Hot young punks, distilled just a mile apart on the Isle of Islay. The 8 is smoother, sweeter and more refined; on the other hand, Wee Beastie punches way above its weight…
Scotch
Oban 14 has a classic Scotch profile. Bright gold in the glass, the nose is sugar and oak. On the palate it’s round and gently sweet, expanding quickly with a gentle heat that lingers a bit. The finish is dry and slightly spicy…
On the palate, Càirdeas 2019 explodes instantly – it’s intensely sweet at first but immediately expands with smoke and then peat. The malt is oily thick on the tongue and provides a good backbone for the variety of complementary flavors. The finish is extremely long and very dry, dominated by woody notes and reminiscent of good cigar smoke.
This expression is bottled at 92 proof, and hits strong flavor notes right up the middle – round and full, with a classic Scotch maltiness predominating; it’s rich but stops short of too sweet.
Then down my chimney did clamber
A gentleman quite portly
He saw my dram and asked for one
With manners oh so courtly
Nectar D’Òr is rich, sweet stuff.
Laphroaig 15 doesn’t disappoint. Medium gold in the glass, the nose is amazing, intensely satisfying on its own. Seaweed and ocean air predominate, with a gentle sweetness underneath. Not too heavy on the palate, it slides down and around the tongue, expanding with a quick burst of heat. The sweetness is chased with an immediate woody aftertaste, like puffs of smoke.
Uigeadal was love at first sip. It exploded onto my palate and made my hair stand up…Finishing that first dram, I felt like a kid after a roller coaster – I wanted to ride again.
Worth seeking out, especially for those who enjoy a classic Speyside profile like The Macallan or The Glenlivet, but want to get a little bolder.
It starts sweet on the palate, yet remains surprisingly dry. The Islay resemblance comes though, then the dryness becomes spicy – cinnamon and cloves, which expand on the palate. The finish is long and very smooth, ending with an impression of smoke.
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