Monday 16 December 2013

To be or not to be.


The answer is definitely s’not to be. I cannot taste anything below 20% ABV so I am going straight into Mr. B’s ‘hard stuff’ cabinet and reviewing the only thing I can taste – whisky. This exercise is usually accompanied with squawks of ‘who drank all that!’ from aforementioned spouse and me promising more whisky for *insert occasion*. This blog is costing me….



These are all tried and tested whiskies if you need to get any gifts this Christmas. As you can see, Barnett Towers has a massive preference for smoky, peaty single malts; three of the five below are from Islay (southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland). Also, these are my preference. So this isn’t a fair review of Scotch – just the cupboard in arms reach of my sofa. Call it a lazy blog.

5th place… Talisker 10 year (45.8% ABV)
I think we got this from The Whisky Exchange for about £34, but you can usually pick it up in a supermarket; Waitrose for sure. In fact, I have just checked online and there is 20% off, making it £26.40. Check it out here. Bargain! It’s from the Isle of Skye (the only whisky from here, I believe) and it is SO drinkable while still being full bodied. It could definitely be described as fragrant, with a clear cutting freshness and at the same time alluringly smoky. There is a moreish sweetness and a rich finish. Definitely one Dad and I could put away on Christmas night without realising quite how much we’ve supped.

4th place… Bruicladdich Islay Barley 2006 (50% ABV)
Made from Barley grown on Islay, I bought this at the Good Food Show last year (mainly because of the bright yellow tin packaging – yes I am a marketers dream). But it was worth every penny. Wonderfully light in colour, after the Talisker, this tastes positively fruity yet you can taste the grain; biscuity and again a sweetness that lasts after just a sip. This is unpeated. Seriously gorgeous single malt. I will get in a lot of marital trouble if I finish the bottle.
Bruicladdich has a wonderfully interesting history which I recommend reading about. The other whiskies look fab too. Plus, if you like your gin, Bruicladdich does a SERIOUSLY good one, called The Botanist. Check more about this here.
You can buy this whisky from here. This website is great as you can buy a mini sample for under £5.


3rd place… Auchentoshan Three Wood (43%)
Oh god. This is heaven in a bottle. You can probably tell from the bottle it’s nearly finished. We visited Auchentoshan earlier in the year (in the Scottish Lowlands) and bought a few bottles of various – and this is my favourite.
I’m not sure it’s as smooth as the two previous but it tastes so sweet; it has been tripled distilled for absolute pureness, then matured in THREE different casks.  First, the whisky is matured in ex-bourbon casks, followed by maturation time in ex- Pedro Ximénez (PEHD-roh hee-MEH-nehth) - a thick, sticky, sweet sherry - or oloroso sherry casks. All adds to the sweetness, fruitiness, complexity and depth. It’s nutty, spicy and citrus too plus sweet like butterscotch. I love this whisky.
Here’s a link to purchase.


2nd place…Ardbeg 10 year (46% ABV)
Ardbeg says it isrevered around the world as the peatiest, smokiest, most complex single malt of them all’. Yes – this is a very popular single malt. It is regularly voted the champion by many peat lovers and would certainly make a top gift for anyone who loves single malt.
It has that recognisable sweet peatyness on the nose. It’s much more mellow than some others on first sip, followed by powerful spices, sweet spice and unmistakable smokiness. Yummy yum yum.
You can buy this in most good independent retailers, or online, for around £40. Try here.


1st place … Laphroaig Quarter Cask (48%)

Laphroaig has cult status and its quarter cask is its finest. Most people would put Ardbeg first but this is my favourite due to its rich flavour and full body.
This whisky has been matured in American oak barrels, then moved into quarter casks. The quarter cask refers to yesteryear when casks were smaller.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask has a beautiful gold colour and it’s full bodied. But WOW. Peat is really prominent with a sweetness that is a mixture of coconut, sweet spice and smoke. It’s best with a drop of water when it will go cloudy (standard for a chill-filtered whisky). Really bloody good. Only buy this for someone if you REALLY love them. Or maybe keep it all for yourself.
You can buy this in most good independent retailers, or online, for around £36-£40. Try here.

Next blog – wine that tastes like family arguments.


2 comments:

  1. I'm not a great whisky drinker but on the many occasions I was up in the land of heather and peat I was now and again partial to a dram, often when the establishment we were staying in had run out of Gillespies Stout. At such moments I would inevitably turn to an Oban or a Dalwhinnie the later of which has the highest distillery in Scotland and can be spotted easily on the way north along the A9 to Inverness. It has a very light almost flowery taste.
    On a day when we were snowed off the hills we had a trip round the Oban distillery. Well worth an hour or two of your time and plenty of samples to be had at the end.

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  2. We are hoping to do Islay this year - we'll try and tie in a few others no doubt. I feel a wine/whisky suitcase being fashioned this year for a certain overseas trip....!

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