Review: SMWS Feis 2016 release – 127.44

SMWS release their Feis 2016 offering – 127.44

cantina_mexicana_labelInfo: This is a 12yo Port Charlotte from Bruichladdich, at an awesomely high 65.9% abv. Labelled as Cantina Mexicana.
Colour: Rich dark amber, plenty of rusty colour.
Nose: Buttery and rich, slightly lactic. Mushed down autumn fruits with a buttery malty crumble topping and a dollop of cream that’s kind of nearly on the turn. Ozone and slightly salted peat. With time more blackberry tones come forward.
Palate: On the palate this is hugely slick and velvety at the high abv, you’d think it’d instantly kill your tongue but it doesn’t. It’s fairly sweet, with hints of bbq embers
Finish: Long, strong, tasty and moorish. Good stuff.
Water: It’s really high with alcohol, so a drop of water can’t really hurt. With a drop a little more biscuit malt note comes forward with an increase of coal notes. I prefer it that way! With a few more drops of water there’s a definite tropical note that comes out and the slight lactic note becomes totally integrated and works well for the dram. It stays buttery.
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Review: Ardbeg Dark Cove vs Dark(er) Cove

ardbeglogo

I’m off up to Glasgow tomorrow before heading over to Islay for the Feis on Friday… Therefore now seems the perfect time to review the 2016 Ardbeg Feis Ile release, Dark Cove. Something to do with olden times, pirates, coves, smuggling. Blah blah. Whisky.

There’s two versions, the stronger (55% abv) Committee Edition, and the regular (46.5% abv) version which will be released during the Feis. They did the same last year with the 2015 release, and in that case I preferred the lower strength version, so how will the 2016 versions compare? Let’s see…
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News: Douglas Laing & Co launch Scallywag Cask Strength Limited Edition #2

A Rare New Breed of Douglas Laing’s
Scallywag Speyside Malt

Scallywag Cask Strength #2 bottle onlyDouglas Laing & Co today announces the release of Limited Edition Scallywag #2, a Cask Strength Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, boldly bottled at 54.1%.

Scallywag Speyside Malt first launched in 2013, in homage to the Douglas Laing family’s long line of Wire Fox Terriers, and is now sold in over 40 markets worldwide.

The new Limited Edition release is created using only the finest Speyside Malts, including those distilled at Mortlach, Macallan and Glenrothes Distilleries. Just 4800 bottles of this rare breed are available globally, a number that is proudly displayed on the product’s gift tube. The striking, gold foiled packaging features a somewhat startled Scallywag, his ears perked and his monocle blasted off, having just experienced his first taste of the spicy, fruity, chocolatey dram.

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