MacLeod's Islay 8 Years Review

Country: Scotland

Brand: MacLeod's

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Region: Islay

Age: 8 Years

Alcohol: 40%

Date: 17/11/2013

Colour: Golden Amber (E 150 is added)  

Nose: It certainly smells a bit like a young Islay with Smoke (Burnt Newspaper and Burnt Grass), Peat, Brine, Wallpaper Glue, Rubber, Alcohol, Nuts, Leather Saddles, Raw Meat, Toffee, light Licorice, light Vanilla, light Oak and Mineral tones. Hints of Sherry and Citrus. Probably matured in a mix of Re-Fill Ex-Bourbon and Re-Fill Ex-Sherry Casks. 

Palate: Watery Delivery with Smoke, Peat, Lemon-Peel, Caramel/Toffee, Salt, Licorice, Pepper, Alcohol, Rubber, Tar, Leather, Nuts and Mineral tones like Sand and Rocks.

Finish: Middle-Long with Charcoal, Salt, Pepper, Vinegar, Malt, Raw Fish, Nuts, Butterscotch, Perfumed Soap, light Ashes, Tar, Sugared Tea and a hint of BBQ Sauce. Slight Alcohol Burn.

The MacLeod's Islay does not accept Water very well. It simply becomes too Thin and Watery.  

Rating: 76.5

Nose: 20 – Taste: 19 – Finish: 18.5 – Overall: 19

General Remarks: This Islay Single Malt was produced and bottled by Ian MacLeod Distillers Ltd, an Independent Bottler established in 1934 and a.o. owner of the Glengoyne Distillery and various Blends such as Isle of Skye and Smokehead. Many people will know their Chieftain's range as well. The Islay is part of a small collection known as MacLeod's Scotch Whisky Trail that also includes a Single Malt from Lowland, Speyside, Highland and Islands as well as the before mentioned Isle of Skye Blend. A full bottle of the Islay costs around 45 US Dollars. A Miniature Gift Set is also widely available. (See Picture Above).

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: I find it difficult to judge Single Malts like this. On the one hand Ian MacLeod managed to present an acceptable, true to nature young Islay. On the other hand, this Islay 8 years suffers from youth, indifferent wood and a low ABV. It's a bit dull and lifeless. Save a little bit more and buy an Ardbeg 10 if you're looking for a great young Islay. That's what I would do! But of course you also want to know what distillery produced this Islay 8 years. Can't be sure here but i would guess either Lagavulin or Bowmore. If you have any thoughts on it, please leave a comment! 

Jan van den Ende                                                      November 2013

Bowmore 1990 Review

Country: Scotland 

Region: Islay

Brand: Bowmore 1990 (Wiebers Castle Collection) 

Type: Single Malt Whisky

Age:  12 Years

ABV: 43 %

Date: 13/11/2013

Sample Provided by Marcus from Germany. Thanks!

Colour: Golden Sunlight

Nose: A well balanced, laid-back and almost introverted combination of Fruit (Apples, Pears and Peaches), Soft Peat, Malt, Gentle Smoke, Lemon, Custard, light Oak, very light Spices and a pinch of Salt. Probably matured in an Ex-Bourbon Cask. Nicely integrated Alcohol.  

Palate: Slightly Thin Delivery. This Bowmore should definitively have been bottled at Cask Strength. I find Barley Sugar, Soft Peat, Vanilla, light Oak, Salt, Lemon, Pepper, Ginger, light Ashes and a hint of Iodine. I had expected a bit more after Nosing. On the Nose the introvert character of this Bowmore works fine for me but on the Palate I would have liked to see a bit more Power and Punch! 

Finish: Middle-Long, Dry and and ever so slightly Sour with Barley Sugar, Sweet Peat, Green Apples, light Smoke, Lemon, Pepper, light Ashes, a pinch of Salt and hints of Iodine and Milk Chocolate.

This Bowmore does not accept Water very well. Better sip it neat.

Rating: 84

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 21 

The Sample came from this bottle! 

General Remarks: The Bowmore Distillery was founded in 1779 by John P. Simpson. It is located on the South Eastern shore of Loch Indaal and is owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, part of the Japanese Suntory Group. The Bowmore we are tasting today was distilled in 1990 and matured in Cask # 964 for 12 years. It was bottled in 2002 by Independent Bottler Jack Wiebers Whisky World from Germany in the Castle Collection Series 7. The whisky is naturally coloured and not Chill-Filtered. It was sold at around 70 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: This is not your average Standard Bowmore with its characteristic - and sometimes overwhelming combination of Sweet (Sherry), Peat, Ashes, Iodine and Leather. This Bowmore 1990 is well-balanced but quite understated on the Nose. The relatively low ABV leaves the Palate slightly on the Thin Side and without sufficient Power. The Finish, although certainly not bad, does not leave a lasting impression. This could have been a great Islay but in the end it's "just" a good one! 

Jan van den Ende                                                         November 2013

Ledaig 2005 Review

Country: Scotland

Region: Highland - Island - Mull 

Brand: Ledaig 2005 

Type: Single Malt

Age: 6 Years

ABV: 53.6 %

Date: 11/11/2013

Colour: Pale Straw/White Wine

Nose: Lots of Dirty Peat, Wet Clay, Fresh Tarmac, Rubber, Charcoal, Soot, Ashes, Brine, Alcohol, Salty Licorice, BBQ Sauce, Herbs and Mineral Tones. After a while I get some Cereals, Salted Butter and hints of Grapefruit Juice, Lemon and Olive Oil. In a Blind Tasting I probably would have identified this as a Young Islay. I miss a bit of balance in the Nose as the Peaty/Smoky elements are quite predominant.

Taste: Young Spirit. It basically follows the Nose with Peat, Tar, Caramel, light Oak, Barley Sugar, Alcohol, Grapefruit, Straw, Grass, Lemon, light Vanilla, BBQ Sauce and Peppered Vodka. 

Finish: Long, Peaty, Herbal and Spicy with Sweet Barley, Cigar Ashes, Salt, BBQ Sauce, Pepper and Ginger. I have never actually licked an ashtray the morning after a successful party. But that's what my tongue was telling me some 15 minutes after having swallowed this Ledaig.

I added a few drops of Water and the Nose becomes Mineral, Herbal and Coastal. On the Palate some Fruity Tones appear. Think of Pears. The Finish becomes quite Hot with Pepper in the lead. I advise you to experiment with a bit of Water until you find the right combination.

Rating: 81.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5

General Remarks: The Tobermory Distillery is located on the Hebridean Island of Mull. It was formerly named Ledaig and was founded in 1798 by John Sinclair. Nowadays it is owned by CL Financial, based in Trinidad. The Distillery produces unpeated Malt under the name Tobermory and peated Malt under the old Distillery name Ledaig. The whisky is mainly used in blends like Black Bottle and Scottish Leader. The Ledaig we are tasting today was distilled in November 2005 and matured in an Ex-Bourbon Barrel with Cask # 12027. It was bottled by Independent bottler Malts of Scotland at Cask Strength in May 2012. This Ledaig is naturally coloured and not Chill-Filtered. It costs around 65 US Dollars but it will be very difficult to find it as only 180 bottles were available.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion: I love it when Peat waves a successful combination with Fruit, Oak, Spices and Sherry. That' s not the case here. This Ledaig leans too heavy on the Peat, Ashes, Soot and Tar. This makes the Nosing and Tasting a bit too monotonous as far as I'm concerned. Heavily Peated Grapefruit Juice with a dash of BBQ Sauce!

Jan van den Ende                                                        November 2013