tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post6300417436631261269..comments2024-03-28T21:36:56.697-07:00Comments on Chemistry of the Cocktail: Whisky Review: Classic Malts Isles of Scotland CollectionJordanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-38846122137631419312012-12-01T23:54:10.540-08:002012-12-01T23:54:10.540-08:00Jordan, In that case, I know some people who bottl...Jordan, In that case, I know some people who bottled their whiskies just for you! Besides Lagavulin 16, you have Bowmore 12 (and probably 15), JW Black 12, Highland Park 12, and even Springbank 10, who have this peat/sherry combo profile that you speak of. Well, there's also that sherry cask AD Rattray Bowmore 20, that even *I* love... But as a rule, I like my peat bombs peaty and my sherry bombs sherried. <br /><br />Incidentally, I agree with you on no scores. I get a lot more information from that paragraph at the end of a review where I get the sense of how the reviewer felt about the whisky overall. Keep up the good work! I'm raising a glass of A'bunadh to your health!Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-19433663434064007192012-12-01T09:39:24.496-08:002012-12-01T09:39:24.496-08:00Florin, this is exactly why I don't put up sco...Florin, this is exactly why I don't put up scores. Everyone has their own sense of taste and values those flavors different. I think I just prefer peat that's out on the barbecue end of the flavor spectrum, which usually seems to require some sherry casks. But I'll also take another crack at Caol Ila and see if my impressions change. Additionally it's going to be interesting to compare the bottle of Talisker 10 I reviewed here with another one that was bottled in 2005. Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-70925709151318947082012-12-01T00:28:25.698-08:002012-12-01T00:28:25.698-08:00I may be the dissenting voice here, but of the bun...I may be the dissenting voice here, but of the bunch Caol Ila 12 is my favorite, with well-defined flavors, peat balanced by malt, and citrus balanced by creaminess, and did not like recent editions of Talisker 10 (sharp, spirity) and Lagavulin 16 (drowned in sherry with muddled, confused flavors), which are not as good as I remember them from years past.Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-89688036123969137592012-10-17T13:11:14.616-07:002012-10-17T13:11:14.616-07:00Thanks, Josh. I'm looking forward to getting a...Thanks, Josh. I'm looking forward to getting a grip on the other Classic Malts. I managed to get 200 mL bottles of most of them from The Whisky Exchange, so there should be lots of good dramming to come.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06448702693643593156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3462121554175947733.post-11662162678274196872012-10-15T15:36:17.338-07:002012-10-15T15:36:17.338-07:00Great review of the core lineup of Diageo's cl...Great review of the core lineup of Diageo's classic malts. This group (plus Cragganmore, Dalwhinney, & Glenkinchie) were my plunge into single malts after my first dalliance with The Macallan and Glenfiddich in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I had the Talisker first and it was love at first sip and still is all these years later. Talisker is just really and truly special. I've tried most of the expressions since, and while many are extraordinary, the basic 10 has a freshness and intensity that renders it a valid equal among the more expensive versions. Lagavulin is a more powerful wallop, which makes it less attractive to me overall - but there are times when you need a big gun and it always delivers. Caol Ila is the light and sunny end of the heavily peated Islays. It plays in the same space as Ardbeg 10 (but is lighter and sunnier). I really like it - but acknowledge Ryan (of Value Whisky Reviews) point that they re-use refill casks a lot and it lacks wood influence. I still very much enjoy it - but miss the extra depth of the 18 and the various older single cask editions. On the whole, Diageo redeems themselves of their many sins with the classic malts. I love most of them - particularly Clynelish too (but not so much the Glenkinchie or the Dalwhinny)!Josh Feldmanhttp://cooperedtot.comnoreply@blogger.com