This is a recent revival of an old scotch distillery (one of the largest during it’s time) located on the far north of the Scottish mainland. It’s a story I am glad exists as it’s a nice way to continue the sad story of a scottish distillery closing down. The whiskey itself though is quite nice which is a very critical plot point in that story.
I guess this is now a more Laphroaig return (we had like 7 scotches mostly in a row) starting with Laphroaig recently. This is another gift to the lounge in the form of a 15 year old whisky. While the lounge accepts all gifts, we accept those older than our nieces and nephews happily.
Another scotch gift to the lounge this time a Speyside instead of an Islay, and while this is not an Islay scotch it also manages to disappoint my personal tastes. This is clearly a Speyside scotch, and I think it’s main issue is this is a special release made for the United States.
This was a late-Christmas gift to the lounge, and because it was not a gift from myself, and was intended to be something I’ve not tried – well the odds were not in my favor. What we get is a true Islay scotch, but sadly an Islay scotch that could turn off the regular imbiber away from the majesty of Islay.
Well I had a recent stint across the pond, and a load of time at the airport before my return. So of course I walked around the duty-free shop looking for something neat that I’ve not seen in a local store. However with a very distinctive color and name (and let’s be fair the brand of Auchentoshan is a friend) the choice was quite obvious.
So we reach the end of my scotch filled holiday. This time with a scotch that has been talked about a few times here, and is one of my personal favorites – truly a spirit of ‘if you were stranded on an island and could have a crate of just one spirit’ sort of favorite. I am of course speaking of Oban. While Auchentoshan was my first time I really tried and realized I loved scotch, my first Oban was when I realized I was in love with scotch.
Week 2 of 3 for the gifts of scotch, this time a step up from the Select in terms of price (although Select is meant to take from all of Laphroaig. I’ve always been big fans of multiple wood casks (especially with things like The Balvenie), and this is no exception. If I complained last week about a lack of first impressions – damn does this have one.
Alright now that the holidays are over, time to review my gifts. Specifically two very lovely bottles of Laphroaig, the Select this week and the Triple Wood next week (and some Oban the week after). This week we start with the lower cost scotch, but it is by no means a bad scotch in any right.
I will say that Bruichladdich’s marketing prowess of standing out among the scotch aisle has certainly worked by proof of me purchasing it despite many choices on a New Hampshire trip. I am a fan of the peat and the Islay, and this practically shouted at me that I could find it here. However while the peat is certainly a very loud aspect of the whisky it lacks any sort of rhythm or complexity in it’s noise.
Well I think it’s time for some scotch, but because I am clearly masochistic by point of doing this site – it’s time for some more bottom shelf scotches. This week we got with Ballantine, which they themselves have little to say and since I was taught to never say anything unless it’s nice I do as well. (Read: Total lies)
