Moment I was plotting, to [finally] buy up a bottle, not a single Arran bottle was at avail
Also not including a major salty markups, in few spots that did have hold of some
Only to find out, like Benromach, it’s just gone through some facade changes
Haven’t seen it in stock, since the bottling redesign… Think word got out about the stuff
At rate things are going, on availability, I likely end up with some international stuff
Being the newer malt bottling(s)
Meaning?
Bottle / box redesign
The critical stuff [the juice], is unphased
Ah… I see…
I mean I don’t feel like it’s some amazing design, but still…
Must say, the new Arran is much better looking than the old Arran…
I’m always game, for tidier / subtler / bottomline packaging
And yess, I gave it an early crack, before any proper research
Cracking off the top sealer, actually impressively sealed off any odor
… And by odor, I meant the smoke, trying to creep on out [a tight screw top]
Heavy- HEAVY campfire vibe… smallest trickle of sweetness [fruit sugar sweet]
Almost wanna say tobacco too… Been a cold minute, since I been around it tho
The intensity, feels like a healthy Islay portionings of peat #letitsmoke
The peat sourcing, is definitely a mainland vibe [like Lagavulin / Balvenie / …]
The malt does get chances to break free- bit coarse, toasted and welcoming
I don’t wanna say fruit was canned, but there is clingy sensation going on
It IS a campfire / cigar in my mouth- ashy and warming
IF I had to make a Scotch comparative-
Have strong vibe, what must be a Benromach 10, before whiskey gets moved to sherry
But… being cranked 12/10 with the peat
Was almost gonna say, not whiskey related… Ended up nabbing MM-CS [never had/tried]
Will crack that one open, soon enough
NEVER been around mezcal, even regarding cocktail wise… So it had 1st go
Just after cracking the top of Mezcal, I smelt smoke entering the room… Promising
Campfire, right before it goes full bonfire - mildest backend of varnish/diesel/fresh-linen
A sweetness, closer towards butterscotch [faded off over my pours duration]
Occasional burst of being ethanol forward
Strong aromatic spice… I wanna say freshly-cut ginger
0 Viscousness – more of a silkiness – slight warmth
Ginger, Ginge- GINJERR kicks in door, like an FBI raid especially at first sip
A varnish/leathery note, a vegetalness [bell peppery], white-wine dryness
White Pepper, Sandalwood, Smoke [eventually] resurfaces – of an old school autobody
This, has been… Interesting
QUESTION:
I just got a brand new bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label… Is this one by any way representative of peated scotch, since it’s mostly Caol Ila?
Cause I may be into peated scotch then…
Dont think so, could be wrong tho
Since smoke is such an overriding sensation, a [VERY] small portion would have been applied
to the blends vatting. Best description- It is promising sensation, to have not be turned off by it
If you try the 15 and like it, the odds are more in favour, that you’re game for some peatings
The 15 is a blended malt, which contains two island distilleries [Talisker, Caol Ila]
The Green label? Is that still smoky? I thought that was fruity and light…
Other peat melt blend options I could think of, would include:
Wemyss’ Spice King – The smoke / earthiness, will make face over time
Douglas Laings Rock Island [* “Rock Oyster” be effectively same, but older packaging]
I think Scarabus is also blended malt… But don’t quote me on that…
PS: Nope, it’s a single malt…
Single Malt… Don’t think it was ever disclosed, where they’re sourcing from
@psycho_666 Did you have it?
