August 2008
The Twenty Fourth Edition of "A Whiff of Peat Smoke...." , Why ? because i can !
We're all going on a Summer Holiday ......
1998 Compare and Contrast.....
Bruichladdich recently released a pair of Sherry Matured 1998's , one from Oloroso Casks , one from Manzanilla Casks . The Press release was.......
Compare and Contrast 1998 - Bruichladdich has released two bottlings of the same vintage to compare and contrast. In July 1998, identically distilled whisky was filled in to Sherry casks for full term maturation. Recent tastings proved that unexpectedly two types of casks were used. One cask type had contained Olorosso, a dark, sweet, fortified wine, the backbone of ‘cream’ sherry. The other Manzanilla, a pale, dry, sophisticated wine aged by the Atlantic . Having absorbed the respective wines’ characteristics, the wood has then influenced the maturing whisky, resulting in two different versions from identical original spirit. Unusually, the casks of the Manzanilla appellation ‘breath’ the prevailing maritime breezes, imparting a crisp freshness to the wine, hence the name meaning “little apple”. MD Mark Reynier says: “The result is an intriguing comparison: one DNA, one vintage, one warehouse - but two distinct and intriguing expressions of Bruichladdich single malt.” “Usually Sherry casks implies a nutty sweetness leached out of the wood into the whisky. Delightful when well balanced, but often clumsily over-stated. This is the real deal.” “To contrast, we have a ‘double Atlantic’ whisky: Manzanilla is world famous for it’s marine influenced style; we have exactly the same effect here on Islay - 1,400 miles further north.”
So how do they Compare ?
Just a slight difference in the Colour , Manzanilla (Ma) is Amber whereas the The Oloroso (Ol) is a light Mohogany . On the Nose..... (Ma) Definite Laddie by the nose , lots of Green Fruits ( Apples , Pears ) , Honey Sweetness , light sherriness (Dried Fruits ) , (Ol) A drier sherry on the nose , lots of Dark Fruits and a more Christmas Cake smell to it . On the Palate..... (Ma) a very dry Sweetness to it on the palate , bags of apples , fudge . (Ol) Definitely the proverbial "Christmas Cake" , Dried Fruit , Cherries , cake mix . Also Toffee and Vanilla . Finish.....(Ma) Long and a dry honey sweetness . (Ol) A lingering Dry and Fudgy one .
Conclusion ? Two quite exceptional Laddies from different types of sherry cask . They taste well above their age , the Manzanilla is more recognisable as The Laddie as the Spirit comes through more on this one , the Oloroso is more "Sherried" . No sherry nasties to be found in either infact i'm glad i opened them now as i can go and get another of each for the cupboard before they are all gone !
It's A Cask Jim but not as we know it !
This Summer some of us from the Forum have purchased a Cask of Bruichladdich in a Fresh Bourbon Barrel , the "Spirit of Islay II" Cask was filled on the 18th July 2008 . Some of us from the now defuncted "Yahoo Group" have the original "Spirit of Islay" Cask , a Refill Sherry Hogshead of Port Charlotte filled in 2002 . This will be the 5th cask I have been involved with , the famous R23 Bloodtub being the first !
I'm sure we'll have great fun with this cask and we'll end up with a Great Bruichladdich Single Malt ten years down the line !
Stars Flock to Bruichladdich....
After James May and Oz Clarke earlier in the month......
ITV has been filming at a Hebridean distillery for a new television series - The Islands of Britain - presented by the comedian and actor Martin Clunes. Martin Clunes made his name in the raucous situation comedy Men Behaving Badly, about the salubrious activities of two lads sharing a flat. Recently he starred in the lead role in the comedy drama series "Doc Martin" winning the Most Popular Actor in the National Television Awards. Clunes travelled around the UK including the islands of Barra, Lewis, Uist, Eigg, Man and Scilly finding what makes remote and far flung islands tick. In 3 days filming at Islay’s Bruichladdich distillery he took an active role in the whole whisky making process - even distilling a cask of his very own. Jim McEwan said: “Martin and the crew were really surprised by the level of entrepreneurial activity on Islay compared to other islands they visited.” Clunes also took part in a bacchanalian feast with local barley farmers in a remote hillside bothy, a highly convivial scene of men behaving badly.
And below with everyones Favourite Laddie Lassie !
Ardbeg Ten New Packaging
To coincide with the Ardbeg Ten being released with all Glenmorangie distillation , the packaging is getting a reworking , this comprises of a full new look ......
The Embossed "A" on the bottle being enlarged (though the bottle remains largely untouched)......
The layout of the Lable has been slightly altered to Emphasise the brand name , de-emphasise the NCF statement and it has been given gold foil details.....
New type of Capsule and detail....
The box has been re-worked.....
with new back info.....
And of course Shortie !
(please don't use any of the photo's without permission !)
Revisiting some Old, Long Forgotten Friends !
Many moons ago (ok....a few years ago ) before the hordes of Ardbeg Distillery bottlings , the only way we could get our fix of Ardbegs was from the good people of Gordon and Macphail via their Connoisseurs Range , usually bottled at a very weak 40% ! I've decided to revisit a few of these bottles i have in my Cupboards .
1973 - 2003 40% - Very Iodiney on the nose , touch of peat , Cocoa . Pretty much the same on the palate , very long finish for it's strength . This is definitely one of the better ones , pretty near to an O.b. and other I.b.'s of the same age just would have been nice to have it at least at 46% . Very oily as well .
1974 - 2003 43% - My Favourite year from Ardbeg , Not as iodiney as the 73 , touch more peat and smoke , Bit more iodiney on the palate with Cocoa , finish is again long and medicinal. Takes a wee while to open up but a very nice dram .
1975 - 1997 40% - Bit of an old bottling this one (Screw Cap !) , Not as fresh on the nose this one at First , Smoky , wee touch peaty and mossy . More peaty than medicinal on the palate , touch Cocoa and sweet . Long , sweet finish . A touch different to the first two , seems more peaty , better than what i remembered though......
1975 - 2003 43% - Wonderful nose , Medicinal , Peat , Smoke , Cocoa , touch fruity as well . The palate is a beautiful peatiness , Dark chocolate , iodine . Quite a nice long iodiney finish with Cappicino coffee ! A really nice Ardbeg , how have i ignored this one ?
1976 - 2004 43% - Strange nose given what has went before , slightly spicy , peppery but still iodiney , Sweet on the palate , smoky , phenolic , seashore ( salty sea air) . Not as long a finish as the others but seems more spicy . An interesting contrast to the previous 1970's Ardbegs .
1978 - 1999 40% - Very light iodine on the nose , touch smoky and creamy . Very iodiney on the Palate , vanilla , Cocoa . Mediumto long iodine finish . Seems weak at 40% but not a bad little dram .
1978 - 2005 43% - Slightly more subdued nose , a sort of Bonfire on the beach but with a touch of iodine , on the palate it's sweet , iodine , bitter chocolate , smoky anda little bit spicy ! Finish is long and very complex , a very nice dram on the whole .
1979 - 2005 43% - The last of the 1970's Ardbegs...... peaty , iodiney , smoky on the nose , slightly spicy as well . Interesting taste , lots of vanilla with the iodine , very sweet (toffee) , lovely long finish again with smoky toffee . Really nice dram , it's funny how i never really appreciated the 1970's C.C. range but given that it first got me into Ardbeg (1974 20yo) it has surprised me on this tasting !
1990 - 2001 40% - This i think was the second C.C. Ardbeg bottling i ever tried , at the Lochside , i seem to remember Mel liked it ! Very sherried on the nose after all the Bourbon casked ones before , Medicinal with smoke . On the palate Sherry with wood smoke , peat , touch peppery . Long light peaty finish with a subtle sherry .Interesting dram after the Bourbon ones , now i realise why Mel was taken by it .
1991 - 2003 40% - Another Ardbeg from Sherry casks and the nose gives it away ! Sweet , very peaty with spices , very oily in the mouth , sherry (the usual Christmas cake stuff ) , peaty , peppery anf fruity (!) . Long and Peaty in the finish . A surprisingly good Ardbeg , what the hell would this have been like at a decent ABV ?
1993 - 2003 40% - the nose is really spicy , not as peaty , wood smoke . Peaty on the palate , Sweet Sherry , touch peppery , finish doesn't seem as long as previous ones . Not a bad example on the whole , seems more sherried .
1994 - 2004 40% - Smoky on the Nose , touch creaminess and peat . On the palate very peaty , but not much else , even the sherry isn't as evident as the past couple of Bottles . Medium peaty finish . Probably my least favourite of the 1990's so far .
1995 - 2005 40% - Sweet peat on the nose at first , also creamy chocolate , a Touch of smoke . Very creamy on the palate at first , not as peaty as the others , a touch of sherry . Medium sweet finish . A subtle peatiness to this one , wouldn't pick it as an Ardbeg blind .
1996 - 2005 40% - Back to Bourbon casks with this one , sweet on the nose with germolene , touch smoky , On the palate tastes like a very watered down Distillery Ten , creamy peat , touch cooca . Medium peaty finish . Better than the 94 and 95 but still a touch disappointing .
1996 - 2005 46% - A Single Cask (No.908) at 46%......Heaven ! Peat , smoke and a touch of Cocoa on the nose , Sweet peat on the palate , a bit more of a kick overall at 46% . Long , sweet , peaty finish . More satisfying at the stronger Strength .
It was nice to revisit all the one's i have , overall the 43%ers were a lot better than the 40%ers (seems a waste at 40% !) and the 46%er was a step up again , I shall be revisiting the 70's ones again soon as i didn't realise how good they were ( Change of palate ? Appreciating them now ? who knows ! ) . One question does remain un-answered , what would the rest have been like if released at 46% plus ?
