Three Bottlings from The Whisky Boys Cabin
It has been a while since Nicola and I have done a tasting. So I popped into the Whisky Boys Cabin and selected three bottles to do a wee tasting update.
First up is :-
Aberlour 12 Year Old – Double Cask
One of my favourite distilleries and the Whisky Boys HQ has at least one expression from this Speyside distillery always available.
Let’s now have a taste of this double-cask matured single malt.
Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask – Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% Alc/vol 70 cl
Colour…Honey gold
Nose…Very rich with vanilla, and light spices led by cinnamon.
Taste…A classic Aberlour, sherry influenced with plump sultanas, more vanilla, and oak, now getting some nutmeg, delicious.
Finish…Quite s long finish with vanilla and mild spices taking charge.
A grand dram for less than £40.00, check out our Whisky Shop.
Any trip to Speyside must include a visit to this great distillery. Having visited Speyside on many occasions I have always included a trip to Aberlour Distillery.
Up second is:-
Black Bottle – Island Smoke Edition
Black Bottle was created in 1879 by Gordon Graham and Co. based in Aberdeen. Black Bottle’s name came from its original bottle design based on black German glass and echoing the traditional pot whisky still. Black Bottle combines the finest of unpeated grain Whiskies with malts from seven distilleries on Islay, which form the heart of this blend.
Bottle opened, let’s sip.
Black Bottle Island Smoke – Blended Scotch Whisky, 46.3% Alc/vol 70 cl
Colour…India pale ale
Nose…Toasted oak, damp peat, a toffee sweetness, spice hints.
Taste…Seaweed, fruit notes mixed with chimney soot, herbal with smoky bacon crisps, salty ocean spray splashing on the beach.
Finish…Lingering herb-infused peat smoke.
This a great introduction to peated Whiskies, one of my new favourites.
There are four expressions in the Black Bottle range.
Black Bottle Original Blend – 40% Alc/vol
Black Bottle 10 Year Old Blend – 40% Alc/vol
Black Bottle Island Smoke, Blend – 46.3% Alc/vol
Black Bottle Double Cask Blend – 46.3% Alc/vol
My third choice is :-
Ardbeg Wee Beastie – 5 Year Old
Ardbeg, is one of the most recognised names in Scotch Whisky. A great distillery with a fine cafe, visitor centre and shop. A trip to Islay would not be complete without a visit to this distillery.
Let’s taste.
Ardbeg Wee Beastie – 5 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 47.4% Alc /vol, 70 cl
Colour…Pale golden syrup
Nose…Salty sea air, a sweet reek from burning peat, and fresh seaweed gave it a mineral edge.
Taste…Peat is well in charge, burning gorse and kelp, smoked ham, medicinal and antiseptic notes, all with a sweetness in every sip.
Finish…A long peaty sweetness,
This Ardbeg expression is currently one of my all-time favourite Islay drams. Priced at just under £40.00, it has got to be the steal of the century. I must stress this is one grand peated Whisky.
