Laphroaig, Four Oak, Single Malt Scotch Whisky

enjoy a good murder mystery film but the one that I was watching this evening was so full of potential murderers that it had become deeply confusing. I tried to keep up, but my mental pin board had filled with pictures, red string and notes. I decided that the only way to cut through the plot line was to have a whisky. It may not help but it would make it more pleasurable.  

 Opening a new bottle is always a treat. I am very familiar with Laphroaig (or leapfrog as a friend of mine calls it) but I was curious as to what the four oak part was going to add to the experience. It certainly did not take away the glorious medicinal and slightly smoky aroma that comes from the newly opened bottle.  

I poured some over a couple of ice cubes and settled back into the film. The familiar deep smoky and peaty taste rolled around my mouth and introduced a taste of Scotland into my life.  

There is nothing not to like about this whisky, it tastes exactly as I expected, I still have no idea what the four oaks add, but whatever it is I am glad it is there. 

Benriach, The Twelve, Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

It was the end of the evening, and I was slowing down. My limbs were feeling heavy, and I could feel a cloud of sleep approaching. I felt that I could hasten its approach with a small whisky. At first, I was a little confused, although the label said single malt there was a signature of the head blender on the blurb. I had to actually read the words to discern that it was in fact a single malt and not as I originally thought a blend of twelve whiskies.

I poured the whisky over some ice and inhales the fumes. I could taste a sweet syrup in an almost chewable smell. I knew before a drop touched my lips that I was going to like this one. My thoughts were not wrong. It was so full of flavour, a little like drinking alcoholic toffee that had lots of added flavour.

This was an excellent mild whiskey that needed time to appreciate the vast array of flavours that it unleashed with every sip. It was the perfect end to a tiring day. 

Talisker, Port Ruighe, Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The end of an evening of doing nothing in particular and pretending to watch television needs a nightcap of some sort. The fact that I had brought this whisky a little earlier in the day and was eager to try it had no bearing on my desire for that night cap.  

As I opened the stopper on the new bottle a medical smell filled the air. I knew already that I was going to enjoy this dark amber whisky. I poured it onto the ice and enjoyed the aroma a little longer.  

 I loved the flavour of this whisky, there was peat in there and a strong taste of hospitals and somewhere deep down a bit of caramel. This was for me the perfect drink to end the evening. 

Peat’s beast, Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Some evenings I fancy a nice whisky to set me up for bedtime. This evening was one of those evenings. It was cold and damp outside, I could hear rain pounding on the roof and I was sitting in the warmth of a fire. This felt like an occasion for a whisky.

I opened the bottle and was taken to the highlands with the earthy aromas of peat and grass. I poured the pale straw yellow whisky over a couple of ice cubes. It looked even paler in the glass.

I was expecting big things for this whisky and I was not disappointed. The big flavour of the highlands came across the fireyness and left a touch of liquorice that was extinguished by the next sip. I sat in the big chair and enjoyed every moment of this glass of pure pleasure.

Raasay, While We Wait, Single Malt Scotch Whisky

I was tired, it was the end of a long evening of doing things. I sat on the sofa and tried not to fall asleep. I didn’t need a whisky, but I wanted one to finish off the evening. I dragged myself away from the visual wallpaper that is television and cracked open a new bottle. As is my habit, I smelt the freshly opened bottle. I inhaled a mix of sherry and smoky fragrances. It was the smell that said I was going to enjoy this whisky.

I threw a couple of ice cubes into a glass and poured a generous measure if the pale spirit over the ice. I let it stand for a while before taking my first sip. It was absolutely gorgeous. The dry taste of peat mixed with the smoke to produce a riot of wonderful whisky tastes.

I was not expecting this to be as lovely as it was, I feel that I will have a short but intimate relationship with this bottle.

Speyburn, Speyside Single Malt, Scotch Whisky

It was blazing hot outside and I was watching skiing on the television. The skiing made me think of winter and physiologically made me feel cooler. It worked so well that after an hour or so I felt that I needed something to warm me up. That is when the thought of having a whisky entered my head. It helped that I had only just brought a bottle of Speyburn and was looking for an excuse to try some.

I covered the ice cubes in the pale looking whisky and performed my usual sniffing the glass routine to take on board the mild and almost sweet smell of the liquid. It was obvious from this that mild was going to be that name of the game with this one.

I took a sip and rolled the thick and malty liquid around my mouth before letting it provide warmth all the way down. This was a nice mild scotch whisky and ideal to watch skiing with.

Ledaig , Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Doing nothing is an underrated activity. Some evenings I like to do absolutely nothing and have nothing planned. I put on some background music so that I could do nothing to music, put a couple of ice cubes in a glass and poured some whisky over them. Doing nothing to music with a whisky in my hand is my idea of a perfect evening.

 This particular whisky was very pale to look at but made up for that with the smell of smoke and peat that says the water for this brew came off the peat hags and directly into the bottle. The aroma was repeated in the taste, the sharp taste of peat and a lingering smokiness of the think liquid.

 This was a full bodies whiskey that needed to be drunk in the depths of winter whilst sitting in front of a roaring fire. I enjoyed every sip.

Caol ila, Single Malt Scotch Whisky

I’d had a Thursday night of doing chores after work so that I could go away at the weekend with a clear head and tidy house. Once the bulk of the chores were complete, I sat down for the vital winding down process before bedtime. I felt that whisky and chocolate would help the process

The bottle promised a peated whisky and the aroma coming from the pale liquid concurred. It had a that strong smell of woody peat that I love so much, there was no doubt that I would like this whisky, the only thing to decide would be how much.

The earthy peat intensified with the first sip and carried on getting stronger. This was a lovely flavourful drink that left my lips numb, my belly warm and a lingering taste of peat in my mouth. It was hard to resist a second glass, so I didn’t.

The Balvinie American Oak, Single Malt, Scotch Whisky

It was a school night, but I fancied a whisky or two just to take away the unpleasant taste of the day. I felt that today warranted a taste test as I had an American Oak and a double wood Balvenie. This would be one of the few occasions where I could compare the two. Usually, a special edition and the standard whisky would not co-exist in my drink’s cabinet.

The American Oak was much darker to look at, a less pale brown. I didn’t waste too much time holding them to the light as it looked a little silly. There was a lot more to smell from the American Oak version too. I felt that I could detect a hint of rum deep in the mix but that may have been the power of suggestibility. I shouldn’t have read the label before I started.

I took a sip of the double wood and tried to remember the flavour as I took a sip of the American Oak. It was smoother and much deeper in flavour. It was the same flavours but somehow more intense. When I took another sip of the Double wood it seemed sharper, thinner and sadly flat in comparison.

I like both but the American Oak has just that little extra.

Glenfiddich Fire and Cane, Single Malt Scotch Whisky

I bought this bottle because I was intrigued. I guess that I’m just a sucker for marketing and specials. I waited for a suitable moment to try it. It didn’t feel like a weekday whisky. This one looked like it should be sampled on a Sunday night to round off the weekend

I opened up the bottle and my nostrils filled with that familiar medicinal smell that told me instantly that I was going to enjoy it. I poured some into a glass with a couple if ice cubes, settled down in my favourite chair and took the first sip. My heart warmed to the thick peaty flavours which were somehow deeper that the standard Glenfiddich. The whole experience ended with a sharp finish of something I’ve not tasted in whisky before.

I feel that this bottle and I are going to share a short but loving relationship