The Dram Report

Lagavulin 16 ABV:43% Chill Filtered E150a added Ex bourbon and sherry cask (I believe?) This is a dram I really wish I could go back to and experience my first sip of again and again. Lagavulin 16 was the first islay whisky I tried and it is an experience that I remember to this day. In a crowded whisky bar with two close friends we picked a dram each at random; I asked the barman what they would reccomend as a classic bold Scottish expression and Lagavulin 16 was what he poured for me. This was the moment that I fell in love with the region of Islay. Lagavulin maintains its position in my core whisky collection to this day and I constantly find myself going back to this dram for good reason! Nose: On the nose I get the scent of a bonfire the morning after it's gone out, a pleasant warming ashyness. I also find Scottish tap water (the best tap water and I will fight anyone that says different). Amongst this harmonious chior of golden nectar I also get a sweet Vanilla...

  Distillery: Ardbeg 10  Region: Islay/Scotland  ABV: 46%  Cask: Ex-Burbon/Mixed Non Chill Filtered Nose: Wow! Just from the spilled whisky on my hands I get an extraordinary peat smoke, unlike the campfire smoke I find in Lagavulin. It really reminds me of the smell of the old encyclopaedias my grandparents had in their old house, a real musty smell for a fairy young whisky. I struggled for a while to put my finger on the last smell and the light bulb finally lit up, smoked salmon, I assume it has something to do with the distillery being so close to the sea. I love the nose on this whisky. In the glass the nose changes for me from time to time and I get the peatyness as well as the smell of new rubber. However from time to time I do pick up on the sweet smell of peaches, peach Schnapps to be exact. I'm always surprised when I find such a bright, vibrant note in such an aggressive whisky. Taste: I again get the taste of new rubber but also a yeasty note similar to ...