Islay. It has a special meaning for scotch whisky drinkers. What can be more special then, than a week celebrating all that the island has to offer? The last week of May / start of June marks the annual Feis Ile - the Islay Festival of malt and music. Each of the distilleries on the … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Ardbeg – Ardcore
I don’t think that much more can be said about what a weird year 2020 was. I am forever an optimist though, and whilst I can’t deny the horrible times that we’ve had, I still think it important to look back and take stock: as I write this, I can say that I’ve made it … Continue reading 2020 Unplugged: Our Top Ten Whiskies Of The Year
If you’re a peat-head then you know Ardbeg. If you’re an Ardbeg fan (Ardbeggian?) then you know Ardbeg Day. Since 2001, the Ileachs have celebrated their wares as part of the Islay festival, and since 2011 a special release has been made to mark that day. At first it was the infamous Alligator release, which … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Ardbeg – Blaaack
Well, happy birthday big man! Here we look at this month's brand new, special release, 10 year old age-stated bottling of Big Peat, looking to celebrate 10 whole years since Big Peat first arrived on the scene as the forerunner to the Douglas Laing & Co series of Remarkable Regional Malts. As per his brethren before … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Douglas Laing – Big Peat (Aged 10 Years)
Back in 2009, the team at Douglas Laing & Co. unleashed a concept that had a big objective and a big name to live up to, for that is the year that Big Peat was born. The blended malt whisky features "A Shovelful of Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskies including Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore & … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Douglas Laing – Big Peat
As with all Compass Box whiskies, the name of the game here is quality and transparency, even if the name of the whisky itself is "No Name". What is more unusual however is that, whenever Islay whiskies are used in blends, then the original distillery tends to hide its identity within a shroud of mystery … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Compass Box – No Name
Pronounced oo-gah-dahl, and named after the loch that provides Ardbeg with its spring water on the south east of Islay, this peaty puncher is one of the distillery's core expressions. The master distillers have taken their revered smoky malt and given it a final and thorough sherry butt maturation. Bottled at a high percentage, this … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Ardbeg – Uigaedail
whisky unplugged 