Cigar Weekly

jazznut · 10-07-2005, 10:31 AM

Glen Scotia Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, Distilled 1992, Matured in a Sherry Cask & Bottled 2000 by Gordon & MacPhail – 62.1% alcohol by volume

Country: Scotland, Campbeltown region
Colour: Deep, orange-amber gold.
Nose: Candied fruits marinating in pitch-patched pails.
Palate: A brief overture of overripe apricots and sultanas. Then young and fiery lightning bolts, as anise and pepper pummel the sweet oak extract into submission. Buckets of salt only serve to heighten the heat, though demure peat peeks through from time to time. Orange bitters at the close.
Assessment: Quite brash and disjointed, though undeniably characterful.
Summary: An untamed, flame-throwing youngster that has its moments early on, but is sullied by some off notes. Lacks the complexity for which this distillery’s make is known. Good session malt, perhaps?

Lagavulin Special Release 12 Year Old Natural Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, Bottled 2005 – 57.7% alcohol by volume

Country: Scotland, Isle of Islay
Colour: Pale, iridescent lemon-gold with marginal evidence of pewter-tinged sap green toward the rim of the glass.
Nose: A delicate bouquet of flowers, vanilla pods and peat ash dextrously laid atop fresh winter melon and barley grist. Makes one want to dive into the pool below.
Palate: Caressingly succulent to start, with grain and oak sweetly gliding across the tip of the tongue. Lightly textured, yet increasingly focused and substantial as a fantastically profound brine and peat duo grabs ahold of everything. Even this drying, just-cut ginger-root and freshly harvested kelp tone encases the odd morsel of pineapple, however. And that sensation of standing on the wharf simply refuses to subside. Magnificent!
Assessment: What, if anything, does this dram lack? The funky farmyard earthiness of the old 12 year old 43% edition. What does it have? A spellbinding clarity almost beyond belief.
Summary: One of life’s essentials.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Original Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 57.3% alcohol by volume

Country: Scotland, Isle of Islay
Colour: Full, topaz-tinged gold.
Nose: Surprisingly, less brutally medicinal than anticipated, with the typically etched Laphroaig pungency more roundly fragrant and sumptuous.
Palate: Juicy, vanilla-laced oak and sweet malt in abundance. Then the luscious peat and savory salt cascade, but gently. The glycerine texture and uncanny balance guarantee lingering satisfaction.
Assessment: Washes across the tastebuds in a composed and confident manner.
Summary: Perfect as it pours. A Kildalton classic.

10-07-2005, 10:31 AM	#1
jazznut Managing Editor Emeritus Herf God Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 26,082	A trio of cask-strengthers... Glen Scotia Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, Distilled 1992, Matured in a Sherry Cask & Bottled 2000 by Gordon & MacPhail – 62.1% alcohol by volume Country: Scotland, Campbeltown region Colour: Deep, orange-amber gold. Nose: Candied fruits marinating in pitch-patched pails. Palate: A brief overture of overripe apricots and sultanas. Then young and fiery lightning bolts, as anise and pepper pummel the sweet oak extract into submission. Buckets of salt only serve to heighten the heat, though demure peat peeks through from time to time. Orange bitters at the close. Assessment: Quite brash and disjointed, though undeniably characterful. Summary: An untamed, flame-throwing youngster that has its moments early on, but is sullied by some off notes. Lacks the complexity for which this distillery’s make is known. Good session malt, perhaps? Lagavulin Special Release 12 Year Old Natural Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky, Bottled 2005 – 57.7% alcohol by volume Country: Scotland, Isle of Islay Colour: Pale, iridescent lemon-gold with marginal evidence of pewter-tinged sap green toward the rim of the glass. Nose: A delicate bouquet of flowers, vanilla pods and peat ash dextrously laid atop fresh winter melon and barley grist. Makes one want to dive into the pool below. Palate: Caressingly succulent to start, with grain and oak sweetly gliding across the tip of the tongue. Lightly textured, yet increasingly focused and substantial as a fantastically profound brine and peat duo grabs ahold of everything. Even this drying, just-cut ginger-root and freshly harvested kelp tone encases the odd morsel of pineapple, however. And that sensation of standing on the wharf simply refuses to subside. Magnificent! Assessment: What, if anything, does this dram lack? The funky farmyard earthiness of the old 12 year old 43% edition. What does it have? A spellbinding clarity almost beyond belief. Summary: One of life’s essentials. Laphroaig 10 Year Old Original Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 57.3% alcohol by volume Country: Scotland, Isle of Islay Colour: Full, topaz-tinged gold. Nose: Surprisingly, less brutally medicinal than anticipated, with the typically etched Laphroaig pungency more roundly fragrant and sumptuous. Palate: Juicy, vanilla-laced oak and sweet malt in abundance. Then the luscious peat and savory salt cascade, but gently. The glycerine texture and uncanny balance guarantee lingering satisfaction. Assessment: Washes across the tastebuds in a composed and confident manner. Summary: Perfect as it pours. A Kildalton classic. __________________ My whisky adventure began at the age of nine. Good things DO take time!