam Beist (pronounced `arry-nam-bayst`) which in Gaelic means `shelter of the beast`.

No more fitting name could have been bestowed on such an eerie place; this is where - legend has it - something other-worldly lurks, lying in wait. So what measures can be taken to protect local and visitor alike? If you find yourself straying this way, then pray equip yourself with that traditionally reliable antidote to sheer terror - the stiff drink.

A travelling man could ask for no better protection than a hip flask full of the strong stuff, namely Ardbeg`s Airigh Nam Beist. For it`s truly a wee beastie of a dram - waiting to be released!

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. fruits, pear, lemon, cocoa, malt, some peat, wood, sherry, vanilla and honey. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (88): . sweet, honey, malt, wood, peat. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (84): no finish. peat and wood. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ardbeg 1990 Airigh Nam Beist with 87 points over 100.

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Ardbeg Supernova SN2010 Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Ardbeg

“ An awesome release. More complex than Ardbeg 10 years old, definitively hotter and more earthy. If you are in the peat wave do your best to get one.”

93
Ardbeg Supernova SN2010
The new 2010 expression of Ardbeg Supernova is out of this world – even deeper, stronger and earthier than the award-winning 2009 edition.

Ardbeg Supernova is a most peated than the usual whisky from Ardbeg, bottled at cask strength and without chill filtering.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, fruity, citrus, mature apples, biscuits, a little peat, malt. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (96): . sweet, peat, earth, cocoa, lemon, floral, biscuits. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (96): no finish. earth and peat, lemon. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ardbeg Supernova SN2010 with 93 points over 100.

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Ardbeg Uigeadail Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Ardbeg

“ A great dram. One of the best Ardbegs I have tried that has still a reasonable price. It is more complex than Ardbeg 10 years old and has no trace of vanilla.”

93
Ardbeg Uigeadail
A fine drop of Ardbeg bottled at cask strength.

As most Ardbeg whiskies, Uigeadail is an earthy whisky with a bit of spice - a marriage of Ardbeg from bourbon barrel and sherry butt which gives a sweet and smokey finish to this malt at 54.2%.

Uigeadail is the loch from which all Ardbeg water flows and you can suck up the Islay landscape with a dram of this fine whisky. Winner of World Whisky of The Year title in Jim Murray`s 2009 Whisky Bible.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. sweet, malt, fruity: melon, complex. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (100): . sweet, peat, hot, fruity, lemon, malt. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (92): no finish. peat and fruity, sweet. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ardbeg Uigeadail with 93 points over 100.

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Ardbeg Blasda Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Ardbeg
81
Ardbeg Blasda
We all know Ardbeg packs a peaty punch, but if you remove some of that peat, can Ardbeg still retain its perfect balance?

The mind bog-gling answer is "yes"! By taming our usual mighty peating levels we have created Blasda, peated to an average of just 8 parts per million phenol (8ppm) compared to the more usual 24ppm. Blasda is still perfectly balanced, but light, sweet and delicious.

But in my opinion, a departure from the great style of Ardbeg 10 years old. I didn't like it.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (84): inexistent. disinfectant, iodine, sea, peat, fresh citrus lemon. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (84): . peat, wood, salt, seaweed. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (76): no finish. a little peat. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ardbeg Blasda with 81 points over 100.

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Ardbeg Still Young Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Ardbeg

“ Simply awesome, mind blowing. Forget Supernova, Uigeaidail or whatever. This is Ardbeg!”

95
Ardbeg Still Young
The second release in Ardbeg's journey to the new 10 years old, Still Young was released in 2006 and continued the successful 'path to peaty maturity' as the marketing types called it.

This Ardbeg bottling is the continuation of Very Young and as the previous one is bottled at natural cask strength.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (96): inexistent. citrus, peat, earth, bits of cocoa, something burnt, toffee. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (100): . sweet, peat, citrus, malt, a little wood, vanilla. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. peat and earth.. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ardbeg Still Young with 95 points over 100.

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February order

By Miguel in Orders

February order
Just got two orders today, one from Master of Malt and another from a portuguese whisky shop. Great stuff inside.

Finally I got a bottle of Chichibu, that I was missing desperately and another of Hammer Head, a czech single malt whisky. I got also another bunch of samples

The bottles are:


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Ardbeg 10 years old Tasting note

By Miguel in Tasting , Recommended , Ardbeg

“ I have been waiting for this moment since my order with Ardbeg samples arrived. It is a great awesome whisky, I love the way peat plays in it.
It is a bit more fruity than Laphroaig 10 years old and not as complex as Lagavulin 16 years old but it is a great one really.”

89
Ardbeg 10 year old
Ardbeg Ten Years Old is a very special bottling for the Ardbeg distillery.

This Islay single malt is the first non-chill filtered whisky in the Ardbeg range. Chill filtering isn't a bad thing, in fact it created real consistency of product when the whisky industry was a little more `hap-hazard` than it is today. Ardbeg Ten Years Old is whisky with none of the goodness taken out and as good as straight from the cask.

If you enjoyed this Ardbeg, you really need to have a cask strength Ardbeg that it is only slightly more expensive. A no brainer if you ask me.

This dram has a white-like color.

Nose (88): inexistent. peat, citrus freshness, disinfectant, salt, vanilla, cocoa, motor oil. First nosing data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Palate (92): . peat, earth, mud, citrus, floral, grass, peat, hot. Bouquet data is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

Finish (88): no finish. peat and earth. Finish length is innacurate as the previous tasting sheet lacked of this field.

So based on other whiskies I have already tasted I rate this Ardbeg 10 year old with 89 points over 100.

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