We have just received a sample of a newly released whisky at Whisky For Everyone and thought that we would do something a little different with it. Below is a review with tasting notes of this 'mystery dram' and we thought it would be fun if we asked you to try and guess what this whisky is! This can be done by clicking on the 'comments' section at the bottom of this post, following the instructions and leaving us your guess/answer. There are a few clues in there to help (hopefully).The answer will be revealed on Friday when we will post a full review. This will incorporate these tasting notes and also include distillery history and facts as well as information about the whisky in question. There are no prizes for guessing correctly but correct answers will be mentioned in the final article, so please leave your name! If you like this idea, then also let us know and we will do this again next time we receive a 'mystery dram'.
The colour is a rich golden yellow and the nose is fresh and clean with an instant hit of pungent aromatic smoke. This smokiness is earthy (imagine damp moss and dry peat) and balances with other elements such as vanilla, a briny saltiness and a touch of honey. On the palate, the 'mystery dram' is robust and powerful. It offers early sugary sweetness that combines the vanilla and honey from the nose again, as well as malty cereal grains. This is balanced almost perfectly by the smokiness (less earthy and more like charcoal or burning embers/ash this time), some more saltiness (think of brine) and a bitter twist (imagine iodine). The finish is lovely and very long with a bittersweet mix of vanilla, honey, warm spices (think of a hint of ginger) and a pronounced bitter smokiness (now reminding us of creosote fence paint). The 'mystery dram' is excellent and is a welcome and complimentary addition to the producer's range of whisky. It is bottled at 48% ABV which allows the whisky to express itself fully.
So, what do you think the 'mystery dram' is? Find out on Friday ...
10 comments:
My guess would be the new Laphroaig 18. Haven't tried it yet but your tasting notes read like this could be it.
Could be Laphroaig 18 or Laphroaig Triple Wood maybe.
I think Oliver nailed it with Laph 18. Sounds like a bourbon cask; the iodine all but rules out a non-islay peated expression; and 48% bottling would seem to be the clincher within the Islay distilleries.
Hmm...forgot about the Triple Wood. You've tried that one, Ruben. Does the vanilla come through prominently, even with the other cask types involved?
Jeff
To be honest, I didn't think of the Triple Wood either. Might as well be that one. But I am prety certain it's one of the two
Although I haven't tried the 18yo, there is less vanilla in the Triple Wood than in the Quarter Cask for example. I'm also missing a few notes of chamomile and fruits to nail it down to the Three Wood.
Quarter Cask could also be an option.
Obviously too late, but my guess was the Laphroaig 18 as well. Absolutely amazing stuff IMHO!
No doubt it's a Laphroiag, the strength is a dead giveaway! I will add my voice to the chorus of guesses for 18yo / TripleWood. If I had to choose it would be the Triple Wood.
Laphroaig 18 may be a good guess! Tastingnote sounds like it was coming from the south shores of Islay. Only thing that makes me sceptical concerning the Laphroaig-solution is that iodine is stated in the note - it always makes me think of an Ardbeg first...
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