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What I'm Tasting...
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I had the chance to taste some exceptional whiskies during my visit to Islay, and here are some of my tasting notes...
Ardbeg Supernova 2010 (60.1% ABV): This is the second release of Supernova, with a higher ABV than the 2009 version (which I scored a 92) that won many awards. I prefer this version to that one. The nose is pungent and peaty, with a good balance of toffee notes and chili peppers. The taste is rich and smoky, with a touch of vanilla and spicy notes of chili peppers and cilantro (coriander). The finish has coconut notes and a kiss of vanilla, along with a touch of peat that curls up the back of your throat. 94 points.
Lagavulin 16 Limited Edition (52.5% ABV): This is only available at the Lagavulin gift shop, and comes from an American Oak cask first used for Pedro Ximenez sherry. The nose has a good balance of peat and sweet, with hints of figs, orange peel, vanilla, and creme brulee. The creamy taste has notes of peppermint, dark chocolate, and dried fruits, along with just a touch of peat and brine. A few drops of water makes it even smoother. The finish is smoky and peppery with a touch of honey. 93 points.
Bruichladdich Peat (46% ABV): Most Bruichladdich expressions don't have a lot of peatiness, but this one lives up to its name. The nose is smoky and phenolic. The taste is peaty, peppery and slow to fade. The finish is smoky and long. It's a 1-dimensional malt, but if you like smoky whiskies, it's excellent. I'm not a cigar smoker, but I imagine this one might go well with a cigar. 85 points.
Bowmore 1998 "Kelting's Quarter Cask Edition 21" from Queen of the Moorlands (53.9% ABV): David Wood of The Wine Shop in Leek bottles single cask releases under this name. There's no age statement, and the nose has smoke and vanilla notes, is slightly dry, and has a touch of smoked herring. The taste is fiery and young, with a flash of pepper that fades quickly. The finish has a lingering ashiness. A touch of water brings out caramel and brown sugar notes that add to the complexity of the taste. 79 points.
I'll be adding all of my tasting notes from the Islay trip to the WhiskyCast website and the iPhone app sponsored by The Glenrothes over the next week or two.
In the meantime, if you'd like to win a bottle of The Glenlivet Founder's Reserve, just email theglenlivet
@whiskycast.com by June 30 with your name, address, and age. I'll pick a winner at random to win a bottle of this limited edition release celebrating the expansion of The Glenlivet.
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How to get involved | |
You can download WhiskyCast on the website or subscribe at the iTunes Music Store! That's also where you can find the WhiskyCast iPhone app, complete with whisky ratings, the Calendar of Events, and access to every episode of WhiskyCast!
To ask questions, or submit ideas for an upcoming episode, please e-mail us: comments@whiskycast.com.
© Cask Strength Media, 2010
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The Glenlivet's new stills as seen from the washbacks. Photo by Mark Gillespie.  | Home Again...for Now.
I'm finally home after 16 days in Scotland, and while I'm glad to be home, I'll never forget my first visit to Islay. I hope you've had the chance to listen to the 11 episodes of WhiskyCast I produced during the trip (10 from Islay, and 1 from The Glenlivet's stillhouse dedication ceremony on June 4).
I'll always remember the kindness of the people I met on Islay...folks like Tom and Kate at the Burnside Lodge in Port Weymss, Duffie at the Lochside Inn in Bowmore, the cooks at the Port Ellen Cyber Cafe (who make a great lamb burger, by the way) and of course, all of the people who work at the distilleries and the hundreds of people who visited Islay for the 25th annual Islay Festival of Malt & Music.
As I've said before, the Islay and Jura distilleries all agreed to split the expenses of producing this special series equally as a way to give whisky lovers around the world a taste of life on Islay, and I'd like to thank them for their support. |
Michael Halpern Wins Scotland Trip
Congratulations to Michael Halpern of Washington, DC. His entry was selected at random from nearly 10,000 entries in the WhiskyCast Visit Scotland Sweepstakes! Michael and a guest will go to Glasgow for Whisky Week in September, with air travel provided by IcelandAir. Thanks to everyone who entered!
I'd also like to congratulate Marc Pendlebury of Johannesburg, South Africa, who won the Bowmore Tempest Feis Ile bottle provided by Bowmore. Kudos also to Lee Wood of Boulder, Colorado, who was picked at random from WhiskyCast newsletter subscribers like you to receive a copy of Ian Buxton's "The Enduring History of Dewar's." Also, Stephen Toernblom of Lake Elsinore, California, will receive a copy of Chef Albert Schmid's "The Kentucky Bourbon Cookbook from the University Press of Kentucky. I'll be giving another copy of the Cookbook away at the end of June!
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I received dozens of comments via e-mail and Facebook about the special series of episodes from Islay, but this one blew me away:
I wanted to drop a note to all of the Islay/Jura distillers
for bringing Whiskycast to Feis Ile. It was a wonderful week of podcasts
for us Islay malt fanatics who haven't yet been able to make the
pilgrimage. Hearing the stories, interviews, tours, and music gives me an
even deeper appreciation for the island, the festival, the music, the Ileach
people, and (of course) the best whisky on the planet. I can hardly wait
to finally get there myself.
To show my appreciation for your support of Whiskycast and
its listeners, I'll be buying at least one bottle of each of your whiskies this
year (including Kilchoman, which I understand will be available in the US this
fall!).
Scott Hartig
Evansville, Indiana
Scott, thank you for your support, and thanks to everyone who e-mailed me. I read every e-mail I receive, and always appreciate your comments and suggestions.
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