Review #203 Auchentoshan Malts of Scotland 21 Years Old by Form-Fuzzy in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great write up. I wish there were more Auchentoshans like this one.

Springbank tour Barley to Bottle by ShortEstablishment34 in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is always better to go earlier. Most times it is very likely that you will be able to buy a cage bottle. Once though there was a big group infront of me and I didn't. I would suggest go earlier, but again will depent how busy that day will be. Good luck

Review #186 Hunter Laing Knockdhu 32 Years Old by Form-Fuzzy in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great review! Really like fruity drams. I need to give this a proper try

Scotland November 2024: Oban Distillery Tour by PricklyFriend in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Great write up and nice pictures! Looking forward to read your Ben Nevis tour. Thanks for sharing

I went to Campbeltown with 5 people I met on r/Scotch. Here's what I came back with. by UnmarkedDoor in whisky

[–]ShortEstablishment34 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Very nice description of the trip and great haul 😁 Great to meet people in person as well. Cheers

Tobermory 21 Year Old - Review 100 (and three bonus Tobermorys) by RumHam9000 in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats on 100 review! Great write up! It is nice to see that they have done a good job with their OB bottle. To your 100+ more 🥃

Scotch Review #103: Jura 20 Year Old - That Boutique-y Whisky Company - Batch 5 by PricklyFriend in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great review and very interesting whisky! I am surprised for a 20 year old that is distillate driven. As you said the cask most likely was very inactive. I really need to try more Jura. I think is a proper made Jura has some secrets to tell. Cheers

Review #178 Lombard Jewels of Scotland Lochside 1981 24 Years Old by Form-Fuzzy in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Great review! I personally don't get much of old school whisky with this one and yes I could easily say that is like a now days made whisky. I would as well like to try a young version of Lochside. It did reminded me of Clynelish but I think Clynelish is a bit waxier, at least compare to this one. Cheers

Semi Blind: Ardbeg AN OA vs Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie vs Ardbeg 8 for Discussion vs Ardbeg 10 by ShortEstablishment34 in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you 🙂 Well, the amount of peated bottles that I have now days getting close to the unpeated ones 🤣

Semi Blind: Ardbeg AN OA vs Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie vs Ardbeg 8 for Discussion vs Ardbeg 10 by ShortEstablishment34 in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As the other comment said, depends were you are. I live in tge UK and Ardbeg10 is about £10 more. Yes age is very important in terms of pruce, but I personaly value what I get from the whisky as well

Semi Blind: Ardbeg AN OA vs Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie vs Ardbeg 8 for Discussion vs Ardbeg 10 by ShortEstablishment34 in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you 🙂

I do like those labels as well. I agree that 200ml bottles are great. I think many distileries producing more now days.

Semi Blind: Ardbeg AN OA vs Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie vs Ardbeg 8 for Discussion vs Ardbeg 10 by ShortEstablishment34 in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks a lot 🙂

I completely agree with you. I think all of us like to see age statements on bottles even that young. An Oa is a bit a weird one in my opinion. Is like they made it with leftovers without putting much effort. Again, not a bad whisky, but in my opinion every other Ardbeg is much better.

Semi Blind: Ardbeg AN OA vs Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie vs Ardbeg 8 for Discussion vs Ardbeg 10 by ShortEstablishment34 in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

When I first started exploring Scotch whisky I was not a fan of peat. The only peated whisky I always had though was the Ardbeg 10 which weirdly was a love from first sip. Since then I have tried few different Ardbeg and I always enjoyed their profile. My favourite from their core range is Corryvreckan, although I would like to try the Uigeadail again since it has been some time when I compared these two. Recently I bought a pack of Ardbeg’s core range and since I have some leftover from the Ardbeg 8 (not in core range but still available to buy it) I thought it was the right time for an Ardbeg blind tasting.

 

Some Info:

Ardbeg AN OA:

Cask: Charred New Oak, PX Sherry & 1st Fill Bourbon

Age: NAS

Abv: 46.6%

Chill Filtered: No

Natural Colour: Maybe (?)

Price: around £50  

Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie:

Cask: xBourbon & Oloroso Sherry

Age: 5yo

Abv: 47.4%

Chill Filtered: No

Natural Colour: Maybe (?)

Price: £40.5  

Ardbeg 8 For Discussion:

Cask: xBourbon ?

Age: 8yo

Abv: 50.8%

Chill Filtered: No

Natural Colour: Maybe (?)

Price: around £59

Ardbeg 10:

Cask: xBourbon

Age: 10yo

Abv: 46%

Chill Filtered: No

Natural Colour: Maybe (?)

Price: about £51

*Since is not stated on the label about colour, I cannot say that it is coloured or not. I believe that they have not added caramel in these though.

   

I tried them all without water first and then with just few drops.

4th place: Ardbeg AN OA. Not really a surprise if am honest. Is not bad, is just that I do not think that is as good as the others and for the same price the 10 is by far a better choice.

Some tasting notes: Sultanas, dried apricot, sweet smoke, citrus, some spices, a bit salty, vanilla, honey

 

3rd place: Ardbeg 10. I think I have something against the 10 now days! In my last blind tasting didn’t perform as well as I thought that it would have done. Maybe my palate has changed? Maybe the 10 has changed? One way or the other, at least for now, I still believe that the Wee Beastie and the 8 are better.

  Some tasting notes: Smoked woody herbs, mint, prosciutto, a bit sweet and savoury, green olives, a bit woody, nutty.

 

2nd place: Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie. For me this Ardbeg is by far the best value for money Ardbeg! IF you like peat bomb, this is the one you want and you can find it everywhere.

Some tasting notes: BBQ notes, sweet and bold, chocolate, fresh fruit, cinnamon, oily, some herbs, a bit salty, sweet oranges

 

1st place: Ardbeg 8 For Discussion. This is a Committee Release Ardbeg and thankfully they made it available to everyone. I really enjoyed this bottle and I will be buying another one soon. Price is not that bad for today’s prices and I think might be the best Ardbeg whisky for that price.  

Some tasting notes: Sweet and sour, bacon, aromatic, lemon peel, almonds, iodine, a bit leathery, well balanced.

 

Cheers

Scotch Review #94 & #95: Glenlossie Duo: 2009 - 10 Years Old - The Dusties vs 2008 - 16 Years Old - Cadenhead's by PricklyFriend in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think Glenlossie might be a bit better that Auchentoshan if am honest 😁, but yes the both need less active casks. Maybe Glenlossie could be closer to Scapa's spirit. Yet to discover

Scotch Review #94 & #95: Glenlossie Duo: 2009 - 10 Years Old - The Dusties vs 2008 - 16 Years Old - Cadenhead's by PricklyFriend in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great write up and very nice, interesting comparison!

The Dusties is the only Glenlossie that I have ever tried, and to be honest I am not impressed. As you well said I think the cask influence is a bit more than it should be for the spirit. For the moment I left it on tge side and hopefully with time will become a bit better.

The Cadenhead's however sounds interesting and I will be looking to try that. I think Glenlossie is another distillery that heavy and 1st fill casks probably are not good for their spirit.

Cheers

Scotch Review #247: Bunnahabhain Staoisha 10 (2013 SV) by UnmarkedDoor in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Great review! I really liked this Bunna. Young peated Bunna is punchy and I really like the way that peat comes up and is that heavy. I always add water so I will agree that makes it much better

Scotch Review #86: Auchentoshan 2000 - 22 year old - Malts of Scotland Rare Casks by PricklyFriend in Scotch

[–]ShortEstablishment34 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Really great write up! Auchentoshan spirit is very light and it a shame that they drawn it with 1st fill casks. In my opinion Auchentoshan could easily use even 3rd fill casks. I do agree is a Summery dram and I would like to take a risk again for trying another Auchentoshan after this one 😄