“Mystery Peated Single Malts Special”
Introduction:
Most of you know that I mainly use samples and miniatures when preparing my Reviews. I usually buy these in Holland and sometimes in Germany or the UK. Sometimes I receive samples from friends or readers or independent bottlers. In only two cases I received a few samples directly from distilleries. When planning my reviews I always try to give attention to all Scottish Whisky regions as well as most of the other Whisky/Whiskey/Bourbon producing regions all over the world with special attention to the USA, Ireland and Japan. And last but not least the blends. At the request of many readers I give preference to more recent expressions. As a result my backlog of older samples has increased quite a bit. To do justice to those samples I will review them in the format of Specials. These specials will deal with specific regions like today or with specific bottlers, countries, distilleries or Blended Whisky. The reviews in these Specials will concentrate more on the Whisky and won't go into details about distilleries, maturation etc. I do hope you will like these Specials just as much as my regular reviews and I look forward to your reactions and suggestions. In today's special I will review 5 "Mysterious" Single Malts, mainly distilled on Islay. Enjoy!
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Whisky Review # 719
Country: Scotland
Whisky Review # 719
Country: Scotland
Region: Unknown (Jura and Speyside are possible)
Brand: Peat's Beast
Released By: Fox Fitzgerald Ltd, Hereford (UK)
Released By: Fox Fitzgerald Ltd, Hereford (UK)
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS
Age: NAS
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: Unknown. Most likely Refill Bourbon casks.
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 45-55 (April 2018)
Buying Advice: 😒 Too Thin! Go for the Cask Strength instead!
Colour:
Pale Straw/White Wine (Probably Natural Colour)
Nose:
The Peat's Beast certainly honours its name. Sweet Earthy Peat totally controls the rather Sweet and Medicinal Nose. Certainly a young Whisky. The Alcohol is quite present.
Main Aromas:
Earthy Peat, Wet Clay, Cold Smoke, Soot, Tar, Ashes, Band-Aid, Iodine, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Toasted Cereals, Yeast, Fish and Shellfish on the BBQ, Lemon and Pepper.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Vanilla, Caramel, Heather-Honey, Straw, Salted Peanuts, Dried Herbs, Tobacco, Seaweed, Dirt Track, Sour Apples, Unripe Pineapple, Cinnamon, Tobacco and Gin.
Palate:
Young, a little Thin and rather Hot. The Alcohol is quite noticeable. Earthy Peat and Fresh Tarmac are the main drivers.
Dirty Earth, Wet Clay, Cold Smoke, Soot, Ashes, Tar, Iodine, Toasted Cereals, Fish and Shellfish on the BBQ, Sour Green Apple, Lemon, Grapefruit, Pepper, Cardamom, Cumin and Tobacco.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Oak Char, Caramel, Bacon, Green Banana, Herbal Tea, Licorice, Cocoa Powder, Espresso and Leather.
Finish:
Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet and a little Sharp. Quite Spicy towards the Dry end. I find Dirty Earth, Wet Clay, Cold Smoke, Soot, Tar, Ashes, Toasted Cereals, Sour Green Apple, Grapefruit, Herbal Tea, Caramel, Oak Char, Bacon, Espresso, Cocoa Powder, Smoked Fish, Licorice, Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom, Cumin and Tobacco.
Drinking Advice:
I added a few drops of Water and on the Nose the Alcohol retreats. Palate and Finish become very Thin though. Like peated Salt Water. Better sip it neat.
Rating: 79.5
Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 19.5 - Overall: 19.5
Drinking Experience:
Okay
Conclusion:
The Peat Beast was a monster that roamed the peat bogs of Scotland hunting down the purest dirtiest peat. Or so the legend tells us at least. In 2011, Fox Fitzgerald released the first Peat Beast in its honour with an ABV of 46% and a peat level of 30-35 ppm. Packaging and Presentation are very nice and the Beast was drawn by Brazilian born artist Doug Alves. In 2014 the Cask Strength expression was released. It's a big secret where this Single Malt was distilled. As there is no reference at all to Islay on the packaging I will assume it was not produced there. I have no idea where it was produced though. BenRiach, Jura and Ardmore are some of the names whispered on the Internet. In the meantime, a Peat's Beast Cask Strength PX cask Finish has been released by Fox Fitzgerald.
The original 46% Peat's Beast I'm reviewing today is a bit too Young, too Sharp and too Watery for my taste. The Aromas and Flavours are there but they are still underdeveloped and simply need more cask time. I can't really recommend this version of the Beast but if you like young, peated Malt I would advise you to go for the Cask Strength expression. It has some of the same issues as the standard expression but it offers more Kick, Power and Character.
Country: Scotland
Maturation: Unknown. Most likely Refill Bourbon casks.
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 45-55 (April 2018)
Buying Advice: 😒 Too Thin! Go for the Cask Strength instead!
Colour:
Pale Straw/White Wine (Probably Natural Colour)
Nose:
The Peat's Beast certainly honours its name. Sweet Earthy Peat totally controls the rather Sweet and Medicinal Nose. Certainly a young Whisky. The Alcohol is quite present.
Main Aromas:
Earthy Peat, Wet Clay, Cold Smoke, Soot, Tar, Ashes, Band-Aid, Iodine, Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Toasted Cereals, Yeast, Fish and Shellfish on the BBQ, Lemon and Pepper.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Vanilla, Caramel, Heather-Honey, Straw, Salted Peanuts, Dried Herbs, Tobacco, Seaweed, Dirt Track, Sour Apples, Unripe Pineapple, Cinnamon, Tobacco and Gin.
Palate:
Young, a little Thin and rather Hot. The Alcohol is quite noticeable. Earthy Peat and Fresh Tarmac are the main drivers.
Main Flavours:
Dirty Earth, Wet Clay, Cold Smoke, Soot, Ashes, Tar, Iodine, Toasted Cereals, Fish and Shellfish on the BBQ, Sour Green Apple, Lemon, Grapefruit, Pepper, Cardamom, Cumin and Tobacco.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Oak Char, Caramel, Bacon, Green Banana, Herbal Tea, Licorice, Cocoa Powder, Espresso and Leather.
Finish:
Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet and a little Sharp. Quite Spicy towards the Dry end. I find Dirty Earth, Wet Clay, Cold Smoke, Soot, Tar, Ashes, Toasted Cereals, Sour Green Apple, Grapefruit, Herbal Tea, Caramel, Oak Char, Bacon, Espresso, Cocoa Powder, Smoked Fish, Licorice, Pepper, Ginger, Cardamom, Cumin and Tobacco.
Drinking Advice:
I added a few drops of Water and on the Nose the Alcohol retreats. Palate and Finish become very Thin though. Like peated Salt Water. Better sip it neat.
Rating: 79.5
Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 19.5 - Overall: 19.5
Drinking Experience:
Okay
Conclusion:
The Peat Beast was a monster that roamed the peat bogs of Scotland hunting down the purest dirtiest peat. Or so the legend tells us at least. In 2011, Fox Fitzgerald released the first Peat Beast in its honour with an ABV of 46% and a peat level of 30-35 ppm. Packaging and Presentation are very nice and the Beast was drawn by Brazilian born artist Doug Alves. In 2014 the Cask Strength expression was released. It's a big secret where this Single Malt was distilled. As there is no reference at all to Islay on the packaging I will assume it was not produced there. I have no idea where it was produced though. BenRiach, Jura and Ardmore are some of the names whispered on the Internet. In the meantime, a Peat's Beast Cask Strength PX cask Finish has been released by Fox Fitzgerald.
The original 46% Peat's Beast I'm reviewing today is a bit too Young, too Sharp and too Watery for my taste. The Aromas and Flavours are there but they are still underdeveloped and simply need more cask time. I can't really recommend this version of the Beast but if you like young, peated Malt I would advise you to go for the Cask Strength expression. It has some of the same issues as the standard expression but it offers more Kick, Power and Character.
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Whisky Review # 720
Country: Scotland
Region: Unknown (Islay)
Brand: The Ileach Cask Strength
Bottled by: The Highlands and Islands Scotch Whisky Co.Ltd, Glasgow.
Bottled by: The Highlands and Islands Scotch Whisky Co.Ltd, Glasgow.
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS (Probably 5-7 Years)
Age: NAS (Probably 5-7 Years)
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 58%
Maturation: Mostly Refill Bourbon Casks. A few Refill Sherry casks perhaps.
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 50-60 (April 2018).
Buying Advice: 😒 Negative. Better spend your money on distillery bottlings.
Colour:
Light Amber with shades of Orange (Artificially Coloured)
Nose:
I don't get a clear Sherry Cask influence. That means that lots of Caramel must have been used to colour this Whisky. On the Nose the Ileach is Young, Sweet and slightly Sour. The Peat and Smoke Aromas are subdued and there's a New Make Spirit feel to this Whisky. It gives an Unfinished impression.
Main Aromas:
Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Toasted Cereals, Rubber, Plastic, Caramel, Cooked Vegetables, Sea Water, Bacon, Wet Clay, Cold Smoke, Old Dirty Leather, Smoked Fish/Shellfish, Wet Sand, Raw Meat and Overripe Bananas.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Heather-Honey, Band-Aid, Iodine, Charred Wood, Green Apple, Pear, Citrus, Salted Peanuts, Grass and Herbs.
Palate:
The Delivery is slightly Thin and Watery despite the Alcohol that is very present. On the Palate, the Ileach CS is Bitter-Sweet, quite Young, Edgy, Dry, Medicinal and not really pleasant.
Main Flavours:
Toasted/slightly Burnt Cereals, Wet Clay, Smoke, Sea Water, Caramel, Plastic, Tar, Rubber, Brine, Smoked Fish/Shellfish, Green Apple, Grapefruit, Pepper and Espresso.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Citrus, Toffee, Treacle, Heather-Honey, Licorice, Cinnamon, Cloves, Old Leather, Raw Meat/Bacon and Cocoa Powder.
Finish:
Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet, quite Dry, Hot and Medicinal. I find Burnt Cereals, Caramel, Burnt Grass, Burnt Rubber, Tar, Wet Soccer-Field, Plastic, Ash, Salted Peanuts, Brine, Bitter Grapefruit, Cold Smoke, Smoked Kipper, Oak Char, Pepper, Cinnamon, Licorice, Green Apple, Toffee and Cocoa Powder.
Drinking Advice:
I added a few drops of Water and that helps to control the ABV. The Cereals and Cold Smoke on the Nose develop but that's about it. Palate and Finish do not change a lot but it all becomes a bit more agreeable. I advise you to add a little Water to this Ileach CS.
Rating: 78.5
Nose: 20 - Taste: 19.5 - Finish: 19.5 - Overall: 19.5
Drinking Experience:
Not really pleasant.
Conclusion:
Ileach stands for a person born on Islay. This Single Malt from an undisclosed Islay distillery was launched around 2009/2010 by the Vintage Malt Whisky Company. There are all kinds of speculations on the Internet where the Ileach is distilled. Bowmore, Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Caol Ila are usually considered. Given the huge demand for these Single Malts I doubt it whether one of them has closed a long term contract with the bottlers of the Ileach. I could imagine that they rather shop around to see what's available. Not the best casks I would think. I don't have any exact information on the issue though so if you know more please leave a message in the comment sector.
I did not enjoy this Ileach CS a whole lot. It's too Young, too Hot, immature and unfinished. It's way more intelligent to spend your money on one of the basic Islay Single Malts. The price is not that different and you get an age statement. Do I know where this specific batch was produced? No, but I would guess Caol Ila or Lagavulin. Cheers!
Country: Scotland
Maturation: Mostly Refill Bourbon Casks. A few Refill Sherry casks perhaps.
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 50-60 (April 2018).
Buying Advice: 😒 Negative. Better spend your money on distillery bottlings.
Colour:
Light Amber with shades of Orange (Artificially Coloured)
Nose:
I don't get a clear Sherry Cask influence. That means that lots of Caramel must have been used to colour this Whisky. On the Nose the Ileach is Young, Sweet and slightly Sour. The Peat and Smoke Aromas are subdued and there's a New Make Spirit feel to this Whisky. It gives an Unfinished impression.
Main Aromas:
Slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Toasted Cereals, Rubber, Plastic, Caramel, Cooked Vegetables, Sea Water, Bacon, Wet Clay, Cold Smoke, Old Dirty Leather, Smoked Fish/Shellfish, Wet Sand, Raw Meat and Overripe Bananas.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Heather-Honey, Band-Aid, Iodine, Charred Wood, Green Apple, Pear, Citrus, Salted Peanuts, Grass and Herbs.
The Delivery is slightly Thin and Watery despite the Alcohol that is very present. On the Palate, the Ileach CS is Bitter-Sweet, quite Young, Edgy, Dry, Medicinal and not really pleasant.
Main Flavours:
Toasted/slightly Burnt Cereals, Wet Clay, Smoke, Sea Water, Caramel, Plastic, Tar, Rubber, Brine, Smoked Fish/Shellfish, Green Apple, Grapefruit, Pepper and Espresso.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Citrus, Toffee, Treacle, Heather-Honey, Licorice, Cinnamon, Cloves, Old Leather, Raw Meat/Bacon and Cocoa Powder.
Finish:
Middle-Long, Bitter-Sweet, quite Dry, Hot and Medicinal. I find Burnt Cereals, Caramel, Burnt Grass, Burnt Rubber, Tar, Wet Soccer-Field, Plastic, Ash, Salted Peanuts, Brine, Bitter Grapefruit, Cold Smoke, Smoked Kipper, Oak Char, Pepper, Cinnamon, Licorice, Green Apple, Toffee and Cocoa Powder.
Drinking Advice:
I added a few drops of Water and that helps to control the ABV. The Cereals and Cold Smoke on the Nose develop but that's about it. Palate and Finish do not change a lot but it all becomes a bit more agreeable. I advise you to add a little Water to this Ileach CS.
Rating: 78.5
Nose: 20 - Taste: 19.5 - Finish: 19.5 - Overall: 19.5
Drinking Experience:
Not really pleasant.
Conclusion:
Ileach stands for a person born on Islay. This Single Malt from an undisclosed Islay distillery was launched around 2009/2010 by the Vintage Malt Whisky Company. There are all kinds of speculations on the Internet where the Ileach is distilled. Bowmore, Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Caol Ila are usually considered. Given the huge demand for these Single Malts I doubt it whether one of them has closed a long term contract with the bottlers of the Ileach. I could imagine that they rather shop around to see what's available. Not the best casks I would think. I don't have any exact information on the issue though so if you know more please leave a message in the comment sector.
I did not enjoy this Ileach CS a whole lot. It's too Young, too Hot, immature and unfinished. It's way more intelligent to spend your money on one of the basic Islay Single Malts. The price is not that different and you get an age statement. Do I know where this specific batch was produced? No, but I would guess Caol Ila or Lagavulin. Cheers!
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Whisky Review # 721
Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Brand: Finlaggan Cask Strength
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS (probably 5-7 Years)
Age: NAS (probably 5-7 Years)
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 58%
Maturation: Unknown. Probably mostly Refill Bourbons casks.
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 40-50 (April 2018).
Buying Advice: 😐 Good P/Q ratio. Not bad though I prefer Distillery bottlings.
Colour:
Light Golden (Artificially Coloured)
Nose:
Young, Medium-Sweet and rather Light actually. Not at all a Peat Monster. My first impressions were Grass and Apple-Vinegar! The Alcohol is quite present. Be sure to give the Finlaggan sufficient time in the glass before you start Nosing.
Main Aromas:
Toasted Cereals, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Caramel, Apple Vinegar, Pear Drops, Sea Spray, Cold Smoke, Earthy Peat, Band-Aid, Compost, Grass, Herbs, Acetone and Lemon.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Heather-Honey, Iodine, Ashes, Oak Char, Smoked Fish/Pork on the BBQ, Unripe Bananas, Leather, Rubber, Plastic, Licorice and Menthol or Aniseed.
Palate:
The Delivery is a little Thin despite the high ABV. On the Palate, the Finlaggan CS is Young, Dry and Bitter-Sweet with a few Sour - and Medicinal notes as well. The Alcohol remains noticeable.
Main Flavours:
Toasted Cereals, Burnt Toast, Wet Clay, Cold Smoke, Grass, Ashes, Sea Spray, Caramel, Rubber, Plastic, Apple Vinegar, Lemon, Grapefruit and Pepper.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Heather-Honey, Artificial Sweetener, Wet Rocks, Salted Peanuts, Bacon, Banana, Iodine, Tobacco, Menthol and Nutmeg.
Finish:
Middle-Long and mostly Sugary Sweet. A few Sour and Salty notes as well. Dry towards the end. I find Toasted Cereals, slightly Burnt Toast, Cold Smoke, Wet Clay, Soot, Tar, Ashes, Plastic, Oak Char, Salted Peanuts, Caramel, Cough Syrup, Wet Rocks, Lemon Peel, Licorice, Pepper, Menthol, Apple Vinegar, Lemon and a hint of Milk Chocolate.
Drinking Advice:
I added a few drops of Water and while you manage the Alcohol this way, the Nose becomes very Thin. Palate and Finish do not change all that much but certainly become more easy-going although the faint Plastic Note in the Finish is more noticeable. Nevertheless I would advise you to add a little Water to this Finlaggan.
Rating: 82.5
Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 20.5
Drinking Experience:
Good
Conclusion:
The Finlaggan Cask Strength Single Malt is distilled in one of the Distilleries on the Island of Islay. Which one is a real secret, only known to a few. This Whisky is named after the ruins of the Finlaggan Castle. It was constructed in the 13th Century and served as the home of The Lord of the Isles and the Clan MacDonald. It is located on a little Island called Eileen Mor in Loch Finlaggan. Finlaggan means Fort of the Island. It was demolished in the 15th or 16th Century. There are other expressions in the Finlaggan series being the Original Peaty, the 10 Years Lightly Peated and the Secret of Islay. The consistent low price of Finlaggan makes you wonder if the Spirit always comes from the same Distillery as the makers of Finlaggan keep telling us. Because a dependence on one Distillery alone would normally lead to price differences depending on the availability of sufficient Spirit. Unless you always have lots of it like Caol Ila does. Well, the mystery is part of the fun so let's not dive too deep
Country: Scotland
Maturation: Unknown. Probably mostly Refill Bourbons casks.
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 40-50 (April 2018).
Buying Advice: 😐 Good P/Q ratio. Not bad though I prefer Distillery bottlings.
Colour:
Light Golden (Artificially Coloured)
Nose:
Young, Medium-Sweet and rather Light actually. Not at all a Peat Monster. My first impressions were Grass and Apple-Vinegar! The Alcohol is quite present. Be sure to give the Finlaggan sufficient time in the glass before you start Nosing.
Main Aromas:
Toasted Cereals, slightly Burnt Buttered Toast, Caramel, Apple Vinegar, Pear Drops, Sea Spray, Cold Smoke, Earthy Peat, Band-Aid, Compost, Grass, Herbs, Acetone and Lemon.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Heather-Honey, Iodine, Ashes, Oak Char, Smoked Fish/Pork on the BBQ, Unripe Bananas, Leather, Rubber, Plastic, Licorice and Menthol or Aniseed.
The Delivery is a little Thin despite the high ABV. On the Palate, the Finlaggan CS is Young, Dry and Bitter-Sweet with a few Sour - and Medicinal notes as well. The Alcohol remains noticeable.
Main Flavours:
Toasted Cereals, Burnt Toast, Wet Clay, Cold Smoke, Grass, Ashes, Sea Spray, Caramel, Rubber, Plastic, Apple Vinegar, Lemon, Grapefruit and Pepper.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Heather-Honey, Artificial Sweetener, Wet Rocks, Salted Peanuts, Bacon, Banana, Iodine, Tobacco, Menthol and Nutmeg.
Finish:
Middle-Long and mostly Sugary Sweet. A few Sour and Salty notes as well. Dry towards the end. I find Toasted Cereals, slightly Burnt Toast, Cold Smoke, Wet Clay, Soot, Tar, Ashes, Plastic, Oak Char, Salted Peanuts, Caramel, Cough Syrup, Wet Rocks, Lemon Peel, Licorice, Pepper, Menthol, Apple Vinegar, Lemon and a hint of Milk Chocolate.
Drinking Advice:
I added a few drops of Water and while you manage the Alcohol this way, the Nose becomes very Thin. Palate and Finish do not change all that much but certainly become more easy-going although the faint Plastic Note in the Finish is more noticeable. Nevertheless I would advise you to add a little Water to this Finlaggan.
Rating: 82.5
Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 20.5
Drinking Experience:
Good
Conclusion:
The Finlaggan Cask Strength Single Malt is distilled in one of the Distilleries on the Island of Islay. Which one is a real secret, only known to a few. This Whisky is named after the ruins of the Finlaggan Castle. It was constructed in the 13th Century and served as the home of The Lord of the Isles and the Clan MacDonald. It is located on a little Island called Eileen Mor in Loch Finlaggan. Finlaggan means Fort of the Island. It was demolished in the 15th or 16th Century. There are other expressions in the Finlaggan series being the Original Peaty, the 10 Years Lightly Peated and the Secret of Islay. The consistent low price of Finlaggan makes you wonder if the Spirit always comes from the same Distillery as the makers of Finlaggan keep telling us. Because a dependence on one Distillery alone would normally lead to price differences depending on the availability of sufficient Spirit. Unless you always have lots of it like Caol Ila does. Well, the mystery is part of the fun so let's not dive too deep
The Finlaggan CS is not a bad Single Malt and the Price/Quality ratio is good. If I'm forced to choose a distillery, I would guess Lagavulin or Caol Ila. It's not a Peat Monster but if you like young Lagavulin or Caol Ila you might consider this Finlaggan. It's Young but reasonably mild and easy-going, especially when you add a little Water. I'm not too fond of the light Plastic off-note but other than that this Malt is quite drinkable although I personally prefer to buy Caol Ila 12 Years or Lagavulin 16 Years instead. Cheers!
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Whisky Review # 722
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Brand: Cu Dhub - In fact the correct spelling would be: Cu Dubh
Distilled at: Speyside Distillery, Drumguish. I know, not really a mystery😎
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Distilled at: Speyside Distillery, Drumguish. I know, not really a mystery😎
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: NAS (Around 5 Years)
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Refill Bourbon Casks
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 30-45 (April 2018)
Buying Advice: 😡 Buy Led Zeppelin IV instead!
Colour:
Dark Chestnut Brown (Artificially Coloured). Without doubt the darkest Whisky I have ever nosed and tasted. Unfortunately, the Dark Colour is caused by adding huge amounts of Caramel.
Nose:
Young, Light and Sweet. It reminds me of Rum rather than of Whisky. Make sure to give it enough time in the glass before Nosing. The Alcohol is quite present. I can't find any real off-notes but there's not much to discover either. Very boring! The Supportive Aroma accents below are merely distant hints.
Main Aromas:
Treacle, Caramel, Toffee, Sweet Licorice, Brown Sugar, Oak Char, Sweet Apple, Dusty Earth and Yeast.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Artificially flavoured Candies (Cherry, Cola), Cocoa Powder, Espresso, Cereals, Citrus, Stale Nuts, Aniseed, Sweaty Feet, a little Pepper and Tobacco.
I Think I Prefer This Black Dog
Palate:
Young, Thin, Bitter-Sweet and Slightly Sour.
Main Flavours:
Caramel, Treacle, Toffee, Oak Char, Burnt Cereals, Licorice, ripe Apple, Burnt Orange Peel and light Spices (Pepper and Nutmeg).
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Rum, Stale Espresso, Herbal Cough Syrup, Tobacco and Nutshells
Finish:
Very Short, Bitter-Sweet, slightly Sour and Dry. Flavours are hard to find but I'll give it my best. Caramel, Treacle, Burnt Cereals, Oak Char, Rum, Alcohol, Burnt Orange Peel, Sour Red Grapes, Licorice, Cocoa Powder, Aspartame, Nutmeg and Pepper.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water completely kills this Dog
Rating: 65
Nose: 18 - Taste: 16 - Finish: 15 - Overall: 16
Drinking Experience:
Waste of Time.
Conclusion:
Cu Dhub (Gaelic for Black Dog) refers to the story of the Witch of Laggan who roamed the Forest of Gaick (close to the Speyside Distillery) to kill unsuspecting victims. In the end she was killed by two Black Dogs who sacrificed themselves in order o save their master's life. The Cu Dhub Single Malt was inspired by the famous Loch Dhu Whisky made between 1995 and 2005 by the Mannochmore distillery. The latter got its dark colour from 10 years in deeply charred Oak casks.
Cu Dhub was launched in 2008, exclusively for the Danish Spirits Distributor Mac Y. While. The Speyside Spirit matures around 5 Years in Speyside before it is shipped to Denmark. The Danes subsequently add large amounts of Caramel to create the "Black" Whisky. It's no surprise that the Cu Dhub is mainly popular in Denmark and the rest of Scandinavia.
In 2013, the Speyside distillery launched its own Dark Malt called Beinn Dubh or Black Mountain in English.
I'm glad I only bought a small sample of the Cu Dhub. Because I can't find any reason why someone would buy this Whisky unless you want to mix it with Coke and get drunk. It's basically a lot of Burnt stuff, Caramel, Treacle and Licorice. I did pick up a few other hints but nothing of any interest. It's not the worst Whisky I've tasted so far but it's in the Bottom Top 10 or so. A liter of the Cu Dhub would have been enough to kill the Witch of Laggan. That would have saved the dogs!
Country: Scotland
Maturation: Refill Bourbon Casks
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 30-45 (April 2018)
Buying Advice: 😡 Buy Led Zeppelin IV instead!
Colour:
Dark Chestnut Brown (Artificially Coloured). Without doubt the darkest Whisky I have ever nosed and tasted. Unfortunately, the Dark Colour is caused by adding huge amounts of Caramel.
Nose:
Young, Light and Sweet. It reminds me of Rum rather than of Whisky. Make sure to give it enough time in the glass before Nosing. The Alcohol is quite present. I can't find any real off-notes but there's not much to discover either. Very boring! The Supportive Aroma accents below are merely distant hints.
Main Aromas:
Treacle, Caramel, Toffee, Sweet Licorice, Brown Sugar, Oak Char, Sweet Apple, Dusty Earth and Yeast.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Artificially flavoured Candies (Cherry, Cola), Cocoa Powder, Espresso, Cereals, Citrus, Stale Nuts, Aniseed, Sweaty Feet, a little Pepper and Tobacco.
I Think I Prefer This Black Dog
Young, Thin, Bitter-Sweet and Slightly Sour.
Main Flavours:
Caramel, Treacle, Toffee, Oak Char, Burnt Cereals, Licorice, ripe Apple, Burnt Orange Peel and light Spices (Pepper and Nutmeg).
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Rum, Stale Espresso, Herbal Cough Syrup, Tobacco and Nutshells
Finish:
Very Short, Bitter-Sweet, slightly Sour and Dry. Flavours are hard to find but I'll give it my best. Caramel, Treacle, Burnt Cereals, Oak Char, Rum, Alcohol, Burnt Orange Peel, Sour Red Grapes, Licorice, Cocoa Powder, Aspartame, Nutmeg and Pepper.
Drinking Advice:
Added Water completely kills this Dog
Rating: 65
Nose: 18 - Taste: 16 - Finish: 15 - Overall: 16
Drinking Experience:
Waste of Time.
Conclusion:
Cu Dhub (Gaelic for Black Dog) refers to the story of the Witch of Laggan who roamed the Forest of Gaick (close to the Speyside Distillery) to kill unsuspecting victims. In the end she was killed by two Black Dogs who sacrificed themselves in order o save their master's life. The Cu Dhub Single Malt was inspired by the famous Loch Dhu Whisky made between 1995 and 2005 by the Mannochmore distillery. The latter got its dark colour from 10 years in deeply charred Oak casks.
Cu Dhub was launched in 2008, exclusively for the Danish Spirits Distributor Mac Y. While. The Speyside Spirit matures around 5 Years in Speyside before it is shipped to Denmark. The Danes subsequently add large amounts of Caramel to create the "Black" Whisky. It's no surprise that the Cu Dhub is mainly popular in Denmark and the rest of Scandinavia.
In 2013, the Speyside distillery launched its own Dark Malt called Beinn Dubh or Black Mountain in English.
I'm glad I only bought a small sample of the Cu Dhub. Because I can't find any reason why someone would buy this Whisky unless you want to mix it with Coke and get drunk. It's basically a lot of Burnt stuff, Caramel, Treacle and Licorice. I did pick up a few other hints but nothing of any interest. It's not the worst Whisky I've tasted so far but it's in the Bottom Top 10 or so. A liter of the Cu Dhub would have been enough to kill the Witch of Laggan. That would have saved the dogs!
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Whisky Review # 723
Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Brand: Kildalton 2007
Bottled By: Svenska Eldvatten, Sweden
Bottled By: Svenska Eldvatten, Sweden
Type: Single Malt Single Cask Scotch Whisky
Age: 7 Years - Distilled August 2007 - Bottled (CS) September 2014 (45 Bottles)
Age: 7 Years - Distilled August 2007 - Bottled (CS) September 2014 (45 Bottles)
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 57.1%
Maturation: Bourbon Hogshead - Cask # SE 039
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 130-150 (April 2018).
Buying Advice:😃 Nice Whisky! Recommended! Expensive though!
Colour:
Pale Straw/White Wine (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Young, Light, slightly Medicinal but Pleasant and without off-notes. The Alcohol is not at all aggressive despite the high ABV. Good Cask. Quite different from your average young Islay, the Peat and Smoke are quite subdued. A balanced combination of Sweet, Bitter and Sour notes.
Main Aromas:
Toasted Cereals, Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Brine, Cow Manure (in a good way), Earth, Wet Rock, Straw, Iodine, Cold Smoke, Unripe Strawberries, Green Apple, Lemon, Raw Meat and Aniseed/Menthol.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Heather-Honey, Tar, Ashes, Wet Cardboard, Orange, Leather, Toasted Oak, Dried Herbs, Pineapple, Shellfish, Cinnamon and Cocoa Powder.
Palate:
Good Delivery. The Alcohol and Peat/Smoke are more present at this point. You can taste its Youth and it's a little Edgy but it doesn't get aggressive. Well done! Good combo of Bitter, Sweet, Salty and Sour notes. Medium Dry.
Main Flavours:
Cold Smoke, Wet Clay, Ashes, Brine, Salted Caramel, Toasted Cereals, Oak Char, Tar, Iodine, Burnt Toast, Green Apple, Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange, Aniseed and Menthol, Pepper and Licorice.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Wet Rocks, Fish and Shellfish, Seaweed, Heather-Honey, Salted Nuts, Tobacco Dried Herbs, Cinnamon, Ginger, Leather and unripe Strawberries.
Finish:
Long, Strong, Medium-Dry and Pleasant. Well-Balanced. The Alcohol is certainly more noticeable by now. I find Cigar Ashes, Tar, Cold Smoke, Wet Clay, Wet Stone, Brine, Toasted Cereals, Salted Caramel, Green Apple, Heather-Honey, Lemon, Grapefruit, slightly Sour Berries, Dried Herbs, Tobacco, Licorice, Ginger, Pepper, Cinnamon, Menthol, Salted Fish, Matured Cheese and Espresso.
Drinking Advice:
Due to the small size of the sample I only tasted this Kildalton neat. I imagine that you can carefully experiment with a few drops at a time.
Rating: 85.5
Nose: 22 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5
Drinking Experience:
Good. Well-Balanced for a Young Islay.
Conclusion:
The label states that this Whisky was distilled at an Islay Kildalton distillery. It so happens that Kildalton is the name for the South-Eastern part of the island and that most probably means that this Malt was distilled at Ardbeg, Laphroaig or Lagavulin.
This Kildalton surprised me in a very positive way. It's a Young Islay Whisky but it makes a very Well-Balanced impression. Not aggressive in any way. I would like all Young Islay to taste this way. The only problem is its current price level. It's a lot of money for a young Islay. If it was around 70 Dollars I would order a crate of this! Really nice Malt. I'm not sure where this Malt was distilled but I think it's either Lagavulin or Ardbeg. If I'm forced to choose I go for the latter!
Maturation: Bourbon Hogshead - Cask # SE 039
Chill Filtration: No
Price Range: US$ 130-150 (April 2018).
Buying Advice:😃 Nice Whisky! Recommended! Expensive though!
Colour:
Pale Straw/White Wine (Natural Colour)
Nose:
Young, Light, slightly Medicinal but Pleasant and without off-notes. The Alcohol is not at all aggressive despite the high ABV. Good Cask. Quite different from your average young Islay, the Peat and Smoke are quite subdued. A balanced combination of Sweet, Bitter and Sour notes.
Main Aromas:
Toasted Cereals, Buttered Toast, Salted Caramel, Brine, Cow Manure (in a good way), Earth, Wet Rock, Straw, Iodine, Cold Smoke, Unripe Strawberries, Green Apple, Lemon, Raw Meat and Aniseed/Menthol.
Supportive Aroma Accents:
Heather-Honey, Tar, Ashes, Wet Cardboard, Orange, Leather, Toasted Oak, Dried Herbs, Pineapple, Shellfish, Cinnamon and Cocoa Powder.
Palate:
Good Delivery. The Alcohol and Peat/Smoke are more present at this point. You can taste its Youth and it's a little Edgy but it doesn't get aggressive. Well done! Good combo of Bitter, Sweet, Salty and Sour notes. Medium Dry.
Main Flavours:
Cold Smoke, Wet Clay, Ashes, Brine, Salted Caramel, Toasted Cereals, Oak Char, Tar, Iodine, Burnt Toast, Green Apple, Lemon, Grapefruit, Orange, Aniseed and Menthol, Pepper and Licorice.
Supportive Flavour Accents:
Wet Rocks, Fish and Shellfish, Seaweed, Heather-Honey, Salted Nuts, Tobacco Dried Herbs, Cinnamon, Ginger, Leather and unripe Strawberries.
Finish:
Long, Strong, Medium-Dry and Pleasant. Well-Balanced. The Alcohol is certainly more noticeable by now. I find Cigar Ashes, Tar, Cold Smoke, Wet Clay, Wet Stone, Brine, Toasted Cereals, Salted Caramel, Green Apple, Heather-Honey, Lemon, Grapefruit, slightly Sour Berries, Dried Herbs, Tobacco, Licorice, Ginger, Pepper, Cinnamon, Menthol, Salted Fish, Matured Cheese and Espresso.
Drinking Advice:
Due to the small size of the sample I only tasted this Kildalton neat. I imagine that you can carefully experiment with a few drops at a time.
Nose: 22 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5
Drinking Experience:
Good. Well-Balanced for a Young Islay.
Conclusion:
The label states that this Whisky was distilled at an Islay Kildalton distillery. It so happens that Kildalton is the name for the South-Eastern part of the island and that most probably means that this Malt was distilled at Ardbeg, Laphroaig or Lagavulin.
This Kildalton surprised me in a very positive way. It's a Young Islay Whisky but it makes a very Well-Balanced impression. Not aggressive in any way. I would like all Young Islay to taste this way. The only problem is its current price level. It's a lot of money for a young Islay. If it was around 70 Dollars I would order a crate of this! Really nice Malt. I'm not sure where this Malt was distilled but I think it's either Lagavulin or Ardbeg. If I'm forced to choose I go for the latter!
Jan van den Ende April 30, 2018
