Quick Review: Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Release

Ardbeg Kelpie Committee ReleaseArdbeg Kelpie Committee Release 2017

Info: Ardbeg’s Feis Ile 2017 Committee Release, matured in casks made from virgin Black Sea oak and more traditional bourbon casks. 51.7% abv.
Colour: Fairly ripe straw.
Nose: Fairly strong, salty and coastal with oaky peat smoke.
Palate: Thick and oily, spiced charred peat and maple & bacon.
Finish: Spiced and very long, oak, smoke and tar coal hints.
Thoughts: Fun and slightly different, however I’d like a little more sweetness from this, maybe a hint of sherry maturation.
Available: Sold out, likely only available at auction sites.

My own sample as part of a bottle share.

Quick Review: Auld Acquaintance Blended Whisky

Auld Acquaintance Blended Whisky

Info: From Gleann Mór Spirits, 46.1% ABV.
Colour: Lightly ripening barley.
Nose: Barley, hints of smoke, sweeties, red apples, toffee and tobacco.
Palate: Lead by oils and cream, followed by light spices with smoky hints.
Finish: Spiced and lengthy, sweet and easy.
Thoughts: A fairly robust blend where the high percentage (at least 50% we’re told) of malts shines through to give it great flavour.
Available: Various places online including Amazon for around £35, very reasonable.

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Quick Review: Angels’ Nectar Cairngorms & Islay Editions

Angels’ Nectar Cairngorms & Islay Editions

Cairngorms Edition

Info: Bottled in partnership with the Cairngorms Trust, to support environmental and community projects in the Cairngorms National Park. 46% ABV, 11 years old, 263 bottles, single cask.
Colour: Bright gently golden ripe barley.
Nose: Ripe banana and red apples, wet barley, autumn woodland moss and cracked nuts. A hint of hessian.
Palate: Upfront spiciness which soon mellows into autumn fruits and barley. A fairly good oily mouthfeel.
Finish: A subtle, gently warming and smooth finish, fairly long because of the oils. Sweet with a hint of tannin at the end.
Thoughts: An easy drinking quality dram for after dinner; would work well if I had a log fire, unfortunately my house is too modern.
Available: Whisky Castle – £67.99

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Quick Review: The Scalasaig Island Hopper

The Scalasaig Island Hopper

Info: A blended malt featuring a variety of peated whiskies from the likes of Orkney and Islay, married together in first-fill Spanish sherry casks. 43% ABV.
Colour: Dark golden, very autumnal.
Nose: Pungent, mossy, hessian. Also some lightness there with citrus notes coming though the gentle smoke.
Palate: Sweet, fairly spicy, rich and intense. The mossy peat comes though as if near a bonfire on a beach.
Finish: It seems to get sweeter as it goes on, which it does for quite a long while, very moreish. Some cask tannins and grass / barley at the end.
Thoughts: It’s a whisky that I keep coming back to; packed with flavour that’ll keep you wanting more. For me there’s a vague hint of Black Bottle here, but even better.
Available: Master of Malt – £49.95

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