For this week’s Whiskey Wednesday I wanted to review a Single Malt Scotch I purchased for myself on my birthday. I normally don’t seek out a peaty scotch, and certainly not one with such a rich reputation as being peaty of the peats, but the Cask Strength and the Quarter Cask maturing caught my eye.
I try to find scotch’s that aren’t chill filtered and are bottled at cask strength. There is
much more character and flavor to be had from a scotch that goes nearly straight from the barrel to the bottle, and much more body when it is not chill filtered. A good and raw, primitive scotch this one is.
Let me tell you, no one around me wanted to get within 5 feet of the open bottle! It is STRONG. I did not find it offensive at all, in fact, the gentle burn I did receive from the first few nosings added to the experience rather than detracted. After allowing my senses to return I could more fully appreciate the aroma of this scotch. Not being well versed in the peaty realm of single malts I was delighted at this new experience.
Some scoffed that the aroma reminded them of chewing tobacco. Perhaps it was the fireplace type attack of the scotch that put them off, and yes, it is strong, but very satisfying on a purely sensual level.
I have never seen a swirl like this Laphroaig Quarter Cask before. Such an oily consistency to the swirl! Runners coming down from all sides, the sheen left behind on the
sides of the brandy sniffer, the golden shade of autumn of the scotch had left me with the impression that I was going to balk at the power of this whiskey.
I decided to add some pure water to the first glass. Full strength was something I would have to work my way up to. I was right. Even with a bit of water to make a “whiskey neat”, I was taken hard by the full palate attack of this scotch. I have never had a scotch fill so completely every tastebud and corner of my mouth. Not an unpleasant sting, but unexpected with the smokiness from the peat adding a dimension other whiskeys have lacking.
The finish was even more surprising. So long, and it even ended a bit spicy sweet! Such a complex scotch from nose to finish! I really really really like this Quarter Cask Laphroaig. And being a middle of the road on price, it is one that I can afford to keep in the cabinet year round, not just special occasions.
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on Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 at 12:03 pm and is filed under Whisky Wednesday.
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