Bob Kyle Whisky Tastings
Douglas Laing have Just released Big Peat and “He” is on his way to BC. Big Peat contains four Iconic Single Malts all from Islay.
This vatting carries a big peaty (often called “phenolic”), beachy oceanic slightly ashy selection of Malts from the island of Islay, from where the Laing family hail – and no wonder! – as we have included Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and Port Ellen in the “recipe”. Ally these lusty and robust Malts selected for BIG PEAT with the fact that no chill filtration takes place – a more old fashioned traditional approach – and you will detect a massive amplification of the anticipated sea-faring qualities on the nose, palate, and finish. These are particularly appreciated when consumed leisurely in the same style these Malts have waited for you in the cold, dark and windswept warehouses of Islay.
Here is the First Tasting Review of this great dram…..88 Points Malt Maniacs
Big Peat (46%, Douglas Laing, +/- 2009)
“A vatting of Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and Port Ellen. Some people have been arguing about the character on the label – is it Fred Laing, Stewart Laing of Captain Haddock? Colour: gold. Nose: rounder, more on coffee and chocolate at first nosing, getting then very coastal, on oysters and other seashells. Mixed herbal tea (like aniseed and linden), lemon balm… Then wet wool and raw peated barley, tarry rope, hessian… Very, very nice combination. Some young single Islayerscan be a tad mono-dimensional so this vatting brings complexity – not to mention the Port Ellen that’s obviously quite old. Mouth: excellent attack, as Islay as an Islayer can be. Quite amazingly, it tastes as if it was coming from one single distillery, as it’s very, very compact. Rooty, leafy, very peated, lemony, ashy, kippery… Maybe a tad closer to Caol Ila than to the others on the palate. Very good. Finish: long, ultra-clean, zesty, peaty. Big dram. Comments: it is an excellent surprise, a vatted that may defeat many young singles when tasted blind. Funny label too.” 88 points.
Three Tasting Events led by Bob Kyle (Rare Drams) were held last week, some notes follow :
- Nov 16th Victoria Whisky Club : Angus Dundee Whisky Tasting Nov 14th (Bob Kyle Rare Drams)
Six great new Drams from the Angus Dundee range were tasted on the night:
From the Tomintoul Distillery, the Highest Village in the Highlands, these 4 unique Single Malts from the Speyside Glenlivet region:
Tomintoul 10 YO : Tomintoul with a Peaty Tang: Tomintoul 12 YO Oloroso Finish : Tomintoul 16 YO , and from the Angus region the Glencadam Distillery , Glencadam 10 YO and the Glencadam 15 YO.
Two unique Distilleries, never before presented in BC. The Creamy Speyside Tomintoul, with Vanilla notes and the Citrus/fruity Glencadam Single Malts provided the Menu for the evening tasting. The Tomintoul 14 YO which has been name by Jim Murray in his 2010 Whisky Bible as the Best Single malt between 11 and 15 Year old, also made a brief appearance. This is truly a beautiful dram, exhibiting class witha long creamy mouth….it will be launched at the 2010 Victoria Whisky Festival www.victoriawhiskyfestival.com (Bob Kyle’s Angus Dundee Master Class).
- Nov 13th Beverley Corners Customers Group :@ the Quamichen Inn
Whats in a Cask ? was the order of this tasting . THis enabled the group to taste from the Distillers (multiple Cask) and Independent (Single cask) offerings.
The evening started with Mannochmore 11 YO from DL Provenance. This seldom seen Single Malt from Speyside bottle at 46% and non chillfiltered had creammy and definite vanilla tones. The tasting discussed the importance and taste differences to be found in a Fresh Bourbon, refill Bourbon, remade Bourbon cask.the distinct vanilla differences and slice note were obvious when the group was led through three samples from an Auchentoshan cask range.
Next up was was Old Malt Cask Arran, the notes were spice and some fruit which lingered in the palate.At 50% ABV and again Non Chill Filtered the mouth was long and succulent.
The Laphroaig Quarter cask from the distillery was tasted next alongside the 11 YO single Cask provenance from Douglas laing.
The QC demonstrated why the Distiller chose to place it in the smaller cask at the end of its maturation, enabling the intensity of flavours and additional pungent phenols to linger. This was noticed clearly when compared to the small batch refill hogshead from Douglas Laing.Clearly not as phenolic as the distillery release, with additional lasting complexity.
To finish the tasting the group tried the Macallan 12 YO from the Distillery and the 21 YO Single Cask release from Douglas Laing.
The two did not provide a fair comparison however the 21 YO single cask is an undoubted gem from this well thought of distillery.
- Nov 16th , the third tasting of the weekend was held at Liberty PG. This was a tasting of six Douglas laing New releases including for the first time in BC the Double Barrel Macallan & laphroaig: notes on request
Double Barrel Macallan/Laphroaig
Caol Ila 11 year old (Provenance)
Aberlour 12 year old (Provenance)
Bunnahabhain 9 year old (Provenance)
Longmorn 15 year old (Old Malt cask)
Glen Grant 11 year old (Provenance