The Whiskyphiles

Islay

  • Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2013

    Smoky and coastal exactly as I expected, quite mealy and herbal in places and some sweetness and nutty nature, perhaps from the finishing? 86/100 Continue reading

    Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2013

  • Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 10 Years Old

    Good balance and approachable sherried Islay malt. Pleasant but could be so much more! At 40% this is a bit soft and a bit safe for me I’d like a touch more intensity to these flavours and experience. Continue reading

  • Islay #1 10 Years Old Batch 3

    Basic but delicious Islay malt, an oddly unsalted sweet and smoky combo. 84/100 Continue reading

  • Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2011

    Quite smooth, fruity and vanilla led, perhaps the cask influence at 10 years is just starting to make its presence felt against that thick and unctuous mealy cereal nature from the Bere. 85/100 Continue reading

  • Octomore 10.2

    Sweeter and smokier than 10.1 and a nice addition of both tropical and stone fruits, I don’t think I’d have picked out the Sauternes influence here but in my defence Octomore’s are pretty robust spirit to begin with! 88/100 Continue reading

  • Port Charlotte PAC: 01 2011

    Bold, earthy and chewy peat, lots of sweet malt and plenty of fruit from the casks. With an abundance of French oak tannins and wine influence this reminded me a lot of Ardbeg’s Corryvreckan expression, however the peat here seems… Continue reading

  • Lagavulin 13 Years Old Feis Ile 2021

    Soft and subtle, this drinks like a classic Lagavulin (e.g. 16yo) with just a hint of some extra cask char and vinous nature. Perhaps the natural sweetness/Sherry influence in standard Lagavulin makes it hard to see what the Port-seasoned cask… Continue reading

  • Coal Ila 12 Years Old Feis Ile 2021

    Delicious sweet and char notes plus some extra fruits from the Moscatel wine cask boost classic Coal Ila sweet smoke flavours. Rich with plenty of depth and stewed and dried fruits. Continue reading

  • Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2021: Moine Bordeaux Finish 2013

    Deliciously decadent, a smoke and red wine marriage, borders at times on a little inkiness which could be enhanced by the youth of the spirit here which brings so much power to that smoke. Later it is sweet dry and… Continue reading

  • Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2021: Marsala Cask Finish 2001

    At cask strength this is rich but a touch on the spicy side for me, with water this mellows into more buttery caramel. A great example of Bunnahabhain’s fruity distillate pairing well with Marsala wine finishing Continue reading