In 2017, Wemyss Malts released the first limited edition batch releases of their 3 core range whiskies. The smokiest of these offerings is named the "Peat Chimney", following the blended-maltsters' pattern of two-word monikers for their whiskies. Following the success and sell out of the first batch, in early 2019 a second wave of the batch strength … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Wemyss Malts – Peat Chimney (Batch Strength No.2)
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
Okay, so for those of you who have read our previous post about the WU visit to the English Whisky Co’s new shop/café/chutney-outlet, you will know that we weren’t exactly blown away by their hospitality (see here, if not). Having said that, it didn’t stop the wallets coming out and bottles being bought. After surveying … Continue reading Tasting Notes: The English Whisky Co – Chapter 16 – Peated Sherry Cask
With a name like that, this blended malt scotch whisky has a lot to live up to! Here Compass Box have married malts from 4 of the biggest peat players out there with the final product comprised of 40% Laphroaig (Hogshead), 20% Ledaig (Hogshead), 13% Caol Ila (Hogshead), and 26% Ardmore (Hogshead). The keen-eyed reader … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Compass Box – The Peat Monster
Laphroaig ("La-froyg") is a distillery that bookends the 3 big peaty players on the south-east coast of Islay and is renowned worldwide for its peaty and malty taste that is best demonstrated by its flagship 10 year old expression. The first thing that is striking, before you even get to the liquid itself, is the … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Laphroaig – 10 Years Old
One of Laphroaig’s no-age-statement expressions, the Quarter Cask has been matured in traditional ’quarter cask’ barrels, i.e. barrels that hold a quarter the volume of liquid of the usual cask, and so the liquid has more exposure to the surface area of the wood and so the whisky can ‘mature’ quicker than in the normal, … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Laphroaig – Quarter Cask
