Laphroaig 10 Sherry Oak Finish

“Smells Like Sweaty Teen Spirit”

Whisky Review # 1073

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Region: Islay

Brand: Laphroaig Sherry Oak Finish

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky  

Age: 10 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 48 %
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with Oloroso Sherry European Oak Finish 
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 60-75 (November 2025)

Price/Quality Ratio: 😐 Perhaps a bit too expensive
Buying Advice: 😐 I prefer the regular 10 but in any case do try to find a sample first before buying a full bottle

Colour:

Dark Reddish Brown with shades of Orange (Artificially Colored)

Nose:

The Peaty and Medicinal aspects of Laphroaig are still there of course but they are substantially softened by the Sherry Finish. That makes it more approachable but it also affects the distillery profile. Perhaps a shorter Finish or less active Sherry casks would have been more appropriate. I also get a light off-note that I can't exactly define. It's a weird mix of  Rubber, Metal and Sweat. I also find the Nose on the Thin side despite the adequate ABV for this expression. That's a bit odd. In any case I advise you to give this Laphroaig enough time in the glass before you start Nosing. Certainly not my favorite Laphroaig nose though.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Caramel, Molasses, Soft Coastal Peat, Salt Water, Burning Embers, Hospital, Iodine, Tar, Ashes, Dark Chocolate, Nuts, Dark Berries & Cherries, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Figs and Plums, Bacon and Fish on the BBQ with a sprinkle of Citrus & Herbs, Leather, Metal, Cars Burning their Tyres on the Asphalt & Cloves. 

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Honey, Plastic, Rubber, PVC Pipes, Pepper, Cinnamon, Aniseed, Licorice, Tobacco, Cigar Box, Charred Oak, Espresso and Bitter Oranges. 

Palate:

It does not happen a lot but I like the Palate more in this case. It's a nice balance between the various casks and the distillery character. I find some additional Sour notes and they combine well with the Sherry Sweetness and the Peaty and Herbal spirit. My favorite part of this expression. It does get a bit dry at this point.  

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Caramel, Toffee, Soft Coastal Peat, Cigar Smoke, Ashes, Tar, Dark Chocolate, Roasted Nuts, Dark Berries and Cherries, Bacon and Fish on the BBQ, Cigar Box, Charred Oak, Dark Fruit like Raisins, Figs and Prunes, Leather, Pepper, Licorice and Nutmeg.          

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Molasses, Wax, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Cocoa Powder, Dark Espresso, Hospital, Tobacco, Cinnamon, Cloves, Aniseed, Rubber, Metal, Bitter Orange and Spiced Sweet & Hot Red Wine.     

Finish:

The Finish is on the Short side and a bit Thin as well. After the Palate I was hoping for more here. It's rather Dry and a little on the Bitter or Tannic side. I find Sweet Malt, Caramel, Vanilla, Honey, Toffee, Dark Chocolate, Roasted Nuts, Espresso, Soft Peat, Smoking Embers, Iodine, Salt Water, Hospital, Iodine, Ashes, Bitter Burning Herbs, Dark Berries and Cherries, Grapefruit, Bitter Orange, Wet Stones and Clay, Rubber, Plastic, Metal, Licorice, Leather, Tobacco, Charred Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves and Aniseed.  

Drinking Advice:

No need to add Water to this Laphroaig but it does calm down the Nose a bit. So please try it both ways.

Rating: 7 (*******) 

Nose: 6.5 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 6.5 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is around 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good but with flaws on the Nose

Conclusion:

Laphroaig is located a few miles outside Port Ellen on the island of Islay and was founded in 1815 by Alexander & Donald Johnston. It was bought by Beam Suntory in 2014. Since, the distillery has launched a number of NAS Whiskies that received mixed critics. I find this a pity as I used to consider Laphroaig one of my favorite distilleries. The 10, the discontinued 18 and the old 15 Years are some of my all time favorites. I also love to visit the place and the people. The annual production currently amounts to 2.9 million litres but will be expanded to around 4.8 million of which 70% is destined to be bottled as Single Malt. The core range consists of Oak Select, the 10, the 10 CS, the 10 with Sherry Oak Finish that I'm reviewing today, the Quarter Cask, Lore and a 25 years CS. The Travel Retail Range includes The Four Oak, Cask Legacy, Port Wood and PX Cask.

The Sherry Oak Finish was released 2021. Laphroaig and Sherry can be good pals but the Sherry influence should be discrete in my opinion. In this case however the Sherry tends to overpower the Spirit and that's not a good thing as far as I'm concerned. It makes this Laphroaig easier to drink for beginners but the distillery character gets somewhat lost in this way and that's a pity. It could be I'm having a bad day at the Whisky office but there's a weird aspect to the Nose. Smells Like Teen Spirit was the first song that came to my mind but in a Sweaty way. All in all a bit of a mixed bag this Laphroaig. Good in places, strange in others. Better try a sample first before buying a full bottle. 

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                November 17, 2025

Auchentoshan Bartender's Malt (Edition 2)

“Leave a Tender Moment Alone” 

Whisky Review # 1072

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Region: Lowlands

Brand: Auchentoshan Bartender's Malt - Annual Limited Edition # 2

Type: Single Malt Whisky  
Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 50%
Maturation: Mix of a/o Refill Ex-Bourbon Casks and Sherried Wood
Chill Filtration: No 
Price Range: US$ 70-90 (August 2025)

Price/Quality Ratio: 😑 Borderline okay at around US$ 70.
Buying Advice: 👎 Not interesting enough as a Single Malt. Sir Mix-a Lot might like it given the high ABV

Colour:

Dark Golden(Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Relatively Young and Light. There's Fruit around both Sweet and Sour. Some of it is Fresh while another part is Dried. The Alcohol is there but stays within the limit. It's different from your average Scotch whisky. Almost like a mix of Irish Whiskey and a German Obstler. 

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, German Butter Biscuits, Grass & Straw, Orange, Dried Fruit like Apples and Plums, Banana Ice Cream, Slightly Sour Cherries, Cinnamon and Pepper.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Demerara Sugar, Butterscotch, Resin, Peach or Nectarine in Syrup, Oak, Caffe Latte, Milk Chocolate, Apricot Jam, Lemon, Nougat, Green Tobacco Leaves, Mint and light hints of Acetone and Burnt Herbs. 

 

Palate:

Again relatively Young. It's mostly the Fruit that stands out. It's mainly Bitter-Sweet with a few Sour notes as well. The Sweetness is slightly Artificial both on the Palate and later on in the Finish. I find it rather dull and boring. The Alcohol is more noticeable now. 

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Mixed Dried Fruit and Nuts, slightly Sour Cherries, Seville-Orange, Caffe Latte, Banana Ice Cream, Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon.        

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Caramel, Butter Biscuits, Mandarin in Syrup, Lemon, Milk Chocolate, Oak Char, Burnt Herbs and Green Wood, Acetone, Ginger, Mint, Nutmeg & Cardamom.      

Finish:

Middle-Long & mostly Bitter-Sweet. A few Sour notes as well. The Alcohol is more noticeable now and leaves the Finish a bit Harsh. Quite Dry in the end as well. I also find Sweet Barley, Toasted Grain, Honey, Vanilla, Caramel, Mixed Dried Fruit and Nuts, Seville-Orange, slightly Sour Berries, Lemon, Charred Oak, Banana Ice Cream, Mandarins in Syrup, Caffe Latte, Milk Chocolate, Pepper, Nutmeg and a hint of Acetone or Varnish and Raw Meat. 

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not improve this Auchentoshan

Rating: 6.5 (******1/2)

Nose: 7 - Taste: 6.5 - Finish: 6 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is around 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay

Conclusion:

The Auchentoshan distillery was founded in 1823 by John Bulloch and is located in Dalmuir, close to Glasgow. It exchanged hands various times before being bought by Morrison (Bowmore) in 1984. Morrison was bought by Suntory from Japan in 1994. From then on the distillery has become very popular again. It's one of the few remaining Lowland distilleries and it's the only Scottish one that maintains triple distillation. The core range includes American Oak, 12 Years, Three Woods, 18 Years, 21 Years and 24 Years. The annual production amounts to 2.2 million litres.

The Bartender's Malt is a New Malt Order contest whereby 12 bartenders from five different countries selected the malt. The youngest in the mix is 6 years and the oldest more than 40. A whole range of casks from five different decades was used that might include the above mentioned Ex-Bourbon casks & Sherried Wood but also some Red Wine and German Oak casks.

Bartenders are used to mixing drinks and as such the high ABV and the Fruit of this Auchentoshan might appeal to them. As a Single Malt however I find I to be rather dull and also a bit too expensive for what it offers. It is said that there are some old Malts in this mix as well but the young sharp Spirit leads the way. I'm glad I only had a sample and I strongly suggest you follow my example before venturing in a full bottle.

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                     August 14, 2025

Ardnahoe Infinite Loch

“New Kid In Town”

Whisky Review # 1070

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Region: Islay

Brand: Ardnahoe Infinite Loch

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky  
Age: NAS (Probably Around 5 Years) 

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 50%
Maturation: Mix of 1st Fill Bourbon casks (70%) and 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry casks
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 55-70 (July 2025)

Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Pleasantly priced. Enjoy it while it lasts!
Buying Advice: 😊 If you like Young Islay this is a good alternative 

Colour:

Golden (Natural Color)

Nose:

A Young but certainly not unpleasant Islay nose. Mix Lagavulin, Kilchoman & Caol Ila and you come close to matching this Ardnahoe Infinite nose. The Peat and Smoke are soft and almost elegant. Lots of succulent Malt as well. The influence of the Sherry casks is limited. The Nose is mostly Sweet but also presents some Sour and Bitter notes. All in all a good first impression of this young distillery.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Yeast, Hay, Smoked Fish and Pork on the BBQ, Ashes, Tar, Coastal Peat, Nougat, Puff Pastry filled with Apricot, Lemon, Grapefruit, Sour Berries and Plums, Ginger, Aniseed & Mint.  

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Dough, Chalk, Soot, Hospital, Dirty Earth, Wet Sand & Rocks, Oak, Herbal Tea, Seville Orange, Unripe Pear, Milk, Petrol Station, Metal, Plastic, Cocoa Powder, Pepper, Cloves, Nutmeg, Wet Forest Floor and Tobacco.     

Palate:

Young & Light but certainly well-made. Good cask management. The Alcohol is more present now. On the Palate we find a mix of Bitter, Sweet, Salty, Sour and slightly Burnt notes. 

Main Flavours:

Malted Barley, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Yeast and Dough, Burnt Hay, Factory Smoke, Coastal Peat, Soot, Tar, Iodine, Ashes, Seville Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Ginger and Licorice.      

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Herbal Tea, Unripe Pear, Sour Berries & Plums, Seaweed, Forest Floor, Wet Rocks and Sand, Metal, Plastic, Petrol Station, Nougat, Black Olives, Menthol and Mint, Tobacco, Leather, Pork and (Shell) Fish on the BBQ and Peanut Butter.  

  

Finish:

Young, Middle-Long, slightly Thin and a little Harsh. The Alcohol is more noticeable now. A mix of Bitter, Sweet, Sour and Burnt notes. Clearly the weakest part of this Ardnahoe. Quite Dry in the end. I find Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Hay, Dough, Yeast, Chalk, Dirty Smoke, Coastal Peat, Hospital, Soot, Ashes, Tar, Wet Sand and Rocks, Metal, Petrol Station, Plastic, Lemon, Grapefruit, Seville Orange, Black Olives, Herbal Tea, Nougat, Licorice, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, slightly Burnt Meat on the BBQ, Leather, Tobacco, slightly Burnt Biscuits, Dusty Oak and After Eight Chocolates.

Drinking Advice:

Despite the high ABV, there is surprisingly no need for added Water here. At the same time I think that an ABV of around 46% would serve this Ardnahoe well.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2) 

Nose: 8 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 6.5 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is around 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good when considering Age and Pricing.

Conclusion:

Ardnahoe was founded in 2017 and is owned by Independent Bottler Hunter Laing & Company. It's the only distillery on Islay that uses Wooden Worm Tubs. Around 90% of the production is peated (Around 40 PPM). Its is beautifully located with a breathtaking view on the Sound of Islay and the isle of Jura. The Infinite Loch is the current core expression and was launched in the autumn of 2024. It is named after the lake on Islay.

This is my first Ardnahoe and I'm pleasantly surprised. It's Young of course and a little Thin and I would argue that the ABV is slightly too high. But it's well-made and I have no issue with the casks used. It's only in the Finish that you notice that this distillery is not quite there yet. But they are certainly on the right track and, for the time being, pleasantly priced. I wish Ardnahoe all the best & look forward to enjoy a fully matured Single Malt of this distillery in the future.  

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                         July 30, 2025

Eden Mill 2019 Release

“For Bitter Or Worse” 

Whisky Review # 1069

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Region: Lowlands

Brand: Eden Mill 2019 Release - Limited Edition - 3000 Bottles

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky  
Age: NAS (Probably 3 Years) 

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46.5%
Maturation:A mix of Oloroso and PX hogsheads and Ex-Bourbon barrels
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 210-250 (July 2025)

Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Way too expensive for what it offers
Buying Advice: 👎 Too Young and simply not (yet) good enough as a Single Malt

Colour:

Golden Amber (Natural Color)

Nose:

Young and Light. A mix of Sweet, Sour and Yeasty notes. A Bit of Fruit, Honey and Vanilla. Not too much depth here. The Sherry cask influence is moderate.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toast with a Butter/Margarine spread, Vanilla, Honey, Yeast, Cake & Bread Dough, Green Apple, Pear, Caffe Latte, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon and Ginger.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Cherries and Berries, Dried Fruit like Apricot, Raisins and Plums, Citrus (Orange and Lemon), Canned Pineapple, Milk Chocolate, Wet Paper, Damp Cellar, Varnish, Floral notes and Metal coins. A hint of Raw Meat.  

Palate:

Young, Light, Raw and Metallic. Not really pleasant. The Alcohol is noticeable. An unbalanced mix of Bitter, Sweet & Sour notes. Absurd price level for this Malt.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, Caramel, Yeast, Dough, Bread, Berries, Cherries & Orange, Dusty Oak, Old Peanuts, Pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon.      

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Vanilla, Wax, Milk Chocolate, Dried Fruit like Plums, Raisins and Bananas, Caffe Latte, Nutshells, Dusty Earth, Wet Paper, Damp Cellar, Raw Meat and Tobacco.  

  

Finish:

Young, Light, Raw, Hot and luckily on the Short Side. Sweet and Sour at first but with increasing Bitterness towards the Medium Dry end. The Alcohol is certainly noticeable. Not my cup of Tea! I find Toasted Grain, Salted Caramel, Honey, Malt, Nuts and Nutshells, Dough, Yeast, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Bananas, Citrus, Paper, Metal, Green Apple, Milk Chocolate, Dusty Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon & Ginger.

Drinking Advice:

Added Water does not really improve this Eden Mill but takes out some of the Harshness. Better add a few drops.  

Rating: 5.5 (*****1/2)

Nose: 6 - Taste: 5.5 - Finish: 5.5 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is around 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Below average

Conclusion:

Eden Mill was founded in 2012 in Guardbridge close to St. Andrews. It started as a Brewery but a distillery was added in 2014. In March 2022 the plans for a new and larger distillery were approved and production of gin and whisky started in April this year. The current production capacity is 1 million litres per year. In 2022 a private equity firm called Inverleith LLP acquired a majority of the shares of Eden Mill. The vatting of this 2019 release includes a cask of Chocolate Malt Spirit and also Crystal Malt Spirit. The latter is mainly used for Beer.

This is downright disappointing. I understand that young distilleries need to create cash in the short term in view of the high investment costs. But it's a much better idea to produce Gin and the likes for this purpose and give Whisky the time it needs to mature. You can drink this Eden Mill of course but it does not provide any pleasure and it's terribly expensive as well. I'm really looking forward to a fully matured Eden Mill but this Young stuff does not work for me.   

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                         July 23, 2025

Talisker The Distillers Edition 2021

“Not So Red Hot Chili Peppers”

Whisky Review # 1065

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Highlands - Islands - Skye

Brand: Talisker 2021 The Distillers Edition 

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Age: Around 10 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 57.3% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: New USA Oak with a finish in Amoroso Sherried USA Wood
Chill Filtration: Yes

Price Range: US$ 60-75 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍 Good

Buying Advice: 😐 I prefer the regular 10 but this is not bad as well

Colour:

Golden with shades of Orange (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

There's a bit of Alcohol around so please refrain from Nosing in the middle of your glass. Allow this Talisker some air before nosing as well. It's quite Sweet and the Amoroso Finish is noticeable. Lots of Dried Fruit and Green and Coastal notes. The Peat and Smoke are not at all dominant and blend in well with the other Aromas. It is a little Young and Dirty but not unpleasant.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Raisins, Plums and Apricots, slightly Dirty Coastal Peat, Smoke from a Distant Fire, Pork and Shell-Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon & Herbs, Brine, Old Tarred Driftwood, Wet Grass, Grapefruit, Pepper, Aniseed, Mint and Milk Chocolate. Charred Pineapple after a while.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Demerara Sugar, slightly Sour Berries, Apple Vinegar, Wet Forest Floor, Ash, Leather, Salted Peanut Butter, Dusty Shelves with Old Books and Floral notes.  

Palate:

Mainly Sweet but with some Bitter, Sour and Salty notes for balance. It's a little on the Young side and a bit Edgy. I miss some body as well but overall it's certainly not unpleasant.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Dirty Peat, Smoke from a distant Fire, Bacon, Fish and Shell-Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Charred Oak, Berries & Grapefruit, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Dates & Apples, Roasted Nuts, Dark Chocolate with Orange flavor, Pepper, Aniseed and Mint/Menthol.        

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Demerara Sugar, Toffee, Vanilla, Hospital, Ashes, Burnt Heather and Cigar Smoke, Apple Vinegar, Dusty Track, Cherry-flavored Cough Syrup, Leather, Forest Floor, Espresso, Cinnamon, Yellow Mustard and Grilled Pineapple.        

Finish:

Middle-Long and mainly Bitter Sweet but also presenting Sour and Salty notes for balance. It's Oily but at the same a little Thinner than I expected given the strong ABV.  It's a little Rough with some Talisker Chili towards the Medium-Dry end. I also find Sweet Barley, Toasted Cereals, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Dirty Peat, Smoke from a distant Fire, Ashes, Salted Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon, Roasted Nuts, Dried Fruit like Sultanas, Apples and Raisins, Apple Vinegar, slightly Sour Berries, Grapefruit, Dusty Road, Dusty Casks, Wet Rocks, Bitter Chocolate, Espresso, Mint, Licorice, Cinnamon, Pepper and Leather. Charred Pineapple is back after a while.

    
Drinking Advice:

Added Water leaves this Talisker very dull & thin despite the high ABV. Better enjoy it neat. 

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7  

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good. A little Dirty and Edgy. 

Conclusion:

Talisker was founded in 1830 and is part of the Diageo Group. It produces around 3.5 Million litres of Alcohol per year. The core range consists of the the NAS Skye and Storm, the 10, 18, 25 and 30 Years, The Distillers Edition and Port Ruighe.

The 2021 Talisker Distillers Edition is Young, Mellow, Modern & not Unpleasant. But I don't really want that from Talisker. I want the fiery Peppers from the 10 Years or the mature balance of the 18 Years. Those two are certainly amongst my favorite peated Single Malts. This Distillers Edition 2021 is not but it's not a bad place to start your adventure with peated Whisky. And it's pleasantly priced! 

 

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                            May 1, 2025

Bruichladdich Octomore 12.2

“Burning Love”

Whisky Review # 1064

Country: Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Region: Islay

Brand: Bruichladdich Octomore 12.2 (129.7 PPM)

Series: The Impossible Equation 

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Bottled: July 2021

Age: Around 5 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 57.3% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon casks with 18 months finish in Sauternes casks
Chill Filtration: No

Average Price: Around US$ 220 (April 2025)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😒 Quite Expensive for such a young Single Malt

Buying Advice: 😃 Not as good as the 10.2 but certainly enjoyable

Colour:

Golden/Light Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The slightly Dirty Smoke and Peat are there but the 12.2 is not a Peat Monster as the high PPM might suggest. They are leading the way though, accompanied by Fruity, Burnt, Coastal and Herbal notes. The Alcohol is reasonably well-integrated.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Dirty Factory Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Yeast, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Cooked Fruit (Pineapple, Pear & Apple), Salted Pork, Fish & Shellfish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Charred Oak, Dairy, Nectarine, Red Berries and Chili Pepper.   

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Burnt Matches, Glue, Ashes, Hospital, Forest Floor, Orange, Melon, Wet Rocks and Sand, Pine Resin, Milka Raisin and Hazelnut Chocolate, Perfumed Tea, Polished Leather, Seaweed, Soot and a hint of Licorice.  

Palate:

There is a bit of Alcohol but you don't really feel the 57.3%. The Palate is in line with the Nose. The Sauternes Finish combines nicely with the raw Island spirit. It is still a bit Dirty and not overly well-rounded but enjoyable nevertheless.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Toasted Grains, Yeast and Dough, Dirty Factory Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Soot, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Salted Fork and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Cooked Apples and Pears, Charred Oak, Chili Pepper and Cinnamon.   

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Wax, Tar, Hospital, Ashtray, Forest Floor, Tobacco, Leather, Nectarine, Toasted Almonds, slightly Sour Orange & Grapefruit, Cocoa Powder, Apple Vinegar, Slivovitz, Ginger, Aniseed, Paprika Powder, Nutmeg and Licorice.      

Finish:

Middle-Long. Bitter-Sweet with additional Sour & Salty notes. The Alcohol is more noticeable now but the Finish certainly invites you to have another sip. It's still a bit Dirty and Edgy but at this point you're almost used to it. Medium-Dry towards the end. I find Toasted Grains, Dirty Smoke, Dirty Earthy Peat, Soot, Ash, Burnt Straw and Herbs, Honey, Demerara Sugar, Vanilla, Toffee, Salted Pork and Fish on the BBQ sprinkled with Lemon and Herbs, Cooked Apple & Pears, Espresso, Dark Chocolate, Charred Oak, Licorice, slightly Sour Green Papaya & Yellow Plum, Mint, Aniseed, Leather, Chili Pepper as in Talisker, Paprika Powder, Cinnamon & Ginger.     
Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and while the Nose loses Power you will get extra Fruit on the Palate. Peach and/or Apricot come to mind. I prefer it neat but you can play with a little Water.

Rating: 7.5 (*******1/2)

Nose: 7.5 - Taste: 7.5 - Finish: 7.5 

*** Important Note with respect to Rating.

If the Final score is above 8 you can safely buy the whisky in question if and when it fits your Aroma/Flavor profile. If the score is between 6 and 8 you might want to try it out in the form of a sample or if offered at a good price. Anything below 6 should be left alone when you are looking for a nice sipping whisky. You might still like it of course & I realize pricing is an important item for many whisky fans especially when you are used to enjoy whisky in a cocktail or a mixed drink.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good 

Conclusion:

Bruichladdich was founded in 1881 by Barnett Harvey. During its history it was mothballed various times, the last time in 1998. In 2012 the Islay distillery was bought by Remy Cointreau (France). Since, Bruichladdich is showing a healthy growth again. The distillery produces 3 types of Single Malt, i.e. the unpeated Bruichladdich & the heavily peated Port Charlotte & Octomore. The basic core range includes the Classic Laddie and a 10-year old Port Charlotte. The annual production amounts to around 1.1 million litres. About 10% of that is Octomore. Octomore means " The Big Eighth". This is a medieval division of common ground.

Bruichladdich spirit combines well with a Sauternes finish. My personal favorite is the 10.2 as it is more rounded and compact when compared to the 12.2. But the latter, while more "Dirty", "Burnt" & Nervous is still quite enjoyable and consistent from Nose to Finish. It's a bit expensive given its Youth but it's certainly worth a try. 

Cheers! 🥃

Jan van den Ende                                                                       April 24, 2025

All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2014