Brine

Lagavulin 16 Year

The Lagavulin 16 is a winner. We’re not saying that just from our own experience. Rather, this standard edition of the Lagavulin distillery has consistently been ranked highly in whisky competitions, winning gold awards and earning other top marks in competitions and ratings around the world over the past fifteen years. To be sure, this is not a scotch meant for those who prefer gentler tastes and refrained flavors. Having their workhorse be aged 16 years means this distillery is willing to be patient so they can craft something worth the wait. Not a bad work ethic to have in regards to scotch. All right, enough teasing. Let’s dive in.

By Adam | April 28, 2015 | Islay | 1 Comment |

Nestled in the town of Blackford and surrounded by the Ochil Hills, Tullibardine (Gaelic – lookout hill) was converted from an old brewery and began distilling in 1949, making it a relatively young distillery. Blackford is a sort of gateway to the highlands, and for many years Tullibardine simply matured their offerings in sherry casks. At some point along the way, however, they have begun taking their base offering and providing a series of different finishes in the final year of aging (currently Sauternes, Burgundy and Sherry). With the Tullibardine 228, the number denotes the liters the cask held. Burgundy is not a finish seen terribly often with whiskies, so we are very curious to to see what this single malt offers. Recently, these whiskies have been discontinued and a new core range offered.

By Adam | April 7, 2015 | Highland | No Comments |

The Diageo conglomerate recently released three new No Age Statement whiskys via Talisker. The Storm is easily the most available of these, and offers a nice entry point to the Talisker brand. Scotch is partially an expression of local elements, and the dominant feature around the Isle of Skye is the sea. We heard a story about the casks for this whisky spending at least part of their maturation on a barge just off the coast, to better soak in the brine from the ocean. We like it, even if it is a tall tale. A more tactile influence on the taste is the use of rejuvenated casks, older casks that have been de-charred and recharged to give them an extended lifespan.

By Adam | March 17, 2015 | Island | No Comments |