What Wee Dram Are You Enjoying Now - Fall 2013/Winter 2014

[Trey Manthey]

Polished off a Talisker DE 2006 while watching the Saints handle them Panthers.

[MtnDew]

Now I'm onto a wee dram of Bruichladdich Rocks. I can't seem to figure this one out, there is no peat on the nose or in the palate, which I would expect given that it's an unpeated malt. However, in the finish I get some really subtle phenolic tones, like there is peat or a peat essence there somewhere. I also get something like rotting vegetation in the nose. Again, very subtle, but there... It's tasty but this is making me a bit batty trying to nail it down.

[ChainWhip]

Now I'm onto a wee dram of Bruichladdich Rocks. I can't seem to figure this one out, there is no peat on the nose or in the palate, which I would expect given that it's an unpeated malt. However, in the finish I get some really subtle phenolic tones, like there is peat or a peat essence there somewhere. I also get something like rotting vegetation in the nose. Again, very subtle, but there... It's tasty but this is making me a bit batty trying to nail it down.

Is it the water?

[squire]

Now I'm onto a wee dram of Bruichladdich Rocks. I can't seem to figure this one out, there is no peat on the nose or in the palate, which I would expect given that it's an unpeated malt.

Is this something new? I was under the impression even the unpeated version was slightly peated. Of course it's been at least a decade since I bought any.

[tanstaafl2]

Is this something new? I was under the impression even the unpeated version was slightly peated. Of course it's been at least a decade since I bought any.

My impression as well. I think even the water on Islay is a bit peaty!

[MtnDew]

My impression as well. I think even the water on Islay is a bit peaty!

I don't know anything about the history of this expression (Rocks), only that it clearly states unpeated on the label, so I had just assumed there was no peat. However, given that yes, the water on Islay does run through peat bogs and actually adds a measurable amount of phenolic parts per million, I guess it makes sense that I would taste something. It's a pretty fun expression to explore given the very different pallet from most other scotches.

[squire]

I believe the unpeated version still has something like 3-4 ppm but that's enough to notice.

[AaronWF]

Is it the water?

My impression as well. I think even the water on Islay is a bit peaty!

The Caol Ila unpeated is a great example of how peaty even unpeated Islay can taste! I definitely think there's something in the water.

[squire]

In my house it's whisky.

[MtnDew]

The Caol Ila unpeated is a great example of how peaty even unpeated Islay can taste! I definitely think there's something in the water.

Whoa whoa, Caol Ila is unpeated!?!? Now thats impressive, I get very strong peat in it, though I also happen to be pretty sensitive to that. If thats what just the water can do... dang!

[AaronWF]

Whoa whoa, Caol Ila is unpeated!?!? Now thats impressive, I get very strong peat in it, though I also happen to be pretty sensitive to that. If thats what just the water can do... dang!

Caol Ila is traditionally peated, but they release an unpeated version at CS once a year (I think that often, though most of the stuff see on the shelf right now is from 2010 and is 12 years old. I know there was a 14yo unpeated released, but I haven't seen it.)

[tanstaafl2]

Whoa whoa, Caol Ila is unpeated!?!? Now thats impressive, I get very strong peat in it, though I also happen to be pretty sensitive to that. If thats what just the water can do... dang!

No, regular Caol Ila is definitely peated. But there is a version that is made using unpeated barley periodically. I don't think it is every year. Binny's had a 12 yo a while back but unfortunately for me like K&L can't ship to Georgia.

[MtnDew]

No, regular Caol Ila is definitely peated. But there is a version that is made using unpeated barley periodically. I don't think it is every year. Binny's had a 12 yo a while back but unfortunately for me like K&L can't ship to Georgia.

Oh, ok, that makes more sense, thanks for the update.

[MacinJosh]

Ill second the insane thing. Brilliant freaking movie. And probably more relevant today than when it was written, filmed.

Do you guys even understand what the hell they are saying????

The words are English but they're speaking nonsensically!

Guess I'm just am old fuddy-duddy and I've never been one to appreciate artsy stuff. Ah well....

[MacinJosh]

Back on topic.....

A little Glenmorangie Ealanta compliments of Jarrod Cash (Whiskeyagonzo).

Nose is excellent! Rich, vanilla icing. Stewed fruits. Mmmmmm!

Orange peel and tangerine on the palate, a sharp blast of citrus. Nice!

Oh no! Dry, cotton, oaky notes mid-palate. Dammit. So much promise! Dry, cotton, chalky notes strike my palate like nails on a chalk board. I can detect minuscule amounts & am unfortunately very sensitive to it.

Well shit. The entry was silky and citrusy. And then it all went downhill from there. All I want to do is chug water now.

The finish has completely escaped me as I feel like my mouth has just been stuffed with cotton swabs like I’m at the dentist.

Evidently Jim Murray enjoys a dry pour. Going to have to agree to disagree with him on this dram.

[MtnDew]

Enjoying some 8 year old HP from an IB, sadly it was bottled at 43%. I get some very light peat notes that back up an otherwise simple yet satisfying dram. There is nothing too extreme here, though as you swallow there is a little burn. This is surprising to me given the low ABV, but it could be the age coming through.

[squire]

Something like this makes me really appreciate Elmer Lee.

[RVTsteve]

Uigeadail with small splash of Glenfarclas 12. super good. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to taste the Glenfarclas, I thought the Ardbeg might just beat it up and smother it, but it comes through nicely right in the middle.

[Old Lamplighter]

Egg Nog + Jameson pre-dinner; now a wee dram of Knappogue Castle after dinner.

[MtnDew]

Having my first taste of Redbreast 12 CS and... I'm not sold. I really enjoy Irish whiskey as a whole and Redbreast 12 is one of my favorites. However, this CS is just not hitting the right spot for me, I get a TON of oak/wood taste along with sweetness and then the roof of my mouth goes numb. I'm no stranger to CS whisk(e)y and any sort of numbness is very atypical, in fact I think it's only happened twice before. Don't get me wrong, the nose is simply amazing, I could just sit here with my nose in this glencarin glass for hours (breathing through my mouth of course, way too strong for just nose). So much vanilla and wood present in the nose, it combines wonderfully.

I'll give this a try again when I'm back from my trip in a couple of weeks, hopefully I'm just having an off night. After all, I did drink a Pepsi and have some steak right before trying this so that could easily be affecting my palate.

[Max Power]

Had some Auchentoshan 3 Wood tonight. Quite lovely.

[MtnDew]

Had some Auchentoshan 3 Wood tonight. Quite lovely.

[MtnDew]

Well, given that I'm leaving for a week and a half and when I get back family will be in town, my wife decided to give me one of my Christmas gifts early... which was a Caperdonich 17 year bottled by Berry's. We were both turned on to Caperdonich when dinning at Canlis in Seattle for our last anniversary. Though there is a definite age difference, the one we had at Canlis was a 34 year old bottled by Duncan Taylor, the same underlying desert like quality was there. On both the nose and the pallet your hit with wonderful vanilla and pear, and my wife picked out nutmeg and maybe some cinnamon on the finish. I look forward to exploring this dram much more and will likely get another bottle to bunker as the distillery closed in 2002, and then later demolished in 2010.

[zillah]

The new Laphroaig Cairdeas Portwood. Not sure if I am fan of how medicinal it is. Followed by some delicious Green Label. Man I love that stuff.

[Trey Manthey]

Found a pile of these Rosebank 19 G&Ms today for $85, and decided to take a chance. 2nd fill sherry hogshead. Great nose, remarkably vibrant for being almost 20 years.