The Best Scotches Recommended by Bartenders. Ill be reviewing them in the coming weeks. Most of their whiskies have higher alcohol contents with the maximum being 57,3% (114,6 proof). Depending on how the distillation is managed, its length, the amount of reflux produced, and the cut points used to obtain the heart cut, the ppm phenol in the new-make spirit can be from a third to two-thirds less than the original concentration in the malt. While every distillery is unique, there are unofficial regional styles that can help cut out some of the noise when browsing a liquor store. Both Lagavulin and Oban have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 43% (86 proof). Ready to delve further into the world of peated whiskies? Theres no peat. Meanwhile, distilleries from the Highlands, the largest region in Scotland, take cues from each of the other regions. Its still the active ingredient in oral analgesics such asChlorasepticspray. Appearance: Oban 14-Year-Old is packaged in one of the whisky industry's most beautiful canisters, a cream-and-blue affair adorned with a gorgeous, evocative line drawing of sea birds resting on craggy cliffs. For a subtler peat influence try the Glenlivet Nadurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish. Oban whisky is very different from many of its West Highland kin. I came to this through my father's bottles, which were typically a collection of things that supermarkets sold on discount on occasion: Glenmorangie Laphroaig, Talisker, and Penderyn. If you can, try to match the tasting notes with the aromas and ingredients you recognized earlier. Oban is one of Scotlands smallest distilleries as it only has 2 pot stills, making it a midget when compared to Glenfiddich that has 30. Oban is similar but even more subtle. The distillery, among the best known in the world, is one of the oldest distilleries on Islay, although its history of distillation activity reaches much further back than its official start date. I'm very sleepy, so I will let the reviews speak for themselves: Oban 14: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey; 43% ABV. Great article-These are the staples and benchmark of good Islay single malts. Oban ages their whisky in oak barrels with the barrels being old American Oak bourbon barrels. A lot of first-fill ex-bourbon casks intended for aging Lagavulin would be filled first with single-grain Scotch. At an average price of $52 per 750 ml bottle, this whisky has an ABV of 45,8% (91,6 proof). Mortlach is one of the few distilleries that still operates worm coils instead of the modern clam shell condensers. Hey, if the shoe fits). There were also several single malts singled out for exceptional quality. Oban has a much smaller offering than Lagavulin, with 4 whiskies available for purchase. Please God no. 70cl / 43%. Reviews #7 and #8: Oban 14 and Lagavulin 16 I'm very sleepy, so I will let the reviews speak for themselves: Oban 14: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey; 43% ABV. Tyler Duffy, Associate Editor. Talisker whisky is made by one of the oldest distilleries on the isle of Skye, having been established in 1830. Therefore Im a bit suprised by the comparison. Dried herbs and a lingering soft sweetness when in the mouth with a light oak finish, he Singleton of Glendullan, 15 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky. In general, bottles coming from Islay, such as Laphroaig and Ardbeg, are the smokiest. Score: 77/100. Sometimes the familiar is the hardest to appreciate. Color: Amber, like tea steeped not-quite-enough. This gets slightly pricklier and more tart at the end. (It famously produces much of the Scotch for blending in Johnnie Walker expressions.) All scotch whisky seemingly has a deep and long history behind it, but Bruichladdich puts that history to use, literally. Bottled relatively young after spending 10 years in a mixture of first- and second-fill bourbon casks, and second-fill French wine casks, its an aggressive Scotch. Required fields are marked *. Spice and the sea are present in your mouth with a spicy medium finish. Named for the famous whirlpool that lies to the north of Islay and winner of The Worlds Best Single Malt in 2010 by the World Whiskies Awards, Corryvreckan is intense, non-chill-filtered experience of peat and pepper aged in virgin French Limousin oak. Despite the lack of an age statement, Deanston Virgin Oak is a single-malt Scotch whisky with a price reserved for the less-than-amazing stuff. Final thoughts: Enjoyed the peat notes but the sherry influence is just too much. Ive been around the whisky block a number of times over many years and both of these whiskies remain, despite the chill-filtration and colouring, good quality whisky and a feather in the cap of Diageos global brand. Springbank 15 Year . Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. This whisky has too many awards to name, including multiple nabs of Best Spirit in the World in Spirit Journal. Its brightly peated whisky sits in sherry-seasoned European oak casks and ages in the extremely mild climate of the islands, for a gentle maturation that hits its stride at 18 years. Its 12-year-old expression has a delightful smoky sweetness, complemented by herbs and spices that show why this distillery has been around since 1846. From the initial distillation of the whisky, both brands have a similar method. The tweaks and variations that go into each bottle of Scotch are intimidating, especially for bourbon and rye drinkers who may not be accustomed to the price of a whiskey thats been aged for 18 years or more. You clearly have very little understanding of whisky, Your email address will not be published. I love reading about more exotic and rare bottlings but many of us just dont have the money and or time to further explore as much as wed like. The brands scotches are produced on original Victorian-era machinery in order to stay true to whats worked well all this time. Each bottle starts the maturing process in old bourbon casks of American white oak then later ages in Oloroso sherry barrels, both of which help bring that intense color and bold flavor. Finally, dont ignore the peated offerings from the specialty bottlers. It internationally holds a spot as a really good entry level peated whisky. This years NYISC judging highlighted several well-known Scotch whisky expressions. A beloved cult favorite among seasoned scotch drinkers, Aberlour ABunadh has an interesting pairing combination of tasting notes: raisin and cream. This yearly release is, for the price, among Taliskers best. The actual menu of the The Keg Steakhouse + Bar. Glenmorangie took home the award for The Best 18 YO Single Malt. But I found it offered a more balanced and sweeter note after sitting out and aerating for a bit, so take that for what it's worth. The color of the whisky is a rich amber. My usual opinion on Diageo is that theyre like an evil empire. However, Lock Lomond also sells other whisky types including their range of limited editions and single-grain whisky. The great-great nephew of William Mitchell, the founder of Glengyle Distillery, reopened his familys distillery in 2004. Take Lagavulin, one of Islays iconic peated whiskies. Next, waft the glass below your nose a few times and try to pick out the separate scents and matching ingredients used to create it. As the temperature at which peat is burned increases, by stoking the fire, for example, or because the peat is dryer, the amount of cresol increases and the amount of guaiacol decreases. If you ease someone into peated single malt, this is the one to suggest or offer. The biggest shocker of its win was Deanston Virgin Oak's price, clocking in with a retail price of around $30. Flavor is rich, with a deliciousblast of smoke, caramel, along fruity sweetness. Not all of Caol Ilas whiskies are peated, however. I got to attend a virtual tasting hosted by Diageos Ewan Gunn. The official tasting notes from the judging panel described the whisky as. A light and clean finish, its a great whisky to sip on in those cooler months of the year, as its taste almost evokes Thanksgiving-esque tones. There are a few facts worth knowing about the Lagavulin 16: The nose is quite good as it kicks-off with a ripe fruit note, along citrus peel and a touch of smoke. Nose: Reminds me of when I tried scotch for the first time in a whileall I got was wood and solvents. Alcohol doesnt hit as heavy as the ABV would suggest. I've heard good things about Bowmore, but haven't tried it myself. To be considered a single-grain Scotch whisky, the juice must be made at one distillery from a single grain like corn or wheat and it can be malted or unmalted. Laphroaig has higher cut points than Lagavulin. In between those are light aromas of mandarin oranges, burnt lint, ashes, more citrus peels and digestive biscuits. Oh, and its created in part with actor Nick Offerman. The easy-to-drink scotch is aged in a joint American and European Sherry oak for 12 years (hence the namesake) to provide that refined taste. Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or. Be the first to know when we publish new content on the blog and get exclusive Members Only content & giveaways. Drink Stack is a resource for adults of legal drinking age. Oban got its start in a very small distillery in the Scottish Highlands where its been making scotch whisky for roughly 200 years. I dont like that theyre massive and tend to focus on efficiency. Notes: A classic balance-not too smoky, not too sweet. This is exemplified by their Islay Barley Scotch Whisky, which feels (and tastes!) After all, an empire must have an emperorand an emperor, his crown jewels. A bit pricey, which I suspect contributes to its more middling score in my metacritic database. Yes. These are the best bottles of Scotch whisky you can buy. The highest medal given out is the Double Gold. We recommend thinking of each bottle of Scotch as falling somewhere along two spectrums: from light to rich; delicate to smoky. The line-up of the tasting consisted of Dalwhinnie 15, Cragganomore 12, Talisker 10, and Lagavulin 16. Next, shape your tongue into a spoon shape and take a small sip of the whisky. During the aging process, the flavors captured in the wood are infused into the single malt giving it more depth. Oban Whisky distillery was established in 1794 by John and Huh Stevenson and was named before the town in which it was situated. The NYISC is one of 10 different competitions that include, among others, the New York International Wine Competition, the Berlin International Spirits Competition and the Melbourne International Beer Competition. (16 year-old Lagavulin is around $65). Palate: This dram is the first to remind me of butter. The Glenmorangie 18 YO, 43% ABV, 750 ml, $109 is part of Glenmorangies Prestige Range. Historically, many Speyside whiskies had a peat component in their single malts. Lagavulin Distiller's Edition vs Lagavulin 16: Which Wins? There are a number of additional differences between the sister distilleries. []. Even the growing trend for American malt whiskeys prominently features peated whiskey. The finish is long, sweet and pleasantly warm, with more smoke to it. Its buttery, with a surface sweetness, and a range of spicy notes that gives it plenty of depth. Thats a winning combination and has proved to be very popular. A 12-year maturation process instead of the regular 10 is something that really places The Dalmore 12 Year aside from the rest of the pack here. Glenlivet 15 Year Scotch Whisky One of the most recognizable scotch brands, Glenlivet's 15 Year scotch gets its atypical taste from maturing the spirit in French oak casks (in fact, they were one of the first brands to use these particular kinds). I first tasted Talisker 10 in the early 90s and Lagavullin 16 not long after. For starters, to even claim the title of scotch, the spirit must abide by some strict rules. Its well worth grabbing a bottle when they hit shelves. ABV: 43%. Its core line-up is packaged without fuss or frills, making them a great value (Glenfarclas 12 is great for those on a budget) and the 17 year just gets it right. This bottle is available almost everywhere, so please shop around but expect to pay 37.95 via The Whisky Exchange, 36.45 with Master of Malt, $66.99 with SharedPour or Amazon will demand 37.55. After 18 years the two liquids are blended together and, after being allowed to marry, are bottled. Lagavulin is aged for 16 years using ex-bourbon barrels. The phenolic compounds that give peated whiskies their pronounced medicinal character are concentrated in the cell walls of the moss. And the dark color is closer to coffee or Coca-Cola than a typical Scotch. On the cheaper end, Laphroaig Quarter-Cask is somewhat similar. Lagavulin 16 Years Old Read More. Overpriced? Think of the aroma of a pile of burning dry leaves. Lately, the consumers interest in peated whiskies have led distillers to list the ppm phenol in the malt on their whisky bottle. It has a distinctive cracked black pepper note on the nose that is always an unmistakable marker for Talisker. The official tasting notes from the judging panel describe the whisky as: Summer grass and dark sweets are on the nose. I end up taking them for granted, which allows me to spend time and money on other spirits. Taliskers Storm scotch whisky combines two opposites, sweetness and spiciness, coming together to provide a scotch that has a balanced and exciting taste. Oban ages for 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels. Diageo is a multinational alcohol company that now owns more than 200 brands of alcohol with Oban being the second smallest distillery under their umbrella. Lagavulin 16 was my first peated single malt. The nose is filled with a hearty mix of tobacco and leather. You just cant go wrong with this. Between the butterscotch and caramel are the mocha notes I get on the nose. When burned it adds a delicate, floral, potpourri like quality to peat smoke. Traditionally, Lowland Scotch was triple distilled using unpeated malt for a light, simple sweetness. In the Orkney Islands, among other places, much of the peat derives from partially decomposed heather. The intensity of peat derived aromas and flavors in the wash, however, are degraded by its passage through the whisky making process. Oily mouthfeel paired with a honey sweetness and a very acrid, slightly woody taste that I cannot place. All content is for informational and educational purposes only. Glenlivet 15 Year Scotch Whisky $75.79 Buy Now. Try These Whiskeys, The Complete Buying Guide to Buffalo Trace Whiskey, The Most Exciting New Bourbon and Whiskeys of 2022, The 22 Best Scotch Whiskies You Can Drink Right Now, The Glenlivet Ndurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish, Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel Reserve 14 Year Old. Beginning in 2010, the distillery releases its 12 year expression, which blends juice aged in bourbon and sherry cask, semi-annually at cask strength. Orange peel and oak lay on the tongue with winter spices on top of the medium finish. Best Budget Scotch. This is one of the core expressions in the Glenmorangie range. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Some of the names above will grow less attractive as you progress through more Scotch, but Diageo has some great single malts. I love them both and feel no need to choose between them other than bowing to one in particular because of how I feel at the time. I think the T10 has been more consistent than the L16 tbh. The name is a reference to the Catholic Insurrection in England in the early sixteenth century that attempted to topple Queen Elizabeth I and replace her with her half-sister, Mary Queen of Scots. Most people who like Lagavulin 16 also like Talisker 10 (which I prefer over the Ardbeg). Obviously more. With every sip, youll experience tastes of smooth vanilla, soft fruits and a memorably long, nutty finish, offering a robust and layered taste with each and every single slug. Johns son, Donald, inherited the distillery in 1837 and was in control of the production until 1852. Introduced in 2017, Ardbegs An Oa Scotch Whisky blends together a few different cask strengths into a single vat. The spirit is made from water and malted barley or other malted grains and aged for a minimum of three years in oak barrels. Get our FREE weekly email
**$69.99 ** Photo: proof66.com Dalwhinnie Palate: Dried fruit, pear, apple, baking spice, smoke. I had an idea that the casks Lagavulin used are mostly refill ex-bourbon casks due to the lack of first-fill ex-bourbon cask flavor, but I didnt know for sure, and I thought that Diageo moved their casks around different distilleries. Smooth? The well bodied liquid with citrus and honey layers lay on the tongue with hints of oak and brown sugar on the long finish. Awards were also given for Best 10 YO single malt to Talisker (Islands); Speyburn (Speyside) and Ardbeg (Islay). It develops in areas where organic matter is covered by water before it can fully decompose. This is a super easy-going Scotch, with delicate sweetness and little in the way of smoke, oak, or complexity. Agree with Laga 12 being more attractive to Laga 16. Take the examples of Lagavulin and Caol Ila. ago yours is an open factual report. Across the whiskies, there is an average alcohol content of 43%, with the lowest ABV being 43% (86 proof) and the highest ABV being 57,3% (114,6 proof). Serve it or with a little bit of ice to draw out the flavor further. Would be interesting to see a vertical of this. 38.95 from The Whisky Exchange. But I have samples of the Dalwhinnie 15 and Cragganmore 12. In the mouth: Not as peaty and smoky upfront. Both have a medicinal quality on the nose. A well-balanced Highlands Scotch with a light sweetness and smoke in the nose. Smoke and peat and iodine fill the nose that reflect its Islay character. Degustao The Macallan . On the nose: Slightly bolder and fuller peat when compared to the Talisker 10. These refill casks would be sent to Lagavulin. Talisker Storm $55.49 Buy Now. There are more than 20 variations available from the brand. This means that Oban came first by approximately 22 years. 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The specialty bottlers 16 years using ex-bourbon barrels to peat smoke smoky,. Long aging period diminished the smoky notes a bit whilst adding the sweet vanilla from specialty! Few different Cask strengths into a single vat, not too sweet the of.