Penny for Your Thoughts - Lagavulin 8, Michter's Small Batch, Kilchoman Port Cask
Here are some whiskies we tried during the calm before the storm -- Islay scotches seemed particularly appropriate given the circumstances!
Lagavulin 8 (48% ABV) - Lagavulin released this special edition for its 200th anniversary and, in an unusual move, selected a younger scotch that could be priced below its flagship 16 (at least in the States). The inspiration for this edition was a late 1800s note from Alfred Barnard, a whisky writer of that era, which reported having an "exceptionally fine" 8-year old whisky at the distillery. The younger age and lack of sherry aging bring this scotch closer to Ardbeg 10. Its scents are mild smoke, lemon rind, petrichor, and a wildflower bouquet. The palate features smoke, iodine, lemon again, cured ham, and some cereal grains. The finish is hookah smoke, citrus, and flower stems. The price varies a lot but, at $60 or so, seems like a good value, right in the same category as Ardbeg 10 or Kilchoman Machir Bay. B+ Michter's Small Batch (45%) - Michter's is one of these brands that has created a more upscale brand image despite not actually producing its own whiskey. That's changing with the opening of their own distillery in Kentucky, but the current juice all comes from somewhere else. I've heard Heaven Hill or Old Forester, and either make sense to me given the flavor profile. The nose has aromas of cherry, oak, chocolate and vanilla swirl, and wood chips, with a little alcohol heat. It tastes of sweet butterscotch, Werther's candies, mild oak, syrup, and furniture polish. The finish is spicy and hot, full of caramel and coffee, with the most unique note being a grassy parsley, which hints at it being a year or two younger than ideal. At about $35, it's a good bourbon and feels a lot like Elijah Craig Small Batch (which, to be fair, is $5 or so cheaper). B+
Kilchoman Port Cask (55%) - I had the pleasure of trying a limited edition from one of my favorite distilleries, a port pipe-aged edition that's been maturing for three years. For such a young whisky, really a toddler of the scotch world, its flavor profile has already come together beautifully. The nose is a dead ringer for Lagavulin 16 underneath an initial, heavy layer of ethanol. I get some cinammon, stone fruit, creek brulee, and rich smoke. The first sips are very salty, a little too much so, and then feature the same smoke and stone fruit combination. This scotch has a mild finish given the proof, with a little astringency, charred hickory, and guava. Surprisingly here, the cask strength doesn't add as much punch to the flavors. $125 is a heavy price to pay for a three-year old liquor, so I'd probably recommend Lagavulin 16 for the same flavors and more complex refinement. Don't get me wrong, though, this is tasty. B+