What Wee Dram Are You Enjoying Now - Spring/Summer 2014

[MtnDew]

You're back? Hmm... May need to give your bottle a test drive.

Edited August 4, 2014 by MtnDew

[BigRich]

Yesterday I started early with the Power's Special Reserve and ended the evening with Glenfarclas 17

[garbanzobean]

Enjoying a trashy detective novel and Springbank 10.

[BigRich]

I cracked open the Laphroaig Select I got as a sample bottle. Not impressed. I washed it away with a Peat Monster 10th

[holdtheice]

A pour of Ledaig 10 for me tonight. I bought this bottle about 5 or 6 weeks ago and I'm almost half way through. I've got a Glendronach 15 Revival open also but for some reason it's the Ledaig I keep wanting to pour myself a dram of. The peat influence is quite pronounced and I think this is because the smoke is mild (milder than Islay's such as Ardbeg 10, Caol Ila 12 etc). It's well made spirit in my opinion - there is very little heat given the fairly young age and 46.3% bottling strength. It seems a little different every time I try it. I didn't expect much from it but honestly it's better than the last bottles of Ardbeg 10 and Caol Ila 12 that I've had.

[garbanzobean]

A pour of Ledaig 10 for me tonight. I bought this bottle about 5 or 6 weeks ago and I'm almost half way through. I've got a Glendronach 15 Revival open also but for some reason it's the Ledaig I keep wanting to pour myself a dram of. The peat influence is quite pronounced and I think this is because the smoke is mild (milder than Islay's such as Ardbeg 10, Caol Ila 12 etc). It's well made spirit in my opinion - there is very little heat given the fairly young age and 46.3% bottling strength. It seems a little different every time I try it. I didn't expect much from it but honestly it's better than the last bottles of Ardbeg 10 and Caol Ila 12 that I've had.

Ralfy did a review of Ledaig 10 recently that stated pretty much what you just did. This just confirms that I need to give it a go.

[holdtheice]

Ralfy did a review of Ledaig 10 recently that stated pretty much what you just did. This just confirms that I need to give it a go.

I just checked out the Ralfy review, thanks garbanzo. Maybe I half know what I’m on about after all! The Ledaig shouldn’t be too expensive so it’s worth taking the gamble. I was going to grab an Oogie at the time but decided on the Ledaig, mostly because it was much cheaper and still natural color and NCF. Plus it has an age statement. I’m glad I did.

[MtnDew]

Enjoyed some Nikka from the Barrel tonight, I forgot how tasty that stuff is! Now I wish it was easier to get ahold of in the US, silly anti-500ml bottle laws.

[Max Power]

You're back? Hmm... May need to give your bottle a test drive.

It's a lot more sherry that I may have expected. Nothing like any Glenlivet I'd ever had.

[MtnDew]

It's a lot more sherry that I may have expected. Nothing like any Glenlivet I'd ever had.

I'll have it with me tomorrow night so he can give it a try. I ordered one more to bunker since the price was decent and it is fairly unique tasting.

[garbanzobean]

Enjoyed some Nikka from the Barrel tonight, I forgot how tasty that stuff is! Now I wish it was easier to get ahold of in the US, silly anti-500ml bottle laws.

Jealous! Nikka's malts are a bit expensive at times, but the quality is hard to argue with.

Today capped off more or less the end of an extremely stressful 5 weeks at work, so I indulged at bit. Had a dram of Springbank 10 when I got home, Lagavulin 12 with dinner, and Kilchoman Machir Bay 2012 as a nightcap. All three bottles have been open for a few months, and are getting pretty low. Absolutely loved all three, but am looking forward to selecting their peaty replacements from the bunker when the bottles finally hit the recycling bin . . .

[MtnDew]

Enjoyed some HP 12 tonight. I overlook my "regular" bottles so often that I forget they can be really really good. Going to have to visit this one more.

[EagleRiver]

I just opened a bottle of Laphroaig Cairdeas Port Finish a couple nights ago, and it is outstanding, all the Peaty and Briny Goodness of Laphroaig with an additional layer of sweet and fruity port that blends together seamlessly.

On top of that Wainwright gave me a dram of his Lagavulin 12 cask strength last night and it was pretty dam delicious as well.

Its been a Peaty sort of week.

[Trey Manthey]

I've been on a Laphroaig kick myself lately. Opened a 2008 25 year and an old red stripe 10 year CS. Also 2012 and 2013 Cairdeas, and finished regular ass 18 year.

[garbanzobean]

Opened up my samples of Talisker 25 (2005) and Brora 35 (2013) today. I tried the Talisker 25 first, since I was more concerned with getting the pure experience with that one (I have a bottle of Brora 35 set aside to open later, as mentioned elsewhere). Nose was creamy and fruity, with a hint of Talisker signature peat. Taste was signature Talisker, reminded me of a fruiter and slightly oakier Talisker 18. The finish was what really impressed me. Long, smoky, earthy, fruity, even bordering on chocolatey. I REALLY enjoyed this one, though it was a bit fiesty and needed some time and water to settle down to my liking. From my perspective, it took water extremely well, and didn't exhibit any of the "worn out" character that older malts sometimes get if they haven't been aged carefully.

I gave it a few hours and had some lunch to allow my palate to reset, and then poured a dram of the Brora 35. All I can say is . . . THANK YOU SO MUCH TO CHAINWHIP FOR TALKING ME INTO BUYING A BOTTLE OF THIS!!!!!! . . . This is something special. The nose is gorgeous coastal highland. Tropical fruits (banana, pineapple, even a little mango) fill up the nose. There is some salinity and a touch of peat in the nose, but it's really subtle. Tastewise . . . wow. Everything in the nose is there, along with a bit more salinity and some oak. No bitterness to speak of, no unpleasant tongue burn. Instead, it just seems to melt into my tongue. It's the tongue equivalent of a really cozy fleece. The finish isn't as long as the Talisker 25, but is quite lingering. Some oak, maybe a touch of peat, and some more tropical fruits, especially banana.

The Talisker was outstanding, but the Brora is really something special. An absolutely unique experience. The kind of dram that warms the body and soul, all character and no defects. I cannot wait to open my bottle of it up when my daughter is born.

Edited August 9, 2014 by garbanzobean

[GaryT]

Enjoyed several varieties of Laphroaig last night, along with a 23 yr Cragganmore that was maybe one of the top 4 single malt pours I've had the pleasure of trying. Really amazing stuff. Wish K&L would ship to GA

[Memphis]

JW Green 15yr. So glad I've a few of these bottles, as they're drying up around here.

[garbanzobean]

Finally removed the last dregs of my kilchoman machir bay 2012. It was a great dram, though got a bit heavy on the play doh flavors at the end.

[theglobalguy]

Pour of dusty Benriach 10. Not that experienced a scotch guy, but if the current 10 yr is this smooth and sippable I'm in trouble.

[smokinjoe]

Finally removed the last dregs of my kilchoman machir bay 2012. It was a great dram, though got a bit heavy on the play doh flavors at the end.

[garbanzobean]

I absolutely loved the Machir Bay I had courtesy of Bruce. And, swore to pick one up, but have not done so, as yet... BUT, with the promise of play doh to come, I MUST get busy in finding one. I love the smell of play doh!

[MtnDew]

Had some Bladnoch 22 from a Battlehill bottle. It was pretty good, but more of a summer into fall dram, I had been looking for a solid summer sipper. Guess I might have to break into that Rosebank after all.

[ChainWhip]

This is something special.

It is isn't it? Glad you enjoyed those

[garbanzobean]

It is isn't it? Glad you enjoyed those

Amazing, thanks again. I'll have to open my bottle, but I will be surprised if it doesn't become my all time favorite malt. Just enough peat to be in my wheelhouse, but subtle enough to be worth spending hours dissecting it. I shared a half pour of the sample with a good friend of mine, who also happens to appreciate fine whisky. He immediately declared that this was the finest dram he has ever consumed. I have to say, if I ran across another bottle at the $499 price, I would have a hard time not purchasing it.

[tanstaafl2]

The 2012 is outstanding, though obviously young. I'm absolutely looking forward to the older stuff coming out.

Just be sure to start saving your pennies now! Machir Bay is very nice and still affordable but as you note is a very young blend of malts. The vintage editions are steadily going up (a recent 5yo K&L single barrel cost $110!) and I can only imaging what it will cost when they have whisky starting to reach the 10 year mark. It shouldn't be much longer. They started in about 2005 so the 2015/16 time frame might be possible I should think.