Tag Archives: Sweet

A World of Discovery, Ardbeg, Autumn, Cold Winter, Need To Bundle Up

Ardbeg Corryvreckan – Malt Advocate’s Whisky of 2009

Islay region – 57.1%ABV – cask strength – 750ml bottle – $79-89 | £60 | €66

Such a strange thing.  You know, when I first got into Scotch whiskies, it was the peatier ones that drew me in.  I wanted to do nothing more than drink brimstone.  The peatier, the better.  And when I first started drinking whisky, that’s all I could taste; until, that is, I started “tasting” whisky rather than “drinking” whisky.

Once I started “tasting” whisky I had a tough time getting past the smokey peat – all I could taste was smoke so I figured I branch out and try ANY whisky as long as it had NO peat.  I abstained from peat for a bit more than a year and during that time I really began to hone my tasting skills (I’m still not a professional by any stretch of the imagination but I can hold my own.  At least, that’s what I tell myself…).  I was feeling good about my whiskying (is that even a word? My guess…no).  So good that I decided to branch out a bit more and reintroduce myself to peat, slowly but surely.  I started with Dalwhinnie, sprinkled  in some Springbank (great Campbeltown malt!!), Highland Park, then winter finally came back to New England and I decided to get back to the big peat – Ardbeg!

Tasting the Ardbeg 10yr again after going through so many lighter Speyside & Highland whiskies was like a reawakening!!  I was able to start pulling out the citrus notes, the tea leafiness, brine — this was a whole new experience for me!  My eyes were reopened.

Fast forward a year and a half or so and we get the announcement from John Hansell of the Malt Advocate that Ardbeg’s Corryvreckan got the prestigious Best Single Malt of 2009 award.  I have so much respect for John Hansell and much of what he says has helped and continues to help me choose the direction I take on this fun-ass whisky journey.  This being said, I had to get some Corryvreckan for myself and see what this was all about.

So, here we go.  Ardbeg Corryvreckan, 2009 Single Malt of the year:

Initial whiff — Even though this is 57.1%ABV, I had no problem jamming and keeping my nose in the glass.  Sweet smoke, big smoke but very sweet, briney (think sushi roll seaweed), lots of citrus, the smell of freshly tarred cut tree-limbs, telephone poles on a hot summer day (sorry for that one but growing up we had a telephone pole at the end of our driveway and there was some tar on it and during the summer it had a smell that was similar to what I’m smelling here).  Very complex.  Pleasant and making me reminisce of days gone by (this is what whisky is all about!!).

On the mouth – Sweet & bitting smoke, oily but not as much as the Uigeadail, iodine, wet ropes, back to the citrus, maybe some figgy stuffs?

Finish – Lasting, bubbly, like boozy seltzer, getting grassy (is this the stuff that made up the peat?).  A big smokebomb but so much more!

In sum — No where near as angry a malt as the Uigeadail.  Though close…  So the question is: is the the best single malt of 2009?  The great thing about whiskies and the tasting thereof is that it’s all up to you!  For me, yes.  It’s quite apparent that Ardbeg knows what they are doing.  They’re making damn good whisky.  This is my favorite whisky released in 2009 (that I’ve tasted).   Was it the best single malt I’ve tried in 2009?  No way.  Enjoy toward the end of Autumn or on a cold-cold night.  Bundle up, grab your favorite book and let yourself be taken away!

A World of Discovery, Balblair, Refreshed, Springtime, Summertime

Balblair 1997

Highlands – 43%ABV – 70cl (non-US) –  £29 | €34

I’ve got a couple of twitter buddies from the Holyland (one of them being Gal from Whisky Israel) who, knowing that I’m into the sweeter drams, suggested this one to me. They’ve not steered me wrong yet so I decided to listen to their suggestion and pick up a bottle.

This one is not available in the US because it’s not a 750ml bottle, rather a 70cl (or 700ml). Why the US will not accept bottles at the 70cl volume is just ludicrous and beyond me. Luckily, there are some good shops in the UK that do ship to the states so I got my bottle anyway. Ha, take that America!  In your face!!

Initial whiff — Pineapple, right away. Some sweet melon, think casaba and a little bit of spice, like a gum drop spice.

On the mouth — Waves of fresh fruit. So refreshing. Really, unlike any sweeter dram I’ve ever had. These are all tropical fruits (no apples, pears, etc… that you usually get from American Oak). Oakiness comes through now but does not overtake.  This is like a drinkable, tropical fruit salad.

Finish — Medium-long, spicy, some oak and the tiniest hint of smoke (?? could be in my head).

In sum — This stuff is so refreshing, you could forego brushing your teeth at night (or in the morning, if that’s your thing) and just get a dram of this stuff!

All You Need Is Love, Autumn, Benromach, Cold Winter, Springtime, Takin' It Easy

Benromach 10yr – More powerful than a Blackhole!!

Speyside – 43%ABV – 70cl (non-US) – US (in a 750ml bottle) $49 | £29 | €34

The Benromach 10yr is one of the most attractive malts I’ve ever had. Granted, I’ve only been imbibing the harder stuff for 3 years or so. So, I’m new to this wonderful world of whisky…

Like many of you, I read review after review of how spectacular this stuff was and I had every intention of trying some at WhiskyFest NYC 2009 – Sadly, one of the many booths I missed.

It wasn’t until I read Dr. Whisky’s review of the stuff that I finally opened up my wallet and laid down the cash for this baby. It ended up coming on my Birthday – what a birthday it was!

Initial whiff — Sweet warm smoke, honey, sweet peony, penny candy store (hanging out by the butterscotch), damp towel, vanilla, sweet pipe tobacco or, better yet, my Grandpa John’s old pipe collection

On the mouth — Gooey-ooey butterscotch riddled with smoke, root veggies (Dr. Whisky nailed it when he said he tasted stewed carrots – dead on!), fresh soil, leather, more butterscotch – mouth coating and smooth as heck!

Finish — Long, smokey oak, vanilla is back with some nuttiness creeping up.

In sum — This is the ultimate comfort dram. Usually, I like an ABV of at least 46% but I think they nailed it with the 43%. I had two drams that night.

So, here’s where the black hole comes in. I am a total freak when it comes to shows about space, black holes, supernovas (including the Ardbeg Supernova!!)… good sciencey stuff. I was watching a show on black holes the night I opened this up and I found my self completely blocking the outside world and was staring at the legs in my glass as they slowly danced back down to the bottom. I was so taken by this stuff that it took me from my science show! And, that’s really saying a lot. Truly astounding stuff – great effort from the folks at Benromach (even thought I said 43% was dead on, I would love to try this as a cask strength!)