Single Malt Archives

The Juice: Ardbeg 10 year old

This Islay malt has been named the official 2008 World Whiskey of the year by Jim Murray in his annual Whiskey Bible. They were open for over 150 years before they had to close the doors in the early '80s. In 1997 the distillery was re-opened in full force with the financial backing of Glenmorangie. It is one of the "Big 3" distilleries in South Islay.

The Notes:

Color: Pale straw
Nose: Peat smoke, soot, light apple or lime, floral notes
Palate: tar, leather, peat
Finish: Peat smoke, soot

The Verdict: 8.5/10

I don't know that there is such a thing as too much smoke, but if there is, its in this bottle. It is much heavier than Caol Ila, especially in the nose. Try it with an aged cheddar or nice cigar if you want to cut a little bit of the smoke. However, if you are like me, you want all the smoke you can get. Throw about 5 drops of water in there and it will release some of those aromas. Ardbeg has a lifetime pass in the rotation, and will always be available in my bar.

Single Malt Archives

The Juice: Caol Ila 12 year old

For more than 100 years small coal-fired “puffers” like the SS Pibroch brought barley, coal and empty casks to the distillery, returning the whisky to the mainland through the strait that divides Islay and Jura, the Sound of Islay – in Gaelic, “Caol Ila” (cull eela). The distillery was founded in 1846, but now 11 men do the work that 32 used to do.

The Notes:

Color: Pale straw
Nose: Citrus, coal smoke, olive oil
Palate: Light sweetness, salt, smoke
Finish: Sweet smoke, slightly sour, coal

The Verdict: 9.0/10

This could quite possibly be "the one". At first, I wasn't expecting much, but was blown away by the quality. This is most likely the result of juxtaposition between presupposed expectation and reality. It is one of the heavier Islays, so be careful if you decide to give this one a go. Caol Ila has cemented its place in the rotation and will be a regular on the bar for years.

Single Malt Archives

The Juice: Bowmore 12 year old

Bowmore can be found on the Loch Indaal side of the Isle of Islay (eye-la). Established in 1779, Bowmore is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, and the oldest in Islay. They have adhered to the old traditions of producing their own floor malted barley, turning it laboriously with a large wooden shovel.

The Notes:

Color: light amber
Nose: honey, putty, subtle lemon
Palate: peat, malt, slightly oily
Finish: long smoke, hints of citrus

The Verdict: 6.5/10

This one is deceptively light in the nose for an Islay, but the palate is pleasant and a bit of a monster. It is one of the lesser Islay Malts in my opinion, which probably makes it a decent one for beginners. Bowmore will most likely play a very small roll in the rotation henceforth. I wouldn't mind having a bottle on hand, but I probably will not be going out of my way to get it.