This is how I first read this line. I thought, what the heck?
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GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
It does autocorrect to that occasionallyThis is how I first read this line. I thought, what the heck?
GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
12 Whiskeys of Christmas Entry 8:
Sponsored by @NurseDave and Kuh-kuh Pow!
Tonight is 1/3 of bottle #8 - Craigellachie 13 year Speyside Single Malt Scotch
Tonight’s sample is going to be taken neat. Tonight, before the taste, I had a dinner of a Greek Chicken Meatballs, Greek tomato salad, rice, and tzatziki (salty and savory).
Say that one 5 times fast...sheesh! Not heard of this one before. Let’s see what’s up!
First, a few sniffs after the dram is poured It’s got a very gentle scent, smooth and light. The alcohol itself looks very light gold, much like a white wine or light gold beer. Reading along with some other tasting notes, it’s likened to an apple orchard in scent. I suppose I could pull out a watered down apple juice kind of smell, but it’s still citrusy. There is a hint of dry wood for me as well. The rest is too delicate for me to detect I guess.
So what does Craigellachie 13 taste like? A dose of fire up front. An oily, light flavor I associate with peat, the tasting notes say it’s the malt. Very smooth going down. There’s a pop of fruitiness. Then it settles down to a juicy bit of char and spices.
Compared to Oban 14, it is a bit more run-of-the-mill scotch flavor with some extra depth and smoothness. Probably a safer bet for the money if it were to be gifted, where as Oban would have a more love/hate thing going on. Craigellachie is on the pricey side but a good, safe buy for any scotch lover who wants to broaden their whiskey cabinet’s range I’d say.
I had to look back at my notes for Grangestone but I think Craigellachie wins out for its more developed flavor, where as Grangestone tasted nice but was limited in flavor range.
Blended Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Naked Grouse
2) Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 year
3) Monkey Shoulder
Single Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Craigellachie 13 year
2) Grangestone 12 year
3) Glenlivet Founder’s
4) Glenmorangie 10 year
5) Oban 14 year
Bourbon Rankings:
1) Eagle Rare
2) Buffalo Trace
3) Woodford Double Oaked Straight
4) Jim Beam Black
5) Larceny
Rye Whiskey Rankings:
1) Sazerac Straight Rye
Sponsored by @NurseDave and Kuh-kuh Pow!
Tonight is 1/3 of bottle #8 - Craigellachie 13 year Speyside Single Malt Scotch
Tonight’s sample is going to be taken neat. Tonight, before the taste, I had a dinner of a Greek Chicken Meatballs, Greek tomato salad, rice, and tzatziki (salty and savory).
Say that one 5 times fast...sheesh! Not heard of this one before. Let’s see what’s up!
First, a few sniffs after the dram is poured It’s got a very gentle scent, smooth and light. The alcohol itself looks very light gold, much like a white wine or light gold beer. Reading along with some other tasting notes, it’s likened to an apple orchard in scent. I suppose I could pull out a watered down apple juice kind of smell, but it’s still citrusy. There is a hint of dry wood for me as well. The rest is too delicate for me to detect I guess.
So what does Craigellachie 13 taste like? A dose of fire up front. An oily, light flavor I associate with peat, the tasting notes say it’s the malt. Very smooth going down. There’s a pop of fruitiness. Then it settles down to a juicy bit of char and spices.
Compared to Oban 14, it is a bit more run-of-the-mill scotch flavor with some extra depth and smoothness. Probably a safer bet for the money if it were to be gifted, where as Oban would have a more love/hate thing going on. Craigellachie is on the pricey side but a good, safe buy for any scotch lover who wants to broaden their whiskey cabinet’s range I’d say.
I had to look back at my notes for Grangestone but I think Craigellachie wins out for its more developed flavor, where as Grangestone tasted nice but was limited in flavor range.
Blended Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Naked Grouse
2) Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 year
3) Monkey Shoulder
Single Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Craigellachie 13 year
2) Grangestone 12 year
3) Glenlivet Founder’s
4) Glenmorangie 10 year
5) Oban 14 year
Bourbon Rankings:
1) Eagle Rare
2) Buffalo Trace
3) Woodford Double Oaked Straight
4) Jim Beam Black
5) Larceny
Rye Whiskey Rankings:
1) Sazerac Straight Rye
I don't know much about Scotch really. Average bottles of scotches just taste gross to me and while I like some really good scotches...the price tag usually breaks the bank. Your scotch rankings are pretty spot on to me. As for the rye? Well you need to work on those... 
. I am working on a bottle of Willett small batch rye that my brother gave me last year. Might be one of my favorite ryes. My favorite would be Sazerac 18 year old...but good luck getting a bottle of that...and when you do...it's a bank breaker. When I first starteddriking Sazerac 18...I was getting it for $27 a bottle...you are lucky if you can get it for under $500 now.
Good stuff Gear!
. I am working on a bottle of Willett small batch rye that my brother gave me last year. Might be one of my favorite ryes. My favorite would be Sazerac 18 year old...but good luck getting a bottle of that...and when you do...it's a bank breaker. When I first starteddriking Sazerac 18...I was getting it for $27 a bottle...you are lucky if you can get it for under $500 now.Good stuff Gear!
GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
It surprising what a few extra years can do for a whiskey! Great find.
This has been great fun to do so far! The rye was a pleasant surprise; I was expecting it to be much more harsh and bitter. As interesting as the less expensive Sazerac was, it would be neat to try a higher end eye sip! Glad my rankings make some kind of logical sense, I’m flying by the seat of my pants hereI don't know much about Scotch really. Average bottles of scotches just taste gross to me and while I like some really good scotches...the price tag usually breaks the bank. Your scotch rankings are pretty spot on to me. As for the rye? Well you need to work on those...
Good stuff Gear!
.
GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
Shave #8 (452 Open Blade Shaves) of 2021:
Gear: Blackland Vector, Schick Proline
blade, RR 400 synth brush, LNHC Barber Shoppe soap, homemade witch hazel/aloe mix, LNHC Barber Shoppe post shave elixir, and CK Eternity to finish!
Corona Virus Official Day 299:
Days off to a nice start. Pretty much any day I can start out with my shave is!
The LNHC Barber Shoppe has a definite donut ring now. The RR 400 is just tearing through this soap! Definitely feeling like I could use some variety but I’m going to resist and just “git er dun” instead. Proline (14th shave) was about the same as yesterday...I think the end is nigh.
Facebook/Macy’s worked its magic and I got some new frag samples in. Today I picked out CK Eternity. Semi aquatic with a softness that borders on unisex. A lot of these modern frags are starting to smell the same in many aspects. It’s nice but I wouldn’t buy it.
Hope you all have a great Friday all! A few hours to the weekend!
Gear: Blackland Vector, Schick Proline
blade, RR 400 synth brush, LNHC Barber Shoppe soap, homemade witch hazel/aloe mix, LNHC Barber Shoppe post shave elixir, and CK Eternity to finish!
Corona Virus Official Day 299:
Days off to a nice start. Pretty much any day I can start out with my shave is!
The LNHC Barber Shoppe has a definite donut ring now. The RR 400 is just tearing through this soap! Definitely feeling like I could use some variety but I’m going to resist and just “git er dun” instead. Proline (14th shave) was about the same as yesterday...I think the end is nigh.
Facebook/Macy’s worked its magic and I got some new frag samples in. Today I picked out CK Eternity. Semi aquatic with a softness that borders on unisex. A lot of these modern frags are starting to smell the same in many aspects. It’s nice but I wouldn’t buy it.
Hope you all have a great Friday all! A few hours to the weekend!
GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
12 Whiskeys of Christmas Entry 9:
Sponsored by @NurseDave and Kuh-kuh Pow!
Tonight is 1/3 of bottle #9 - Ardbeg 10 year Islay Single Malt Scotch
Tonight’s sample is going to be taken neat. Tonight, before the taste, I had a dinner of a Teriyaki Chicken bowls - chicken, rice, cooked carrots and broccoli, and sauce (savory dish).
What are you doing to me Dave?!
First, a few sniffs after the dram is poured Super pungent! I could smell it as soon as the sample bottle was opened. The overlaying scent I’ve smelled before elsewhere too (not in this) - oily, a bit synthetic...Sharpie! That’s what it smells like...like I just opened a fresh, fat tipped Sharpie and made a big ol black line on a sheet of paper. Weird! Comparing a couple different tasting notes, it seems I’ve finally been properly introduced to peat. What I previously though was a peat note in whiskeys was actually malt then...and this is peat! There’s other notes supposedly, I get a little floral, but the peat is overwhelming all else.
So what does Ardbeg 10 taste like? Holy brimstone and fire Batman! That’s a wallop of a mouthful! There’s apparently other, more fine notes, but I overwhelmingly get peat, smoke, wood, something a bit leathery, and char. No wonder Dave keeps a goatee...drinking this stuff probably gives him a full beard, daily! One of the finishing notes listed is “beach bonfire” and I can’t help but think it perfectly describes the finish...a dying down, driftwood bonfire, and plenty of smoke. It’s simultaneously glorious and “wowza what the heck is that”.
In terms of flavor, Ardbeg 10 matches Oban 14, for its packed flavors. Ardbeg is quite a bit darker too. Oban strings them out though, with a wider range, where Ardbeg shoves them all in you face within seconds. This one is even more pricey than Oban but for the avid whiskey collector/drinker I don’t think either would be a bad purchase to push the boundaries of their collection’s flavors.
I think Oban wins by range of flavors. I’d like to put a disclaimer though - none of these whiskeys I’ve tried so far has been a bad sip, that I’d never want again. They’ve all been enjoyable in some way and I’d be happy to experience them each from time to time.
Blended Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Naked Grouse
2) Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 year
3) Monkey Shoulder
Single Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Craigellachie 13 year
2) Grangestone 12 year
3) Glenlivet Founder’s
4) Glenmorangie 10 year
5) Oban 14 year
6) Ardbeg 10 year
Bourbon Rankings:
1) Eagle Rare
2) Buffalo Trace
3) Woodford Double Oaked Straight
4) Jim Beam Black
5) Larceny
Rye Whiskey Rankings:
1) Sazerac Straight Rye
Sponsored by @NurseDave and Kuh-kuh Pow!
Tonight is 1/3 of bottle #9 - Ardbeg 10 year Islay Single Malt Scotch
Tonight’s sample is going to be taken neat. Tonight, before the taste, I had a dinner of a Teriyaki Chicken bowls - chicken, rice, cooked carrots and broccoli, and sauce (savory dish).
What are you doing to me Dave?!
First, a few sniffs after the dram is poured Super pungent! I could smell it as soon as the sample bottle was opened. The overlaying scent I’ve smelled before elsewhere too (not in this) - oily, a bit synthetic...Sharpie! That’s what it smells like...like I just opened a fresh, fat tipped Sharpie and made a big ol black line on a sheet of paper. Weird! Comparing a couple different tasting notes, it seems I’ve finally been properly introduced to peat. What I previously though was a peat note in whiskeys was actually malt then...and this is peat! There’s other notes supposedly, I get a little floral, but the peat is overwhelming all else.
So what does Ardbeg 10 taste like? Holy brimstone and fire Batman! That’s a wallop of a mouthful! There’s apparently other, more fine notes, but I overwhelmingly get peat, smoke, wood, something a bit leathery, and char. No wonder Dave keeps a goatee...drinking this stuff probably gives him a full beard, daily! One of the finishing notes listed is “beach bonfire” and I can’t help but think it perfectly describes the finish...a dying down, driftwood bonfire, and plenty of smoke. It’s simultaneously glorious and “wowza what the heck is that”.
In terms of flavor, Ardbeg 10 matches Oban 14, for its packed flavors. Ardbeg is quite a bit darker too. Oban strings them out though, with a wider range, where Ardbeg shoves them all in you face within seconds. This one is even more pricey than Oban but for the avid whiskey collector/drinker I don’t think either would be a bad purchase to push the boundaries of their collection’s flavors.
I think Oban wins by range of flavors. I’d like to put a disclaimer though - none of these whiskeys I’ve tried so far has been a bad sip, that I’d never want again. They’ve all been enjoyable in some way and I’d be happy to experience them each from time to time.
Blended Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Naked Grouse
2) Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 year
3) Monkey Shoulder
Single Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Craigellachie 13 year
2) Grangestone 12 year
3) Glenlivet Founder’s
4) Glenmorangie 10 year
5) Oban 14 year
6) Ardbeg 10 year
Bourbon Rankings:
1) Eagle Rare
2) Buffalo Trace
3) Woodford Double Oaked Straight
4) Jim Beam Black
5) Larceny
Rye Whiskey Rankings:
1) Sazerac Straight Rye
GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
Understatement of the year so far!BOOM!!!
Sounds like a grand time Chris.
GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
It’s quite a bit of fun, tryin all this stuff Id never get to or wouldn’t have made the attempt to myself!
I am really liking your whiskey reviews. Yesterday's was very entertaining!
GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
Lol, thanks Don!
GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
Shave #9 (452 Open Blade Shaves) of 2021:
Gear: Blackland Vector, Schick Proline
blade, RR 400 synth brush, LNHC Barber Shoppe soap, homemade witch hazel/aloe mix, LNHC Barber Shoppe post shave elixir, and Hugo Boss Boss to finish!
Corona Virus Official Day 300:
Dang smoke detector chirps, woke me up at 5:30 this morning! Got it silenced and was able to drift back off to sleep but not before rooting around the kitchen junk drawer for 5 minutes trying to find a 9v battery
Nice shower and pretty decent shave when I did get up. Proline blade was a little bit more rough this morning (shave 15). I’m going to call it now on this one; the Vector needs a bath anyway. Disappointed with Hugo Boss Boss. It seems like a cross between PR 1 Million in the opening and ADG Profondo as it dries down but with less staying power. Except for some of the more upper crust fragrance houses, it seems vintage/classic frags are the way to go. The new stuff are all just riffs (or maybe rip offs) off each other.
Got official word yesterday evening from my boss that our COVID work schedule is at an end starting Monday. All hourly full timers are to be back on campus for a full 40 hours if we want to be paid (only 1 has opted for reduced hours for the time being). Doesn’t quite seem right since we’re still (supposed to be) in heightened lock down status health order-wise and the other staff (who are all salaried for the most part) still have the option to “work” from home. Don’t really have a choice though at the moment I guess, so it’s whatever. Thankful to be employed.
Have a great Saturday all!
Gear: Blackland Vector, Schick Proline
blade, RR 400 synth brush, LNHC Barber Shoppe soap, homemade witch hazel/aloe mix, LNHC Barber Shoppe post shave elixir, and Hugo Boss Boss to finish!
Corona Virus Official Day 300:
Dang smoke detector chirps, woke me up at 5:30 this morning! Got it silenced and was able to drift back off to sleep but not before rooting around the kitchen junk drawer for 5 minutes trying to find a 9v battery
Nice shower and pretty decent shave when I did get up. Proline blade was a little bit more rough this morning (shave 15). I’m going to call it now on this one; the Vector needs a bath anyway. Disappointed with Hugo Boss Boss. It seems like a cross between PR 1 Million in the opening and ADG Profondo as it dries down but with less staying power. Except for some of the more upper crust fragrance houses, it seems vintage/classic frags are the way to go. The new stuff are all just riffs (or maybe rip offs) off each other.
Got official word yesterday evening from my boss that our COVID work schedule is at an end starting Monday. All hourly full timers are to be back on campus for a full 40 hours if we want to be paid (only 1 has opted for reduced hours for the time being). Doesn’t quite seem right since we’re still (supposed to be) in heightened lock down status health order-wise and the other staff (who are all salaried for the most part) still have the option to “work” from home. Don’t really have a choice though at the moment I guess, so it’s whatever. Thankful to be employed.
Have a great Saturday all!
GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
12 Whiskeys of Christmas Entry 10:
Sponsored by @NurseDave and Kuh-kuh Pow!
Tonight is 1/3 of bottle #10 - Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Islay Single Malt Scotch
Tonight’s sample is going to be taken neat. Tonight, before the taste, I had a dinner of a Cilantro/Lime Chicken with chips and a light butter lettuce salad (citrus/salty dish).
First, a few sniffs after the dram is poured almost a repeat of Ardbeg 10, at first sniff! That overwhelming Sharpie smell powering up through the nostrils to smack your senses! Peat! Fortunately it’s not quite as intense peat as Ardbeg. It’s just toned down enough to let a couple other scents play around. With some tasting notes to help, there’s also some bright vanilla, a boozy raisin smell, and a splash of citrus.
So what does Bruichladdich taste like? It’s probably an effect of the salt and lime from my dinner, but up front is a quick burst of sweetness before a heavy hit of fire injected into an oily, super peaty, smokey bat comes and knocks your palate. On the back end the smoke and peat linger a bit but give way to char. Again it’s different from Ardbeg 10 and less intense but still packs quite a warming wallop!
I think given, the choice, I’d pick this one over Ardbeg simply because it’s less slightly intense and slightly more palatable. Oban still comes out on top of the “extreme” scotches because of its well developed flavors. Still, Bruichladdich is super pricey and should be tasted before being bought.
Blended Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Naked Grouse
2) Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 year
3) Monkey Shoulder
Single Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Craigellachie 13 year
2) Grangestone 12 year
3) Glenlivet Founder’s
4) Glenmorangie 10 year
5) Oban 14 year
6) Bruichladdich
7) Ardbeg 10 year
Bourbon Rankings:
1) Eagle Rare
2) Buffalo Trace
3) Woodford Double Oaked Straight
4) Jim Beam Black
5) Larceny
Rye Whiskey Rankings:
1) Sazerac Straight Rye
Sponsored by @NurseDave and Kuh-kuh Pow!
Tonight is 1/3 of bottle #10 - Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Islay Single Malt Scotch
Tonight’s sample is going to be taken neat. Tonight, before the taste, I had a dinner of a Cilantro/Lime Chicken with chips and a light butter lettuce salad (citrus/salty dish).
First, a few sniffs after the dram is poured almost a repeat of Ardbeg 10, at first sniff! That overwhelming Sharpie smell powering up through the nostrils to smack your senses! Peat! Fortunately it’s not quite as intense peat as Ardbeg. It’s just toned down enough to let a couple other scents play around. With some tasting notes to help, there’s also some bright vanilla, a boozy raisin smell, and a splash of citrus.
So what does Bruichladdich taste like? It’s probably an effect of the salt and lime from my dinner, but up front is a quick burst of sweetness before a heavy hit of fire injected into an oily, super peaty, smokey bat comes and knocks your palate. On the back end the smoke and peat linger a bit but give way to char. Again it’s different from Ardbeg 10 and less intense but still packs quite a warming wallop!
I think given, the choice, I’d pick this one over Ardbeg simply because it’s less slightly intense and slightly more palatable. Oban still comes out on top of the “extreme” scotches because of its well developed flavors. Still, Bruichladdich is super pricey and should be tasted before being bought.
Blended Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Naked Grouse
2) Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 year
3) Monkey Shoulder
Single Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Craigellachie 13 year
2) Grangestone 12 year
3) Glenlivet Founder’s
4) Glenmorangie 10 year
5) Oban 14 year
6) Bruichladdich
7) Ardbeg 10 year
Bourbon Rankings:
1) Eagle Rare
2) Buffalo Trace
3) Woodford Double Oaked Straight
4) Jim Beam Black
5) Larceny
Rye Whiskey Rankings:
1) Sazerac Straight Rye
GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
Shave #10 (453 Open Blade Shaves) of 2021:
Gear: Feather AC SS folding, Feather Pro blade, Henson AL (Medium), Astra SP blade, RR 400 synth brush, LNHC Barber Shoppe soap, homemade witch hazel/aloe mix, LNHC Barber Shoppe post shave elixir, and TF Oud Minerale to finish!
Corona Virus Official Day 301:
Good shave this morning. First open blade shave in a long while and first for the new year! No battle damage thankfully, it all went pretty smoothly. Last pass with the Henson and no cleanup on purpose, for a mostly BBS shave. Still getting some weird minor burn when I use the Henson. The burn doesn’t last at all but it’s still there during the strokes, mostly on my difficult areas. I know it gets a lot of love from many but I’m still on the fence about it. Still need to try other blades!
Smoke detector given a new battery yesterday, so no late night wake ups except to tell the dachshund to get back to her bed instead of sleeping over our feet on the heated blanket
Soaking up the last day before a full work week.
Have a blessed Sunday all!
Gear: Feather AC SS folding, Feather Pro blade, Henson AL (Medium), Astra SP blade, RR 400 synth brush, LNHC Barber Shoppe soap, homemade witch hazel/aloe mix, LNHC Barber Shoppe post shave elixir, and TF Oud Minerale to finish!
Corona Virus Official Day 301:
Good shave this morning. First open blade shave in a long while and first for the new year! No battle damage thankfully, it all went pretty smoothly. Last pass with the Henson and no cleanup on purpose, for a mostly BBS shave. Still getting some weird minor burn when I use the Henson. The burn doesn’t last at all but it’s still there during the strokes, mostly on my difficult areas. I know it gets a lot of love from many but I’m still on the fence about it. Still need to try other blades!
Smoke detector given a new battery yesterday, so no late night wake ups except to tell the dachshund to get back to her bed instead of sleeping over our feet on the heated blanket
Soaking up the last day before a full work week.
Have a blessed Sunday all!
GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
It’s true. I’m caught in a weird tension at the moment...plenty of folks have worked through all this mess, others have lost jobs, some have gotten sick and died. I’ve been fortunate to still be fully employed, though only having to work reduced hours, kept healthy so far, and been able to spend a ton of time with the family. Still, it’s also true that CA (and most of the rest of the US) is in the worst spot it’s been in since the start and nothings really changed yet that would necessitate an increase in the need to be on campus for work.
I dunno. Maybe it’s some piece of privilege speaking or a laziness that’s built up in the last year of weirdness. I’m ranting inwardly about it while knowing I’m one of the lucky ones.
Anyway
GearNoir
“The TSC’s Napping Beefcake”
12 Whiskeys of Christmas Entry 11:
Sponsored by @NurseDave and Kuh-kuh Pow!
Tonight is 1/3 of bottle #11 - Laphroaig 10 year Islay Single Malt Scotch
Tonight’s sample is going to be taken neat. Tonight, before the taste, I had a dinner of a Sweet Potato Curry with a little chicken, spritz of lime, and a scoop of rice (spicy/savory/citrus dish).
Scotch DJ Mix Master Dave’s on a roll with the heavy hitters!
First, a few sniffs after the dram is poured once more almost a repeat of Ardbeg 10! Powerful, sharp Sharpie/peat to make your nose hairs stand on end. Pretty close to on par with Ardbeg, even more than Bruichladdich I’d say. At the end of the sniff is just enough room to catch some dark smoke and an green olive-like texture. One tasting note says there’s also varnish and sterile bandage notes in the whiff...I can definitely see where that might be though of lol!
So what does Laphroaig 10 taste like? The peat actually plays much less of a role here than either Ardbeg or Bruichladdich, or at least is much better smoothed out with a pop of sweet at the beginning, settling into a smooth taste of smoke then quickly into some pretty harsh flavors of that varnish-like note coming back in, wood, and something like an icky cold medicine, then settling out to a wet, ashy finish. Phew!
Another pricey bottle of kicks, I’d probably not buy it but I’m very happy to have had the chance to try it. Definitely wouldn’t turn down an occasional taste! Maybe starting out with Ardbeg significantly desensitized my palate enough to enjoy these last couple a bit more? Or maybe it’s simply the memory of Ardbeg makes it more powerful than it actually was? Either way, I think Ardbeg continues to come in last for the pure, unremorseful punch of peat/Sharpie.
Blended Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Naked Grouse
2) Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 year
3) Monkey Shoulder
Single Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Craigellachie 13 year
2) Grangestone 12 year
3) Glenlivet Founder’s
4) Glenmorangie 10 year
5) Oban 14 year
6) Bruichladdich
7) Laphroaig 10 year
8) Ardbeg 10 year
Bourbon Rankings:
1) Eagle Rare
2) Buffalo Trace
3) Woodford Double Oaked Straight
4) Jim Beam Black
5) Larceny
Rye Whiskey Rankings:
1) Sazerac Straight Rye
Sponsored by @NurseDave and Kuh-kuh Pow!
Tonight is 1/3 of bottle #11 - Laphroaig 10 year Islay Single Malt Scotch
Tonight’s sample is going to be taken neat. Tonight, before the taste, I had a dinner of a Sweet Potato Curry with a little chicken, spritz of lime, and a scoop of rice (spicy/savory/citrus dish).
Scotch DJ Mix Master Dave’s on a roll with the heavy hitters!
First, a few sniffs after the dram is poured once more almost a repeat of Ardbeg 10! Powerful, sharp Sharpie/peat to make your nose hairs stand on end. Pretty close to on par with Ardbeg, even more than Bruichladdich I’d say. At the end of the sniff is just enough room to catch some dark smoke and an green olive-like texture. One tasting note says there’s also varnish and sterile bandage notes in the whiff...I can definitely see where that might be though of lol!
So what does Laphroaig 10 taste like? The peat actually plays much less of a role here than either Ardbeg or Bruichladdich, or at least is much better smoothed out with a pop of sweet at the beginning, settling into a smooth taste of smoke then quickly into some pretty harsh flavors of that varnish-like note coming back in, wood, and something like an icky cold medicine, then settling out to a wet, ashy finish. Phew!
Another pricey bottle of kicks, I’d probably not buy it but I’m very happy to have had the chance to try it. Definitely wouldn’t turn down an occasional taste! Maybe starting out with Ardbeg significantly desensitized my palate enough to enjoy these last couple a bit more? Or maybe it’s simply the memory of Ardbeg makes it more powerful than it actually was? Either way, I think Ardbeg continues to come in last for the pure, unremorseful punch of peat/Sharpie.
Blended Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Naked Grouse
2) Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 year
3) Monkey Shoulder
Single Malt Scotch Rankings:
1) Craigellachie 13 year
2) Grangestone 12 year
3) Glenlivet Founder’s
4) Glenmorangie 10 year
5) Oban 14 year
6) Bruichladdich
7) Laphroaig 10 year
8) Ardbeg 10 year
Bourbon Rankings:
1) Eagle Rare
2) Buffalo Trace
3) Woodford Double Oaked Straight
4) Jim Beam Black
5) Larceny
Rye Whiskey Rankings:
1) Sazerac Straight Rye